U2 to play NFL opener in NYC?

[Mullen-Girl]

I heard this morning on the radio that U2 is rumoured to play in NYC in times square on Sept. 3 for the NFL opener...Wooooooooo Hoooooooooo I am there baby!!!! IT's only rumoured tho...so I guess we'll have to wait and see!

 

[McGlinn]

Who-Ha

Here is the text from the NY Post:

July 30, 2002 -- The city is planning to host a massive Times Square party starring superstar rock band U2 to kick off the NFL season, The Post has learned.
Sources said Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff has been talking to National Football League officials for months about staging a mega-event with hundreds of thousands of fans in Times Square on Thursday, Sept. 5 - just six days before the anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks.

"This thing is huge," said one source. "They're treating this like it's New Year's Eve."

The NFL season will begin later that night, when the Giants host the San Francisco 49ers in the Jersey Meadowlands in a nationally televised game.

It's the first time since 1949 the league has launched the season on a weekday.

Sources said U2, which played at this year's Super Bowl, has already been lined up, and other top rock stars are expected, including Jon Bon Jovi.

One Bloomberg administration official said the event is designed to demonstrate the city's resurgence a year after the terror attacks.

The following day - Sept. 6 - Congress is scheduled to meet in New York City for a symbolic session.

The city is anticipating a crowd in the hundreds of thousands for the NFL kickoff, which would require one of the rare weekday closures of Times Square and its surrounding streets.

It could create traffic havoc.

"It's an issue," said one source.

"The NFL is going to have to pony up some money for a public-information campaign. Everyone knows to stay away from Times Square on New Year's Eve. They don't know about Sept. 5th yet."

The event will likely also require a major police presence for security, as is the case on New Year's Eve.

Doctoroff had no immediate comment.

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani refused to shut Times Square in 1998 for a huge street party to celebrate the final episode of "Seinfeld," which would have been broadcast on the 42-by-23-foot video screen at the "Crossroads of the World."

"Times Square is probably the most crowded part of the United States," Giuliani said at the time. "You can't close down Times Square for an entire day."

But David Dinkins did just that when he was mayor in 1993.

Dinkins closed Times Square from 3 p.m. to 4 a.m. over several days for filming of the movie "Last Action Hero," which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.

City officials nine years ago concluded that the publicity value outweighed the inconvenience.

MiCK

 

[zoocarolina]

This would be huge, maybe they would debut the new single??? Probably not, but this would be fantastic!

 

[DiGi]

I just read this as well. That would be awesome. Count me in

if anyone is interested in the URL to the article:

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/53684.htm

How legit is the NY Post as a source of news?

 

[sharky]

woohoo! who is camping out with us? make sure you have a sick day handy.

 

[HelloAngel]

Once again, PLEASE SUBMIT NEWS ARTICLES TO ME
and make my duties here on Interference much easier.

THANK YOU.

 

[oliveu2cm]

cool

the thing that sux is we'd have to fight with all football fanatics to get to see them!!

other than that, cool for the band if they want to do it!

 

[Mysterious_Ways]

Looks like Sept 5th is the day. I am sooooo sad cause I work 3 blocks from there but will be on vacation in Florida. I'd rather see bonoman

 

[sharky]

screw vacation! come hang with us! florida is just full of boy bands, Creed and alligators. [hmm...are "Creed" and "boy band" redundant?]

 

[u2loopy]

So does anyone know if it is going to be an afternoon thing??? Because unfortunately that night is my cousin's rehearsal dinner for their wedding and I have to be there because I am in the bridal party!!!!

I heard it on the news this morning while I was half asleep so I thought I was dreaming. Then my heart sank because I realized as awesome and as CLOSE they would be to me, I wouldn't be able to go!!!

You can bet though if it is an afternoon thingy, I will be there with bells on.

 

[dizzy]

And I said I wouldn't go to NYC till October. I wanna camp with the interferencers!!!

 

[HelloAngel]

screw vacation! come hang with us! florida is just full of boy bands, Creed and alligators. [hmm...are "Creed" and "boy band" redundant?]

That is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read or heard. I'm sure you know that your statement re: Florida couldnt be farther from the truth.

 

[sharky]

That is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read or heard. I'm sure you know that your statement re: Florida couldnt be farther from the truth.

I actually was just trying to give you a guilt-free excuse to skip out on beautiful Florida for NYC.

 

[zoocarolina]

Not sure if U2 will be there, here's an article from the nfl.com website announcing the event with no mention of U2 and Bon Jovi headlining. Maybe they'll be added later? We'll see....

New York City and NFL present "NFL Kickoff Live from Times Square"


World's largest tailgate party to feature Bon Jovi and others live in Times Square prior to 49ers-Giants game and Kickoff Weekend

Bon Jovi also to perform live at halftime at Giants Stadium

NEW YORK (July 30, 2002) -- Millions of Americans ring in each New Year by watching the ball drop in New York City's fabled Times Square. On Thursday, Sept. 5, a different shaped ball will drop with Bon Jovi leading the celebration and the countdown to the NFL's 2002 season in Times Square, New York City and the NFL announced.

