WHY bring back a lottery system?!

[Headache in a Suitcase]

i would just appreciate the band announcing beforehand whether there's going to be a lottery, so that people can make an informed decision as to whether they want to risk not getting inside the claw (or whatever it's called!). just seems fair to be honest before people purchase their GA tix.

this i can agree with... the GA policy should be announced and written out in before any tickets go on sale, which apparently hasn't been done, which is kinda lame, i will admit.

 

[LarryMullen's POPAngel]

This idea that it "blows" if you line up all day and heaven forbid get a front row spot at the outer rail is nothing less than totally absurd.

This.

I scanned (or was with someone who scanned) at practically every Vertigo show I went to (I went to 9). One show I had seats, and the times I didn't get inside the ellipse I was front row outer rail.

Do you hear me bitching about any of that? Hell, no. Do I wish U2 would announce the lotto beforehand so people can plan more accordingly? Hell, yes.


Will I still line up super early for a guaranteed awesome spot? Of course.

 

[corianderstem]

this i can agree with... the GA policy should be announced and written out in before any tickets go on sale, which apparently hasn't been done, which is kinda lame, i will admit.

I'm with you. They really should get their shit together ahead of time.

 

[djparky]

In understand why they do it, but I don't agree with it- it's one thing being on the rail at an arena GA which holds a few thousand people- another altogether at a stadium

last time round we did a mix of gold circle and normal- I would prefer to make the choice of whether I wanted to queue or not.

 

[popbellydancer]

if you all like they could go back to seats on the floor and you can pay 20 G's to sit in the front row, then there won't be anything to bitch about.

i was on the floor 5 times on vertigo. the first time i waited on line from around 8am on, didn't get buzzed in but got a spot on the outside of the rail... had a great time and all, but left the arena badly sunburned, sore as shit and desperately just wanting to go home and sleep for days, which was tough 'cause i wasn't in my home city.

the next time i just chilled back by the soundboard, had some drinks and generally had a pretty good time. no pressure, just enjoyment.

the next three times i was inside the ellipse, with no waiting in line involved. in fact i did a full day of work all three times. some of us, ya know, have jobs. these were by far the best experiences.

it's awesome to be close and all, and i will try to work my way as close as possible at giants stadium... but yea, there's no chance in hell i'm sitting in that line all day again. the physical toll it takes on your body simply isn't worth it. i don't need boner to be able to touch my hand in order to have a good time (ha... boner touch my hand).

if you do, hey.. good on you. even with the lottery you can still get close enough for that to happen. but the lottery is infinitely better than waiting out all night like a lunatic.

one of the times i was in the ellipse i got a call on my cell, turned around and saw two friends who literally got their tickets at 6:45 for a 7:30 opener and were only 5 feet from the outer rail of the ellipse. oh the humanity... not waiting in line all day cost them 5 whole feet. wooooooooooo... the horror, the horror.

i want seats on the floor again! more fun! and more time to do other things that day!!

but yes, if they announced it ahead of time it would be nice. cuz i would purchase differently....prob more expensive lower level seats.

 

[U2@NYC]

VIP tickets should be the way to go.

No lottery.

 

[dbinteract]

I really hope U2 learns from what Springsteen has been doing... hand out wristbands and then at 5 PM hold a lottery, and everyone lines up based on which number was chosen.

I have always had fun waiting with all of us die-hards for those first close spots... but it is a shame that the same people always end up in the front. I had 6 chances on the Vertigo tour, I scanned in 5 times... believe me I am not complaining about that, but the lottery wristband system that Bruce uses ensures that everyone with a GA ticket that shows up before the wristband lottery gets an equal chance to be up front.. plus you don't need to spend 24 hours waiting in line. Especially for those of us that travel to different cities to see shows, it might be nice to actually see the city!

 

[EdgeIsTooSexy]

I swear I read they were doing it Elevation style GA.

