News: January 2001 Archives

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January 25, 2001

U2 Beef Up Tour Schedule

1.25.01 - Rollingstone

Continued sell-outs prompt U2 to add more dates to Elevation tour

When U2 first announced the North American leg of their upcoming Elevation tour earlier this month, the initial schedule left ample room for growth, with only one night scheduled in each city. Two weeks later, with shows selling out at a brisk pace, additional nights have been added to ten cities, fattening the once-svelte thirty-three-date trek to forty-seven.

U2 have already added additional nights in Calgary; San Jose, California; Anaheim, California; Chicago; Toronto; Boston; Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; New York and East Rutherford, New Jersey. Most of the new shows have already sold out. The next batch of tickets -- for the tour's stops in Houston; Lexington, Kentucky; Pittsburgh; Columbus, Ohio; Milwaukee; Indianapolis; Albany, New York and yet another date in Chicago -- go on sale Saturday.

Whether new dates will be added to any of those cities, too, remains to be seen, but the band's running out of breathing room fast. Apart from an orphan travel day between cities here and there, the revised schedule affords U2 only one week off in the thick of the tour -- the seven days between their potentially last night in Chicago, May 16th, and their first in Toronto, May 24th.

U2's Elevation Tour Dates:

3/24: Miami, FL, National Car Rental Center
3/29: Charlotte, NC, Charlotte Coliseum
3/30: Atlanta, GA, Philips Arena
4/2: Houston, TX, Comaq Center
4/3: Dallas, TX, Reunion Arena
4/6: Denver, CO, Pepsi Arena
4/9: Calgary, ALB, Pengrowth Saddledome
4/10: Calgary, ALB, Pengrowth Saddledome
4/12: Tacoma, WA, Tacoma Dome
4/13: Vancouver, BC, General Motors Place
4/15: Portland, OR, Rose Garden
4/17: San Diego, CA, Sports Arena
4/19: San Jose, CA, San Jose Arena
4/20: San Jose, CA, San Jose Arena
4/23: Anaheim, CA, Arrowhead Pond
4/24: Anaheim, CA, Arrowhead Pond
4/26: Anaheim, CA, Arrowhead Pond
4/28: Phoenix, AZ, America West Arena
5/1: Minneapolis, MN, Target Center
5/3: Cleveland, OH, Gund Arena
5/4: Lexington, KY, Rupp Arena
5/6: Pittsburgh, PA, Mellon Arena
5/7: Columbus, OH, Nationwide Arena
5/9: Milwaukee, WI, Bradley Center
5/10: Indianapolis, IN, Conseco Fieldhouse
5/12: Chicago, IL, United Center
5/13: Chicago, IL, United Center
5/15: Chicago, IL, United Center
5/16: Chicago, IL, United Center
5/24: Toronto, ONT, Air Canada Center
5/25: Toronto, ONT, Air Canada Center
5/27: Montreal, QUE, Molson Center
5/30: Detroit, MI, Palace of Auburn Hills
6/2: Albany, NY, Pepsi Arena
6/3: Buffalo, NY, HSBC Arena
6/5: Boston, MA, Fleet Center
6/6: Boston, MA, Fleet Center
6/8: Boston, MA, Fleet Center
6/9: Hartford, CT, Hartford Civic Center
6/11: Philadelphia, PA, First Union Center
6/12: Philadelphia, PA, First Union Center
6/14: Washington, DC, MCI Center
6/15: Washington, DC, MCI Center
6/17: New York, NY, Madison Square Garden
6/19: New York, NY, Madison Square Garden
6/21: East Rutherford, NJ, Continental Airlines Arena
6/22: East Rutherford, NJ, Continental Airlines Arena

RICHARD SKANSE

Posted by Jonathan at 02:46 AM | Comments (0)

January 19, 2001

U2 Promoter Defends Tour's Festival Seating

1.19.01 - Sonicnet

Irish rockers' plan - intended to keep ticket prices down, add intimacy - had been attacked by concert-safety consultant.

