All Southern Hemisphere tour information/rumours here please

[Axver]

I also disagree with the idea U2 would only do Melbourne/Sydney. The amount of interstate travellers probably still wouldn't be enough for them to do three shows in either/both cities, while they could sell out a gig in Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. That said, they won't do two gigs in Brisbane. They could've with the usual set-up but the heightened capacity of 360 should rule it out - especially if they are able to swing a coveted Lang Park slot.

I can't see Melbourne being at the G. It'll be 2x Etihad. Bet on it.

Why are we still talking about U2 leaving claws behind? It was a flippant comment, and seems to be taken way too seriously. I hardly believe that, even if it is serious, it would impact tour planning.

South Africa DESERVES gigs. I think the big question, though, is whether the band will actually have time to get there. Australia/New Zealand/Japan will take up a chunk of time, especially with transport requirements.

 

[bono_man2002]

Perth is a fucking awesome city, they deserve U2!

 

[cobl04]

I have no idea how many people they could get into Subi Oval, sorry.

Mind you, if U2 play Perth last they wouldnt play Subi, maybe The Esplanade, or sumfink.

burwood cas

Perth is a fucking awesome city, they deserve U2!

take your tori-coloured glasses elsewhere

 

[The Sad Punk]

Yeah, I go around saying "Perthetic" and stuff, but that's just because "Perthetic" is a funny word. It seems like a really nice place, and everyone deserves a thousand concerts over there.

PS super hurry up on Adelaide Oval renovations so no AAMI Stadium show/111!!

 

[bono_man2002]

take your tori-coloured glasses elsewhere

Well I enjoyed my 23 hours in Perth........Tori or no Tori!

 

[beli]

Axver, I hadnt read that the "leaving the claws behind" was a flippant comment. My apologies. Im obviously behind with the news.

Johannesburg is a big city, I just meant that the cities in Africa miss out on a lot of concerts, same with Australia and South America. No offense intended. If would be wonderful if U2 could play all or some of these places are often left off the list.

Burswood casino? Burswood is tiny with bad acoustics. I dont reckon you could even get the claw into the Burswood let alone an audience.

Anybody want to make any bets on where something/anything is announced? Either any remaining tour dates or thats all folks/the end?

 

[Tommy WM]

Yeah, I go around saying "Perthetic" and stuff, but that's just because "Perthetic" is a funny word. It seems like a really nice place, and everyone deserves a thousand concerts over there.

PS super hurry up on Adelaide Oval renovations so no AAMI Stadium show/111!!

Hell yeah to that. If the renovations go ahead it will be the best stadium in the country...maybe even the Southern Hemisphere!

 

[thatsnotmypuppy]

South Africa DESERVES gigs.

Well there is no shortage of venues now for U2 to play - however is there sufficient audience numbers to be playing to 70,000-100,000 per city? The new World Cup stadium in Jo'burg seats just under 100,000 and I don't see U2 playing anywhere else (since it's in Soweto and thus stupidly symbolic, yada yada yada). Cape Town's new stadium is just under 70,000 seats... I don't see them playing Newlands.

The only acts that have sold out stadiums in recent years have been Celine Dion and Robbie Williams.

 

[arzcrack]

Any ETA on announcement of dates, or even just theories?

 

[Visiongfx]

So there has been no updates from u2 camp in awhile now.... will there be some huge christmas announcement soon or are they all busying writing songs?

 

[mysterious_jen]

they are just busy torturing me , stretvching this announcement as long as possible.
a new years day announcement would kick arse.

 

[The Sad Punk]

are they all busying writing songs?

Stop it, you're killing me!

 

[Visiongfx]

Well lmao, i didn't mean like during the week of christmas....

 

[beli]

Happy silly season everyone artypopper:

 

[U2387]

I also disagree with the idea U2 would only do Melbourne/Sydney. The amount of interstate travellers probably still wouldn't be enough for them to do three shows in either/both cities, while they could sell out a gig in Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. That said, they won't do two gigs in Brisbane. They could've with the usual set-up but the heightened capacity of 360 should rule it out - especially if they are able to swing a coveted Lang Park slot.

I can't see Melbourne being at the G. It'll be 2x Etihad. Bet on it.

Why are we still talking about U2 leaving claws behind? It was a flippant comment, and seems to be taken way too seriously. I hardly believe that, even if it is serious, it would impact tour planning.

South Africa DESERVES gigs. I think the big question, though, is whether the band will actually have time to get there. Australia/New Zealand/Japan will take up a chunk of time, especially with transport requirements.

Hey Ax!

When do you think they will have time for any of this? Do you think it will be end of European leg in Fall of 2010, a couple weeks' break, and then onto Southern Hemisphere?

