U2 moment ever in Vegas if not for the November 2001 show during its Elevation Tour. The opening act was No Doubt, stripped of the elaborate staging common in its own headlining shows and allowed to just rock it out for nearly 30 minutes. With the crowd of 18,000 roaring to “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” U2 took the stage as the house lights stayed up. During the performance (and in one of the great moments for a member of Vegas media), Bono ducked his head into the photographers’ pit and made out for a bit with freelance photog Denise Truscello.

But the moment to remember for everyone who was not Denise Truscello was when the glowing LED screen behind the stage rolled with the name of every person killed in the attacks of Sept. 11 as Bono sang out “One.” A band capable of evoking any emotions onstage reduced 18,000 fans to tears.

U2 TOUR FAN SUBMIT 2009 When U2 returns to Vegas tonight for another whopper of a production at Sam Boyd for its 360 Tour, they’ll show off a cylindrical video display of connected LED panels held high by a 150-foot steel frame. One of the biggest concert productions ever, again, of course, even without the oversized citrus effect. Whatever happens, count on them for something different. It’s a U2/Vegas tradition.

A limited number of tickets for Friday night’s previously sold-out U2 show in Las Vegas have been released. The band will play Sam Boyd Stadium Friday night along with opening act The Black Eyed Peas.

The just-released tickets can be purchased through the UNLV box office by calling 702-739-FANS.

Meanwhile, an army of roadies recently descended upon Las Vegas and is now feverishly working to the stage for tomorrow night’s U2 concert. Working to set up the stage, that is.

It took 135 trucks to haul the 500,000-plus pounds of equipment used to construct the claw-like structure. Once complete, the massive stage will stand more than 150 feet tall.

Because it takes six days to put everything together, multiple crews and stages are being used to make the band’s “360 Degrees” tour possible. Caravans are currently playing a large-scale game of leapfrog as they take turns along the band’s 16-city North American tour route.

Along with opening act the Black Eyed Peas, Bono and the boys were in Phoenix on Tuesday and will play the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles on Sunday. More than 40,000 people are expected to be at Sam Boyd Stadium for Friday night’s sold-out show.

Las Vegas U2 Fans we want to hear from you. We have a project called Fan Base view. It’s really easy. We want you to share the show from your view.  Fans from many of the shows have joined in on this project. It’s simple, easy and most of all fun. Your photos will be posted real time during the event. All you need to do is take a photo email it to us from your mobile phone (of course we would suggest Blackberry or iPhone but hey neither pays us so choose your camera phone of choice)

You can take photos of getting ready for the show, tailgating, pre show photos of anything and everything related to U2. You choose what to send to us. We have opened our Fan Base photo booth up to handle as many Rose Bowl fans that want to send us photos.

All you have to do is take a photo on a white paper “U2TOURFANS Las Vegas 2009 YOUR ID” send it in to us at the following email address u2tourfans at gmail dot com. That’s pretty simple right ? Oh your id is anything you would like, your name, your twitter id, make up something, but be clean and cool.

Remember we need to hear from you within the next 24 hours to give you a special email address you can save to your phone address book. Check out the photo section and see what our friends in Houston have to say.

The man who designed the stage set for U2’s current 360° Tour, which stops Sunday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, knows that the size of his creation is cause for attention.

“How many miles of cable, how many trucks — it’s all very easy to pick up on,” said Willie Williams, who has been working with the Irish rock band since 1982.

Still, Williams insists that the scale of it is “absolutely the least interesting thing about it,” he said. “Even though it’s very tall and very wide, the magic trick is that when you stand onstage the whole thing disappears. The reason it’s so big is to make it invisible.”

How, exactly, does that work? By removing the hulking backdrop that usually defines a stadium show and relocating all those tons of gear above the band’s playing area, the designer said he’s been able to create the illusion that the gear isn’t there at all.

U2TOURFANS FILE PHOTO 2009An early inspiration was the Theme Building at LAX, a favorite of U2 frontman Bono’s. “My pitch to him was, ‘Imagine the Theme Building straddling a football field with a little stage underneath,’ ” Williams said. “From that moment on we knew what we were doing, and over two years of work the intent never changed.” (The Theme Building is a landmark structure at the Los Angeles International Airport within the Westchester neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles. It opened in 1961, and is an example of the Mid-Century modern influenced design school known as “Googie” or “Populuxe.”)

