Victory Tour (The Jacksons)

A jacket from the Victory Tour

In November 1983, the Jacksons announced plans for a major tour in 1984 at a press conference, with boxing promoter Don King offering $3 million ($8.5 million in 2022 dollars[2]) in upfront advances. That spring, the Victory album had been recorded, to be released shortly before the tour itself.

At the time the tour was announced, the Jacksons had not lined up a promoter for the shows. In the spring of 1984, Chuck Sullivan, son of Billy Sullivan, owner of the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL), went to Los Angeles to see if he could get the Jacksons to choose the team's home, Foxboro Stadium, which the family also owned, for the group's Boston-area shows. After using his financial and legal expertise to help his father regain control of the team he had founded and built in the wake of a 1974 boardroom coup, the younger Sullivan, who had promoted concerts as an undergraduate at Boston College and during his United States Army service in Thailand, had begun staging concerts at the stadium to generate extra income for the team.[7]

The set list included songs from the Jacksons' albums Destiny and Triumph. Despite the name of the tour, the Victory album was not represented.[8] There were also songs on the list from Jermaine's and Michael's solo careers. Songs from Michael's albums Off the Wall and Thriller were both represented. The set list did not include "Thriller" itself because Michael did not like the way the song sounded live, but it was later performed regularly during Michael's solo tours. "State Of Shock" was also rehearsed during sound check but was never performed (although a snippet of Michael’s vocal was heard in leaked footage of the concert in Toronto).[9] Jermaine sometimes performed the song "Dynamite" during his solo segment in place of the usual "You Like Me, Don't You?"

At a meeting, Frank DiLeo, a vice president of the Jacksons' label, Epic Records, told Sullivan that the group's talks with its original promoter had broken down and they were seeking a replacement. Sensing an opportunity, Sullivan returned to Boston and began putting together the financing to allow Stadium Management Corp. (SMC), the Patriots' subsidiary that operated Foxboro Stadium, to promote the entire Victory Tour. Initially he partnered with Eddie DeBartolo, then-owner of another NFL team, the San Francisco 49ers, in putting together a bid offering the Jacksons two-thirds of the tour's gross revenue against a guaranteed $40 million ($113 million in modern dollars[2]).[7]

DeBartolo withdrew from the bid when he began to see the deal as too risky. Sullivan persevered by himself, and in late April DiLeo told him at another meeting in Los Angeles that SMC, which had never handled a tour, would be the promoter of the year's most eagerly anticipated concert tour, expected to gross $70–80 million. The deal was very generous to the Jacksons. Sullivan had agreed that they would receive 83.4% of gross potential ticket revenues, which meant in practical terms that the group would be paid as if the show had sold out regardless of whether it actually did. That percentage was at least 25 points above what was at that time the industry standard for artists on tour.[7]

Foxboro Stadium, used as collateral to finance the tour, as seen shortly before its demolition in the early 2000s.

Sullivan also guaranteed the Jacksons an advance of $36.6 million ($103 million in modern dollars[2]). He put Foxboro Stadium up as collateral for a $12.5 million loan to pay the first installment shortly before the tour started. The balance was due two weeks later.[7]

The month after winning the tour bid, Sullivan approached stadium managers at the NFL's meetings, many of whom were there to bid for future Super Bowls. He sought changes to their usual arrangements with touring performers in order to make the Victory Tour more profitable. Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Chiefs, agreed to accept only a $100,000 fee for the three opening concerts instead of its usual percentage of ticket sales and concessions. The Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida, provided nearly half a million dollars' worth of free goods and services. Ultimately, 26 of the 55 dates were played in 17 stadiums that were home to NFL teams.[7] But some others balked at Sullivan's demands. To use John F. Kennedy Stadium, Sullivan asked the city of Philadelphia for almost $400,000 in tax breaks and subsidies. Among them were free hotel rooms and suites for all tour workers, free use of the stadium and waiver of concession revenue. He said the Jacksons' presence would generate revenue that would make up the difference, but the city stood firm on some provisions.[7]

Outside of negotiations, Sullivan's behavior on tour embarrassed the Jacksons on some occasions. At Washington's Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, he forgot his pass and was denied entry.[10] Sullivan was particularly humiliated when the board of selectmen in Foxboro, Massachusetts, where his family's team and stadium were located, uncharacteristically denied a permit for the concert, citing "the unknown element". This was not only a major personal embarrassment for Sullivan, but also a crippling financial blow as it denied the family the use of the only facility where they would have kept all of the revenue from sources such as concessions and parking.

News writers suggested in retrospect that the board's decision was racially motivated. It was also stated that there had been continuing security concerns about the stadium during Patriots' games and previous concerts, but the board had never denied permits on that basis before.[10] Others pointed the possibility of lobbying from the Sullivans' business rivals, since the family had accumulated many enemies in the state of Massachusetts over years of often bitter struggle to keep control of the Patriots. In any case, Sullivan was acutely aware that staging any sort of large event in Massachusetts at the time was considered a privilege utterly dependent on the goodwill of the board of selectmen, and thus was in no position to antagonize them further by challenging their decision.

