I agree mostly with JOFO. U2 is indeed one of a few bands that does not in the least bit have to worry about selling out any market. Even 2 nights in Portland or Salt Lake(think they did 1 in those places for Vertigo), 18K each night, you will be able to find 36,000 people in those small metro areas that would love to and can afford to see U2.
Yes, this will be a monster recession. We have discussed previous recessions during U2 tours, namely Zoo TV w/1992 unemployment of 7.5% and Elevation 2001 unemployment of about 5.8%. Looking just at recessions, however is not giving us the whole picture. During the JT tour in 1987, unemployment was higher and more people were suffering from job losses and declines in income while the economy was growing than they were in the very mild(by historical standards) recession of 2001. JT-Zoo TV saw the savings and loans crisis and bail out, and a collapse in the real estate market. In short, people had every reason to be worried then, and still bought plenty of U2 tickets. 1987 and 2005 were similar in that the economy was pointing up, but let us remember, that the average American was not seeing real income gains nor were they particulalry satisfied w. economic conditions at these times. Just because there was no recession does not mean that the majority of people were doing well during JT and Vertigo. The numbers suggest they were not. This year, the structural economic indicators are much worse and companies have failed and lost money at a rate not seen since the great depression- and this applies to financial, manufacturing and retail equally. In addition, the 1991-92 and 2001 recessions were led by business and consumers merely reacted later(1991) and then barely adjusted their spending at all(2001). This time, the consumer side(mortgages, declining incomes) has triggered the collapse of the financial industry made inevitable by their unregulated, brain dead 'prices will rise forever binge.' Although the unemployment rate is at 6.5% and these conditions have not been reflected in the rate(we are not at 8 or 10% yet), they will be. Unemployment historically does not peak until AFTER recessions. (1975, 1983, 1992, 2003 etc)
All this is a long way of saying that even though Obama is on a path to restoring confidence and has the knowledge, pragmatism and organizational skills to address our economic situation, any U2 tour will be running during hard times. It will take a couple years no matter who is President. However, 36K for 2 nights in a major arena in a smaller city like Portland will still be easy for U2. Though everyone has taken a hit in their incomes, plenty of people still have disposable income enough to buy a $50 GA floor ticket. Many U2 fans are older now and have very good jobs. Many kids my age like U2 and their parents are still doing just fine, and are even willing to hand them money. Like all of us here, even in hard times, something we really enjoy, we find a way to make happen. My dad is in real estate, has done next to no business for 3 years, had to get a job waiting tables(he is 58 yrs old!) and still pays for his gym membership. Just an example.
A night with U2 costs a whole hell of a lot less than one with the Stones, Police, et al and is not alot of money in the grand scheme of things. The people who need to look out here are those who cater to more frequent entertainment expenses than world tours for popular bands: movie theatres(monthly), restaurants(weekly), coffee shops(daily), catering(corporate events-holidays, summer outings, etc).
ray:
now you've all made me slightly worried. It's hard enough to get tickets for shows in Australia as it is. Even if you camp out some douche with connections is going to swoop in and buy up all the good seats within the first two minutes.
