In the landscape of live entertainment, the 2017 tour season stands as a pivotal era defined by record-breaking stadium runs, the resurgence of legacy acts, and a permanent shift in global venue security. Dominated by massive productions from U2, Guns N' Roses, and Coldplay, the year solidified the "megatour" as the primary revenue driver for the music industry, while simultaneously grappling with the profound logistical and safety challenges of the modern era.
The Global Context of the 2017 Tour Season
By the time 2017 arrived, the music industry had fully transitioned into a touring-centric economy. With streaming services having largely replaced physical sales as the primary mode of consumption, artists turned to the road to generate the lion's share of their income. This shift resulted in a "gold rush" of live performances, where production values reached unprecedented heights and ticket pricing structures became increasingly complex.
The 2017 tour circuit was not merely about music; it was a demonstration of engineering and logistical prowess. From the 200-foot-wide video screens of U2’s anniversary trek to the synchronized LED wristbands used by Coldplay, the year proved that fans were willing to pay premium prices for immersive, multi-sensory experiences. However, the year was also marked by the tragic bombing at the Manchester Arena during Ariana Grande’s "Dangerous Woman" tour, an event that forever changed how fans enter venues and how promoters manage risk.
While the term "2017 tour" most frequently refers to the collective of major musical concert series, it also encompasses significant sporting events, most notably the 104th edition of the Tour de France. This article prioritizes the musical landscape due to its dominant search volume and industry impact, while providing necessary context for the sporting world’s contribution to the year’s touring history.
The Titans of the Road: Top-Grossing Musical Tours
The financial success of 2017 was spearheaded by three specific acts that leveraged nostalgia and high-concept production to fill stadiums across every continent.
U2: The Joshua Tree Tour 2017
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of their seminal 1987 album, U2 embarked on a specialized stadium run that became the highest-grossing tour of the year. The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 was a masterclass in minimalist-yet-massive design. Eschewing the "Claw" of their previous 360° Tour, the band utilized a 200-foot-wide, 45-foot-high 8K resolution LED screen—at the time, the largest and highest-resolution screen ever used on tour.
The show was structured into three distinct acts: a selection of early hits on a small "tree-shaped" stage, the full performance of The Joshua Tree in chronological order against stunning cinematic backdrops filmed by Anton Corbijn, and an encore of post-1987 hits. According to Billboard, the tour grossed over $316 million from just 50 shows, proving that anniversary-themed tours could be more than just "oldies" circuits; they could be state-of-the-art cultural events.
Guns N’ Roses: Not in This Lifetime... Tour
Continuing their massive reunion trek that began in 2016, Guns N’ Roses remained a dominant force throughout 2017. The significance of this tour cannot be overstated; it featured the return of core members Slash and Duff McKagan to the lineup for the first time since 1993. The "Not in This Lifetime" moniker, a nod to Axl Rose's previous dismissals of a reunion, became a self-fulfilling prophecy of success.
The 2017 leg of the tour focused heavily on Europe and North America, delivering three-hour sets that defied the band’s reputation for tardiness and volatility. The technical reliability of the production, combined with the raw power of the classic lineup, allowed them to gross roughly $292 million in 2017 alone. This tour demonstrated that there was a massive, untapped global demand for "hard rock" spectacles on a stadium scale.
Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams Tour
If U2 represented the pinnacle of high-resolution minimalism, Coldplay represented the pinnacle of vibrant, inclusive spectacle. Their A Head Full of Dreams Tour, which concluded in late 2017, became one of the highest-grossing tours in history. The central technological feature was the "Xyloband"—infrared-controlled LED wristbands given to every audience member.
These bands turned the entire stadium into a programmable light show, effectively making the audience a part of the stage design. This level of fan engagement became a hallmark of the 2017 circuit. By the time the tour wrapped up in Buenos Aires in November 2017, the total gross across its entire multi-year run surpassed $523 million, highlighting the band's transition into the upper echelon of "stadium-only" performers.
Pop Dominance and Solo Artistry
While rock veterans secured the top grossing spots, the 2017 tour landscape was equally defined by solo pop and R&B artists who pushed the boundaries of choreography and technical intimacy.
- Ed Sheeran (Divide Tour): Starting in March 2017, Ed Sheeran embarked on what would eventually become the highest-attended and highest-grossing tour of all time (a record he held until the 2020s). What made the 2017 leg remarkable was Sheeran’s "solo" setup. Despite playing to crowds of 80,000, he performed alone with a custom-built loop station and acoustic guitar, utilizing no backing tracks or hidden musicians.
- Bruno Mars (24K Magic World Tour): Mars delivered a high-energy production that leaned heavily into 90s-era R&B aesthetics, pyrotechnics, and tightly rehearsed choreography. His tour was a significant financial success, grossing over $200 million in 2017, and solidified his reputation as the premier "showman" of his generation.
- Lady Gaga (Joanne World Tour): Known for her avant-garde stage designs, Gaga’s 2017 tour featured a stage consisting of three moving platforms and "bridge" walkways that descended from the ceiling, allowing her to move between stages above the audience.
The 104th Tour de France: A Different Kind of Tour
For sports enthusiasts, the "2017 tour" refers almost exclusively to the 2017 Tour de France. Held from July 1 to July 23, this edition began in Düsseldorf, Germany—the fourth time the race had started in Germany and the first since 1987.
