I lined up with some interferencers around 6 am on Saturday. The front of the line was a bit contentious, I must say. We stopped to say hello to people we had known from previous tours and were basically yelled at and told to move to the back of the line. I would say we were about 200 people back or so.
Phil would visit us from the front of the line and give up updates.
The people around us were very nice and the line wide but venue security was watching it all day. Some time around noon we heard that we would be moved up after 3 pm. As the day went on we were told that the line would "close" (no more potty breaks, putting stuff away, etc)
Well, at about 10 to 4 there was a mad rush and the line turned into what you saw on my twitpics. There were cutters and people who got in line hours after us in front of us. Not to mention how close everyone was standing. They roped off the first group and brought them to the turnstyles. Apparently, they venue staff had no clue how to: a.) put on a wrist band, b.) punch a hole in a tickets, or c.)scan a ticket for entrance to the venue. I know people in the first group who didn't get their ticket scanned or get a wristband until they were inside Soldier Field.
Once inside, it was a mad dash to the floor entrance. Pushing, shoving, going through landscaping. . We were stopped again to show our punched ticket and wristbands. The first group had to be wristbanded at this point. All the while, people are taking small steps and crushing closer.
They funneled us through small gates and then it was another crazy run to the floor. They weren't counting how many people were going in the inner circle. We chose the back center 2 or 3 people off the rail. There were people on the rails that were waaaaay behind us in line so that was frustrating.
By the time Snow Patrol came on it was so tight that you could not move. Everyone was shoulder to shoulder, touching. It was hard to get your hands up without touching the person in front of you.
A guy had a seizure at the start of Bad. At first he
couldn't fall down b/c there were so many people around so he was just collapsing on them. People were screaming on the venue security since we were like, 2 people off the rail and they just stood there. People in the crowd had to drag this poor guy to the rail and help get him over. It wasn't until someone, who we thing was from U2's team, came over that he got any help. this guy's poor sister was freaking out and Miroslava was comforting her and had to try to get her over the rail so she could go with him. Again, security didn't do much of anything.
I am not new to GA. This was the worst experience I've ever had. Other diehards we talked to after the show agreed. Stick to arenas in the US U2.
I'll comment on the show after I go tonight. I will say that the Crazy Tonight remix doesn't work for me. The first half is so awkward and disjointed it's hard to tell what song it is. Play the club remix at a club, not a stadium. kthnx.
So then we were in a panic because they could already get to the field...it ended up working out for me though...outside of the fact they just handed me my wristband and it fell off and I nearly lost it! I would say we got to the field around 5ish? Once I was in there I kinda forgot about the mess though. Sorry if I got to wordy for you...still tired from yesterdays festivities btw- we were on Adams side right at the rail...my friend and I both commeneted though we thought they would be on the rail a little more than they were...but I guess thats what you get when its 360º
