What’s the economic criteria that could make U2 choose stadiums over arenas ?

So… the lastest rumours from U2songs (who turn out to be right like, 99% of the time) indicate U2 would do a tour as they did for Vertigo in 2025, i/e stadiums in Europe and arenas in the US.

I’m wondering how it even makes sense ?

Knowing U2 are business oriented, I can only assume this choice is for economic reasons.

So… the question is : what makes a stadium tour more profitable in Europe when an arena tour is more profitable in the US ?

I would have guessed dynamic pricing explains it but since U2 already used that strategy 20 years before for the Vertigo tour, I’m not sure.

Thoughts ?

There's bigger demand for tickets in Europe than in North America and so stadiums satisfies demand.  It's the same for Bruce Springsteen.

For some reason European's seem to be more willing to pay good money to stand in a football stadium to watch a concert than Americans are.

North America has large indoor arenas in most cities where as many European cities don't have.  That's changed over the past two decades in the major European cities.  Even so if they were to play Glasgow for example they'd be looking at a capacity of only about 8,000 per show.

If U2 only do stadiums in Europe next time out then that would rule me out.

I recall them saying back on the Vertigo tour that Europe does not have nearly as many arena-size venues as does the US.  So they made the decision to do stadiums with fewer dates.

I have no idea if that was or is still the case but if so it makes sense.  They like the smaller arenas but without enough of them, they will do stadium and fewer shows.

When you look at these modern arenas in Europe which are as big as arenas in North America, that can no longer be an excuse to play only stadiums in Europe but to give American audiences arenas.  The main excuse will be greater ticket demand in Europe.  My idea - which is something the Stones did on their Licks tour - would be for the band to play a mixture of arenas and stadiums in most countries they play in.  The Stones also threw in a number of intimate theatre shows in key cities around the world.  They tailored their setlists to the type of venues they played in.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_indoor_arenas_in_Europe

U2 tailoring their setlists.... hilarious.

Reason is simple, IMHO.

They know they can still sell out stadiums in Europe. But they also know it would be a chalenge to do the same in the US.

There's bigger demand for tickets in Europe than in North America and so stadiums satisfies demand.  It's the same for Bruce Springsteen.

For some reason European's seem to be more willing to pay good money to stand in a football stadium to watch a concert than Americans are.

North America has large indoor arenas in most cities where as many European cities don't have.  That's changed over the past two decades in the major European cities.  Even so if they were to play Glasgow for example they'd be looking at a capacity of only about 8,000 per show.

If U2 only do stadiums in Europe next time out then that would rule me out.

Glasgow has The SEC and The Hydro venues (12 000 and 15 000 capacity respectively). The P&J Exhibition Centre in Aberdeen also has 15 000 capacity. So, even Scotland has a few options for Arena shows.

Quote from: Tumbling Dice on June 06, 2024, 07:41:52 AM

There's bigger demand for tickets in Europe than in North America and so stadiums satisfies demand.  It's the same for Bruce Springsteen.

For some reason European's seem to be more willing to pay good money to stand in a football stadium to watch a concert than Americans are.

North America has large indoor arenas in most cities where as many European cities don't have.  That's changed over the past two decades in the major European cities.  Even so if they were to play Glasgow for example they'd be looking at a capacity of only about 8,000 per show.

If U2 only do stadiums in Europe next time out then that would rule me out.

Glasgow has The SEC and The Hydro venues (12 000 and 15 000 capacity respectively). The P&J Exhibition Centre in Aberdeen also has 15 000 capacity. So, even Scotland has a few options for Arena shows.

I just checked the SECC has a bigger a capacity than I thought it had.

Quote from: Smee on June 06, 2024, 04:58:44 PM

Quote from: Tumbling Dice on June 06, 2024, 07:41:52 AM

There's bigger demand for tickets in Europe than in North America and so stadiums satisfies demand.  It's the same for Bruce Springsteen.

For some reason European's seem to be more willing to pay good money to stand in a football stadium to watch a concert than Americans are.

North America has large indoor arenas in most cities where as many European cities don't have.  That's changed over the past two decades in the major European cities.  Even so if they were to play Glasgow for example they'd be looking at a capacity of only about 8,000 per show.

If U2 only do stadiums in Europe next time out then that would rule me out.

Glasgow has The SEC and The Hydro venues (12 000 and 15 000 capacity respectively). The P&J Exhibition Centre in Aberdeen also has 15 000 capacity. So, even Scotland has a few options for Arena shows.

I just checked the SECC has a bigger a capacity than I thought it had.

Im sure i heard the SECC no longer does gigs though. Not sure how accurate that is. They Hydro and P&J Arenas are purpose built for hosting gigs. I can vouch for the hydro having amazing sound quality

U2 toured arenas in Europe as soon as 1992 for the second leg of the ZooTv tour.
They also toured arenas in Europe for Elevation 9 years later.
The situation only improved since then. If they wanted to stay indoor they could do it. We even have a 40k seats indoor venue in Paris now.

I really feel like they consider we’ll jump at any bone they throw at us.

Quote from: Smee on June 06, 2024, 04:58:44 PM

Quote from: Tumbling Dice on June 06, 2024, 07:41:52 AM

There's bigger demand for tickets in Europe than in North America and so stadiums satisfies demand.  It's the same for Bruce Springsteen.

For some reason European's seem to be more willing to pay good money to stand in a football stadium to watch a concert than Americans are.

North America has large indoor arenas in most cities where as many European cities don't have.  That's changed over the past two decades in the major European cities.  Even so if they were to play Glasgow for example they'd be looking at a capacity of only about 8,000 per show.

