Somehow I can't get multi quote to work, so I will just write this without the quotes.
Some of my friends and other people that I know, lined up for the Santa Clara show at Levi's Stadium. I did not line up until approx. 3.30 pm. But I did go by the morning of the show to say hello to my friends. The gates to the stadium were going to open at 2 pm. So I was't sure if I would see them otherwise.
Anyway, when I went by in the morning, I learned the following : the people running the line did get venue wristbands. They were a solid color and hand numbered. I wouldn't be surprised if the line runners had to number the venue wristbands themselves. This happened, because u2's people also got involved and worked with the venue and the line runners. Probably to prevent a repeat of what happened in Vancouver and Seattle. At 2 pm venue security would start scanning credit cards in line order and people got a second wristband (the ga floor one with the tree on it). Then the line had to wait in line order at a different spot after the security gates. And wait there until Levi's opened the 'gate' to enter the field. At 5 pm the 1st 50 people would be walked to the field. After that the next group of 50. Etcetera. There were 500 venue wristbands.
I don't think that post from Nate is bullshit. He was one of the first people in line in Santa Clara. So what he posted on Facebook sounds about right if you compare it to the Santa Clara GA line up.
I would not be surprised if this is how the GA line up will continue to go for the rest of the American shows. Not sure about Europe. I don't think Europe does the paper list with check-in times. You get in, you get your hand numbered, you stay in line, you can leave for a bathroom break, a bite to eat, maybe a shower, but not for hours on end.
Headache is right, the band can easily fix this lining up 2 days in advance to get rail craziness. But they don't. Who knows, maybe they are under the impression that by giving the line runners the venue numbered wristbands they are giving the fans what they want.
It would be so easy for u2's people to do the Bruce Springsteen thing! Now that I think about it perhaps it is time for some pushback. So u2's people don't only hear from the line runners.
I am not less of a fan, because I don't want to lineup 2 days in advance. I would love to be at the rail (by luck of the draw). But once a tour would be enough. LOL
There is an even simpler way to do it. Most of the GA tickets have a row and seat number on it. Why not do something with that!! Perhaps have a separate pre-sale fanclub GA line that has to line up in order of row and seat # at a certain time the day of the show.
That would be more random.
And that way people who can't line up days in advance, still have a chance to be front row, if they wanted too.
Second GA line (for those who do want to spent days in line) goes in after the pre-sale fanclub ticket holders or a certain amount of minutes after or simultaneously (for all I care).
Or just do seated GA. Yup, there I said it. They have done it before. They can do it again.
I don't like this secretly stuff either. The whole if you know the right people, then blah, blah, blah. I even know some of the right people. LOL. (Perhaps not anymore after I have posted this. But oh well). And most, if not all of them are really nice. But sorry, not sorry, I am just not going to line up 2 days in advance.
Sharing this, because I hope it provides some of you with the info you wanted to know or are/were searching for.
No clue, if anybody I know, will be reading this. But if this causes me to be held out of the loop. So be it. I am at an age that I don't care what somebody else thinks of me. I know who I am. And if you can't handle me sharing this info, well then, it's you who has a problem and not me.