Highest Earning Tour of 2011

Shock! U2 lead Billboard’s year-end report of the top touring acts of 2011, with their “360 Tour” raking in $293.3 million in box office revenue from nearly 3 million in ticket sales for the year.

Bono and crew were on the road from June 30th 2009 to July 30th 2011 with their giant claw on the “360 Tour” and broke the all-time touring industry records by bringing in a staggering $736,421,586 with more than 7 million punters attending the shows.

Bon Jovi had one of the biggest years of their 28 year career and Take That made a lazy $185 million from their comeback tour with Robbie Williams, which included a record breaking eight nights at Wembley Stadium. The Wembley shows alone earned the band $61.7 million breaking the previous venue record of $38.7 million that had been set by Bruce Springsteen’s ten sold-out shows at New Jersey’s Giants Stadium in 2003.

Highest-Earning Tours of 2011:
01) U2 – $293.3 million
02) Bon Jovi – $193 million
03) Take That – $185 million
04) Roger Waters – $150 million
05) Taylor Swift – $97.3 million
06) Kenny Chesney – $84.6 million
07) Usher – $75 million
08) Lady Gaga – $72 million
09) Andre Rieu – $67 million
10) Sade – $50 million

736M Band ! U2 Breaks Records

Billboard magazine said the tour hauled in some $736 million, topping the $558 million established by Mick Jagger’s Stones, and also breaking the record for tour attendance.

The tour began June 30 in Barcelona, days after the death of Michael Jackson, and included 110 events, ending July 30 in Moncton, Canada.

During the tour, U2 performed in the Balkans for the first time since 1997 and played three home town concerts at Dublin’s Croke Park, before heading to California to perform in front of 97,000 fans at the Rose Bowl.

A second European leg started in August 2010, featuring U2′s first appearances in Russia and Turkey and was followed by events in Australia and New Zealand.

In 2011, U2 played to South Africa for the first time since 1998 with two huge concerts in the World Cup Stadiums of Cape Town and Johannesburg.

The group had three sold-out nights at Estadio Morumbi in Sao Paulo, Brazil and had its biggest single audience of 108,800 at Stadium Azteca in Mexico City on May 14, 2011.

Arthur Fogel, Live Nation’s chairman of global music, said: “This tour was a brilliant success on every level and all involved should be extremely proud. U2 once again have set the standard for achievement — perhaps for all time.”

U2 fans in Moncton

City of Moncton put a cap on 80,000 concert attendees: Concert promoter  Forecast calls for showers on Saturday Doors open at 3 p.m. Last show of the band’s three-year globe-trotting 360 Tour

“On average, about 35 per cent of our spectator attendees are from Nova Scotia,” said Andre Hudson, president and CEO of Donald K Donald Events, the promoter hosting the event.

Bono / U2 360 Tour / Mark Peterson

Here’s a list of what is and is not permitted into the Magnetic Hill concert site on Saturday:

What not to bring:
• Chairs of any kind.
• Alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages or food (brought from outside).
• Plastic or glass bottles, cans.
• Umbrellas.
• Weapons or fireworks.
• Animals (except for seeing-eye dogs).
• Professional audio or video equipment.
• Banners, flags, laser pointers, flashlights, glow (fluorescent) sticks.
• Large backpacks (camping style).
• Skateboards.

What is permitted:
• One one-litre bottle of water allowed per person.
• Raincoat or poncho.
• Small beach towels.
• Small backpacks, bags, purses (note that all bags will be searched).
• Sunscreen.

No Line On the Horizon - U2

Memphis Mullen and Larry Mullen Jr

Larry Mullen Jr / U2TOURFANS 2009 /2011 PITTSBURGH – How many miles would you travel for a hug? U2 fans come from all lifestyles, the tour wrapped up last night with a surprise kick off for one fan. This fan has traveled to every USA show this summer.  Traveling to every show by car, behind the 168-foot stage that leaped frogged the country in search of that one Larry Mullen Jr. experience.  If you followed the tweets, you knew that Larry had not come out to greet the fans the whole tour and last night was no different. This fan made a name for self and with the support of other fans and security the final dream happened.  The walk out was a bit different last night, Larry not in the lead and walking behind with The Edge, rumor has it without a word just a look he walked right up to that well traveled fan and gave her a hug. Now all of this happened just before the start of the show

U2 has performed over 100 times in three years and one would think that 360 is sure to be put in the past and that the marketing machines are ready to churn out the next album (which we heard some time in the fall) However last nights show was nothing short of amazing. Yea “No Line on the Horizon” tossed aside for some more popular tunes.

A few songs from “Achtung Baby” kicked off the night to remember and for one fan a lifetime of memories. U2 music has defined a generation of activism and hope for a better world; the power to make a difference is in all of us. We can make a difference, Bono once said “There’s nothing worst than a rock star with a cause” Bono has been crossing the world with causes for many years and in all that time, fans have never turned their back on him.  This tour all but wrapped up, so what is next?  Get ready for the next tour, turn up the music, and let the sound in.  We would like to thank the many thousands of fans that have supported our little project. We too have had our challenges however all along we all knew why we started this journey it was about the music and the fan experience.  

U2 360 Tour at Busch Stadium Advisory

Concert promoter Live Nation has issued a fan advisory for Sunday’s upcoming U2 360 Tour at Busch Stadium.

General admission fans are allowed to begin lining up at Gate 5 on Sunday Morning at 7 a.m. Overnight camping will not be permitted. Glass or alcohol will not be allowed in the line; however, concessions will be available.

Blankets are not permitted on the field. Due to the heat, fans are advised to avoid wearing sandals.

Backpacks, purses, diaper bags, fanny packs, and soft coolers are allowed, but cannot exceed 16x16x8 inches.

Restricted items include:

-Alcohol, bottles, cans, thermoses, hard-sided coolers, hard plastic cups/mugs, umbrellas, laser pens/pointers, fireworks
-Professional cameras with detachable and or large lenses
-Video and audio records

There is also a travel advisory as all eastbound lanes of Interstate 64 will be closed between Jefferson Avenue and the Poplar Street Bridge starting Friday night at 8 pm and reopening Sunday at 3 p.m.