BIZ BUZZ: SM MOA Arena keeps crowds coming

Sy-family led SM Mall of Asia Arena continues to flex its draw, crossing 2,400 shows since opening while packing in over 1.1 million attendees in 2025 alone.

That translates to more than 200 events last year, with foot traffic up 10 percent—proof that big-ticket live entertainment remains a reliable magnet despite shifting consumer habits.

Global acts—from Taylor Swift to BTS—have long treated the venue as a Manila staple, alongside marquee sporting events like the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Operator SM Prime Holdings Inc. is doubling down, pouring $2.1 million into a new LED system and other upgrades aimed at sharpening the fan experience—and keeping promoters coming back.

The bigger play, however, is expansion. A new arena in Cebu is slated to open by the second quarter of 2026, widening SM’s reach beyond Luzon and tapping fresh demand in the Visayas.

With a broader venue portfolio that can host up to 110,000 people across sites, SM Prime appears to be betting that live events—long disrupted by the pandemic—are not just back, but scaling up.