GA Policy Posted.

[cmb737]

Please see San Diego Sports Arena for the following info:

**On the day of the show, all General Admission ticket holders will be directed to the North Entrance only. Once inside the doors, they will be directed to an area where they will receive a tour supplied wristband that will allow them access to the floor. There will be no line ups permitted prior to 9:00 AM on the day of the show. Normal carry in restrictions will apply.**

I spoke with an event manager @ the Sports Arena and she confirmed this is true, but the only info they have. San Diego Police and ACE private security will be patrolling the arena and surround area (private property) to prevent people camping out. She advised me that San Diego has very strict loitering laws and these will be enforced.

http://www.sandiegoarena.com/module...s&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=151&page=1

 

[Miroslava]

That looks really reasonable... would be nice if all venues followed a similar policies

thanks for the info!

 

[locomosquito]

So what will people do? Stroll around the arena starting from 8:50am and lots of people scramble at 9am on the dot for the first spot in line?

It is a good policy; I just don't really get it. Not that I'm going anyway...

 

[cmb737]

I think the point is to discourage people from arriving any earlier than 9. Not that it will work, but that is the point.

 

[ladywithspinninghead]

haha, so I guess the nearby restaurants will be full to capacity at 6am!!

 

[skjuls]

haha, so I guess the nearby restaurants will be full to capacity at 6am!!

Good thing I'm at the Holiday Inn across the street!!

 

[ladywithspinninghead]

We`re at a hotel across the street too. Maybe we`ll do as someone jokingly suggested and start the GA line in our hotel room

 

[esselte]

I told you people. I'm already in line. I'm hidden in the bushes across the street. I have a green magic marker and a notepad. If you don't already have a green number on your left hand and your name on my pad, then you're SOL.

 

[Super_Fan]

I am in contact with the Event Manager for the Building. She will be geting back with me about lining up before 9 a.m. off the property later today or tomorrow. Expect the same old situation from the last tour.

 

[Chizip]

this just doesnt seem smart

i expect a lot of craziness and unhappy people at 9am

 

[cmb737]

I expect there will be lots of folks on the sidewalks outside the arena parking lot. If this is the case, I hope they will allow an orderly transition to the prearranged area.

I think it will be up to us fans to police it as much as possible. A calm in control group is nothing to worry about...hundreds of people all over the place yelling about the situation causes nothing but more confusion and dissatisfaction.

 

[esselte]

It's like trying to herd cats.

 

[U2Fanatic4ever]

Living in the San Diego Area.. I can tell you for a fact that the SD Police heavily patrol this area! This area has several strip clubs and of course, hookers hanging around. So the no loitering law is very strictly enforced!

I don't know where we can hang out prior to that without being escorted off the premises. Anyone got any ideas? I am trying to figure out what to do here..I want to get there around 6am but now I am no sure how.

It would be nice if they did allow us to line up somewhere across the street confined to one area like the Parking Lot for Home Depot that is across the street from the Arena.

 

[Chizip]

i wonder if maybe people could line up in the holiday inn parking lot, then go across the street at 9am

though the holiday inn people probably wont like that

i agree, its up to the fans to make this a fair and orderly system, if that doesnt happen then there will be chaos at 9am

 

[Hewson]

The 9AM rule seems to be the venues, so other cities may work just the same as they did in 2001, some had areas set up outside the venue for a line with no time restrictions, and the line pretty much self policed itself.
I think the number showing up way before 9AM would be less than a hundred anyway, so maybe a preliminary line off Arena property could be established without too much chaos.

 

[esselte]

This is my favorite part:

"Children under the age of 2 yrs are free if sitting on lap"

 

[LuminousTimes]

They can keep you from staying on private property overnight. It is not a good idea for them for liability reasons. But if a group of people "line" up on the sidewalk or in a public parking lot somewhere near the venue and establish a numbering system of some kind that is actually better for the venue. Because at 9am they can just walk over the established line instead of having a race of people running, pushing, shoving, etc. to get to the front.
If the people have a good attitude with the security and the police they should pretty much let them be. And as someone posted earlier the amount of people their overnight is gonna be minimal ... a few dozen...maybe up to one hundred...there is not gonna be 1,000 people outside...Most people will show up the day of the show...

 

[artdirector]

Whats good is that we will be seeing them first on Monday (reserve seating) and then on Wednesday (GA). This will give a chance to scope out the way the arena is handling the issue. Hope to see some of you at the arena! Anyone wearing interference shirts.

