I understand the hire charge for the "exclusive let" where you get all 5000 seats in the RAH is about twice the charge for the "normal" 4000. That's why most acts just book the hall the "cheap" way.

I saw The Who live last summer in a 4500 seat big top in Liverpool. Still awesomely good. Funnily enough, the new Kaiser Chiefs album is on my CD player as I type.

There are alot of good gigs at the RAH coming up. 2 nights of Noel Gallagher solo at end March (those all sold in an hour apparently)plus Ray Davies in May too. Always a superb night with Ray. Especially for Steve Knightley, Don McLean is playing either one or two nights there in the Autumn...