Boom, Boise! Concert sets new Idaho Center records: largest outdoor show, fastest sellout

That blistering September heatwave finally has cooled down in the Boise area.

But country singer Morgan Wallen kept things smokin’ hot Friday night.

Wallen, who headlined at the Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater, put his name in the record books. Wallen drew the biggest crowd in the Nampa outdoor venue’s history.

(The traffic and beer lines probably tipped you off, right?)

The concert’s drop count — or number of bodies through the gates — was 10,518. That is a stampede of Idahoans out in the smoke. (And a few folks from other states, undoubtedly.)

A former contestant on NBC’s “The Voice,” Wallen already had set a record for the Idaho Center Amphitheater’s fastest sellout. The show blazed through more than 10,000 tickets in about 15 minutes when it went on sale last December, said Creston Thornton, president of promoter Live Nation’s mountain region. Only VIP and platinum seats remained after that.

Wallen, 29, is known for No. 1 country smashes such as “Whiskey Glasses” and “7 Summers.” He’s also known for a series of controversies and apologies. He weathered those and built a gigantic audience — including in Idaho.

The amphitheater’s previous record holder was Shania Twain, although it was unofficial. An estimated 10,500 concertgoers packed into the newly opened venue for its inaugural show in 1998. Twain’s sellout didn’t happen in 15 minutes, though. The ticket-vending system didn’t move as quickly back then.

After Wallen and Twain, the Idaho Center Amphitheater’s largest shows consist of, yep, more country stars. Kenny Chesney lured 10,315 people in 2018. He also pulled in 10,283 when he performed there this summer. And Dierks Bentley drew 10,216 in 2021.

Impressive as those numbers are, you have to go indoors for the true jaw-droppers.

The Ford Idaho Center Arena holds slightly more fans.

The indoor record is held by country royalty: George Strait. He attracted 11,445 concertgoers while performing in the round in 2013. Second place goes to the Rolling Stones in 2006 with 10,535. Metallica takes third with 9,898 in 2009.

This story was originally published September 9, 2022 at 10:27 PM.