I would imagine we would have already heard about it if they were planning on hitting the road before June 2010 in Anaheim?

One things for sure, I think the long break bodes well for something new before they get back to touring!

 

[The_acrobat]

10/28/2010 Bangkok, THA @ Rajamangala Stadium
10/31/2010 Jakarta, IDO @ Bung Karno Stadium
11/03/2010 Singapore, SIN @ National Stadium
11/08/2010 Tokyo, JPN @ Tokyo Dome
11/09/2010 Tokyo, JPN @ Tokyo Dome
11/12/2010 Osaka, JPN @ Osaka Dome
11/13/2010 Osaka, JPN @ Osaka Dome
11/16/2010 Fukuoka, JPN @ Fukuoka Dome
11/19/2010 Nagoya, JPN @ Nagoya Dome
11/22/2010 Tokyo, JPN @ Tokyo Dome
11/23/2010 Tokyo, JPN @ Tokyo Dome

I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't come to Japan at all on this tour. I don't think U2 are popular enough in Japan to sell out enough stadium shows in a 360 configuration to justify the trip.

In 1993, U2 played 2 shows in Tokyo, with 1 selling out.

In 1997, U2 intended to play 2 shows in Tokyo and 1 in Osaka. Instead, they played 1 show in Tokyo and at the Osaka show, only 19,000 people were there.

In 2006, U2 intended to play 2 stadium shows. The 2nd show was never put on sale or announced because the 1st one was slow to sell out. This one show became 3 arena shows, totalling 57,000 people.

Also, what is U2's popularity like in Singapore, Egypt, Thailand and Indonesia? I know Singapore and Egypt were planned tentatively for 1998, but it never happened.

 

[Visiongfx]

I don't see u2 not going over there for atleast one show. Besides didn't somebody say this was one of their last tours or something? And maybe the other side of the world doesn't need to lose all respect for them either... :/

 

[thatsnotmypuppy]

NO way they'd be able to sell 4 Tokyo Dome's in 360 configuration. I've been to a few events in the Dome and none have 100% sold out. Maybe they could do 2 or 3 if they were the ONLY Japanese stop.

Also there is no way Hong Kong will be skipped if there are to be further Asian stops outside Japan. Big, big expat dollars to be made in Honkers.

Forget Indonesia - the Government has banned pretty much everyone who has tried to tour there recently - Beyonce, Avril Lavigne, Green Day... I think only the Backstreet Boys and Justin Timberlake actually ended up playing their scheduled Jakarta shows.

Finally the Singapore National Stadium is currently being demolished - and the new Singapore Sports Hub wont be ready until 2014. Any events will be held at the Marine Stage - basically a floating pontoon with 30,000 seats around it - until 2014. So unless U2 play in an empty field or small stadium there is nowhere for the Claw in the 'pore.

Sorry for over analysing - I just get worked up when people assume that a huge Asian population equates to huge ticket sale opportunities. Most Western acts would be lucky to fill an arena in most Asian markets - let alone a stadium.

 

[jeffarido]

I sent a email to Australian Tour Promoter Micheal Coppel and they advised they have no information in regards to U2 touring Australia for the 360 tour...

Do you think they would still say that if they really did have no information??? surely if U2 are planning to come here they would have something in the pipeline...

 

[paulrg]

I sent a email to Australian Tour Promoter Micheal Coppel and they advised they have no information in regards to U2 touring Australia for the 360 tour...

Do you think they would still say that if they really did have no information??? surely if U2 are planning to come here they would have something in the pipeline...

That sounds like a standard reply. Most promoters will not risk saying anything until any dates are firmed up. For example here in Switzerland there are sketches of stage layout for a Zurich gig up on 360.u2.com, a local official confirmed permission has been granted for the gig at an airfield but the promoters won't say anything yet except 'U2 ?'

 

[ZOOTVTOURist]

Folks, there are still ten-thousands of (way too overpriced) tickets available here for the European shows. Many concerts are far from being sold out, they look really empty when looking at the seating charts (Hannover, Munich, ...). Rumours of extra multiple nights and additional dates ended up in smoke for now ...

Even with the opening and closing nights in Torino and Roma look that sad – I am not sure, U2 will announce any more leg(s) at all. But: I honestly will keep the fingers crossed for you.

 

[coolian2]

uh huh.

 

[ntalwar]

At least one Brazilian newspaper mentions U2 in November for Brazil:

(in Portuguese)
Guarde dinheiro para os ingressos | SHOW

 

[ZOOTVTOURist]

uh huh.