To help defray the tour's costs, the Jacksons sought a corporate sponsor. They had all but concluded a lucrative deal with Quaker Oats when King came to them with a deal he had already signed with Pepsi. Although it would pay them less money, the brothers were acutely aware that King was able and willing to shut down the entire tour if he were crossed. They thus had no choice but to take the deal with Pepsi and break off talks with Quaker.

Part of the deal arranged by King was that Michael, who did not drink Pepsi, would have to do two television commercials. He made sure that his face appeared minimally in them to avoid overexposing his image, much to King's annoyance. During filming of one of the two commercials, Michael suffered second and third degree burns on his scalp when a pyrotechnic effect malfunctioned, catching his hair on fire. Many people, including friends and associates of Michael, believe this incident is what sparked his later problems with prescription drug abuse.[11][12][13][14]

King, Sullivan and the Jacksons' father, Joe Jackson (who no longer managed any of his sons by that point), came up with a way to generate additional revenue from ticket sales. Those wishing to attend would have to send a postal money order for $120 ($340 in 2023 dollars[2]) along with a special form to a lottery to buy blocks of four tickets at $30 apiece (US$85 in 2022 dollars[2]), ostensibly to curtail scalpers. Upon receipt the money was to be deposited into a standard money market account earning 7% annual interest; it would take six to eight weeks for the lottery to be held and money to be refunded to the unsuccessful purchasers. Since only one in ten purchasers would win the lottery and receive tickets, there would be more money in the bank for that time period than there were tickets to sell, and they expected to earn $10–12 million in interest.[14]

Joe, Jermaine, Marlon, Jackie, Tito and Randy were in favor of the plan, but Michael was not and warned them that it would be a public relations disaster. The $30 ticket price was already higher than most touring acts (such as Prince and Bruce Springsteen) charged at the time and was compounded by the requirement to buy four. This put tickets out of reach of many of Michael's African-American fans who were not financially secure. That community was joined by many commentators in the media in vociferously criticizing the Jacksons over the plan.[14] Nevertheless, when newspapers published the form for tickets to the first show in Kansas City in late June, fans lined up at stores before they opened to buy them. A local radio disk jockey said some newspapers were even stolen from lawns.[15]

On July 5, 1984, after receiving a letter from eleven-year-old fan Ladonna Jones, who accused the Jacksons and their promoters of being "selfish and just out for money," Michael held a press conference to announce changes in the tour's organization and also to announce that his share of the proceeds from the tour would be donated to charity. Jones later received VIP treatment at the Dallas concert. The following is Michael's speech at the press conference:

A lot of people are having trouble getting tickets. The other day I got a letter from a fan in Texas named Ladonna Jones. She'd been saving her money from odd jobs to buy a ticket, but with the turned tour system, she'd have to buy four tickets and she couldn't afford that. So, we asked our promoter to work out a new way of distributing tickets, a way that no longer requires a money order. There has also been a lot of talk about the promoter holding money for tickets that didn't sell. I've asked our promoter to end the mail order ticket system as soon as possible so that no one will pay money unless they get a ticket. Finally, and most importantly, there's something else I am going to announce today. I want you to know that I decided to donate all my money I make from our performance to charity. There will be further press statements released in the next two weeks.

Afterwards, the procedures were modified, but all sales continued to be made by mail (except for the six final shows at Dodger Stadium, where tickets were also sold through Ticketmaster). Tickets were typically made available only a week to ten days in advance, and many tickets ended up in the hands of ticket brokers.

The ticket price remained unchanged and at a press conference, King justified the $30 price as appropriate and that he did not blame the promoters for charging that price, adding that "you must understand, you get what you pay for."[16]

Financial difficulties

Arrowhead Stadium, where the tour opened, as it appeared at the time

The tour sold what was then a record number of tickets despite the high price.[17] The opening shows were widely covered in the national media and sold out. "Anybody who sees this show will be a better person for years to come", King told the media before the first date in Kansas City. "Michael Jackson has transcended all earthly bounds. Every race, color and creed is waiting for this tour."[14]

Sullivan had estimated in June that he would make up to $13 million, but by August he had reduced that estimate by more than three-quarters, to $3 million. Transporting the 365-ton (331 t) stage Michael had designed, which took up one-third of a football field (approximately 19,200 square feet (1,780 m²)), required over thirty tractor trailers. It was so large it required using some of the seating area, in some venues taking as much as a quarter of the potential available seats off the market.[10]

Before the tour began Sullivan had spent nearly a million dollars on legal fees and insurance. Among the 250 workers on the tour payroll was an "ambiance director" who provided "homey touches" to the traveling parlor the group relaxed in before and after shows. Overhead costs were soon averaging around a million dollars a week, far over expectations, and Sullivan was unable to pay the $24 million balance on the advance. He renegotiated the deal down to 75% of gross potential seat revenues soon after the tour began.[7]

Michael's announcement generated some backlash from his brothers. King stated:

There's no way Michael should be as big as he is and treat his family the way he does. He feels his father done him wrong? His father may have done some wrong, but he also had to do a whole lot right ... What Michael's got to realize is that he's a nigger ... He's one of the megastars of the world, but he's still going to be a nigger megastar.