Corey Moss reports:

The promoters behind U2's upcoming Elevation Tour 2001 are confident the partially general-admission concerts will be safe.

They said the band chose the controversial seating plan to add intimacy and keep tickets prices down.

"By making this tour general-admission seating on the floor, we are able to price the tickets considerably lower than reserved seating," SFX Music Group President of Touring Arthur Fogel said in a statement issued Thursday (January 18). Tickets for the U2 tour range from $45 to $130.

"If you compare the two seating configurations with reserved seating costing substantially more, it is obvious that financials were not the deciding factor when choosing general admission seating," Fogel said.

Fogel was responding to comments made last week by Paul Wertheimer, owner of concert-safety consulting firm Crowd Management Strategies, who accused U2 and SFX of dangerously stuffing as many fans onto the floors of their venues as possible to make more money.

Crowd Management Strategies released a controversial report last year stating nearly 70 people were killed at concerts in 1999. The subject made headlines last year when nine concertgoers died as a result of a crowd crush at a Pearl Jam festival performance in Denmark in the summer.

But Wertheimer - who authored the taskforce report on the 1979 Who concert stampede in Cincinnati, where 11 fans were killed rushing into the open seating inside Riverfront Coliseum - still feels U2 and SFX, not the concertgoers, will profit from general admission.

"While festival-seating events are, as a rule, less expensive to produce than reserved-seating events, that does not mean they are less profitable," Wertheimer said. "To the contrary, the potential to reap a greater profit exists. In a typical 18,000-seat arena, that could mean an increase in capacity of additional 1,000 to 2,000 people. At $50 per ticket that's an additional $50,000 for 1,000 more people. Then, add concessions, souvenirs, etc., purchased per person."

SFX said the decision to use general admission seating was made by U2 with the complete support of SFX.

"General admission seating offers an intimacy between the band and the audience that U2 finds desirable," Fogel's statement said. "Safety is always a priority for both the band and SFX. SFX considers the audience, the venues, and the entertainer prior to setting the seating configuration for any tour."

Wertheimer said that Crowd Management Strategies, which has been hosting a public forum on the festival-seating issue on its Web site (crowdsafe.com), was glad to hear SFX say that safety is a priority with Elevation Tour 2001.

"However, SFX knows that not all high-profile festival seating events the promoter has been associated with have been trouble-free," he said. "That is why this public debate over festival seating-general admission is healthy. We will all gain an increased awareness of the discomforts and dangers of festival seating and of the techniques that can make festival seating safer."

U2's decision to use festival seating on their tour has also prompted fan George Combs of Trenton, Ohio, to petition the band to change to a safer seating policy.

A spokesperson for U2 at Interscope Records said the band had no comment on the issue.

The Irish rockers originally announced a 33-date North American tour, but they added six more shows (including two each at Fleet Center in Boston and United Center in Chicago) after tickets quickly sold out in those markets. Tickets for shows in the remaining cities go on sale this weekend.

Some reserved seating will be available in the lower levels of each arena and in all of the upper levels.

The Elevation Tour 2001, which will include opening act PJ Harvey, kicks off March 24 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and will continue at least until June 21.

Posted by Jonathan at 02:47 AM | Comments (0)

January 12, 2001

U2's Festival Seating Plan Draws Fire

1.12.01 - Sonicnet

Concert safety consultant blasts policy; other experts unconcerned.

Corey Moss reports:

U2's recently announced Elevation Tour 2001 has already been dubbed one of the biggest outings of the year - now some are calling it one of the most controversial.

Some - including a concert industry safety expert and a group of U2 fans - are concerned about the Irish rockers' decision to use festival seating (also dubbed "standing room only" or "general admission") on the floors of the 33 arenas where they will perform in North America.