According to U2 manager Paul McGuinness, the structure has practical advantages: It allowed the band to expand the seating capacity at most venues by about 20 percent.

“We’ve broken a lot of attendance records,” McGuinness said, “usually ones we’ve set ourselves.”

U2TOURFANS FILE PHOTO 2009 Roughly 95,000 people are expected at the Rose Bowl tonight, so organizers are strongly urging fans to allow plenty of time — and to use public transportation — to make it to the show on time.

“Where U2 came from conceptually was this culture that was about everyone having access to the stage,” said the group’s bassist, Adam Clayton. “Scoot forward to 2009 and that’s what we’ve created here, just bigger.”

The tour incorporates three separate rigs to allow for construction and disassembly time along the way.

“We’d love the thought of finding appropriate homes for these things as festival stages in different locations around the world,” McGuinness said, looking to the tour’s conclusion late next year. “That’s real recycling.”

U2’s sound has transformed over the years from power ballad to techno. But the band has managed to keep its heart amid the dance groove, and it’s managed to keep its soul in the midst of the rock machine that’s lifted U2 about as high as a band can go.

U2 AT THE ROSE BOWL - OCTOBER 25 Vital Parking Information Notice

Area U2 fans: you need to plan your trip to the Rose Bowl in advance. Attendance for this event will be over 96,000 people, the largest concert crowd in the venue’s history. The roads in and around Pasadena will have significant traffic and will be heavily congested.

The Rose Bowl has limited parking available on-site. To meet this extraordinary demand, and for your convenience, there are adjacent off-site parking options as well as shuttle rides to and from the stadium. We strongly urge you to consider taking advantage of these shuttles and to carpool when possible.

In order to have a great experience:

• ARRIVE EARLY
• PURCHASE PARKING IN ADVANCE
  • Preferred Parking
  • Limousine & Oversize Vehicle Parking
  • General Parking
• PARKING WILL SELL OUT FOR THIS SHOW
• TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PARK & RIDE SHUTTLE BUSES
  • Due to record attendance some patrons will need to use this service
  • PCC Shuttle
  • Old Pasadena Shuttle
• CARPOOL

ARRIVE EARLY:

• Rose Bowl Parking Lots Open: 8 AM
• Picnic In The Park Begins: 12 Noon
• Park & Ride Shuttle Lots Open
      & Buses Start Running: 12 Noon
• Doors Open: 5 PM
• Show Starts: 7 PM

Not only will arriving early minimize your travel time, we have great pre-concert activities planned as well. Opening to the public at 12 noon, Picnic In The Park will give you the opportunity to relax and socialize with your friends in the comfortably shaded Rose Bowl grounds. Just bring a blanket, a picnic basket and enjoy!

In addition, many entertainment, dining and beverage options are available for purchase as well. Sports fans: you can enjoy all of the day’s NFL action on multiple TV screens. Within Picnic In The Park, we will have live entertainment featuring The Ruse and other enticing activities. Picnic In The Park is located directly in front of the Rose Bowl on Lot “H.”

Click Here for more information on Picnic In The Park.

Also, there are nearly 80 restaurants nearby in Old Pasadena, just a short walk from the Old Pasadena (Parsons) Park & Ride Shuttle area.

PURCHASE PARKING IN ADVANCE:

Several venue parking options are available for advance purchase through Music Today:

• Preferred Parking
• Limousine & Oversize Vehicle Parking
• General Parking

Parking is available now! Advance parking is limited to one spot per transaction. For General Parking: one car - one space. No oversized vehicles or limousines.

Following your purchase, a non-transferable parking pass will be sent to you via mail by Music Today. Be sure to bring your parking pass with you. You will need it for admittance to the Rose Bowl parking grounds.

Based upon your zip code, we will e-mail you specific directions with the best route to the Rose Bowl in order to avoid traffic & congestion. On show day, this will be the best route to the stadium. There are many entrances available to the Rose Bowl from nearby freeways. As you approach Pasadena do not follow your Map Quest or GPS device. Use the directions we provide.

