It seems that ever since U2 forced people to listen to their new album last September, there has been a huge backlash against the Irish band. Right before U2 started their tour, the Irish Times wondered why there were “so many” tickets left to see U2.
“There may be no shows listed for the 15,000 capacity Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver until May 20 but you can sure there’s some sweating and swearing going on within its walls at the moment… One of the matters which may be exercising the minds within the building could be the sluggish sales for the band’s forthcoming tour.”
This article has proven to be nothing but a hit piece on U2, especially since ticket sales for the shows have been incredible, even if tickets didn’t sell out the instant they went on sale (unless you are Taylor Swift, this simply doesn’t happen anymore).
You want proof? Let’s take a look at Billboard ‘s Boxscore released last week. U2 just happened to be in first place, with five sold-out shows at Chicago’s United Center. U2 played to a total of 95,070 people and grossed $11,347,305. No bad for a so-called “has-been” band.
U2 also came in at No. 3 for their two sold-out shows at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. They played to 38,364 people and grossed $4,447,473. So far, all the reported U2 shows have sold out and have grossed millions of dollars. U2 will definitely challenge Taylor Swift when it comes to having the highest grossing tour of 2016.
Back in May, Arthur Fogel, the head of Live Nation, talked about U2’s tour to Billboard .
“They have the distinction of being the biggest band in the world… Yet we made the decision to come out a totally different way this time — in arenas, not stadiums, so they could play more shows in one city.”
Fogel notes that U2 are playing eight nights in New York, six in London, and five in Chicago. As of May, 99 percent of the tickets had been sold.
In another month or so, Fogel will likely try to defend ticket sales for his other client, Madonna, who some people seemingly want to see fail. Within a couple days after tickets went on sale for Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour, the New York Post derided the singer because she didn’t sell out all her concert dates in one day — something nobody can do anymore, especially when tickets cost more than $350.
It’s interesting to note that both U2 and Madonna are managed by Guy Oseary, who took Madonna’s Maverick records to extreme highs in the mid 1990s. Are you going to see U2 or Madonna this year? Tell us in the comments section.
[Photo Credit: Kevin Mazur / Getty Images]