If U2 only do stadiums in Europe next time out then that would rule me out.

Glasgow has The SEC and The Hydro venues (12 000 and 15 000 capacity respectively). The P&J Exhibition Centre in Aberdeen also has 15 000 capacity. So, even Scotland has a few options for Arena shows.

I just checked the SECC has a bigger a capacity than I thought it had.

There is a surprise.....



Said absolutely nobody.

So… the lastest rumours from U2songs (who turn out to be right like, 99% of the time) indicate U2 would do a tour as they did for Vertigo in 2025, i/e stadiums in Europe and arenas in the US.

I’m wondering how it even makes sense ?

Knowing U2 are business oriented, I can only assume this choice is for economic reasons.

So… the question is : what makes a stadium tour more profitable in Europe when an arena tour is more profitable in the US ?

I would have guessed dynamic pricing explains it but since U2 already used that strategy 20 years before for the Vertigo tour, I’m not sure.

Thoughts ?

U2 struggled to sellout arenas in the United States for the Experience And Innocence Tour in 2018 supporting the Songs Of Experience album.

I assume a tour in 2025 will be for a new album, which has become a tough sell to U2 fans that still follow the band and unlikely for casual fans or the general public.

For example, for the two arena shows in Philadelphia and the two arena shows in Washington D.C. back in 2018, U2 were not able to sell any of the seats that were on the 2nd level behind the stage for those shows. U2 were able to sell those seats all the way back in 1985 on the Unforgettable Fire Tour before they had reached peak popularity on the Joshua Tree Tour. So this is a new low for the band, lower than POPMART or in fact anything unless you go back to the War Tour in 1983 when they were playing theaters 41 years ago.

So with that in mind, they will definitely be in arenas in the United States if they tour in 2025 for a new album. That is just where the general demand level is for the band at this time, and the new album is highly unlikely to have a hit single that could reverse that.

Quote from: Soloyan on June 06, 2024, 04:00:54 AM

So… the lastest rumours from U2songs (who turn out to be right like, 99% of the time) indicate U2 would do a tour as they did for Vertigo in 2025, i/e stadiums in Europe and arenas in the US.

I’m wondering how it even makes sense ?

Knowing U2 are business oriented, I can only assume this choice is for economic reasons.

So… the question is : what makes a stadium tour more profitable in Europe when an arena tour is more profitable in the US ?

I would have guessed dynamic pricing explains it but since U2 already used that strategy 20 years before for the Vertigo tour, I’m not sure.

Thoughts ?

U2 struggled to sellout arenas in the United States for the Experience And Innocence Tour in 2018 supporting the Songs Of Experience album.

I assume a tour in 2025 will be for a new album, which has become a tough sell to U2 fans that still follow the band and unlikely for casual fans or the general public.

For example, for the two arena shows in Philadelphia and the two arena shows in Washington D.C. back in 2018, U2 were not able to sell any of the seats that were on the 2nd level behind the stage for those shows. U2 were able to sell those seats all the way back in 1985 on the Unforgettable Fire Tour before they had reached peak popularity on the Joshua Tree Tour. So this is a new low for the band, lower than POPMART or in fact anything unless you go back to the War Tour in 1983 when they were playing theaters 41 years ago.

So with that in mind, they will definitely be in arenas in the United States if they tour in 2025 for a new album. That is just where the general demand level is for the band at this time, and the new album is highly unlikely to have a hit single that could reverse that.

Good. So, why are they repeating a formula that doesn’t work in terms of songwriting ?
Why not take risks since they’re going downhill anyway ?

Quote from: wons on June 06, 2024, 06:11:07 PM

Quote from: Soloyan on June 06, 2024, 04:00:54 AM

So… the lastest rumours from U2songs (who turn out to be right like, 99% of the time) indicate U2 would do a tour as they did for Vertigo in 2025, i/e stadiums in Europe and arenas in the US.

I’m wondering how it even makes sense ?

Knowing U2 are business oriented, I can only assume this choice is for economic reasons.

So… the question is : what makes a stadium tour more profitable in Europe when an arena tour is more profitable in the US ?

I would have guessed dynamic pricing explains it but since U2 already used that strategy 20 years before for the Vertigo tour, I’m not sure.

Thoughts ?

U2 struggled to sellout arenas in the United States for the Experience And Innocence Tour in 2018 supporting the Songs Of Experience album.

I assume a tour in 2025 will be for a new album, which has become a tough sell to U2 fans that still follow the band and unlikely for casual fans or the general public.

For example, for the two arena shows in Philadelphia and the two arena shows in Washington D.C. back in 2018, U2 were not able to sell any of the seats that were on the 2nd level behind the stage for those shows. U2 were able to sell those seats all the way back in 1985 on the Unforgettable Fire Tour before they had reached peak popularity on the Joshua Tree Tour. So this is a new low for the band, lower than POPMART or in fact anything unless you go back to the War Tour in 1983 when they were playing theaters 41 years ago.

So with that in mind, they will definitely be in arenas in the United States if they tour in 2025 for a new album. That is just where the general demand level is for the band at this time, and the new album is highly unlikely to have a hit single that could reverse that.

Good. So, why are they repeating a formula that doesn’t work in terms of songwriting ?
Why not take risks since they’re going downhill anyway ?

Agreed. Id love to see the old, experimental, boundary pushing, risk taking u2 return. What have they got to lose, at this stage of their career? Cater for the diehards, for once.

I hope they get their asses handed to them.