Yes, I know this is not the "everything is great with the greatest band in the world with the greatest show on earth with the greatest setlists with the greatest voice ever in U2 history" bla bla-propaganda, but it is a fact. The 2nd coming 2010 is far from being a commercial succeess at the moment here in some European countries. More sad so, because there are not that many shows announced, the interest should be bigger ...
Hope, it will change – otherwise we saw, what LiveNation for example did with the (also way too overpriced) Madonna shows that sold that poor. They simply were canceled.
So again fingers crossed for the Southern Hemisphere fans & the band themselves, because they play excellent there ...

 

[robbrecon72]

hmmmm...recently Paul said almost every show next year was either sold out or nearing a sellout. How does everyone on here know how many tickets they've sold?

 

[ZOOTVTOURist]

hmmmm...recently Paul said almost every show next year was either sold out or nearing a sellout. How does everyone on here know how many tickets they've sold?

"Everyone on here" I am not responsible for, thanks to god. Me I am able (as you are ...) to look at the different monopolist ticket-sellers & Live Nation partners like Tickets Konzertkarten Eintrittskarten for Germany or TicketOne - Home for the Italian shows.
Just check the seating plans for the German ones (you can click them, too) and you'll see how many seats are already sold. Or better: How many seats are still available. Which is the vast majority!
In Italy you have really poor sales for the Rome gig, where you can buy as much as you want in the high priced and over-priced sections – which means most of the good seats. And even the small Torino stadium, the opening show of the tour, has loads of tickets available.

Nice, that Paul, the manager, speaks of sold out and nearly sold out shows (hey, this is his job to do so ...). Fact is:

Torino - a lot of tickets available
Frankfurt - many tickets available
Hannover - whole sections, a sea of tickets available
Horsens 1 - sold out
Horsens 2 - sold out
Helsinki 1 - sold out
Helsinki 2 - tickets available
Moskau - a sea of tickets available
Vienna - sold out
Athens - a sea of tickets available
Istanbul - a sea of tickets available
Munich - whole sections, a sea of tickets available
Paris - sold out
Brüssel 1 - sold out
Brüssel 2 - sold out
San Sebastian - a sea of tickets available
Sevilla - a sea of tickets available
Coimbra 1 - sold out
Coimbra 2 - sold out
Rome - a sea of tickets available

Not even half of the tour is sold out officially, and some shows show a really frightening emptiness regarding the ticket sales ...

 

[Popmartijn]

Still, what has this to do with any plans for touring South America and Australia/New Zealand, continents they haven't visited yet on this tour?

 

[ZOOTVTOURist]

Folks, there are still ten-thousands of (way too overpriced) tickets available here for the European shows. Many concerts are far from being sold out, they look really empty when looking at the seating charts (Hannover, Munich, ...). Rumours of extra multiple nights and additional dates ended up in smoke for now ...

Even with the opening and closing nights in Torino and Roma look that sad – I am not sure, U2 will announce any more leg(s) at all. But: I honestly will keep the fingers crossed for you.

This. There were quotes of manager Paul & Co. that additional legs will be done when the money is runnning. Remember the quotes of "We have not yet a break even?" etc. Now with such a successful year behind them, I hope for these legs to happen. But it might be a barrier, when the European stadium leg would flop ... My bet & hope still is: a huge 5th leg, after Europe...

 

[paulrg]

This. There were quotes of manager Paul & Co. that additional legs will be done when the money is runnning. Remember the quotes of "We have not yet a break even?" etc. Now with such a successful year behind them, I hope for these legs to happen. But it might be a barrier, when the European stadium leg would flop ... My bet & hope still is: a huge 5th leg, after Europe...

If the sales aren't up to expectations in Europe (also parts of N. America have plenty tickets left) then that at least ought to put some emphasis on getting Songs of Ascent out sooner rather than later. The publicity surrounding a new U2 album will undoubtedly help to sell some of those remaining seats.

I wouldn't be surprised to see U2 doing a quick jet-set mini promotional tour of TV appearances in the markets with tickets left in April/May.

However I also realise that comparisons with Madonna etc. are rather iffy given that U2 are playing the largest venues in town and typically with an additional 10-15,000 tickets on sale than with a typical stage configuration. Also whilst Western governments chirp on about economic recovery, the actual consumer in many markets says different. Just consider some of the upcoming stops on the tour - Spain with c. 20% unemployment, Greece which is almost on the brink of revolution...

 

[spookyz]

People were having the same discussion about tickets being available before Leg 1. There was still "a sea of tickets" available for Berlin and Gelsenkirchen until the day of the show. You could even purchase tickets for Barcelona, Milan, London and Dublin until a few days or so before the concert. And look how these shows ended up...
Munich, Moscow and Rome almost have a capacity of 100.000, its quite logical that venues like these do not sell out within a few weeks considering the high ticket prices.

By the way, it's still 8-10 months to go!

Anyway, why would sales in Europe have any impact on visiting huge markets in South America and Australia, New Zealand...