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Lady Gaga breaks concert attendance record: What are the biggest concert venues in MA?

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Lady Gaga breaks concert attendance record: What are the biggest concert venues in MA?


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  • The biggest concert in Massachusetts history was singer Ed Sheeran at Gillette Stadium on July 1, 2023.
  • Gillette, Fenway Park in Boston, and the Xfinity Center in Mansfield are some of Massachusett’s biggest concert venues.

Lady Gaga broke the record for the highest-attended concert by a female artist when over 2 million people attended her concert in Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Saturday.

Could such a concert even be held in Massachusetts? Here’s a look at the biggest concerts and concert venues in the Bay State.

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What is the biggest concert in Massachusetts history?

The biggest concert in Massachusetts history was singer Ed Sheeran at Gillette Stadium on July 1, 2023.

For that event, 71,723 attended Sheeran’s concert, which broke the single-show attendance record at Gillette.

However, if you count orchestral concerts, the Boston Pops free concert on the Esplanade on the Fourth of July has attracted over 500,000 attendees. 

What are the biggest concert venues in Massachusetts?

Gillette Stadium (Foxboro)

Concert capacity: 65,878 (depending on stage size)

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Gillette transforms from a football stadium to a huge concert venue in the warmer months, hosting artists from Beyonce to Kendrick Lamar. 

It was the first NFL stadium Taylor Swift ever headlined, and she gave three performances in The Eras Tour there in May of 2023. While she’s played 13 shows at Gillette, it’s country star Kenney Chesney that has played the venue more than any other: at least 24 times.

While 65,878 is the football capacity, depending on the stage size it’s possible for the event space to fit more people.

Fenway Park (Boston)

Concert capacity: 37,755

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Since 2003, at least one concert has been held at Fenway Park thanks to the Fenway Concert Series. Last year, artists like Noah Kahan and the Foo Fighters performed at the iconic baseball stadium. This year, the season kicks off May 29 with Shakira.

Xfinity Center (Mansfield)

Concert capacity: 19,900

The Xfinity Center in Mansfield is an outdoor amphitheater that features open air seating and a lawn. It has 7,000 reserved seats, 7,000 lawn seats and 5,900 general admission seats. 

This year, performing artists include Halsey, Wiz Khalifa, and the Doobie Brothers.

TD Garden (Boston)

Concert capacity: 19,600

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It’s currently Celtics season, but the TD Garden hosts concerts of all types year round. This summer, artists like Tyler the Creator, Gracie Abrams and Stevie Nicks will take to the stage.

DCU Center (Worcester)

Concert capacity: 14,800

This indoor arena located in downtown Worcester holds a range of shows. Since the building was opened by Frank Sinatra in 1982, it has hosted the likes of Aerosmith, Elton John, and Madonna.

Other Massachusetts venues

  • Agganis Arena (Boston): 7,200
  • Blue Hills Bank Pavilion (Boston): 5,000
  • Leader Bank Pavilion (Boston): 5,000
  • Roadrunner (Boston): 3,500
  • Orpheum Theatre (Boston): 2700
  • Boston Opera House (Boston): 2,677
  • Symphony Hall (Boston): 2,625
  • House of Blues Boston (Boston): 2,200
  • Shubert Theatre (Boston): 1,500
  • Jordan Hall (Boston): 1,051



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It’s not just white sharks: Massachusetts shark researchers ‘closely monitoring’ another shark species this season

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It’s not just white sharks: Massachusetts shark researchers ‘closely monitoring’ another shark species this season


This is just jaw-some.

Another shark species has the attention of local white shark researchers, who will be “closely monitoring” an additional apex predator this season as beachgoers return to the water.

Dusky sharks — which were spotted attacking seals off Nantucket in the past — have also been seen off Orleans’ Nauset Beach, where great white sharks are frequently spotted during the summer and fall.

Local white shark researchers previously had not observed dusky sharks preying on seals off Massachusetts, but now it seems like the shark species is making a comeback in these northern waters.

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“It’s something we’re going to be keeping track of this year,” said Megan Winton, senior scientist with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. “We’re definitely going to be closely monitoring them.

“Some people might say, ‘Oh great, now we have another shark species we have to worry about at the beach,’ but the public safety messaging stays the same,” Winton added. “The same ‘Shark Smart’ behaviors still apply.”