 

[EdgeIsTooSexy]

I really hope U2 learns from what Springsteen has been doing... hand out wristbands and then at 5 PM hold a lottery, and everyone lines up based on which number was chosen.

I have always had fun waiting with all of us die-hards for those first close spots... but it is a shame that the same people always end up in the front. I had 6 chances on the Vertigo tour, I scanned in 5 times... believe me I am not complaining about that, but the lottery wristband system that Bruce uses ensures that everyone with a GA ticket that shows up before the wristband lottery gets an equal chance to be up front.. plus you don't need to spend 24 hours waiting in line. Especially for those of us that travel to different cities to see shows, it might be nice to actually see the city!

WHAT are you serious?! does springsteen still do that??

 

[dbinteract]

Yes Bruce did that on the Magic Tour, and I believe he is using it again on the next tour which starts in April

 

[ramblin rose]

I swear I read they were doing it Elevation style GA.

If I recall correctly whoever wrote the article that implied they were doing the lottery made it seem like they had been doing a lottery since Elevation even though it was only since Vertigo.

 

[beegee]

Do I wish U2 would announce the lotto beforehand so people can plan more accordingly? Hell, yes.

Yes.

Those of us who camped out overnight to see the first show of the Vertigo tour didn't hear about the lottery until the morning of the show (late morning, no less) and it SUCKED.

 

[U2FloridaFan]

I only went to two shows on the last tour and I had 2 GA's for the 1st one (one of which I sold to someone here on Interference). I didn't scan for that 1st show, but he did. Of course, he was with someone else and took them in. I had one ticket for the 2nd show and scanned in (and took Ramblin Rose in with me) and because we were one of the 1st few in line we were able to get right on the rail in between Adam and Bono, what more could you ask.

I should think that U2 would WANT the real die-hard fans up front. After all, they're usually the ones who are most into it...IMO. Nothing worse, I'm sure, from the band's perspective than a lame crowd in the ellipse, etc. On this tour I don't think they'll have the problem of seeing the same faces show after show. I think the state of the economy and the fact that the stage revolves will take care of that. I don't think they'll have a lottery this time.

 

[bayou12780]

Well I'm gonna say my peace and probably get stoned, but I don't care.

The whole thing should be random and there should be NO LINE [on the horizon]. Here's how it could work:

• print GA tickets with name of album and a number [e.g, Boy 1-500 up to NLOTH 1-500; number of tickets for each album would depend on size of venue]
• fans show up the afternoon of the concert and get in their album bins
• at around 6pm, band management comes out and proceeds to announce the album order - which is random every concert - and each album is escorted into the venue in an orderly fashion.
• if you arrive after your album is called, you go in with the next one. if you arrive after all albums are called, you go in at the end, obviously.

Fans get: No line, no line Nazis, no sleeping over night, no lottery, no line drama, period. Each GA ticket is worth the same - you have a 1 in 12 chance of getting in first.

Band gets: Happy, well-rested, sweet-smelling, well-fed, energetic fresh-faced fans for every concert.

Anyone interested in starting a NO LINE Campaign?

 

[malcolmbeaton]

I dont think for a stadium tour you can do the "have numbers 1-100" line up here as its logistically brutal, as your not going to have 1500 people in line, your going to have 15,000 in line. Its to hard to move a line like that, and move them around.

That being said, it will be super easy to do the GA thing with random lottery. They will do much like an arena, in that they will probably take a huge tunnell and gate, most likely the one the trucks enter the field and make that the GA gate. Every single ticket has to be scanned in anyway for access in America, nobody here rips tickets anymore. So as part of the initial scanning in process you can either beep in or not beep in. Then they either give you a wristband to be in the inner circle or you dont. People are trying to make it sounds logistically impossible when it really is not that hard. If they are really smart, and sometimes I think they are they will literally get everyone in that area, then block it off. They can set up separate restrooms for people in that area as well as concessions so there not constantly checking peoples wristbands when they go in and out to use the facility or get a beer.