Michael was so upset when he learned of King's remarks that he called his lawyer John Branca and demanded to “sue his ass”. Branca calmed him down and persuaded him to drop the idea.[14]

The Jacksons netted approximately $36 million, which worked out to about $7 million for each brother. Michael, who alone did not need the money, donated his share of the proceeds from the tour, approximately $5 million ($14 million in 2022 dollars[2]), to three charities, as he had promised, including the T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia and Cancer Research, the United Negro College Fund, and Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times.[19] He had also received an $18 million advance ($51 million in 2022 dollars[2]) from Sullivan for a Michael Jackson designer jeans brand, few of which were ever produced and sold before Sullivan had to stop production.[14]

Estimates of SMC's losses have ranged from $13 million to $22 million ($37 million to $62 million in modern dollars[2]). Sullivan and his father quietly put the word out around the NFL that the Patriots and their stadium were for sale. The $100 million asking price for the combined package made somewhat more sense when the Patriots unexpectedly qualified for Super Bowl XX after the next season, the first time they had ever done so.[7] However, the immediate financial return for this achievement was limited especially since the team played entirety of the 1985-86 postseason on the road. Thus, even after reaching the Super Bowl, the team's revenue was not nearly enough for the Sullivans to service the debt from the Victory Tour.

Compared to their contemporary major professional sports league colleagues, the Sullivans were never particularly wealthy owners. Furthermore Foxboro Stadium, although only a thirteen year old facility in 1984, was one of the smallest venues in the NFL and already well into the process of becoming outmoded by league standards. At one point the Sullivans were so close to bankruptcy that the NFL had to advance them $4 million to make their payroll. Chuck Sullivan's woes increased when his wife filed for divorce, and he had to set up a luxury box at Foxboro Stadium as his personal living quarters. He allegedly wrote several letters to Michael, begging for money to bail the team out, but Michael never replied.[10]

Under heavy pressure from the NFL, the Sullivans finally gave up and sold the Patriots to Victor Kiam in 1988. However, Kiam was unable to keep himself or the team financially stable either, and eventually the Patriots were sold again in 1992 to James Orthwein. Meanwhile, Foxboro Stadium lapsed into bankruptcy and was purchased by Boston paper magnate Robert Kraft.[10] Kraft used the stadium's lease as leverage to prevent Orthwein from breaking the agreement and moving the team to St. Louis. He further made it clear that he would go to court to enforce the lease's ironclad commitment for the Patriots to play in the stadium until 2001. Orthwein then put the team on the market, but the wording of the lease scared off potential buyers because they would also be required to negotiate with Kraft. With no other choice, Orthwein accepted Kraft's own $175 million offer to buy the Patriots in 1994.[20] Kraft has a Victory Tour poster in his office as a reminder of how he was able to realize his lifelong dream of owning the Patriots.[10]

Aside from a few months in mid-1975 and Michael's 30th Anniversary Celebration concert in 2001, the Victory Tour was one of the very few times that all six Jackson brothers worked together at the same time as a band. Jackie missed most of the tour because of a leg injury, which was described at the time as a knee injury incurred during strenuous rehearsals.[21] Margaret Maldonado, the mother of two of Jermaine's children, has alleged that Jackie in fact broke his leg in an automobile accident: his first wife Enid deliberately ran him over in a parking lot after catching him with another woman. Jackie would, however, eventually recover and was able to rejoin his brothers on stage for the last portion of the tour.[21][22] Michael sang all the lead vocals, except for a trio of Jermaine's solo hits.

Eddie Van Halen made a special guest appearance doing the "Beat It" guitar solo on July 13 in Irving, Texas.[23]

Shortly after the tour ended and the announcement that it was the group's final tour, Michael returned to his solo career[24] and Marlon left the group to start a solo career of his own.

1. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"
2. "Things I Do for You"
3. "Off the Wall"
4. "Human Nature"
5. "This Place Hotel"
6. "She's Out of My Life"
7. "Let's Get Serious" / "You Like Me, Don't You?" / "Dynamite" / "Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' (Too Good to Be True)"
8. "I Want You Back" / "The Love You Save" / "I'll Be There"
9. "Rock with You"
10. "Lovely One"

    Encore

11. "Workin' Day and Night"
12. "Beat It"
13. "Billie Jean"
14. "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (with excerpts from "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "State of Shock")

• List of highest-grossing concert tours

• Image of The Jacksons performing on stage in Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium during the Victory Tour, 1984. Los Angeles Times Photographic Archive (Collection 1429). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.