Maoilbheannacht

[QUOTE=The_acrobat;6344748]
Its also important to emphasize that the economy in 2009 in both the United Kingdom and Ireland is in very bad shape. I know unemployment in Ireland is over 10%. I think the economy has definitely played a factor although all the shows have been huge relative success's to any other artist results including U2's.

digitize

That Glasgow show was one heck of a sellout.

KUEFC09U2

digitize considering there was a celtic v arsenal match going on the same night, i would say those numbers are pretty impressive.

thelaj

That is possible, given they likely release tickets in blocks of hundreds or thousands. On the other hand, another option I considered was it *was* sold out but a vast number to touts who didn't have them sold by show-time - hence the empty seating.

CosmoKramer

I think Im still amazed that they grossed 188 MILLION dollars in just 24 shows. I believe the record in NA, in a single year, is 162.1 million by the Stones (2005). U2 should give this record a run for its....money ....but Im not sure if they can do it in just 21 shows. Especially since there are some weaker markets that they will be playing (e.g. not sold out)

Either way, they should end 2009 with over 300 million in gross.


Also, just some perspective on U2. I hear people say and write that U2 are "washed up" or they are "irrelevant" (I also see people write that one). Now I dont give too much mind to the people that write they are irrelevant because typically they are average posters in a random forum (velvet rope, You Tube, Amazon, ect...) but consider this:

U2 just played to 1.7 million people in 24 SOLD OUT shows grossing 188 million dollars and last week, per Billboard BoxScore, the following happened:

The pretenders played to 855 out of 1400 and grossed 37k
Collective Soul played to 1,428 out of 2100 and grossed 45k
Counting Crows played to 4919 out of 5100 and grossed 68k
Creed played to 6,841 out of 25,277 (yeah, that was bad) and grossed 181k
Judas Priest played to 5286 out of 9299 and grossed 274k
Lil Wayne played to 9304 out of 19,985
Bob Dylan/John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson played to 8156 out of 15,000 and grossed 316k

Folks, it really shows how FUCKING big U2 really is. If people say U2 is "irrelevant" then I guess being relevant is selling 5 million albums but playing to half empty arenas like Lil Wayne......

vaz02

Cosmo

mirrorballman12

See below

mirrorballman12

You are spot on with your last statement, Lil Wayne sucks. Imagine how much money they would gross if they add other legs to the tour. (I think they will)

Native_Son

wow, youve summed that up pretty well!

i'm sureprised bands like credd are bothering, they were hunge in the US once, you'd think they would just give up not play to 6000 people, 1/4 full arenas

u2search

The touts outside were asking for spare tickets, hardly selling them. We left halfway the show (sorry, not my idea!) and even 10 songs in when we reached the tube station someone was more or less begging for tickets.

CosmoKramer

Wait a second...you left halfway through the show??? WTF is that about, was your house on fire? Even then, its already on fire and you will probably lose it anyway. Did you at least make it to Streets? Tell me you made it to Streets, please!!!

fedeu2

Not your idea? What the hell does that mean? Some of your friends suggested to leave and you were ok with it?
Unless there´s a compelling reason, anyone that leaves the show before the end is not a fan at all.

andyuk

Please remember that there were more shows for Vertigo in the UK than 360. x2 manchester, x2 London, x1 Cardiff, x1 Hampden

digitize

Overall, considering the state of the economy, the fact that this tour has 30% more seating than every other stadium tour ever, the fact that this tour is entirely in football stadiums, the general hostility towards U2 at the moment in the Anglosphere (outside of the US, where very few people seem to care about U2, but those who do care, including most of the press, are almost always extremely positive), and the (undeserved) lukewarm reception to NLOTH, this tour has thus far been an excellent commercial for the band. The UK has been a tougher market (with Glasgow being marked as a sellout with 3,000 fewer people than the Vertigo show and 30% more seating), but even the Glasgow show wasn't half bad considering the football game going on a couple of miles away.

God knows I'm excited to see the show in Chicago.

Maoilbheannacht

There was ONE more show on Vertigo, thats it. I think a sixth show on 360 UK on this leg would have been difficult to sell given what we have seen. Hampden had less attendance and less gross. In fact, if you adjust for inflation, the gross for Cardiff I think is less than it was on Vertigo. Plus the Vertigo shows soldout instantly they day they went on sale. With the exception of the first London and show and later the Sheffield show, these shows on 360 had tickets available for weeks or months.

In my opinion, the reason for this was the economy which has really taken a beating there over the past couple of years.

But its still a fantastic commercial achievement well ahead of nearly anyone else out there. The Cardiff attendance figure is the record for the stadium.