PARKING WILL SELL OUT FOR THIS SHOW:

All venue parking will sell out prior to the concert date. Don’t miss out- be sure to buy your parking in advance!

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PARK & RIDE SHUTTLE BUSES:

Due to limited parking at the Rose Bowl and the extremely high attendance for this event, it will be necessary for some of you to take advantage of the off-site lots adjacent to the venue. Park at either Pasadena City College or Old Pasadena (Parsons) and catch a shuttle bus to the stadium. These vehicles have private roads directly in and out of the venue, moving fans as quickly as possible.

Shuttle lots open and buses start running at 12 noon. They will operate throughout the show and then following the event.

Shuttle tickets are available now for advance purchase for $5 per shuttle seat (per passenger; round trip) via Music Today.

PCC Shuttle | Old Pasadena Shuttle

Purchasing a shuttle ticket before show day guarantees a seat on a bus. Shuttle tickets will be sent out via mail by Musictoday.

CARPOOL:

We encourage you have at least 4 persons in your vehicle (be green). This will improve the parking and traffic experience for all fans .

PickupPal is a great way for fans to connect and organize carpools, helping to ease traffic congestion and reduce carbon emissions at the same time. Check out their site for their U2 360 Tour offerings: http://U2.pickuppal.com

We recommend you plan for this concert as you would The Rose Bowl Game or the Super Bowl: plan to arrive early, enjoy Picnic In The Park as well as the other on-site amenities.

Thank you,
— The Rose Bowl Staff

California, US U2 have confirmed via video blog that their sold-out concert at the Pasadena Rose Bowl in California, this Sunday, 25th October, will be streamed free, in full and live on YouTube. It’s the first time a show of this size will be streamed live.

The Rose Bowl show is the penultimate U2 show this year - with more to come in 2010 - and already is set to host the venue’s biggest ever audience of over 96,000 fans. The 360° Tour, which has been critically acclaimed and ‘re-invents rock’n’roll’ (Rolling Stone Magazine), will now boast unique access for fans worldwide - as fans in territories yet to be visited by the tour, or not at all, will be able to enjoy the whole show online.

Managed in partnership with Live Nation, this sell-out tour has broken attendance records in most venues it has visited - its success due in part to increased capacity coupled with a lower ticket price and great sight lines afforded by the stunning in-the-round stage set.

U2 manager Paul McGuinness said, ‘The band has wanted to do something like this for a long time. As we’re filming the LA show, it’s the perfect opportunity to extend the party beyond the stadium. Fans often travel long distances to come to see U2 - this time U2 can go to them, globally.’

YouTube will be streaming live across five continents. The show will be available in the usual You Tube way, as video-on-demand, following two full replays - after the live stream - on both U2.com and You Tube.

‘YouTube is thrilled to be able to provide our global audience with a live streaming performance from one of the world’s greatest bands,’ said Chris Maxcy, Director of YouTube Partner Development. ‘We are always looking for new ways to connect fans around the world with their favourite artists, and this is the perfect opportunity to do just that.’

For more information stay tuned or visit You Tube . 

U2.com has just sent out an e-mail informing fans that this Sunday U2’s 360° Show at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena will be filmed for DVD release. The show will also be streamed live on YouTube.

DENVER (Billboard) - U2 and YouTube have teamed up to broadcast a live stream of the band’s Los Angeles-area concert this weekend via its YouTube channel.

The Sunday, October 25 show will take place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Any fan wishing to tune in from the 16 countries supported will be able to do so for free.

This is YouTube’s second effort at live-streaming concerts. In August, it aired portions of the Outside Lands music festival in San Francisco. The U2 show will be the first start-to-finish live stream.

Like other live concert streams, portions will be archived and available for streaming after the event.

(Editing by SheriLinden at Reuters)

U2 fans will be talking about “the claw” for years, and how the Irish band brought a gigantic stage set to Norman that almost made Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium feel like an intimate venue — well, maybe a basketball arena. But even with that imposing, “in the round” superstructure towering over Owen Field, the emphasis Sunday night was on U2’s performance — all the visual flash was in service to the band, which performed a lengthy set spanning 26 years — or, as Bono said early in the set, the length of time since the group’s last stop in Norman.

Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla. Photo by Sarah Phipps

“It took us 26 years to travel one mile,” Bono said, referring to the band’s performance at Lloyd Noble Center in 1983. And throughout the concert, Bono, guitarist The Edge, bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. took huge leaps through U2’s musical history, opening with three songs from this year’s “No Line on the Horizon” — “Breathe,” “Get On Your Boots” and “Magnificent,” before hurdling backward to 1991’s “Mysterious Ways.” While the group was highlighting its new songs whenever possible, U2 kept the crowd of 60,000 fans happy to the point of mass, ecstatic dancing when the group deployed its acknowledged classics such as “Beautiful Day” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.”

This was an audience ready to play along: toward the end of “Still Haven’t Found,” Bono sang two lines of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me,” and the stadium finished the first verse and chorus for him. Perhaps because the mood was right and the crowd was primed, U2 added two songs it had not played in previous shows on the tour, 2000’s “In a LIttle While” and the new “Unknown Caller,” a dramatic, half-chanted song partially constructed from computer commands. But after that deep plunge into the new disc, the band came roaring back to familiar territory with two of its most haunting songs, the Biblical melodrama “Until the End of the World” and a mesmerizing version of “The Unforgettable Fire.”

Spotlighting new material can be challenging to a band with a three-decade history, but the new songs from “No Line” intensified in the live setting, particularly a discofied “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight” and the show’s closer, “Moment of Surrender.” But U2 also brought an uncommon intensity to some older material, especially during a fiery version of “Sunday Bloody Sunday” that was performed against images from this year’s election protests in Iran. The Edge’s guitar work on “Bloody Sunday” was possibly his most energized of the evening, with Clayton and Mullen barreling through the song’s martial rhythm. And the band closed out the main set by devoting “MLK” and “Walk On” to jailed Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, with Amnesty International volunteers walking the massive circular runway carrying masks bearing the imprisoned politician’s face.

While the Black Eyed Peas performed an energetic set of recent hits including “Boom Boom Pow,” “I Gotta Feeling” and “Meet Me Halfway,” the opener was the equivalent to a slick, Auto-Tuned pep rally for U2 — this is a group that has dominated the singles charts for most of 2009, but while the Peas had much of the crowd moving throughout their 45-minute segment, even a seemingly unstoppable dance-pop machine was merely a prologue for the stars of the evening. All in all, U2 played a long main set — 19 songs — and came back to play some of the most popular songs of its career, including “One,” “Where the Streets Have No Name” and “With or Without You,” with Bono singing into and swinging from a glowing circular microphone that dangled from the center of “the claw.” Sure, it looked like an alien landing, but U2 cleverly used the dimensions of its enormous stage to bring a human focus to the band and its performances.

By John McAlley

What happens when the biggest stage show in rock and roll history — U2’s 360-Degree Tour — sets up in the biggest domed stadium in the world — the new $1.2 billion Cowboy Stadium?

The answer is obvious: big problems.

Although they’ve scorched crowds with some of the most incendiary concerts of the past decade, the Irish rock band has not attempted a run of stadium shows since 1997’s much lambasted and remote-feeling PopMart tour. The 360-Degree outing, with its massive in-the-round stage set known affectionately as “The Claw,” is intended to solve the intimacy problems of playing to crowds upwards of 80,000. The thinking: if the stage is almost as big as the stadium itself, no fan will be left behind.

Did it work in Dallas? Find out after the jump.

First, the numbers: with an operating budget of $750,000 a day, U2’s tour employs nearly 400 people and 200 trucks to move three separate versions of the same 170-ton set from venue to venue. While U2 performs on one set at, say, Cowboy Stadium, another is being assembled at the next tour stop in Houston while a third is being transported for an upcoming gig in Oklahoma. The $40 million tangle of steel requires as much as 8 days of set-up and breakdown — for a two-hour show.

Cowboy Stadium accommodates over 100,000 fans. Its high-definition video screen — again, the biggest in the world — weighs the same as a 747, runs 60-yards in length and is suspended so ostentatiously at midfield that the showplace venue suffered a national embarrassment before it formally opened. In a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans punter A.J. Trapasso sent a kick right into the low-hanging guts of the thing.