 

[mcranston]

This makes little sense to me, what happens at 9 a.m. then? I think it is safe to say that at least a hundred or so people will be ready to get their spot in line by 9 a.m., so do they all just rush the gate? I think the policy of first-come-first-serve line up is not only the most adequate, but the most fair. During Elevation, with a couple exceptions, if you got there early enough to be in the first 300 or so people, you go in the heart. I worry that with this 9 a.m. system the same fairness will not be granted, not to mention the potential chaos if wristbands are handed out precisely at 9. Hmmm, am I missing something here?

Mike

 

[cmb737]

As I remember the Holiday Inn is not directly across the street...but down a bit, behind the Tower Records right? Either way, not exactly an obvious spot.

I think the main issue for the arena and the 9AM issue is that is when they will have their parking attendants out. Last time they lost a lot of revenue by not starting to charge until the afternoon, when already hundreds were there for free.

The shopping centers across the street (Target, Ralphs, Home Depot) are very anti-anything Sports Arena. People try and park there for free all the time and I have seen tow trucks on site during events just waiting to tow unsuspecting fans.

I suggest a line on the sidewalk immediately in front of the arena (on Sports Arena Blvd). Just be mobile, no one set up chairs, tents, coolers anything until 9 AM and when we are in the parking lot.

The police are intense in San Diego, and they will be around, but I don't think 100 people STANDING on a sidewalk for a few hours will hurt anyone. If people are sleeping...its a much different situation.

 

[cmb737]

This makes little sense to me, what happens at 9 a.m. then? I think it is safe to say that at least a hundred or so people will be ready to get their spot in line by 9 a.m., so do they all just rush the gate? I think the policy of first-come-first-serve line up is not only the most adequate, but the most fair. During Elevation, with a couple exceptions, if you got there early enough to be in the first 300 or so people, you go in the heart. I worry that with this 9 a.m. system the same fairness will not be granted, not to mention the potential chaos if wristbands are handed out precisely at 9. Hmmm, am I missing something here?

Mike

As I read the Sports Arena site, they have no plans to hand out wrist bands until the doors open for GA tickets.

 

[oliveu2cm]

U2 need to establish a lottery system for GA and make it known that is what they are doing. Safer, and it will prevent the 2-3 day lines that happen, as well as other things fans do to ensure "their space" in line.

 

[esselte]

Hmmm, am I missing something here?

Yes. No wristbands at 9AM. You get official permission to start waiting for a wristband without anyone from the venue hassling you at 9 AM. After some initial chaos, everyone will settle down and be pretty much orderly until it's time to go in. Then it will be chaos again when they open the doors. So, it's Chaos - followed by some semblance of order - then Chaos again. Try to keep it straight.

 

[cmb737]

U2 need to establish a lottery system for GA and make it known that is what they are doing. Safer, and it will prevent the 2-3 day lines that happen, as well as other things fans do to ensure "their space" in line.

A lottery system isn't safer, no one gets hurt in GA lines...and as far as the 2-3 day lines the whole discussion here is that there will be no camping out in San Diego, and what will be done in its place given our known restrictions.

A lottery is wildly unpopular, and as of yet there is zero indication that this is what will happen. Let's not make this thread that is about circulating relevant useful information regarding San Diego and future GA line-ups a lottery debate.

That's all been said before.

 

[esselte]

What is also wildly unpopular is the notion that *any* third party (apart from the venue and the band/promoter et. al.) has any kind of authority at all to establish the GA policy.

 

[cmb737]

What is also wildly unpopular is the notion that *any* third party (apart from the venue and the band/promoter et. al.) has any kind of authority at all to establish the GA policy.

Quite right. But in the event that nothing is mentioned from the band, that is where some assume their rights.

I am advocating communication and calmness, and sharing my experiences with one of the most poorly run, understaffed venues in North America. Please don't perceive that as my attempt to establish anything.

 

[Chizip]

i think it is essential that a 3rd party (the first group of u2 fans that arrive) do set up a system that is fair

if that doesnt happen then its everyone for themselves and more people will end up losing that way than if a fair system is established at the beginning

 

[esselte]

Please don't perceive that as my attempt to establish anything.

Not at all. It's just that please don't be naive people. I hope it goes smoothly. Just be prepared for things to get screwed up.

 

[Chizip]

yeah it should be assumed everything is not going to go perfectly smooth...but if we work together instead of working against each other that is our best chance of minimizing the problems

 

[skjuls]

This is my favorite part:

"Children under the age of 2 yrs are free if sitting on lap"

I have a 13 month old! I would never bring him to a concert, plus I have GA so he couldn't sit!

hehe. He already likes U2 thought. When the Vertigo video is on, he bounces!