It can be done easily, and working at a stadium, I can verify that yes they don't like lineups night before, etc and will typically lock up the facility to a given time. The lottery makes more sense for everyone, even though it pisses off the hardcore stand in line crowd.

 

[*Ally*]

I should think that U2 would WANT the real die-hard fans up front. After all, they're usually the ones who are most into it...IMO.

Not always true, actually. I've seen die-hards who just stand there on the rail, and casual fans who go nuts.

However, I agree that having a "dead" ellipse sucks. I think that the Elevation Heart as a whole (but *not* necessarily the front row!) was almost always more rocking than the Vertigo Ellipse precisely b/c it was mostly filled with super-pumped diehard fans.

as an aside, I'll never forget Bono yelling at a guy at one of the MSG shows on Vertigo, b/c the dude was in the front row and literally talking on his cell phone during SBS. i actually kinda felt bad for the guy for getting berated in front of 17,000 people...

ETA: here's video of Bono yelling-- shows how frustrated he must be at times with the audience (not that i agree with what he did!)....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpR9t4ZZfAo&feature=related

 

[anitram]

The easiest thing would simply have been to have all the pre-sale GAs be ellipse GAs (numbers permitting). You'd get to reward the fan club members, and while a few scalpers would benefit, that's a minor side point. And that way you'd definitely ensure a mix for every show since most people aren't insane enough to actually purchase 20 U2.com memberships.

 

[Axver]

I should think that U2 would WANT the real die-hard fans up front.

So I'm not a "real die-hard fan" because I'd rather not queue from 6am all the time and would prefer to spend the day checking out a foreign city I've never visited before?

Well, given what passes for a "real die-hard fan" sometimes, and the sense of entitlement some exhibit, I'm perhaps happier not being considered one.

 

[mads]

The easiest thing would simply have been to have all the pre-sale GAs be ellipse GAs (numbers permitting). You'd get to reward the fan club members, and while a few scalpers would benefit, that's a minor side point. And that way you'd definitely ensure a mix for every show since most people aren't insane enough to actually purchase 20 U2.com memberships.

I would hate that. It would imply that people willing or able to pay extra money to U2.com were more worthy of being up close.

 

[EdgeIsTooSexy]

^thats a pretty good idea.
diehards deserve to be in the front, that is if they are gonna rock hard

 

[coolian2]

^thats a pretty good idea.
diehards deserve to be in the front, that is if they are gonna rock hard

i'm a die hard but can't really afford a u2.com membership.

it's a dumb idea.

 

[corianderstem]

I would hate that. It would imply that people willing or able to pay extra money to U2.com were more worthy of being up close.

I can see that, but sometimes I feel like some people think that they're more "worthy" of being up close because they're able to sit in line all day.

Just because someone can't take the day off work or can't travel to multiple shows, it doesn't make them any less of a fan than the one that sat in line all day.

That's why I don't mind the lottery system. It's not perfect, but I don't mind it.

And if you've been sitting in line all day, you still get an amazing spot pretty damned close to the action, so you're still being "rewarded" for being in line all day.

 

[anitram]

I would hate that. It would imply that people willing or able to pay extra money to U2.com were more worthy of being up close.

Well that's how the basic ticket system works.

Is it "implied" that people who can pay $250 to sit in front of the ones who can pay $95 are more worthy? By that logic, we should all pay a flat ticket rate.

 

[mads]

Well that's how the basic ticket system works.

Is it "implied" that people who can pay $250 to sit in front of the ones who can pay $95 are more worthy? By that logic, we should all pay a flat ticket rate.

Well, sure, but the beauty of GA (at least in my opinion) is that it provides the best of both worlds: cheaper tickets and an opportunity to get close. For a lot of people, the only affordable options are crappy seats or GA. What's great about GA is that it is a flat ticket rate, and the amount of time you put in determines how close you get. I think the lottery undermines that, but I'm not freaking out about it. I'm still going to line up early, assume I'm not getting into the ellipse, and hope for the rail.

