adaher
Member
The likelihood of Symphony X or Sabaton seems remote and I am surprised to see them show up on these lists. Both bands now tour regularly in the States.
Both headliners at PPXI regularly toured the states. I think touring the states is overrated as a concern given that these tours tend to not cover too much ground. Whole regions get excluded. For a lot of us, Atlanta is the closest place to go to see our favorite bands. The only band I can think of that probably covers most of the USA is Nightwish. All the others just do Springfield, WV, the NE, the industrial Midwest, and the West Coast.
Edit: and I see Glenn beat me to it.
And yes, quality of the venue does matter to me, a lot. I hate standing up in smoke-filled clubs. I like the theater setting. Being able to see a band locally doesn't make me less likely to go to PP. In fact, it makes me less likely to see the band locally, since I can go to PP for the superior venue. Although I'm sure most metal fans are hardier than I am.