Will they sell out stadiums in the USA?

[mikal]

you know, this is one thread i didn't follow very closely. was there actually any doubt that U2 would sell out stadiums?

 

[ntalwar]

you know, this is one thread i didn't follow very closely. was there actually any doubt that U2 would sell out stadiums?

There's a big difference between Giants Stadium and Scott Stadium (and some of the smaller/mid-market ones). It's still early.

 

[mikal]

There's a big difference between Giants Stadium and Scott Stadium (and some of the smaller/mid-market ones). It's still early.

so some people actually doubt that they will sell out stadiums?

 

[cdparky]

Its a little misleading when 80% or more of the seats were sold the week before the public sale. Impressive nonetheless.

There are what? around 30,000 paid subscribers which makes 120,000 tickets total sold in pre-sale (roughly unless there are a bunch of other pre-sales going on - something that did not happen in Europe). Are you actually suggesting that half the paid subsrciber base bought tickets to the NY show in pre-sale? It would have been nowhere near 80% - not even close.

Will be interesting to see how they go i the smaller markets. Sell-outs in these venues were almost a given but makes a great publicity kickstart for the tour in the US (which is exactly what they were after given how the dates have been announced).

 

[ramblin rose]

I don't think they mean just u2.com subscribers, there were a bunch of different presale codes floating around last week for the sports team, the stadium, you name it.

 

[cleazer]

There's a big difference between Giants Stadium and Scott Stadium (and some of the smaller/mid-market ones). It's still early.

Giants Stadium was sold out in what, half an hour? Even if other stadiums take a few days or a few months to sell out, it's still a sellout.

If the five shows this morning all sold out in a matter of minutes, they're not going to have any trouble at all selling out in DC, Atlanta, Tampa, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, Vegas, LA, or Vancouver. It might take a day or even a few weeks in some of those places, but most will probably be sold out on the first day.

The only ones that are a bit of a question mark in my mind are Charlottesville, Raleigh, and Norman. I have a feeling Charlottesville will pleasantly surprise all the doubters on Monday though.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

How many people did U2 play to in 1986 at the stadium Amnesty shows? How big was the crowd in DC for the Obabma thing in january that u2 apperaed?

Attendance at that show on June 15, 1986 at Giants Stadium was 50,207. The ticket price was $35 which for 1986 is very high. That was the only stadium amnesty show that U2 played at.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

Giants Stadium was sold out in what, half an hour? Even if other stadiums take a few days or a few months to sell out, it's still a sellout.

If the five shows this morning all sold out in a matter of minutes, they're not going to have any trouble at all selling out in DC, Atlanta, Tampa, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, Vegas, LA, or Vancouver. It might take a day or even a few weeks in some of those places, but most will probably be sold out on the first day.

The only ones that are a bit of a question mark in my mind are Charlottesville, Raleigh, and Norman. I have a feeling Charlottesville will pleasantly surprise all the doubters on Monday though.

Plus, if not soldout completely, there will probably still be an unusually large number in attendance for the venue for a concert.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

I don't think they mean just u2.com subscribers, there were a bunch of different presale codes floating around last week for the sports team, the stadium, you name it.

Which is irrelevant since everyone who purchased in the pre-sale would have been online purchasing at 10:00 AM if there was no pre-sale.

 

[ramblin rose]

Which is irrelevant since everyone who purchased in the pre-sale would have been online purchasing at 10:00 AM if there was no pre-sale.

I totally agree. I think it's great, fantastic, I'm beyond happy.

I was just pointing out to the Cdparky that there more people than just u2.com subscribers buying last week.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

The stats are very interesting but all I see is a very ambitious tour schedule here, during an economic downturn... so it all boils down to the fact that U2 have chosen to take some risks and are feeling confident. They're going to have to put on a fan-fucking-tastic show this time around and I'm excited that there is self-imposed pressure on them to do this. If the US shows don't sell out fast then coverage of greatness on leg 1 in Europe should be their saviour.

Most stadium shows in the United States, even U2's on Joshua Tree and ZOO TV, do not sellout "fast". That only happens in the biggest cities. Over 25% of U2's stadium shows on ZOO TV actually did not even sellout, but the tour is considered to be U2's most successful ever.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

...says U2.com

Do you have information that would contradict what U2.com is "saying"?

 

[ramblin rose]

I imagine that when the shows actually happen and the stadiums are full, the same people will say that it wasn't really people in the stands it was probably blow up dolls that U2 planted to make the stadium seem full.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

Yeah, a record "sell-out" once you count the fact that the shows had essentially already been on "pre-sale" for nearly a week.

I don't buy the speed with which the shows supposedly sold out, considering that a healthy percentage of folks had access some way or another to tickets before today's "general" on-sale.

I'll take those stats with a HUUUUUGE grain of salt please.

No one knows exactly how many purchased through the pre-sale vs. public sale. But its really irrelevant, since everyone who attempted to get tickets in the pre-sale would have been trying to get tickets with everyone at 10:00 AM if there had not been a pre-sale. It would have taken a little longer, but your really only talking minutes.

 

[nikoli]

the whole discussion is a moot point. yes. they will play to sold out crowds. They just sold out 5 shows. They will be playing to full stadiums. i'm not sure I understand the doubters.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

i imagine that when the shows actually happen and the stadiums are full, the same people will say that it wasn't really people in the stands it was probably blow up dolls that u2 planted to make the stadium seem full.

 

[ntalwar]

The only ones that are a bit of a question mark in my mind are Charlottesville, Raleigh, and Norman.

