Per Vermilion County First, concert promoter Sid Bernstein purposely booked Shea Stadium as opposed to Madison Square Garden or any other venue because he wanted it to be an event as opposed to just a concert. Indeed, it was the first open-air stadium rock concert, pioneering a staple in live music performance. And as for the faulty acoustics, Bernstein noted that just being there at the height of Beatlemania was enough for the fans: “I even meet people today, who occasionally say, ‘I saw the show at Shea Stadium.’ And I ask, ‘Which one?’ And they say, ‘Y’know, the ’65 — the first one.’ And I’ll say, ‘Did you hear anything?’ And everybody will say, ‘Didn’t matter — I was there.'”

The Beatles played Shea Stadium again just one year later in August 1966, but unlike their 1965 concert, there were plenty of empty seats. Per Rolling Stone, The Beatles had changed their sound quite a bit and were experimenting with psychedelia and more avant-garde songs on their “Revolver” album with songs like “Eleanor Rigby” and “Yellow Submarine. It’s likely that the band’s young fans hadn’t caught up with their beloved Fab Four’s new direction. Rolling Stone saw evidence of the changes coming at the 1965 Shea concert, observing that John Lennon’s voice was noticeably “wider” and more “conversational” than it had been, perhaps preparing for the more experimental and introspective music that was part of the Beatles’ next incarnation.