"Historically, festival seating is the most dangerous concert configuration," said Paul Wertheimer, owner of Crowd Management Strategies, a concert-safety consulting firm that released a controversial report last year stating nearly 70 people were killed at concerts in 1999.

"We seem to keep relearning this lesson every year. One would have thought that Roskilde would have made SFX and U2 think twice about crowd safety and crowd comfort," Wertheimer added, referring to the tragic deaths of nine concertgoers resulting from a crowd crush at a Pearl Jam festival performance in Denmark in the summer.

Wertheimer, who authored the taskforce report on the 1979 Who concert stampede in Cincinnati - where 11 fans were killed rushing into the open seating inside Riverfront Coliseum - criticized U2 and promoters SFX Entertainment for choosing festival seating. He believes there is no demand for it by U2's fans and said the decision was probably prompted by a desire to increase tour profits.

"U2 fans that I know would rather sit down or stand in front of their seats and dance than be pushed around and possibly injured in a festival seating environment," he said. "Festival seating is used when promoters, artists and venue operators are focused more on the bottom line than on the life line of their audiences. Festival seating is all about money, because more people can be stuffed into a space with no seats than with fixed seats; labor and chair rental costs are considerably less or nonexistent; security costs are reduced; and tickets are easier to sell at a higher price because fans do not envision themselves being stuck in obstructed view areas."

U2 were not available for comment Thursday (January 11), though frontman Bono discussed his excitement about festival seating on MTV's "TRL" on Tuesday. (Sonicnet.com's parent company, Viacom, also owns MTV.)

"We've got a thing going called general admission, which we've never had before, where the floor is opened up. There's no seats in front of the stage," Bono said. "The best seats are actually the cheapest seats in the house, and that's right in front of us. And we are gonna elevate our mind, elevate our soul, elevate your heart, maybe. I hope so."

But some fans are apprehensive. George Combs of Trenton, Ohio, has launched a grassroots movement of concerned U2 fans who believe the festival seating policy should be outlawed. He plans to petition the band.

"While I believe U2 concertgoers are far less rowdy than say those of Metallica or Pantera, the chance that the fans could unwittingly injure other fans in a mad rush to get the best available seats is definitely there," Combs said. "I grew up near Cincinnati, Ohio, the site of the 1979 Who concert tragedy. I still remember waking to the news of the 11 people who died that night. I partially blame the festival seating policy."

But Gary Bongiovanni, editor of concert industry magazine Pollstar, said fans should not be concerned. "Certainly, if there is a band that can pull off festival seating safely, it is U2," he said. "Their crowd isn't going to be as volatile as say a Red Hot Chili Peppers crowd. How much moshing will occur in front of a U2 stage?"

A spokesperson for SFX did not return phone calls, but another promoter was not worried about the festival seating. Jack Larson, assistant executive director at the Target Center in Minneapolis, said his venue often books festival seating events, including such acts as Pantera and Limp Bizkit, and it has never had any problems. "U2 should be one of the mellower general admission shows we've done," he said.

But Combs remains concerned. "How can one overreact to the very real danger of injury or death?" he wrote. "A lot of things in life are risky, but entertainment should not be one of them."

Because festival seating is becoming less common, U2 may have chosen it to be unusual, Bongiovanni said. It also adds a certain energy level to shows, he said. "And they probably got a taste of that at Irving Plaza," a New York club where the band played in December.

The Elevation Tour 2001 kicks off March 24 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and it will continue until June 21. Tickets for some dates of the tour, which will include opening act PJ Harvey, will go on sale Saturday.

Posted by Jonathan at 02:50 AM | Comments (0)

January 09, 2001

U2 Announces Elevation Tour

1.9.01 - Launch.com

As expected, U2 announced its 2001 arena tour today (January 9). Billed as the Elevation Tour, after the new song "Elevation," U2 will play indoor arenas in support of its latest album, All That You Can't Leave Behind. It's the first time the band will play an extended run of non-stadium dates in North America since the first leg of the ZooTV outing in 1992.

