bulltproof
The Fly
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2011
- Messages
- 100
Let me start by saying I am a big fan of U2. The last show before 360 that I had the pleasure to see was Elevation.
I had tickets to see their Chicago show earlier this month. I had read all I could and even emailed Joe because I thought he did an excellent blog regarding the GA experience. He was very helpful, and answered my questions very quickly.
I got contact information for Soldier Field. My contact at the stadium was Kevin Wash. He is the Director of Event Services. I asked Mr. Walsh a ton of questions. His response was fast and thorough.
He told me there was no "list" that he would honor. Admission was a first come, first serve basis. Here is one of his emails:
[FONT="]Last concert a fan started a number wrist banding system. That did not work out real well for the fan. We have police ready to issue tickets prior to 6 a m. The only system that we will honor is the system that we will implement. If someone tells you are 79 and you come # 7. You are # 7 in our plan. We have Stadium rules and we follow them. That is the bottom line. If the fan club creates internal drama that is on the fan club and not us. But we will use OUR plan. [/FONT]
This concerned me because I had to trek around Soldier Field to find this illusive list and get on it. I finally found Lia and Romi. I got on the list about 1am on Monday.
Lia told me there would be no check in on Monday and to meet at 4:30 "or thereabout" on the day of show.
I was able to park on Tuesday at 5:00am. That was the earliest the garage opened.
When I went to the parking garage to check in, I was told "You lost your spot". I was furious. I explained that the parking garage didn't open until 5. Lia told me to ask those around me if I could join the line again.
The problem I have is that she told me "Or thereabout". She didn't say "no later than", or "exactly". AND she was the list coordinator. Surely she should have a contingency plan for those that had to park in the garage. I guess I ask too much.
When we were led by security to the official GA line there were 6 people there. SIX. All I heard from others was how they wanted to kick some ass. Really? U2 fans want to kick ass over 6 people? Maybe I was at a Metallica show and didn't know it. Surely these weren't fans of a band that promotes equality and love.
The six that were lined up were probably doing as the venue told them. First come, first serve. Yet because there was a list there were more important people that had superior right to dictate line order.
This started to leave a bad taste in my mouth. I was distraught that the band I love had such uncool fans.
Once we entered the stadium, more chaos. Most of the people ran to the rail. Absolutely, I did too. But when I got there, it looked like a strand of paper dolls. Thirty people with arms a legs spread out were taking up the outer rail. Maybe some were valid "holds". But some, no doubt, were not.
On to Pittsburgh
I decided to show up at Pittsburgh a day earlier. We were there by 3am on Saturday. I was going to start a list, but thought I would sit back and see how it was run, and take the complete experience in.
We walked around the stadium, and saw Arlette. We also saw Mike. Arlette didn't talk to us, but Mike did. He said he was about to start the list. He said he had about 10 other people waiting to sign up on the list. They weren't there yet. When he brought the notebook and pen I asked him what number I would be (I expected him to say 12). He said I would be number 2. He let me sign my name, and wrote "2" on my hand.
We talked for a few minutes about what would be fair, and what's not. He seemed to be honest and I thought would make a great list coordinator.
INCOMING!
Romi and Laura showed up. So did Casey and a few others.
I listened as I heard Romi tell how he wanted to add people that weren't there. He called it a "plus one" system. He said he did it at all the shows.
He tried to add people BEFORE allowing Casey to sign her name. Of course, Casey told him no.
I remember he added Brad to the list. He also added Tom and Michelle.
So ONE guy wanted to add 3 people to a system he called "plus one".
[** pic deleted per member requests **]
Above is a pic of the pencil whipping that was about to ensue.
I had tickets to see their Chicago show earlier this month. I had read all I could and even emailed Joe because I thought he did an excellent blog regarding the GA experience. He was very helpful, and answered my questions very quickly.
I got contact information for Soldier Field. My contact at the stadium was Kevin Wash. He is the Director of Event Services. I asked Mr. Walsh a ton of questions. His response was fast and thorough.
