Bittersweet U2's Final US Show Tonight

U2 360 Tour / Mark Peterson 2011 PITTSBURGH – 7 million spectators, 110 shows, 30 countries and today the 2^nd to last show. U2 arrives tonight to Heinz Field. This is the last U.S.A stop for the boys.  Craig Evans completed the media peek yesterday by running down the normal details of the stage the massive size, the fact that this stage has three versions and takes about 8 days to build. Craig Evans uses one word to describe what Pittsburgh will see tonight at Heinz Field when it hosts U2’s 360 Tour: ambitious.

“It was very ambitious for us to think that two years ago, we could put together a production of this scale, and take it to 30 countries around the world,” said Evans, U2’s tour director, as work crews assembled the last pieces of the mammoth stage set-up on Monday. “And it really required for its success a 360-degree configuration at all these venues to make it all work for the band visually for what they had in mind. But here we are, 108 shows later and it’s been a magnificent success.”

The boys will finalize the set list a few hours before the show to be able to react to any late breaking news events. Tonight’s show songs will be selected with Pittsburg in mind so you can expect a tribute to Steelers chairmen emeritus Dan Rooney, the U.S, Ambassador to Ireland who is said to played a roll in getting U2 to play in Pittsburgh.  

As of Monday evening tickets are still available and attendance is expected to exceed  60,000  

On Monday, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravensthal declared Tuesday “U2 360 World Tour Day.”

“We are honored that U2 has chosen Pittsburgh as their last U.S. stop in what is now the highest grossing concert tour of all time,” Ravenstahl said in a statement.

University of Minnesota Policy for U2 Fans

U2 Concert: Campus and Stadium Policies

The University of Minnesota is pleased to welcome U2 concert-goers to campus and to TCF Bank Stadium and expect everyone to have a great time.
As guests to the university, it is important to be familiar with university policy and ordinances. Please review the following to make sure you know the policies before you come to campus.
Parking lots will open at noon. Fans arriving early to line up for field tickets are encouraged to use the Oak Street ramp 6:00 a.m.
Stadium gates will open at 5:00 p.m.
Guests holding Field tickets can only enter through the entry doors at Lincoln County.
There is NO RE-ENTRY to the stadium at any time. There are no exceptions. TCF Bank Stadium is a non-smoking facility.
No tailgating is allowed and will be enforced.
No camping will be allowed.
Gates A, B,C,D, and E will be open for entry into the stadium. The premium entrance will be available for premium seatholders (DQ Club, Loge Level, Suites). The doors at Lincoln County will be the entry point for field level tickets.
The use of a ticket to an event authorizes an inspection at the point of entry to ensure the absence of prohibited materials. Admission will be denied to anyone carrying any of the prohibited items.

U2 at U of M: Traffic Mess in the Making: MyFoxTWINCITIES.com

The following items will be prohibited from TCF Bank Stadium for the U2 concert:
Aerosol cans
Alcohol
Animals (except assistive animals for people with disabilities)
Backpacks, luggage, grocery bags, duffle bags, large bags, large purses, or large camera cases.
Balloons
Beach balls, footballs, baseballs, etc.
Banners or signs
Beverages, beverage containers, or liquids.
Camcorders and tripods
Cameras with lenses over six inches long.
Cans, bottles, thermoses
Chairbacks
Coolers
Fireworks
Food
Illegal Drugs
Laser pointers
Markers or paint
Noisemaking devices
Objects that can be used as projectiles (sticks, bats, clubs, poles, etc)
Strollers
Tobacco products
Umbrellas
Weapons
Any other items that security deems to be dangerous.

Philadelphia What Time is it ?

Fans around the world want to know if your in line already ? Are you ready for a great show tonight. If you have tickets and are attending we would like to see your shows. Snap, Save and Send to U2TOURFANS.2011@twitpic.com  Your images will be posted to the U2TOURFANS Photo stream.

Right now fans are in line, follow the all the news via this stream.

Its free for all U2 fans live show updates from fans in Philadelphia.

If you’re tweeting from - or about - the show, use the hashtag #U2360PHL or #U2360USA, that way we can feature your updates in our rolling feed.

Could Philadelphia see something like Chicago ?

Good Bye Anaheim

Two nights of Anaheim and that’s all she could take. U2 packs up and hits the road today on to Baltimore, MD.

