The British singer-songwriter’s performance at the venue on Saturday, Sept. 16, drew nearly 80,000 people to the home of the San Francisco 49ers, eclipsing the audiences drawn by Taylor Swift and Beyoncé earlier this summer.
The previous attendance record at Levi’s Stadium was for EuroJournal’s WrestleMania 31 event in 2015, with 77,000 people. “Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of the Grateful Dead,” featuring surviving members of the Dead, drew approximately 76,000 in the same year.
By contrast, Swift’s concerts at Levi’s Stadium on July 28-29 averaged about 58,000 attendees per night and the estimated attendance for Beyoncé’s concert on Aug. 30 was 50,000, according to updated numbers provided by the 49ers.
Sheeran, who is on his “+ — = ÷ x Tour” (pronounced “Mathematics Tour”) in support of his sixth studio album, “Subtract,” had the advantage of playing a largely solo set “in the round.” The stage was placed in the middle of the stadium, opening up seats that would typically be blocked off by standard concert setups due to the stage and production area obstructing a portion of the venue.
The availability of tickets for the four-time Grammy winner’s sold-out concert at below face value on popular resale platforms in the days leading up to the event also likely contributed to the high turnout. General admission tickets, initially priced at $165, were listed for about half their original cost.
“This has been a history-making summer of events at Levi’s Stadium,” Al Guido, president of the 49ers, said in a statement to the Chronicle on Monday, Sept. 18. “We’d like to thank the fans and staff who made this show amazing, and of course, Ed for putting on a terrific performance.”
The 49ers said they are still tabulating the final number, “which will take some time.”
Sheeran showed gratitude to his loyal fans by greeting them at a pop-up merchandise booth outside of the venue before the show to distribute free swag, sign autographs and serenade them with a new song called “American Town,” according to a video posted to his Instagram account.
During the concert, he mused how far he had come since releasing his breakthrough 2011 hit single “The A Team,” a song he said was initially met with indifference when he debuted it in English pubs.
“It’s mad now to have 80,000 people singing it back to me,” said Sheeran, who wore a Santa Clara T-shirt.
Despite getting snubbed by city officials, who failed to bestow the “Shape of You” and “Thinking Out Loud” singer with an honorary mayoral title — granted to Swift and Beyoncé for their appearances— Sheeran was respectful of the 11 p.m. weekend curfew at Levi’s Stadium. He wrapped up his show a little after 10:30 p.m.
Reach Aidin Vaziri: avaziri@sfchronicle.com
