Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world, and the MGM Grand is one of the city’s premier venues for major concerts, comedy shows, awards shows, and sporting events. Over the past ten years, the MGM Grand Garden Arena has hosted some of the most iconic and memorable performances across music, comedy, and sports. Let’s look back at some of the biggest shows to hit the MGM Grand stage from 2013 to 2023.
Music’s Biggest Stars Shine Bright
Few venues can compete with the MGM Grand Garden Arena’s resume over the past decade when it comes to massive concert performances. Some of music’s most prominent artists across genres brought their spectacular shows to Las Vegas, dazzling audiences with eye-popping production and timeless hits.
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac set the MGM Grand Garden Arena alight on New Year’s Eve 2013, wowing tens of thousands of fans over two shows. The band thrilled the crowds with hits like “Dreams,” “The Chain,” and “Rhiannon.” It was one of the most memorable residency engagements in recent memory.
Andrea Bocelli
Adding to the illustrious list of performances at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Andrea Bocelli’s concert on December 7th, 2019, was an extraordinary event. The renowned Italian tenor, known for his powerful and emotive vocals, captivated the audience with his timeless renditions of classical and popular songs. With his remarkable range and impeccable technique, Bocelli’s performance was a celebration of music’s ability to transcend language barriers and touch the souls of listeners worldwide.
N.Y. State of Mind Tour
And who could forget when the N.Y. State of Mind Tour rolled into town, featuring Hip-Hop heavyweights like Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, De La Soul, Talib Kweli, and DJ Scratch? This legendary tour was nominated for Pollstar’s 2022 Hip-Hop Tour of The Year and pulled crowds both young and old with an energy that had to be witnessed to be believed.
Big Laughs for Comedy’s Best
While the MGM Grand is renowned for its concert performances, the arena has also hosted some of the biggest names in stand-up comedy for hilarious shows and specials over the past ten years.
Kevin Hart
In 2018, Kevin Hart brought his Irresponsible comedy tour to the MGM Grand Garden Arena, filming the show for a stand-up special release. The show featured his signature high-energy comedic stylings as Hart regaled the audience with tales about family life, growing older, and life on the road. The special became a commercial and critical smash hit.
Chris Rock
Chris Rock’s 2018 Total Blackout tour had a lengthy engagement at the Park Theater, part of the BetMGM Casino and Resort complex. For two months, the legendary comic performed a hilarious stand-up show poking fun at romance, race relations, and society at large in his trademark satirical voice. It was a must-see happening for comedy fans in Vegas.
Dave Chappelle
And just last year, in 2023, Dave Chappelle brought his friends to the MGM Grand Garden Arena for a special run of shows as part of his and Chris Rock’s co-headlining tour. Audiences were rolling with laughter as Chappelle broke out his edgy social commentary and relentlessly clever observational humor.
Sportsworld Comes to Vegas
These days, Las Vegas is an emerging sports town, with championship teams like the Golden Knights in the NHL and Raiders in the NFL calling the city home. Over the last ten years, the MGM Grand Garden Arena has hosted several major championship boxing matches and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) pay-per-view events, along with other high-profile sports entertainment.
Mayweather vs. Alvarez
In September 2013, the hotly-anticipated boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Canelo Alvarez took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. It was one of the most lucrative pay-per-view fights of all time, with over 2.2 million buys. Though Mayweather won by majority decision, both fighters put on an incredible show for the sold-out arena crowd.
UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington
Mixed martial arts has become a marquee event for the MGM Grand, with the arena hosting numerous major UFC pay-per-view cards. The UFC 268 card in November 2021 was a massive success, with American Kamaru Usman defeating rival Colby Covington in the main event. UFC events at the MGM Grand always attract a feverish crowd.
An Iconic Decade of Entertainment
Whether it was mind-blowing concert spectacles, hilarious marquee comedy shows, or even major championship boxing and UFC matches, the MGM Grand Garden Arena was the place to be for entertainment in Las Vegas over the past ten years. The arena cemented its reputation as one of the top venues in the world for live performances and sporting events.
With renovations already underway, the MGM Grand Garden Arena will continue attracting some of the biggest names in music, comedy, and sports to the Entertainment Capital of the World over the next decade. If the 2013–2023 stretch was any indication, fans have plenty of iconic performances to look forward to in the years to come.