He told me there was no "list" that he would honor. Admission was a first come, first serve basis. Here is one of his emails:
[FONT="]Last concert a fan started a number wrist banding system. That did not work out real well for the fan. We have police ready to issue tickets prior to 6 a m. The only system that we will honor is the system that we will implement. If someone tells you are 79 and you come # 7. You are # 7 in our plan. We have Stadium rules and we follow them. That is the bottom line. If the fan club creates internal drama that is on the fan club and not us. But we will use OUR plan. [/FONT]
This concerned me because I had to trek around Soldier Field to find this illusive list and get on it. I finally found Lia and Romi. I got on the list about 1am on Monday.
Lia told me there would be no check in on Monday and to meet at 4:30 "or thereabout" on the day of show.
I was able to park on Tuesday at 5:00am. That was the earliest the garage opened.
When I went to the parking garage to check in, I was told "You lost your spot". I was furious. I explained that the parking garage didn't open until 5. Lia told me to ask those around me if I could join the line again.
The problem I have is that she told me "Or thereabout". She didn't say "no later than", or "exactly". AND she was the list coordinator. Surely she should have a contingency plan for those that had to park in the garage. I guess I ask too much.
When we were led by security to the official GA line there were 6 people there. SIX. All I heard from others was how they wanted to kick some ass. Really? U2 fans want to kick ass over 6 people? Maybe I was at a Metallica show and didn't know it. Surely these weren't fans of a band that promotes equality and love.
The six that were lined up were probably doing as the venue told them. First come, first serve. Yet because there was a list there were more important people that had superior right to dictate line order.
This started to leave a bad taste in my mouth. I was distraught that the band I love had such uncool fans.
Once we entered the stadium, more chaos. Most of the people ran to the rail. Absolutely, I did too. But when I got there, it looked like a strand of paper dolls. Thirty people with arms a legs spread out were taking up the outer rail. Maybe some were valid "holds". But some, no doubt, were not.
On to Pittsburgh
I decided to show up at Pittsburgh a day earlier. We were there by 3am on Saturday. I was going to start a list, but thought I would sit back and see how it was run, and take the complete experience in.
We walked around the stadium, and saw Arlette. We also saw Mike. Arlette didn't talk to us, but Mike did. He said he was about to start the list. He said he had about 10 other people waiting to sign up on the list. They weren't there yet. When he brought the notebook and pen I asked him what number I would be (I expected him to say 12). He said I would be number 2. He let me sign my name, and wrote "2" on my hand.
We talked for a few minutes about what would be fair, and what's not. He seemed to be honest and I thought would make a great list coordinator.
INCOMING!
Romi and Laura showed up. So did Casey and a few others.
I listened as I heard Romi tell how he wanted to add people that weren't there. He called it a "plus one" system. He said he did it at all the shows.
He tried to add people BEFORE allowing Casey to sign her name. Of course, Casey told him no.
I remember he added Brad to the list. He also added Tom and Michelle.
So ONE guy wanted to add 3 people to a system he called "plus one".
[** pic deleted per member requests **]
Above is a pic of the pencil whipping that was about to ensue.
There may have been others in this group to add people, however, Romi was the most adamant and vocal about it.
Within minutes, Mike lost control of the list. It was sad really. Mike is a good guy, and it seemed he had the best of intentions. The little "Napoleons" had to get their proverbial "finger in the pie".
Two to tango...
Of course, what would a cluster f*ck of a list be without two lists?
Let's just add another! While Mike was starting a list on Saturday morning, Lou started a list on Friday. Friday? Three days before the show? Yep. Friday. Three days before the show.
Now we had 2 lists with 27 names on it.
Lou had seven names on hers. The other list had 20.
How many people were there?
[** pic deleted per member requests **]
So there are 12 people, and 27 names on a list? Odd...
[** pic deleted per member requests **]
Since you may not be able to see the names, here they are:
Both lists merged. Lou's group had "plus one's". The other list had "plus one's" (unless you count Romi's 3, then it's "plus three").
They didn't even have the courtesy to add the plus one's AFTER the actual people that were there.
