Garth Brooks has revealed that he will not raise ticket prices during the upcoming 2021 dates of his Stadium Tour, no matter what extra costs he might have to bear due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the additional health protocols touring will now require.

As most artists are returning to touring incrementally, beginning with smaller venues or setting capacity limits, Brooks is making bold moves. Beginning in July, he will be playing stadiums across the country at 100 percent capacity with an even higher frequency than he did pre-pandemic.

"Anybody that was dealing with us knew we were doing 100 percent capacity," Brooks says in an interview with Billboard. The sold-out arenas won't be the only thing fans can count on to be in line with pre-pandmic Brooks tours. Those soaring ticket prices the public has been worried about? Brooks says that won't be the case.

He's is well aware that the new safety measures that are becoming commonplace come at a cost.

"That’s a lot of stadium expenses: The sanitization of everything, the addition of masks, the addition of hand sanitization stations," says Brooks. But he is not passing that cost along to concertgoers. "My thing is if we make 100 percent of each ticket — and because of the COVID regulations and restrictions that we have to put in and pay for, we make 95 percent — I’m more than OK with that."

Brooks is willing to take the hit on profit if it means giving fans an experience they'll enjoy at the price point they were expecting. True to his reputation as a stand-up guy, he is even willing to take some of the burden off of the venues.

"We go to the stadium and go, 'Okay, show us your expenses there and let’s share in them because you shouldn’t be taking them all on.'"

The Garth Brooks Stadium tour kicks off July 10 with a sold-out Las Vegas show. Other announced dates include Salt Lake City, Utah (July 17); Cheyenne, Wyo. (July 23); Kansas City, Mo. (Aug. 7); Lincoln, Neb. (Aug. 14); Cincinnati, Ohio (Sept. 18); and Charlotte, N.C. (Sept. 25).

5 Hottest Country Tours of Summer 2021


There’s a lot to consider when making a list of the hottest tours of summer 2021, including star power, opening acts, venues and set lists. Add to that concerns and cautions as the country begins to emerge from a pandemic and that no one has seen live music in 14 months. It’s quite likely you’re craving live music like a drug that’s just out of reach ... or you’re scared shirtless to surround yourself with 10,000 fans indoors. 

All the emotions about reengaging with the live country music community are valid. While at first it seemed September would be start-up month, several tours on this Hot List begin in July and August at outdoor venues across America. The No. 3 tour and No. 1 tour on our list are mostly indoors, but both are banking on increased safety that comes from a majority of the population having the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Once those lights go down, all of these worries will be carried away by the buzz in the air (and maybe, from your cup). Find five total professionals on this list of Hot Summer Tours, each bringing a total stage show, plus several in-demand opening acts with a proven track record of live entertainment at the highest level. There’s no fat on any of these country tours — if you stick to the tailgate through an opener’s set, you’ll truly be missing something special. 

As always, let us know who you can’t wait to see on tour in 2021 via Twitter or email

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