Tickets for select dates go on sale Saturday (January 13), with prices ranging from $130 for Gold Circle seats to $85 to $45 for floor tickets (not seats), which will be general admission. The stage has been designed for unobstructed views from every angle, so those behind the stage will have just as good a view as those in front.

There is a two-ticket-per-person limit for "best of the house" general admission, and four tickets for reserved seats. Early birds, take note -- those buying their tickets on the first day of sales at the box office won't have to pay any service fees.

P.J. Harvey is the opening act for all dates. U2 will announce a European itinerary shortly. Also, there is always the chance that more U.S dates will be added, depending on ticket demand.

The U2 Elevation Tour itinerary includes (subject to change):

March 24 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - National Car Rental Center - on sale January 13
March 29 - Charlotte, NC - Charlotte Coliseum
March 30 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
April 2 - Houston, TX - Compaq Center
April 3 - Dallas, TX - Reunion Arena
April 6 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Arena
April 9 - Calgary, ALB - Pengrowth Saddledome
April 12 - Tacoma, WA - Tacoma Dome
April 13 - Vancouver, BC - General Motors Place
April 15 - Portland, OR - Rose Garden
April 17 - San Diego, CA - San Diego Sports Arena
April 19 - San Jose, CA - San Jose Arena
April 23 - Anaheim, CA - Arrowhead, Pond
April 28 - Phoenix, AZ - America West Arena
May 1 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center
May 3 - Cleveland, OH - Gund Arena
May 4 - Lexington, KY - Rupp Arena
May 6 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mellon Arena
May 7 - Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena
May 9 - Milwaukee, WI - Bradley Center
May 10 - Indianapolis, IN - Conseco Fieldhouse
May 12 - Chicago, IL - United Center - on sale January 13
May 24 - Toronto, ONT - Air Canada Centre - on sale January 13
May 27 - Montreal, QUE - Molson Centre
May 30 - Detroit, MI - The Palace At Auburn Hills - on sale January 13
June 2 - Albany, NY - Pepsi Arena
June 3 - Buffalo, NY - HSBC Arena
June 5 - Boston, MA - Fleet Center - on sale January 13
June 9 - Hartford, CT - Civic Center
June 11 - Philadelphia, PA - First Union Center - on sale January 13
June 14 - Washington, DC - MCI Center
June 17 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
June 21 - East Rutherford, NJ - Continental Airlines Arena

Additional on-sale dates will be announced as they become available.

-- Bruce Simon, New York

Posted by Jonathan at 02:54 AM | Comments (0)

January 05, 2001

U2 World Tour Unveiled

1.5.01 - dotmusic

U2's imminent world tour will feature around 80 dates, culminating with an 80,000 show at Slane Castle, Ireland, dotmusic can exclusively reveal.

We have received unconfirmed reports that the dates, which are set to be announced officially next week, will begin on March 24th at the Miami Arena, Miami, USA.

The band will play almost exclusively 'intimate' arena shows, with the American leg running from the first Miami date to shows in New York City and New Jersey in late June.

According to reports on some unofficial U2 sites, the band will play a number of gigs at Earl's Court in London, and a handful in France on July 17 and 18.

The strategy of the tour - which will be preceded by a few weeks rehearsing in Miami - mirrors the pattern of the band's Zoo TV indoor tour in 1992, which began in Miami, ran through the US, before venturing onto Earl's Court and beyond.

The rest of the world tour remains unclear, though the band are believed to have confirmed an August 25th show at Slane Castle, Ireland.

The venue, which is where the band recorded much of the 'Unforgettable Fire' album, will host up to 80,000 people, in the grounds of the stately home, which belongs to Lord Henry Mountcharles.

A spokeswoman for the band was today unable to confirm the exact details of the tour and said an official announcement would be made in the next seven days.

For more information on these dates go to www.u2tour.com

Posted by Jonathan at 02:57 AM | Comments (0)

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