I would be very disappointed if they started selling the ellipse tickets at a higher rate, but if they were to do that, I'd prefer that they just jack up the price to $100 and be done with it. Making it necessary to join the fanclub to get them would be really lame.

 

[Sicy]

So I'm not a "real die-hard fan" because I'd rather not queue from 6am all the time and would prefer to spend the day checking out a foreign city I've never visited before?

Yeah I'm not really understanding the 'die hard fan' comments. I'm a die hard fan but dont always think I want to sleep on the concrete all night/day just to try to get up front?

 

[4U2Play]

if you wait in line all day and don't scan in, you're still going to have one hell of a spot... so to say it fucking blows is a bit much.

I would be happy with a spot on the outer rail, but a lot of those people I met who waited all day in line, only to not get in the ellipse, were pretty pissed off about the lottery, especially in the early part of the tour when it was still new for everyone, and people still had the Elevation GA experience fresh in their memories.

 

[4U2Play]

This idea that it "blows" if you line up all day and heaven forbid get a front row spot at the outer rail is nothing less than totally absurd.

Agreed, but I think I was jokingly exaggerating. Maybe I should use those smilies more often

Anyway, I never had that happen, I wouldn't ever line up that early in the morning for an arena show, so I can only go by the complaints I heard from the 6am people who ended up on the outside rail watching other fans show up at 7pm and walk past them.

They didn't say their spot on the outside rail blows, they said that the U2 lottery system blows. I think the Bruce method is best, no lining up all day, different people up front every show, no Line Nazis, no people with bullhorns shouting at you.

It'll be interesting to see how much the euros and guys like quadcaster enjoy it.

Btw, that clip of Bono yelling at that dude is funny, because the fan claims he was taking pictures with his cell phone, he wasn't talking on it during the song. Bono came by later and made amends, I think. Here's his perspective:

"I was standing at the front of the stage at the October 8th, 2005 U2 NYC MSG garden show, when Bono got frustrated at me for taking pictures of him with my cell phone.
Let me tell you it is a very odd experience getting yelled at like a 3 year old from your favorite rock idol."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1l0Gqj1whk

 

[ladywithspinninghead]

Boston had a great GA policy on the last tour - you showed up early in the morning (7 or 8am?), got a wristband and they told you to return at 5pm, no earlier.

I didn't get into the ellipse (didn't get beeped once at 8 shows), but got a decent spot on the rail (when certain girls from another website weren't trying to elbow me out of the way, but I'm feisty and gave it right back to them. )

Anyway, that system deterred people from sleeping overnight, lining up all day, etc which is a good thing since it was bloody freezing that day. And because it was my first time in Boston, I got to spend the day sightseeing

 

[unforgettable fire]

So are they doing a lottery and how about the stage?

So are they doing a lottery for the 360 tour? Since the stage is "in the round" are all front row spots equally good or does the band primarily face one way, OR does anyone know at this point?
I guess we will know after the first European shows. And how about camping out? I know Soldier Field has strict policies on tail-gating and they have really cracked down.... I don't know if this will affect the GA campers or not.
peace
u.f.

 

[unforgettable fire]

Hey, me too!!!

Don't feel bad. During one of my first up close experiences on the Elevation tour, I had a similar thing happen. I made a sign with the lyrics..." I'm only asking, but I ...think you know" IT was glitzy and cool. I would hold it up on occasion, between songs for a very short period....like about 5 to 10 seconds. I was about 8 rows back from the stage. At one point he looked at me in the middle of a song and said..."put down the sign"!!! I was devastated. I felt like I had been scolded in front of 20,000 people. Anyhow, after they were done, he came over to the side of the stage, knelt down and waved me over. He told me....." the lyrics to that song were sticking in my head and it was messing me up". He apologized.
But, nonetheless, I felt like I had been crushed! What an awful feeling. Believe me, he doesn't remember. He must have been in one of his "moods"
peace,
u.f.