Third U2 gig in doubt over 'exorbitant costs'
March 13, 2005
Source: Sunday Times
Jan Battles
A THIRD concert by U2 at Croke Park this summer is looking increasingly unlikely due to behind-the-scene tensions.
The band's tour organiser is balking at adding an extra date in Dublin because the cost of hiring the GAA's stadium has escalated.
The charge for Croke Park is almost double what the band has to pay for other venues around the world — about 20% of gross ticket sales compared with the usual 10%. With tickets averaging EU70 each, that could add up to EU1m. The band will have to pay an even higher fee for the proposed third show.
Irish fans are anxious for a third U2 date in Dublin because all 160,000 tickets for the Vertigo shows on June 24 and 25 sold out within 50 minutes. But the group's European agent said there would be no other concert date until several issues had been sorted out.
"The negotiations with the GAA have been slightly difficult," said John Giddings of Solo UK. "There are a few problems to resolve before we decide whether to proceed with a third show or not, to be perfectly frank.
"I understand that Croke Park has been refurbished at great expense but comparably in Europe their rates are high for stadium rental," he said. "It's my first experience in the world where a hall rent increases instead of decreases the more shows you do. The whole thing is problematic and we need to sort out the details of the first two shows before we consider a third."
One of the contentious issues is the fact that the GAA told its 10,000 premium members — who got preferential booking for the concerts — that there would be three U2 concerts at the stadium when a third show had not been arranged. This put pressure on the band to perform a third night.
"We have only ever considered two shows," said Giddings. "It puts the group in a difficult position. There is nowhere in Europe where we are doing three shows."
U2 has not played three consecutive dates on tour for the past 15 years. The band is pencilled in to play Cardiff on the following Tuesday. Giddings also criticised a EU15 booking fee levied by the GAA for premium-member tickets. The organisation said the charge was to cover its costs and it did not make a profit on it.
MCD, the promoter, won the right to stage three concerts this year at Croke Park through public tender. Its winning bid included an escalating payment to the GAA for consecutive shows. Only three concerts a year are allowed at the venue under the terms of its planning permission.
Peter McKenna, the stadium manager at Croke Park, said the objective of the tendering process was to get the highest price for the venue, which has a EU60m debt following its renovation.
"We want to maximise the value of the asset and we don't feel embarrassed doing that," said McKenna. "The fact that we've got a very good deal by international standards is a credit to the selection team. Every facility has a different way of leasing their premises. We leased ours by holding a public tender and it threw up the (escalating price) arrangement rather than us demanding the arrangement."
McKenna said Giddings' gripe "is with MCD" rather than the GAA. "The fact that their clients have difficulty with the winning bid is outside our remit at Croke Park. It is very much for the promoters, agent and band to deal with."
He said the percentage of gross ticket sales paid by the band would depend on the admission price and the Dublin shows were more reasonable than at other venues. "The band are being particularly generous to the local audience — the ticket prices are far better value than in London, for example."
MCD said: "At this moment in time there is no third date for U2 at Croke Park."
The band is in rehearsal for the tour, which kicks off on March 28 in San Diego, California. The European leg begins in Brussels on June 10.
U2 return to America in September for a further run of shows, tickets for which went on pre-sale last week.
© Sunday Times, 2005.
Article from Sundays paper, seems to be a few conflicting reports .
March 13, 2005
Source: Sunday Times
Jan Battles
A THIRD concert by U2 at Croke Park this summer is looking increasingly unlikely due to behind-the-scene tensions.
The band's tour organiser is balking at adding an extra date in Dublin because the cost of hiring the GAA's stadium has escalated.
The charge for Croke Park is almost double what the band has to pay for other venues around the world — about 20% of gross ticket sales compared with the usual 10%. With tickets averaging EU70 each, that could add up to EU1m. The band will have to pay an even higher fee for the proposed third show.
Irish fans are anxious for a third U2 date in Dublin because all 160,000 tickets for the Vertigo shows on June 24 and 25 sold out within 50 minutes. But the group's European agent said there would be no other concert date until several issues had been sorted out.
"The negotiations with the GAA have been slightly difficult," said John Giddings of Solo UK. "There are a few problems to resolve before we decide whether to proceed with a third show or not, to be perfectly frank.
"I understand that Croke Park has been refurbished at great expense but comparably in Europe their rates are high for stadium rental," he said. "It's my first experience in the world where a hall rent increases instead of decreases the more shows you do. The whole thing is problematic and we need to sort out the details of the first two shows before we consider a third."
One of the contentious issues is the fact that the GAA told its 10,000 premium members — who got preferential booking for the concerts — that there would be three U2 concerts at the stadium when a third show had not been arranged. This put pressure on the band to perform a third night.
"We have only ever considered two shows," said Giddings. "It puts the group in a difficult position. There is nowhere in Europe where we are doing three shows."
U2 has not played three consecutive dates on tour for the past 15 years. The band is pencilled in to play Cardiff on the following Tuesday. Giddings also criticised a EU15 booking fee levied by the GAA for premium-member tickets. The organisation said the charge was to cover its costs and it did not make a profit on it.
MCD, the promoter, won the right to stage three concerts this year at Croke Park through public tender. Its winning bid included an escalating payment to the GAA for consecutive shows. Only three concerts a year are allowed at the venue under the terms of its planning permission.
Peter McKenna, the stadium manager at Croke Park, said the objective of the tendering process was to get the highest price for the venue, which has a EU60m debt following its renovation.
"We want to maximise the value of the asset and we don't feel embarrassed doing that," said McKenna. "The fact that we've got a very good deal by international standards is a credit to the selection team. Every facility has a different way of leasing their premises. We leased ours by holding a public tender and it threw up the (escalating price) arrangement rather than us demanding the arrangement."
McKenna said Giddings' gripe "is with MCD" rather than the GAA. "The fact that their clients have difficulty with the winning bid is outside our remit at Croke Park. It is very much for the promoters, agent and band to deal with."
He said the percentage of gross ticket sales paid by the band would depend on the admission price and the Dublin shows were more reasonable than at other venues. "The band are being particularly generous to the local audience — the ticket prices are far better value than in London, for example."
MCD said: "At this moment in time there is no third date for U2 at Croke Park."
The band is in rehearsal for the tour, which kicks off on March 28 in San Diego, California. The European leg begins in Brussels on June 10.
U2 return to America in September for a further run of shows, tickets for which went on pre-sale last week.
© Sunday Times, 2005.
Article from Sundays paper, seems to be a few conflicting reports .