Memphis Mullen hits the road too early this am, traveling all the way to the east coast. The ride will be filled with memories and great tunes of the shows past. 6 shows down and well a couple more to go. While road tripping to every show across America seems so Jerry Garcia like this adventure is more about getting the ultimate fan book right. Making that connection between music, fans and of course the band. U2 has the connection when you strip all of the trappings of the machine ( nameless ) that creates the new image of U2.

Most fans will agree that U2 in some ways with the new “machine” has lost its touch with its fans,last nights show the boys took a helicopter in to the venue and a runner afterwards left some fans with a sour taste.  Its not the bands idea of how to arrive to a venue. So who is the machine, well you have think about the 360 deal that they signed years ago to understand who the machine is and how they operate. Maximum impact marketing for maximum returns for shareholders. Nothing wrong with that. Nothing at all. Just remember the fans are the ones that keep the lights on.

Anaheim II had a bit of surprise visit from “The Fly” and the setlist seemed to be a setup for Glastonbury wtith the mix of Actung Baby songs. “The Fly” was last performed on December 9th 2006 in Hawaii. Streets moved up early in the set and a couple of other little changes. Bono and the boys paid tribute to The Big Man  Clarence Clemons who pasted away the day earlier.  Bono sang a couple of lyrics from Jungleland a Springsteen fan favorite.

At its best moments — and there were so, so many — the show instantly brought back that magical feeling of old U2 shows, be it with the sublime beauty of “Miss Sarajevo,”, the always spine-tingling “Where The Streets Have No Name,” a glorious “Moment Of Surrender,” the anthemic “Walk On,” and the thrilling call to yesteryear, “I Will Follow,” from their debut album, 1980’s Boy.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the production, though, is that the much documented and hyped four-tentacled structure engulfing the band and those closest in the pit actually does succeed in giving off the feeling of intimacy. Yes, while in a stadium setting and among 70,000 fans, at times if felt as if it was just the band and its music — an apt reminder of why U2 earned the title of biggest band in the world.

We will see you in Baltimore. Thanks Anaheim fans we had a great time.

U2 Advisory for Anaheim

Anaheim: U2 arrives today in Orange Country and expect traffic to be major, above normal for the whole area around Angles stadium. We have a few updates from around the area that are important for you -

U2 performs at the Angels Stadium in Anaheim on Friday and Saturday. The show begins at 7 p.m., but the stadium parking lot will be open at 8 a.m. to facilitate the wrist-banding process for those who have field tickets. (GA Ticket Holders) Doors will open at 5 p.m.

U2 fans are encouraged  to carpool to reduce the number of vehicles attempting to locate
parking.( Check out U2ROCKBUS.com)

• Alternate off-site parking will be available at Honda Center and other areas
surrounding Angel Stadium.

• Please follow the directions of traffic control personnel, who wish to get you to the
closest parking locations in a timely manner.

• The possession and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages in the parking lots of
Angel Stadium of Anaheim and Honda Center is prohibited, and police will be
enforcing this law.

• Re-sale or purchase of tickets from re-salers on stadium property is prohibited.

• To prevent from being victimized by counterfeiters, you should purchase event tickets
from authorized dealers & brokers.

More than 50,000 fans are expected, and officials advised concert-goers to arrive early, carpool and take public transportation is possible.

General parking at Angel Stadium is $25 per car, cash only. Parking will also be available at the Honda Center, and it will also be cash only.

Metrolink will provide special train service on both concert days. The round-trip ride to the Anaheim Station from the L.A. Union Station and Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Station is $7.

U2 SPECIAL TRAIN SCHEDULE

Southbound

• Los Angeles Union Station: Departs at 5:50 p.m.
• Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs: 6:11 p.m.
• Buena Park 6:17 p.m.
• Fullerton 6:24 p.m.
• Anaheim: Arrival at 6:33 p.m.

Northbound

• Laguna Niguel: Departs at 5:50 p.m.
• Irvine: 5:59 p.m.
• Tustin: 6:07 p.m.
• Santa Ana: 6:13 p.m.
• Orange: 6:18 p.m.
• Anaheim: 6:22 p.m.

We will update as more details come in - Meantime get up and get out and ready to Shake your ass !