The race was characterized by its strategic complexity rather than sheer mountain dominance. Chris Froome of Team Sky won his fourth title, though notably, he did so without winning a single individual stage—a rarity in the race’s history. The 2017 route was designed to be less predictable, featuring fewer "HC" (Hors Catégorie) climbs and more opportunities for aggressive breakaway tactics.
| Key Metric | 2017 Tour de France Details |
|---|---|
| Winner | Chris Froome (Team Sky) |
| Total Distance | 3,540 km (approx. 2,200 miles) |
| Stages | 21 |
| Start Location | Düsseldorf, Germany |
| End Location | Champs-Élysées, Paris |
| Points Classification | Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb) |
| Mountains Classification | Warren Barguil (Team Sunweb) |
The Impact of the Manchester Arena Tragedy
It is impossible to analyze the 2017 tour circuit without acknowledging the events of May 22, 2017. Following an Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device in the foyer, killing 22 people and injuring hundreds. This was a watershed moment for the live events industry.
Immediately following the attack, the industry implemented "Clear Bag" policies, which have since become standard at almost all major North American and European venues. Security perimeters were moved further away from venue entrances, and the "last mile" of fan egress (leaving the show) became as heavily monitored as the entry process. The One Love Manchester benefit concert, held just weeks later, became a symbol of the industry’s resilience, but the shadow of the event dictated the logistical operations of every major tour for the remainder of the year and into the future.
Technical Innovations of the 2017 Concert Era
The "2017 tour" season was the year that several emerging technologies became industry standards. Producers were no longer content with simple lighting rigs; they moved toward integrated environments.
- Kinetic Sculptures: Artists like The Weeknd on his Starboy: Legend of the Fall Tour used massive, ceiling-mounted kinetic structures that changed shape and descended toward the stage, creating a dynamic three-dimensional environment.
- Immersive Audio: While still in its infancy, 2017 saw more tours experimenting with L-ISA Hyperreal Sound and other spatial audio technologies to ensure that even fans in the "nosebleed" sections had a high-fidelity sonic experience.
- Secondary Market Integration: This was the year that "Verified Fan" systems (pioneered by Ticketmaster) began to be used widely. By requiring fans to pre-register, tours like Ed Sheeran’s and Taylor Swift’s (for her 2018 prep) attempted to combat the bots and scalpers that had plagued the 2017 ticket on-sale dates.
Economic Trends and Ticket Pricing
The year 2017 saw a marked increase in the average ticket price for top-tier tours. The industry moved toward a "Value-Based Pricing" model, where front-row seats and VIP experiences were priced significantly higher to capture revenue that would have otherwise gone to the secondary (resale) market.
- VIP Packages: In 2017, the "Meet and Greet" or "Backstage Tour" became a standard upsell. For legacy acts like Guns N' Roses, these packages could cost upwards of $1,000, contributing to the record-breaking grosses of the year.
- Global Expansion: 2017 saw an increase in "unconventional" tour stops. Major acts began including more dates in Southeast Asia (Singapore, Thailand, Philippines) and South America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile) as these markets developed the necessary infrastructure to host stadium-level productions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the single most successful concert tour of 2017?
Financially, U2’s The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 was the most successful, grossing $316.9 million. However, the Guns N’ Roses "Not in This Lifetime..." tour was a close second and had a higher total gross when including its 2016 and 2018 legs.
Who won the 2017 Tour de France?
Chris Froome won the 2017 Tour de France, marking his fourth overall victory. He beat runner-up Rigoberto Urán by a margin of only 54 seconds, one of the closer finishes in recent years.
How did security change for tours after 2017?
Following the Manchester Arena bombing in May 2017, venues globally implemented stricter protocols, including the Clear Bag Policy, increased use of "wanding" and metal detectors at all entry points, and heightened security presence in the "soft zones" (areas outside the ticketed perimeter where fans congregate).
Why was 2017 considered a record-breaking year for tours?
The combination of several massive reunion tours (Guns N' Roses), anniversary tours (U2), and peak-career pop tours (Coldplay, Ed Sheeran) created a "perfect storm" of high demand and high ticket prices. Total revenue for the top 100 worldwide tours in 2017 reached a then-record $5.65 billion.
Did Ed Sheeran play with a band during his 2017 tour?
No. One of the most technically unique aspects of Ed Sheeran's ÷ (Divide) Tour in 2017 was that he performed entirely alone on stage. He used a custom "Chewie II" loop station to record his guitar, vocals, and percussion live, layering them to create the sound of a full band in real-time.
What was the "Joanne World Tour" stage design?
Lady Gaga’s 2017 tour featured one of the most complex ceiling-mounted systems in history. It included three lighting pods that doubled as projection screens and three inflatable "bridge" walkways that would descend to link the main stage to two satellite "B-stages" in the middle of the arena floor.
Recommended Next Actions for Historians and Fans
If you are researching the 2017 tour circuit for industry analysis or personal interest, several resources remain the gold standard for verified data:
- Industry Data: Consult Pollstar year-end reports for 2017. They provide the most granular data on ticket sales, average prices, and promoter rankings.
- Technical Specifications: For those interested in the "how" behind the shows, the magazine Live Design Online offers deep-dive interviews with the lighting and stage designers of the U2, Coldplay, and Lady Gaga tours.
- Security Evolution: To understand the legal and safety shifts post-2017, the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) provides white papers on the security upgrades that were standardized in late 2017.
- Historical Footage: Most of the major 2017 tours were professionally filmed. U2’s The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 and Coldplay’s Live in Buenos Aires/Live in São Paulo (released in 2018 but filmed in 2017) provide excellent visual records of the production standards of that era.