The Claw — slightly off center — illuminates Cowboy Stadium. The 170-ton stage set requires as much as 8 days to set up and break down. (John McAlley for NPR)

Whether the Claw helps U2 hit its fans in the gut is something we’ll never know in Texas. Taken separately, the Claw and Cowboy Stadium are epic feats of engineering, but throwing them together was like trying to wedge the Guggenheim Museum into the foyer of the Met. As soaring as Cowboy Stadium is, it couldn’t accommodate the Claw. The structure, which is designed to play at dead center of the field, had to be shunted into an end zone because of the looming GinormoTron, leaving tens of thousands of fans, well, a football field away from their favorite rock and roll band.

It caused the whole show to feel a little off, too — almost as if Bono and his mates sensed the loss of the centripetal, focusing force of their spectacular set.

But as anyone who has tracked his numerous global initiatives knows, Bono loves a challenge. And despite the need to enthrall the masses — over 70,000 attended the Dallas show and larger crowds have made dates in New York and Los Angeles sell-outs — the U2 song list doesn’t pander. The band fearlessly pushed forward material from its new No Line On The Horizon album and paraded — through the use of video images and Bono’s impassioned preachifying — noble causes ranging from the staunching of AIDS in Africa to the pursuit of justice for the persecuted Burmese-goverment opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

“Just sing!” protested some of the Big D crowd. That is, until Bono thanked local icon George W. Bush for his contribution to the fight against AIDS. The mention was met with an ear-shattering roar, proof that even in an age of garishly outsized sports palaces and over-the-top entertainments, the oldest trick in the book — name-checking a good ol’ cowboy — can bring down the house.

Dallas: More than 70,000 people attended U2’s 360 show that stopped off at Cowboys Stadium last night.

The boys from Ireland could not be more comfortable in a sea of massive people and stage. They played for a little bit over 2 hours which for this tour seems to be the norm. Check the set list out on the following pages. The larger than life stage once again seemed to melt away as the band played thru some hits, new songs and songs they could not play. (Bono’s comments once again to the crowd)

Dressed in black and prone to raising his arms and tilting his head back, as if basking in the presence of his disciples, he wasted no time in preaching peace, asking for a “non-violent revolution” and turning “Walk On,” the final number before the encore, into a thought-provoking tribute to Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi.

U2 explosive “Vertigo,” “Get On Your Boots,” “Elevation” and “Beautiful Day.” If you wanted a good groove, they delivered with “Mysterious Ways” and “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight.” The tunes from No Line On the Horizon, the quartet’s newest disc, blended perfectly with older material.

“Sunday Bloody Sunday,” an anthem that prompts fist pumping. It’s just as inspiring a song now, with all the violent political unrest in the world, as it was back in 1983 when it was originally released.

U2 landed its massive spaceship/stage comfortably inside the even more massive Cowboys Stadium on Monday night for a show that will be remembered as much for its sights as for its sounds.   Bono also gave a shout out to the Cowboys which were met with Boos. The night did not seem as magical as other cities yet fans agreed the show was far from what they expected and just as the feared. Cowboy Stadium was not built for sound some would argue not met for football either. However that’s not our focus.

So for the show stage, bands and music if you were up close we give the show an “A”. For Cowboy Stadium “F” this will go down as the worst venue on the North America tour.

Dave Long/U2TourFans.comDallas: The U2 360º Tour boasts an immense, stadium-shrinking stage design that has wowed fans from Barcelona to Boston. Designed by production designer Willie Williams and architect Mark Fisher, longtime U2 collaborators, the circular, immersive stage has been on the band’s mind since at least 2006. According to notes furnished by U2’s record label, the four-legged model was initially developed over dinner with a few forks during the Vertigo Tour.

The Irish quartet hasn’t been to North Texas since around that same time — 2005 — while touring in support of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. It has been more than a decade since U2 has played stadiums in North America; it last did so in 1997, during the infamous PopMart Tour.

With buzzy opening act Muse in tow, U2 plays Cowboys Stadium on Monday to promote its latest album, No Line on the Horizon. Tickets, as of this writing, are still available (Ticketmaster’s Web site showed seats at all price points), as are $30 “party passes” similar to the type sold for Dallas Cowboys games.

Here’s a closer look at U2’s gargantuan stage, designed, the band says, in an effort to “establish a physical proximity” to the audience. It will be situated near Cowboys Stadium’s eastern end zone.

U2TOURFANS File PhotoThe highest point

Much has been made about the fact that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is willing to move the gigantic HDTVs for a rock concert but not

for a pro football game. That’s

probably because few punters could manage the considerable height of U2’s elaborate 360-degree stage. The overall steel structure is 90 feet tall, while the center pylon reaches a height of 150 feet.

Ready for a close-up

While the whole audience can’t be on the field for an up-close look at Bono and his stylish shades, the band has made it easier to watch the action. Wrapped around the 360-degree stage is a cylindrical video screen, described by the band as “groundbreaking.” The screen weighs a whopping 54 tons — the overall design is built to withstand a weight of up to 180 tons — and covers 4,300 square feet.

Plenty of pixels

Dave Long/U2TourFans The cylindrical video screen is made up of 1 million individual elements: 500,000 pixels; 320,000 fasteners; 30,000 cables; and 150,000 machined pieces. It can be broken into segments on what’s called a “multiple pantograph system.” This allows the screen to open and/or spread apart vertically as an effect. The screen can open to 14,000 square feet, roughly the size of two doubles tennis courts.

Building it up, tearing it down

A stage this dramatic doesn’t go up quickly: The steel structure alone takes four days to build (the stages were originally constructed by the Belgian company Stageco). The construction of each stage requires the use of innovative, high-pressure hydraulic systems. It takes an additional 12 hours to load in the screen, stage and other production equipment. Once the crowds have dispersed, it takes the crew six hours to dismantle the production aspect. Forty-eight hours pass before the steel structure is taken down and removed from the stadium.

Sources: U2TOURFANS File,U2.com, Live Nation

By any measure, U2 is one of the world’s biggest rock bands.

It stands to reason then, that for their latest jaunt around America, the rockers are delivering a truly outsized spectacle.

Dave Long/U2TOURFANS Staff 209 The U2 360º Tour boasts an immense, stadium-shrinking stage design that has wowed fans from Barcelona to Boston. Designed by production designer Willie Williams and architect Mark Fisher, longtime U2 collaborators, the circular, immersive stage has been on the band’s mind since at least 2006. According to notes furnished by U2’s record label, the four-legged model was initially developed over dinner with a few forks during the Vertigo Tour.

The Irish quartet hasn’t been to North Texas since around that same time — 2005 — while touring in support of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. It has been more than a decade since U2 has played stadiums in North America; it last did so in 1997, during the infamous PopMart Tour.

With buzzy opening act Muse in tow, U2 plays Cowboys Stadium on Monday to promote its latest album, No Line on the Horizon. Tickets, as of this writing, are still available (Ticketmaster’s Web site showed seats at all price points), as are $30 “party passes” similar to the type sold for Dallas Cowboys games.

Here’s a closer look at U2’s gargantuan stage, designed, the band says, in an effort to “establish a physical proximity” to the audience. It will be situated near Cowboys Stadium’s eastern end zone.

The highest point

Much has been made about the fact that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is willing to move the gigantic HDTVs for a rock concert but not

for a pro football game. That’s

probably because few punters could manage the considerable height of U2’s elaborate 360-degree stage. The overall steel structure is 90 feet tall, while the center pylon reaches a height of 150 feet.

Ready for a close-up

AMG/U2TOURFANS 2009While the whole audience can’t be on the field for an up-close look at Bono and his stylish shades, the band has made it easier to watch the action. Wrapped around the 360-degree stage is a cylindrical video screen, described by the band as “groundbreaking.” The screen weighs a whopping 54 tons — the overall design is built to withstand a weight of up to 180 tons — and covers 4,300 square feet.

Plenty of pixels

The cylindrical video screen is made up of 1 million individual elements: 500,000 pixels; 320,000 fasteners; 30,000 cables; and 150,000 machined pieces. It can be broken into segments on what’s called a “multiple pantograph system.” This allows the screen to open and/or spread apart vertically as an effect. The screen can open to 14,000 square feet, roughly the size of two doubles tennis courts.

Building it up, tearing it down

A stage this dramatic doesn’t go up quickly: The steel structure alone takes four days to build (the stages were originally constructed by the Belgian company Stageco). The construction of each stage requires the use of innovative, high-pressure hydraulic systems. It takes an additional 12 hours to load in the screen, stage and other production equipment. Once the crowds have dispersed, it takes the crew six hours to dismantle the production aspect. Forty-eight hours pass before the steel structure is taken down and removed from the stadium.

“U2 fans found what they were looking for”

“With U2, 72,000 beat as 1”

“U2’s ‘Magnificent’ Tampa performance”

The venue does matter. Looking back at all the great shows one main ingredient has to be the venue, and Tampa does not disappoint the boys from Ireland. U2 arrived in Tampa with all the hoopla focused on the large stage. Friday night’s show at Raymond James Stadium which considered to be toned down from previous productions however never call it small.     

The high-definition video screen, the major element in the band’s stated effort to bring the show closer to even the cheap seats, was the main attraction tech-wise. The enormous structure looming over the stage looked impressive all lit up, as at the beginning of “Where the Streets Have No Name,” but mostly faded into the background. Which is as it should be, because all the big-budget toys in the world can’t save a show this size from a second-rate band. And Friday’s show was first-rate.

The Edge’s arsenal of guitar effects gave the sound the heft it needed for the stadium setting. Bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen locked in tight, showing the benefits of 30 years of playing together. U2 may be the only band alive whose songs make more sense being played in front of more than 72,000 people. On the record, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” communicates restlessness and dissatisfaction. With thousands of voices singing along with U2 frontman Bono, it became a song about endless possibilities.

Songs of more recent vintage, such as “City of Blinding Lights” and “Beautiful Day” have that same quality. Friday, both exploded, as if U2’s last two scaled-down, arena tours hadn’t been big enough to house the songs.

Selections from this year’s “No Line on the Horizon” took on new life live as well. The band brought out the punkish simplicity of the title track to good effect, while “Get On Your Boots” became the rave-up it just missed being on disc.

The show’s latter portion focused more on social and political concerns, with photos from this year’s Iranian protests accompanying “Sunday, Bloody Sunday.” “Walk On” was dedicated to imprisoned Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

But in the end it was U2 that made the biggest impression — four musicians who wanted to be the biggest band in the world and succeeded.

Bono left the stage saying “Don’t forget about us” Which in the end seemed kind off for a band that just made the biggest impression on the bay area. You never forget your first, your last and most often the best so Bono I would said you have nothing to worry about.

A closing touch was the “One” campaign kiss photos featuring the muisc of Elton John’s Rocket Man. The night was complete, the stage hands, crew arrived with one swoop and off we go to the next city.

Sources: wide release

TAMPA - Bono raced around stage belting out hits with his trademark passion, The Edge’s guitar riffs were as moving and powerful as ever and the stage was almost as big a star as the group itself.

The Irish group’s Tampa stop kicked off shortly after 8:30 p.m. with the first notes of “Breathe.” Much to the delight of the estimated crowd of 70,000, U2 took full advantage of The Claw, the 209-ton superstructure of a stage that’s reportedly the largest ever used for a rock show.

Raymond James Stadium was the site of the latest installment of the 360 Degree Tour.

Paramedics had a fairly steady number of calls of people suffering heat-related problems, but the calls dropped off once the sun set, said Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade. Only three people had to be taken to local hospitals, he said.

The Tampa Sports Authority handed out water to the concertgoers already at the stadium.

“They’re wonderful,” TSA spokeswoman Barbara Casey said of the fans. “They’re a mellow group, but it’s a hot group.”

U2 tends to inspire passion, and tonight was no exception.

“If we could go to Dublin, we would,” said Rob Bennett, from Brandon, outside the stadium. “Instead, we’re here in Tampa.”

Christine Neil timed her visit here from Scotland around the group’s itinerary.

“I had the tickets booked on the 14th of February of this year for the U2 gig,” she said. “Then I booked my holidays after that. So I had the tickets to the gig before my holiday.”

Jim Hebler waxed philosophical about the group.

“I think that …. especially with what’s been happening in the economy, with the problems that we’re facing with war and you get together with U2, they remind you that it’s all about one humanity. I think the positive energy that they’re going to throw forth in this show is going to be amazing.”

We have lots of photos and videos, for tonight we are going to retreat to the house tomorrow is another chance to share what is the event of the year for Tampa Bay.

Good Morning U2: GA Lots open and 10,000 fans can start pouring into the parking lots. Remember the first-come, first-serve line starts at 9 a.m.

Remember this you will not be admitted until 5 p.m. Tampa is expected to be very hot today 90+ Don’t waste your time to come early if you do not have a GA ticket. Drink lots of water and be ready to just chill out. No worries every spot in this venue happens to be a great one.

Dave Long/U2Tourfans 2009Sean Daly (sptimes.com) Intimate.” That seems like an odd word to use to describe That Thing, which takes 31/2 days to build — and 11/2 to tear down. The tour employs more than 350 staffers, traveling on 114 trucks; another 1,500 local workers will be on hand to make sure it’s all pulled off with panache.”

Fans with cell camera’s listen up we want to see your photos we have a special email address for you. Fill out the form and we will send you all the details.

Set List: Tonight we will have live set list updates and postings.

Dave Long/ U2Tourfans 2009 1000Mikes: We have reserved a mike channel - We have not selected someone to broadcast for us yet. Interested let us know.

Photos: We have a treat that we can not talk about yet. Know this if your from Tampa we will have a very special guest photo feature.

Video Drop/Photo Drop: The drop box was opened at 4 AM and we have some really great stuff. So if you want to send us your video or photos feel free to use this link.

Tickets: We do not have an extra tickets, nor can we get you any passes don’t ask.

Twitter: You can follow us via tweeter @U2tourfans If your posting too please add to the end of your post #U2TOURFANS that way we can track and RT your post -

What do you need to know: Read this section and be sure you drink lots of water

Welcome to Tampa Bay home to U2TOURFANS. Yes your in our back yard this week. We are glad your here. Enjoy the town. Couple of points of interest.

1. Tampa does have its own Space Ship no you can’t bring your kids.
2. Tampa has more strip clubs in a square mile then any other city in the US
3. The Stadium floor is covered with steel do not sit on it you will thank us, its HOT
4. The pirate ship does not move. 
5. No thongs allowed on any beach
6. No beer or alcohol allowed to be open, on the beach in your car.
7. Traffic will be a mess call our LIMO friends - 727 520 1840 and ask for the U2TOURFANS deal
8. Suites require tickets
9. Cameras allowed
10. Security will feel you up

Dave Long/U2TOURFANS 2009 Those with general admission field tickets can start lining up on the north side of the stadium at 7 a.m. They will be given wrist bands and can bring chairs and coolers, but will have to bring those items back to their cars before going inside. Gates to get inside the stadium open at 5 p.m. Parking for those with floor seating is in lots 1 and 3A.

Lots 5,6, and 7 will open at noon. Other lots open at 3 p.m. The show starts at 7 p.m. with opening act, MUSE.

Officials with the Tampa Sports Authority said the traffic situation should be very similar to a Bucs game. They do expect more signs on the interstate because of all the out-of-towners coming in for the show.

Non-professional cameras are allowed inside, but not video cameras.

We have been reporting the tour since the early days. Well since the start of 360. Each venue, travel days, show news and stories from you the local fan. One thing that we keep getting asked at each venue. “So how big is that stage” We found this photo that really gives the best picture. One thing we know for sure if you have been in or out of LAX you will think you have seen this stage before. Tampa your in for a show. This is the show of the year. Quoted sources have said the impact can be as large as the Super Bowl or play off game as it relates to traffic. Currently we have 10 people attending the show as well as 50 more people that “claim to be going”  One thing is for sure U2 has had an impact on Tampa Bay for three weeks total. Now thats impressive.

• 90 feet Height of the four-pronged canopy over the stage.
• 150 feet Height of the center pylon.
• 54 tons Weight of the cylindrical video screen, which opens to 14,000 square feet.
• 1 million Number of pieces in the video screen, which has 500,000 pixels, 320,000 fasteners, 30,000 cables and 150,000 machined pieces.
• 120 Number of trucks it takes to cart the stage from show to show.
• 3 Number of stages. They follow the “leapfrog” principle: One is used for the show, while the second is being built at the next location and the third is being dismantled at the previous location.

Sources: Chicago Tribune, Rolling Stone, