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U2 do their bit to make poverty history — to the tune of $50m
By Andrew Murfett
They may have drummed up significant publicity for fighting poverty, but the Irish group U2 grossed about $50 million from concert ticket and merchandise in their two weeks in Australia.
The Vertigo Australian leg was a stunning financial success, and is expected to be the highest-grossing rock show of the year locally. Industry sources suggest that U2 would have grossed over $40 million (before costs) in ticket sales for the Australian tour, and can expect to have generated anywhere from $20 to $30 per patron on merchandise such as T-shirts and posters.
The band may also have a share in catering revenue.
More than 400,000 fans saw the band in Australia, just under 200,000 in Sydney, a total of 125,000 at the Telstra Dome for the band's two Melbourne shows, 60,000 at Adelaide's AAMI Stadium and 45,000 for the first show in Brisbane.
All seven Australian shows, with the exception of the third Sydney date, sold out in hours.
In Melbourne alone this weekend, the band sold 50,000 tickets to Telstra Dome's general admission section at $99 each, meaning the band grossed a little under $5 million — just from the standing section.
A further 75,000 seated ticket holders paid between $200 and $59 a ticket, grossing about $7.5 million meaning the total for the weekend is around $12.5 million.
Meanwhile, three of the band's albums have bounced back into the top 100. Their new greatest hits album U218 Singles is expected to debut next week at number one on the ARIA charts.
The band was set to perform in March before cancelling due to an illness in a band member's family. Production designer Jake Berry declined to discuss costs, but they were most likely sizeable. Befitting the biggest band in the world, U2 spent the first week of their Australian tour at the exclusive five-star Palazzo Versace Resort on the Gold Coast and commuted between Brisbane via private jet, helicopter and limousine for rehearsals.
With DANIEL ZIFFER
http://www.theage.com.au/news/enter...the-tune-of-50m/2006/11/20/1163871341103.html
By Andrew Murfett
They may have drummed up significant publicity for fighting poverty, but the Irish group U2 grossed about $50 million from concert ticket and merchandise in their two weeks in Australia.
The Vertigo Australian leg was a stunning financial success, and is expected to be the highest-grossing rock show of the year locally. Industry sources suggest that U2 would have grossed over $40 million (before costs) in ticket sales for the Australian tour, and can expect to have generated anywhere from $20 to $30 per patron on merchandise such as T-shirts and posters.
The band may also have a share in catering revenue.
More than 400,000 fans saw the band in Australia, just under 200,000 in Sydney, a total of 125,000 at the Telstra Dome for the band's two Melbourne shows, 60,000 at Adelaide's AAMI Stadium and 45,000 for the first show in Brisbane.
All seven Australian shows, with the exception of the third Sydney date, sold out in hours.
In Melbourne alone this weekend, the band sold 50,000 tickets to Telstra Dome's general admission section at $99 each, meaning the band grossed a little under $5 million — just from the standing section.
A further 75,000 seated ticket holders paid between $200 and $59 a ticket, grossing about $7.5 million meaning the total for the weekend is around $12.5 million.
Meanwhile, three of the band's albums have bounced back into the top 100. Their new greatest hits album U218 Singles is expected to debut next week at number one on the ARIA charts.
The band was set to perform in March before cancelling due to an illness in a band member's family. Production designer Jake Berry declined to discuss costs, but they were most likely sizeable. Befitting the biggest band in the world, U2 spent the first week of their Australian tour at the exclusive five-star Palazzo Versace Resort on the Gold Coast and commuted between Brisbane via private jet, helicopter and limousine for rehearsals.
With DANIEL ZIFFER
http://www.theage.com.au/news/enter...the-tune-of-50m/2006/11/20/1163871341103.html
