U2 smashes ticket sale records, unveils new shows
Tickets for the first handful of North American dates on this fall’s U2 360 tour hit the box office earlier today (3/30), and promoters claim the group posted record-breaking sellouts in all four cities, each of which will now host the band on back-to-back nights.
According to tour promoter Live Nation, “instantaneous” sellouts occurred for previously announced single performances in the New York City area, the Boston area and Chicago, with the group moving over 82,000 tickets in The Big Apple; 72,000 tickets in Beantown; and 65,000 tickets in the Windy City. The sales totals mark a single-day attendance record for each of the three cities, Live Nation said in a press release.
The record-setting sellouts prompted the group to add second-consecutive nights in all three cities, tickets for which will hit the box office next Monday (4/6).
Tickets sales were equally brisk outside of the US, as the group sold out two nights in Toronto; moved over 6,700 tickets in a single minute for its London engagement, marking the “highest sales rate ever in the UK”; and racked up sales of 160,000 tickets for its previously announced two-night stand on its home turf of Dublin, Ireland, prompting the band to tack on a third and final event in that city, according to Live Nation.
Tickets for the tour’s opening night in Barcelona, Spain, meanwhile, sold out in 54 minutes, making it the “fastest ever sold out show in the history of pop music in Spain,” according to a press release.
Along with the newly added second nights in the New York City area, Boston area and Chicago, the group has rolled out additional North American dates for September and October, including Washington, DC; Charlottesville, VA; Atlanta; Tampa, FL; Pasadena, CA; and Vancouver British Columbia. Tickets for all but the Charlottesville show will hit the box office next Monday (4/6), while those for Charlottesville go on sale this Friday (4/3), according to Live Nation. Details are included below.
On top of selling boatloads of tickets and confirming new shows, U2 has also announced a few of the opening acts that will share the bill with the Irish rock icons. Snow Patrol will open the Chicago and Boston-area shows; Muse will handle opening duties for the NYC-area engagements; and The Black Eyed Peas are on board for the just-confirmed Pasadena date.
The upcoming tour, which begins with a 14-city European leg this summer, supports U2’s recently released 12th studio album, “No Line on the Horizon,” which debuted at No. 1 in 30 countries, including the US, where it posted first-week sales of about 484,000 copies.
September 2009
12 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field (sold out)
13 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field (on sale 4/6)
16, 17 – Toronto, Ontario – Rogers Centre (sold out)
20 – Foxboro, MA – Gillette Stadium (sold out)
21 – Foxboro, MA – Gillette Stadium (on sale 4/6)
24 – East Rutherford, NJ – Giants Stadium (sold out)
25 – East Rutherford, NJ – (on sale 4/6)
29 – Washington, DC – FedEx Field (on sale 4/6)
October 2009
1 – Charlottesville, VA – Scott Stadium (on sale 4/3)
6 – Atlanta, GA – Georgia Dome (on sale 4/6)
9 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium (on sale 4/6)
25 – Pasadena, CA – Rose Bowl (on sale 4/6)
28 – Vancouver, British Columbia – BC Place Stadium (on sale 4/6)
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