OT: Who Saw Cheap Trick and UFO at the RAC?

Knight Shift · Aug 9, 2026

Looks like concerts at the RAC ceased in 1986, if Setlist.fm is correct.

First one: Patti Smith Group- May 23, 1978

Blue Brothers played on May 23, 1978

Frank Zappa played in 1980

Steve Winwood appears to be the last concert at the RAC in 1986.

This is a cool gift:

50 yd line RR · Aug 9, 2026

Saw Stevie Winwood had no idea that was the last concert there.
I still don’t understand why they don’t have any concerts there.

Vlife · Aug 9, 2026

Saw Supertramp at the RAC

RUGuitarMan1 · Aug 10, 2026

I saw The Allman Brothers Band and The New Riders of The Purple Sage at the RAC in 1979. There were many concerts there in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Here is a little history, I’m sure there is a full listing somewhere (haven’t found it yet):

Google Search

Altrev · Aug 10, 2026

RUGuitarMan1 said:
I saw The Allman Brothers Band and The New Riders of The Purple Sage at the RAC in 1979. There were many concerts there in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Here is a little history, I’m sure there is a full listing somewhere (haven’t found it yet):

Google Search

Slept out on the sidewalk outside the RAC for tix to that Allman Brothers show

RU0917 · Aug 10, 2026

Technically there was a concert at the RAC for Rutgersfest (RIP) when I was an undergrad in 2007 - got moved inside for weather reasons. The Roots headlined, which was pretty cool. Imagine that must have happened at least a few other times too.

Fat Koko · Aug 10, 2026

Anybody at Rutgers remember what caused Bruce to relocate his RAC show to Jadwin in 1978?

In 2003, the Rutgers Senate observed,

"Controversy over the utilization of the Rutgers Athletic Center reached its peak on October 31, 1978, when a potential Bruce Springsteen concert conflicted with a pre-arranged men's basketball practice. The head coach of the men's basketball team, Thomas Young, refused to move the practice to any of the other available athletic facilities. Instead of performing at the Rutgers Athletic Center, Bruce Springsteen performed at the Jadwin Gym at Princeton University, right down the road from Rutgers. This incident sparked outrage among the student body, and boycotts and disruptions of basketball games were threatened in response to the actions of Coach Young."

The Rutgers Senate adopted a resolution supporting the resumption of concerts at Rutgers athletics facilities. Unsurprisingly for an action taken by this body, the resolution accomplished nothing.

Fat Koko · Aug 10, 2026

Live Nation's CEO says 6,000 is the sweet spot for concerts.

The RAC has 7,848 seats, including 1,454 in the student section. Fold up the student section for the stage, and the concert capacity is 6,394, plus floor seats.

The Rutgers people should discuss with Live Nation what needs to be done to make the RAC a concert venue. Talk to Dolan at MSG too. His company owns the Theatre at MSG and Radio City Music Hall, both successful ~6,000 square foot venues, and Dolan plus others including Oak View invest big time into multi-use sports-concert venues.

Maybe making the RAC a successful concert venue would too big to handle for the athletic department now.

Knight Shift · Aug 10, 2026

Fat Koko said:
Anybody at Rutgers remember what caused Bruce to relocate his RAC show to Jadwin in 1978?

In 2003, the Rutgers Senate observed,

"Controversy over the utilization of the Rutgers Athletic Center reached its peak on October 31, 1978, when a potential Bruce Springsteen concert conflicted with a pre-arranged men's basketball practice. The head coach of the men's basketball team, Thomas Young, refused to move the practice to any of the other available athletic facilities. Instead of performing at the Rutgers Athletic Center, Bruce Springsteen performed at the Jadwin Gym at Princeton University, right down the road from Rutgers. This incident sparked outrage among the student body, and boycotts and disruptions of basketball games were threatened in response to the actions of Coach Young."

The Rutgers Senate adopted a resolution supporting the resumption of concerts at Rutgers athletics facilities. Unsurprisingly for an action taken by this body, the resolution accomplished nothing.

Thomas Young never saw the success he saw in 1976. . . .

Tango Two · Aug 10, 2026

I was there:

Program:

Cheap Trick and UFO at Rutgers. March 5, 1981

UFO Setlist

UFO Setlist at Rutgers Athletic Center, Piscataway

Get the UFO Setlist of the concert at Rutgers Athletic Center, Piscataway, NJ, USA on March 5, 1981 from the The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent Tour and other UFO Setlists for free on setlist.fm!

www.setlist.fm

Cheap Trick Setlist

Cheap Trick Setlist at Rutgers Athletic Center, Piscataway

Get the Cheap Trick Setlist of the concert at Rutgers Athletic Center, Piscataway, NJ, USA on March 5, 1981 from the All Shook Up Tour and other Cheap Trick Setlists for free on setlist.fm!

www.setlist.fm

PiscatawayMike · Aug 10, 2026

R.E.M./10,000 Maniacs was the last of the major shows at the RAC in 1987.

https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/r-e-m-10-000-maniacs-c118b85b-5b44-463a-b8fd-61e1ab496eb2

https://www.setlisting.com/setlists/r-e-m-louis-brown-athletic-center-piscataway-nj-usa-1987-10-22

CJ1987 · Aug 11, 2026

PiscatawayMike said:
R.E.M./10,000 Maniacs was the last of the major shows at the RAC in 1987.

https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/r-e-m-10-000-maniacs-c118b85b-5b44-463a-b8fd-61e1ab496eb2

https://www.setlisting.com/setlists/r-e-m-louis-brown-athletic-center-piscataway-nj-usa-1987-10-22

I was at that show, skipped 10,000 Maniacs because they hadn't broke yet and I regret it to this day.

willisneverrana43 · Aug 11, 2026

Never saw a show at the RAC. Saw Huey Lewis & the News at the Barn, which was pretty forgettable.

NBHPRU · Aug 11, 2026

For those who have not seen my post in the RIP Bob Weir thread: I saw the Jerry Garcia band at the barn in 1977. Tickets cost $6.50.

iReC89 · Aug 11, 2026

Knight Shift said:
Steve Winwood appears to be the last concert at the RAC in 1986.

Looks like I caught that last big concert 11/10/86. Sort of. I worked for RU catering and had to be there early. Warm up band Level 42 was rehearsing 'Something About You' over and over to an empty space. It was pretty cool.

RUPete90 · Aug 11, 2026

NBHPRU said:
For those who have not seen my post in the RIP Bob Weir thread: I saw the Jerry Garcia band at the barn in 1977. Tickets cost $6.50.

Grateful Dead played the RAC in May of 1983, I believe. I saw Bob Weir at the Rutgers Student Center and Jerry Garcia Band at the Livingston College Gym.

OT: Who Saw Cheap Trick and UFO at the RAC?

Heisman

All-Conference

Senior

All-Conference

All-Conference

Sophomore

All-Conference

All-Conference

Heisman

Heisman

Heisman

Junior

All-American

Junior

All-Conference

All-Conference