Cains Ballroom Makes List Of Top 100 Club Venues

Historic Cain's Ballroom is selling a record number of tickets - ranking it number 16 in a recent list of 100 club venues worldwide.

Cains has sold 66,573 tickets in just the last six months, putting it in close proximity with the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas.

There was a long line outside Cain's Friday, even with hours to go until the show.

Fans were awaiting to see ‘Asleep At The Wheel’ - a Cain's staple and an institution in Western Swing Music.

"You don’t buy this at Wal-Mart. You have to earn this," said fan Judy Blackwell.

Blackwell traveled from Southern Oklahoma to see the show.

Mikey and his mom Gayla Wakefield are from Georgia.

"My dad has come here for years.  We're excited and we've heard many songs about it and we are excited to get to experience it,” said Gayla.

While Western Swing is a deep part of the Cains history, the walls document the vast number of artists who have played there.

"They can tell the fans are into the show.  They love the response from the crowd when they play here," said Cains Owner Chad Rodgers.

Those fans are proving just how much they love this place.

More than 65,000 tickets sold in the last six months and Cain's is set to break its record from last year.

"Tulsa, Oklahoma just has a lot of enthusiastic music fans and it is great to see that," said Rodgers.

He is already booking shows for March and April of next Spring. It’s a huge difference from when he took over 12 years ago. In November of 2002 to April 2003, he only booked ten concerts. 

"And that was it! Now we have 6 shows maybe in one week," continued Rodgers.

So what is his strategy?  Hard work, a little gambling - and a solid reputation.

"Managers and agents call us a lot more now.  Cain's reputation, I hope to say, is growing and growing by the day and it's great to be part of it. It is great for the city,” said Rodgers.