Maybe half-a-dozen arenas or so, here and there would work!
Phil Collins' European tour last year could maybe be one of many possiblities.
He started out with 5 shows each in London, Cologne and Paris and added a few single ones later on (Dublin etc.).
Although Paris and Cologne sold out fast you could still get a ticket, because he played the biggest arenas there.
But for the RAH residency it was impossible. It was sold out the minute it went on sale. And the secondary market prices went mad.