I agree. I think there's a cutoff point in the population of the particular urban area, below which the show may not sell out. Maybe 1 million, maybe 2 million. Out-of-towners will make up a large portion of sales in those cities.

Charlottesville has limited hotel rooms, and it is tough to drive back from there at night to DC (the highway is poorly lit). I have my hotel reservation already for it.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

The top 10 largest attended U2 concerts in the United States prior to U2 360.

1. September 25, 1987
John F. Kennedy Stadium
Philadelphia PA
ATTENDANCE: 86,145

2. November 17, 1987
Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles CA
ATTENDANCE: 66,463

3. November 18, 1987
Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles CA
ATTENDANCE: 66,462

4. June 21, 1997
Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles CA
ATTENDANCE: 65,488

5. September 13, 1992
Madison WI
Camp Randall Stadium
ATTENDANCE: 62,280

6. November 7, 1992
Oakland Stadium
Oakland CA
ATTENDANCE: 59,800

7. November 14, 1987
Oakland Stadium
Oakland CA
ATTENDANCE: 59,500

8. December 5, 1987
Tampa FL
Tampa Stadium
ATTENDANCE: 58,865

9. September 22, 1987
Foxboro MA
Sullivan Stadium
ATTENDANCE: 55,378

10. December 19, 1987
Sun Devil Stadium
Tempe AZ
ATTENDANCE: 55,225

 

[Sicy]

The top 10 largest attended U2 concerts in the United States prior to U2 360.



7. November 14, 1987
Oakland Stadium
Oakland CA
ATTENDANCE: 59,500

I was there

 

[Rob33]

The top 10 largest attended U2 concerts in the United States prior to U2 360.

1. September 25, 1987
John F. Kennedy Stadium
Philadelphia PA
ATTENDANCE: 86,145

2. November 17, 1987
Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles CA
ATTENDANCE: 66,463

3. November 18, 1987
Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles CA
ATTENDANCE: 66,462

4. June 21, 1997
Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles CA
ATTENDANCE: 65,488

5. September 13, 1992
Madison WI
Camp Randall Stadium
ATTENDANCE: 62,280

6. November 7, 1992
Oakland Stadium
Oakland CA
ATTENDANCE: 59,800

7. November 14, 1987
Oakland Stadium
Oakland CA
ATTENDANCE: 59,500

8. December 5, 1987
Tampa FL
Tampa Stadium
ATTENDANCE: 58,865

9. September 22, 1987
Foxboro MA
Sullivan Stadium
ATTENDANCE: 55,378

10. December 19, 1987
Sun Devil Stadium
Tempe AZ
ATTENDANCE: 55,225

wow....U2 are going to shatter those numbers on this tour, no? I mean, just looking at the Rose Bowl...that's surely going to be around 100,000 right? Maybe even more...so that will be the largest audience in U2's history in the US...interesting

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

wow....U2 are going to shatter those numbers on this tour, no?

Multiple times probably.

I mean, just looking at the Rose Bowl...that's surely going to be around 100,000 right?

It should be close to that figure. Also, Soldier Field in Chicago, Gillette Stadium in Boston, Giants Stadium near New York and Fedex Field outside of Washington DC should all have numbers well above most of those previous top 10 figures with the exception of the 1987 Philadelphia show at 86,145.

Maybe even more...so that will be the largest audience in U2's history in the US...interesting

FEDEX FIELD outside of Washington DC may have the Rose Bowl beat. It seats 92,000 for a football game and is the largest stadium in the NFL and 18th largest on the planet.

 

[Moggio]

Does anyone think getting tickets for the Tampa show will be at all a problem? I used up my presale code for NY 1 and will have to do public onsale for the Oct. 9 show.

Not in the least.

And if scalping is legal in Tampa and you want to save money, walk up to just about any scalper 60-30 minutes before the show, and you'll be able to score tix for $30-$40 below cost (or possibly even more)...

 

[digitize]

the whole discussion is a moot point. yes. they will play to sold out crowds. They just sold out 5 shows. They will be playing to full stadiums. i'm not sure I understand the doubters.

They can sell out two shows in Chicago, New York, Toronto, and Boston. Excellent. Can they sell out one show in the entire state of Texas?

I doubt it.

 

[Maoilbheannacht]

They can sell out two shows in Chicago, New York, Toronto, and Boston. Excellent. Can they sell out one show in the entire state of Texas?

I doubt it.

Can you name any other artist that could?

By the end of October, U2 may have the two highest grossing concerts in the history of Texas.

 

[subnet]

^ true, its a toss up between U2 and deer hunting

 

[Axver]

What I'd like to know is how the hell U2 plan to sell out Charlottesville when the venue holds more people than the entire population of the city.

 

[ntalwar]

Can you name any other artist that could?

I think George Strait sold out the new Dallas stadium for June.

 

[Yahweh]

The question was can U2 sell out stadiums in the US and the answer is yes but it depends heavily on the market.

These were very strong U2 markets that went on sale today...it will be more interesting when some of the other venues go on sale. U2 should have a shot of selling more tickets then they do albums with this tour which is quite sad but thats the reality these days.

 

[ntalwar]

What I'd like to know is how the hell U2 plan to sell out Charlottesville when the venue holds more people than the entire population of the city.

It's been done twice before for concerts at Scott Stadium: Dave Matthews Band in 2001 and The Rolling Stones in 2005. But it may be the toughest show on the tour to sell out.

 

[david]

If during the last tour they played 3 nights in an arena with a maximum capacity of, say 25,000, and sold out each nightt I am willing to bet if they played in the same city but in a stadium with 75,000 for one night only they'd sell out the stadium.