New York City and the National Football League present "NFL Kickoff live from Times Square" is slated for Times Square with an unprecedented day of music and football-themed festivities leading to the first-ever NFL season kickoff on a Thursday as the San Francisco 49ers play the New York Giants at Giants Stadium (ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET).

Bon Jovi, one of America's preeminent bands, will headline the event and perform at halftime of the game. The event and game coincide with Bon Jovi's upcoming October album release of "Bounce." At the Times Square event and during halftime at Giants Stadium, Bon Jovi will perform their new single "Everyday" for the first time in front of a live audience.

Other artists will be announced at a later date. Portions of the event will be televised live or by tape by CBS, MTV, VH-1 and ESPN as the NFL gets ready to kick off its 83rd season. Radio coverage and promotions will be provided nationally by Westwood One and Clear Channel Entertainment.

The day will include recognition and support of New York City's Sept. 11 memorial events.

Fans will get a look at the newest in NFL fashions with a show featuring jerseys and clothing from the new NFL Equipment line created by Reebok.

Bon Jovi will headline the day with a performance prior to an official "Countdown to Kickoff" ceremony leading up to the Giants-49ers game. A giant NFL football will drop from the traditional site of the New Year's ball.

The NFL has developed a comprehensive plan for the national television and radio coverage of "NFL Kickoff Live from Times Square":


CBS will tape the event and air an exclusive prime-time one-hour show the following night, Friday, Sept. 6.
VH-1 will televise Bon Jovi's performance live from 7-8 p.m. ET on Thursday. VH-1 will also re-air the performance in prime-time Saturday, Sept. 7.
ESPN will do frequent live shots from a satellite set in Times Square during its "NFL Countdown" show from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
MTV will televise some portions of its 90-minute "TRL" show, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET, from the NFL stage in Times Square.
Westwood One (NYSE: WON), the exclusive home of the NFL on network radio since 1987, will produce and distribute the radio broadcast of the event to radio stations nationwide.
Clear Channel radio affiliates will promote the event on its nationwide affliates.
The four presenting sponsors are Coors, Reebok, PlayStation and Verizon Communications.

 

[Bono's shades]

Bon Jovi headlining??? Ugh. I'll bet this means U2 won't be involved. I can't imagine Bon Jovi being chosen as the headliner over them. Believe me, if there was any chance of U2 being there the organizers would not be naming Bon Jovi as the headliner at this point, unless they have the worst taste in music on the planet.

 

[sharky]

and if enrique is mentioned before U2 things are bad. U2 can't be considered "and others"

 

[MissVelvetDress_75]

and if enrique is mentioned before U2 things are bad. U2 can't be considered "and others"

lmao!!! you are right.

 

[verte76]

There have been rumors and reports of U2 being involved in some 9/11 tribute or memorial. I wouldn't be surprised if they are in some show or something right around then--just not this one. Geez, they don't want to headline every big occasion--that'd be overexposure.

 

[JOFO]

2 points:

1. the ny post is basically a tabloid and I wouldn't necessarily believe what they say. until I hear of confirmation by paul mcguiness, this is strictly a rumour.

2. why is bon jovi even still around? he sucked then and sucks now. it is annoying the shit out of me how he's trying to grasp onto a thread of longetivity any which way he can.

 

[Zoocifer]

When I heard this on the radio I thought -

I hope to God this concert/celebration doesn't take place & I hope that if it does that U2 is as far away from it as possible.

- The Zoocifer -

 

[pinkfloyd]

Dream set-list

any ideas abot songs to be perfomed , how about something like this ------>

1.Where The streets Have No Name
2.Pride
3.Out Of Control
:attn:

 

[JOFO]

Re: Dream set-list

any ideas abot songs to be perfomed , how about something like this ------>

1.Where The streets Have No Name
2.Pride
3.Out Of Control
:attn:

yeah, out of control

a more unappropriate song title so close to 9/11 there never was.


folks: this rumour is bullshit. you know they're in the studio and aren't coming out to play on a bill with bon jovi.
at best: a video taped performance filmed in the studio of "hands that built america".
watch and see.

 

[pinkfloyd]

they did played out of control , during leg 3 a lot .

 

[JOFO]

I know, but come on....think of the occasion.

 

[verte76]

Re: Re: Dream set-list

folks: this rumour is bullshit. you know they're in the studio and aren't coming out to play on a bill with bon jovi.
at best: a video taped performance filmed in the studio of "hands that built america".
watch and see.

Yeah. I didn't know this but I just heard that Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora saw the fireball go up from the WTC when the attack occurred. They are, of course, from the adjacent area in New Jersey. I can see why they were chosen to play there. It's the occasion, indeed. I thought of the studio deal myself when I heard the U2 rumors. I heard that they are under alot of pressure to finish the studio work by a certain deadline, so they are indeed tied up.

 

[Bonochick]

http://forum2.interference.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=61452

 

[sharky]

as a coworker pointed out, some stupid old editor probably got Bon and Bono confused.

 

[Bonochick]

as a coworker pointed out, some stupid old editor probably got Bon and Bono confused.

*lmao*

 

[JOFO]

as a coworker pointed out, some stupid old editor probably got Bon and Bono confused.

 

[ramblin rose]

Well, considering that U2.com is actually saying that the rumor is false, I'd say that U2 won't be playing at this event.