To the untrained eye, dusky sharks can look like big white sharks.

They are large-bodied, about 8- to 10-feet long, typically grey with dusky margins on the fins. While a white shark’s fin is triangular, a dusky shark’s fin slopes and curves.

Dusky sharks are not as beefy as white sharks, and their tail movements are more snake-like.

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Dusky sharks are potentially dangerous to beachgoers due to their large size and occurrence in shallow coastal waters, though they have been implicated in few interactions with humans, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History.

“The same messaging goes with a second shark species feeding on seals: You don’t want to be swimming with shark food,” Winton said. “That means seals and big schools of fish.

“Also, we’ve learned that white sharks spend a lot of time in shallow water hunting for seals, so be aware of your depth when visiting our beaches,” she added. “Always pay attention to the lifeguards, and don’t swim or surf alone. Anytime you’re going into a wild environment and you know large predators are around, pay attention and be smart about it.”

Researchers put real-time shark receivers off the Cape, so lifeguards get instant updates if a tagged white shark is nearby. The lifeguards will then order everyone out of the water for some time.

Also, beachgoers are urged to report shark sightings to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy’s Sharktivity app. The app helps raise awareness of the presence of white sharks off the coast. The app sightings are fed by researchers, safety officials, and users who upload photos for confirmation.

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Last week, the first confirmed white shark report of the season was off Martha’s Vineyard when a shark fatally bit a seal.

This is the typical time of year when great whites return to the Cape and Islands to hunt for seals.

Winton over the winter was off South Carolina, where she helped tag seven white sharks. One of those sharks recently pinged off Maryland.

“Some are making their way north already as the water temperatures tick up,” Winton said.

Over the weekend, a porbeagle shark beached itself and died in Rhode Island’s Point Judith Pond.

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“The species itself isn’t that surprising as they love colder water and unlike many other sharks that have yet to arrive, this shark was likely getting ready to follow the colder water north as our waters slowly warm,” the Atlantic Shark Institute posted.

The shark was apparently first found wedged in rocks by the breakwater at Salty Brine State Beach in Galilee, but then the shark freed itself and started swimming in circles. The porbeagle then swam into Point Judith Pond and eventually died.

“Thanks to everyone who reached out to us over 24 hours to provide information and video on this shark along with Greg Skomal at MADMF and John Chisholm from New England Aquarium,” the Atlantic Shark Institute wrote. “Both aided our executive director in reviewing all the video and photos to identify this shark.”

Dr. Megan Winton looks out to sea. (National Geographic/Brandon Sargeant)

 

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Trial of accused Boston serial rapist Alvin Campbell Jr. begins today

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Trial of accused Boston serial rapist Alvin Campbell Jr. begins today


The trial of Alvin Campbell Jr., accused of sexually assaulting and attacking nine women from 2017-2019, is set to get underway on Monday.

Campbell is the older brother of Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell.

The 45-year-old faces a number of charges for allegedly sexually assaulting and attacking nine women between 2017-2019 in Boston. According to court records, he would intentionally seek out young women late at night near bars and restaurants, posing as a rideshare driver.

While most of the attacks happened in his car, there is one account of a 26-year-old woman who says Campbell Jr. drove her from Boston to his Cumberland, Rhode Island, apartment, where he assaulted her.

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Right now, he is in custody. He has been held without bail since his arrest in 2020. He continues to insist that all of the encounters he had with the women in question were consensual.

On Monday, he will finally begin the process of trying to prove his innocence to 17 jurors. The jury was selected over the last week. The trial is expected to last several weeks.

Opening statements will lead off Monday’s proceedings.

When asked about the trial, Andrea Joy Campbell said, “I am praying for the survivors and all those affected. It takes extraordinary courage to come forward, and they deserve dignity and respect.”

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Motorcyclists suffer life-threatening injuries in Marlborough crash

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Motorcyclists suffer life-threatening injuries in Marlborough crash


A multi-vehicle crash in Marlborough on Sunday sent two motorcycle riders to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, Massachusetts State Police said.

The crash involved three cars and two motorcycles along I-495 southbound, authorities said.

State police said they, along with Marlborough fire and EMS, responded to the accident at 3:52 p.m.

Both motorcycle riders have life-threatening injuries and one was airlifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

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The highway was closed but has since reopened.



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