[** pic deleted per member requests **]
[/CENTER]
[/CENTER]Within minutes, Mike lost control of the list. It was sad really. Mike is a good guy, and it seemed he had the best of intentions. The little "Napoleons" had to get their proverbial "finger in the pie".
Two to tango...
Of course, what would a cluster f*ck of a list be without two lists?
Let's just add another! While Mike was starting a list on Saturday morning, Lou started a list on Friday. Friday? Three days before the show? Yep. Friday. Three days before the show.
Now we had 2 lists with 27 names on it.
Lou had seven names on hers. The other list had 20.
How many people were there?
[** pic deleted per member requests **]
... about 12.
So there are 12 people, and 27 names on a list? Odd...
[** pic deleted per member requests **]
Since you may not be able to see the names, here they are:
- Lou
- Mike
- Arlette
- Isela
- Tracy
- Ami
- Christine
- Tyler
- Laura
- Roman
- Fernando
- Kristi
- Shawn
- Casey
- Michelle
- Craig
- Alison
- Anna
- Beth
- Michelle
- Tom
- Lacie
- Lorie
- Tim
- Brad
- Lisa
- Kelly
Both lists merged. Lou's group had "plus one's". The other list had "plus one's" (unless you count Romi's 3, then it's "plus three").
They didn't even have the courtesy to add the plus one's AFTER the actual people that were there.
[** pic deleted per member requests **]
Rewrite the list. And rewrite it.
And hide all evidence that it was rewritten.
Why hide something if it is common knowledge?
And hide all evidence that it was rewritten.
Why hide something if it is common knowledge?
My question is...
If someone will "plus one" people 2 days before, what's to stop them from adding names to the list while they work their shift?
Their shift? Yes. The people that sign the list can also volunteer to stay for 3 hour time slots to help keep the list going. What I found odd with this is that in a 3 hour shift some people had 2-5 people sign up. However, some "volunteers" had 10+ sign up. Were they plus ones?
Of course they don't mind. YOU are after them in line. It's the people behind you that get short changed. Why should they show up at 5am, and your friend show up at 2pm?
What time is it in the world?
More confusion came when everyone was told to be at the show at 7am.
I guess U2Dave told Lou he wanted them there at 5am. And Lou... well she argued with Dave. Way to go Lou
.
So a post was made here about the 5am change. What about the people that show up at 7am? fyi: there were 158 people on the list that were told 7am.
I talked to several "volunteers". Most of them said "f*ck them, they loose their spot".
Here is an interesting video that shows Lou telling a fan how to make the GA line work...
[** video deleted per member requests **]
It must have worked Lou! The friend with number 237 was right beside them.
[** pic deleted per member requests **]
[** pic deleted per member requests **]
If someone will "plus one" people 2 days before, what's to stop them from adding names to the list while they work their shift?
Their shift? Yes. The people that sign the list can also volunteer to stay for 3 hour time slots to help keep the list going. What I found odd with this is that in a 3 hour shift some people had 2-5 people sign up. However, some "volunteers" had 10+ sign up. Were they plus ones?
Of course they don't mind. YOU are after them in line. It's the people behind you that get short changed. Why should they show up at 5am, and your friend show up at 2pm?
What time is it in the world?
More confusion came when everyone was told to be at the show at 7am.
I guess U2Dave told Lou he wanted them there at 5am. And Lou... well she argued with Dave. Way to go Lou
.So a post was made here about the 5am change. What about the people that show up at 7am? fyi: there were 158 people on the list that were told 7am.
I talked to several "volunteers". Most of them said "f*ck them, they loose their spot".
Here is an interesting video that shows Lou telling a fan how to make the GA line work...
[** video deleted per member requests **]
It must have worked Lou! The friend with number 237 was right beside them.
[** pic deleted per member requests **]
And that's what you get when you endure days of "list" drama.
[** pic deleted per member requests **]
You deal with the "paper dolls".
I'm not trying to piss people off. I like U2. Do they really need this stigma following them?
I'm not trying to piss people off. I like U2. Do they really need this stigma following them?
Last edited by a moderator:
