George Strait’s two highly touted concerts over the weekend inside Jones AT&T Stadium mark his first shows in Lubbock in over a decade.
The King of Country’s performances will mark the first time the 73-year-old Strait came to Lubbock for his “The Cowboy Rides Away Tour” on Jan. 18, 2013 — playing to a sold-out crowd at the then, United Spirit Arena. Strait was booked in Lubbock at least 10 times between December 1983 and April 1993, per A-J files.
In 2013, Strait and his Ace in the Hole band turned in a two-hour, 29-song performance at the United Spirit Arena.
Strait set, at the time, a venue attendance record by attracting 15,200 supporters to his 15th Lubbock concert. The concert raised the attendance bar set by the 14,944 fans — coincidentally, a prior record — who witnessed a co-headlining appearance by Strait and Reba McEntire back in March 2011.
When has George Strait played in Lubbock?
Dec. 1, 1983. Strait’s first Lubbock appearance was at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center’s exhibition hall. Tickets were $10 in advance and $12 on the day of the show. One file lists attendance at 1,446; another says the show was a sold-out dance, with 3,565 attending. He was still riding high, singing 1982 hit “Amarillo by Morning.”
Dec. 7, 1984. Concert file could not be located, but this show also was at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center’s exhibition hall. Strait had released his first Greatest Hits album, featuring songs from his first three albums.
Sept. 21, 1985. Tickets were only $10 to see Strait’s first concerts at the Fair Park Coliseum at the Panhandle-South Plains Fair. He sold out back-to-back concerts on the same night. This was the year he released his third straight No. 1 album, which featured “The Chair.”
Dec. 14, 1985. Strait’s popularity was off the charts, as he returned just three months after a prior concert. His third consecutive year to perform at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center’s exhibition hall attracted 5,122. Tickets were $11 in advance and $12.50 on the day of the show. He was a CMA winner for Top Male Vocalist.
Sept. 21, 1986. Strait returned to the Fair Park Coliseum for two more concerts. This was a year of highs and lows. In 1986, his 13-year-old daughter, Jenifer, was killed in a car accident. He released 11 consecutive No. 1 hits, beginning in 1986 with “Nobody in his Right Mind Would Have Left Her.” He repeated as CMA Vocalist of the Year.
May 8, 1987. Strait’s popularity found him headlining at the Municipal Coliseum, attracting 7,513. Tickets were $15 and Kathy Mattea opened.
March 17, 1989. Again at the Municipal Coliseum, attracting 7,355. Tickets were $16; opening acts were Billy Joe Royal and Baillie and the Boys.
April 19, 1990. A Municipal Coliseum show, with total attendance 6,580. Tickets cost $17.50.
April 11, 1991. Back at the Municipal Coliseum, attracting 6,326. Tickets were $18.50; Joe Diffie opened.
April 9, 1992. Headlining again at the Municipal Coliseum, but attendance dipped for a third consecutive year, down to 5,397. Tickets were $18.75, and Pam Tillis opened. In late 1992, Strait also starred in “Pure Country.” The film’s soundtrack would become his most successful studio album.
Oct. 17, 2002. Country music fans had not seen George Strait perform live in Lubbock for 10 years, and they could not have been more excited upon learning that he would headline at the United Spirit Arena, with the fiery Jo Dee Messina on the same show. Tickets were only $59.50 and $49.50. Attendance was listed as 14,745.
Jan. 27, 2005. Strait headlined at the USA; Dierks Bentley and Amber Dotson opened. Base ticket prices stayed at $59.50 and $49.50, with attendance 14,851.
March 7, 2008. Strait returned to the United Spirit Arena, this time with the upbeat Little Big Town and Sarah Johns opening the show. Ticket prices were bumped slightly to $64.50 and $54.50. Attendance dropped slightly to 14,354.
March 26, 2011. In what many consider to be Strait’s most impressive and memorable Lubbock appearance, he and Reba McEntire co-headlined at the United Spirit Arena. LeeAnn Womack opened. While ticket prices jumped to $89.50 and $69.50, it was difficult to locate empty seats. Attendance was listed at 14,944.
Jan. 18, 2013 (Friday). At the time, this was thought to be Strait’s final Lubbock concert. Martina McBride opens. Base ticket price is unchanged at $89.50 and $69.50, but with $400 and $1,000 packages also being sold. Harper projected attendance in advance at 14,544.
April 24, 2026 (Friday). Zach Top and Dylan Gossett opened for the King of Country in the first of two shows Strait scheduled in Lubbock.
April 25, 2026 (Saturday). Miranda Lambert and Texas Tech’s own Hudson Westbrook started things off on the final day of a two-night set for Strait — whose team initially announced only one concert on April 24. But days after the news broke, George Strait’s social media announced a second show. Could this be the final time the Troubadour makes a visit to the South Plains?
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: When was the last time George Strait played in Lubbock? It’s been awhile
Reporting by Carlos Silva Jr., Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
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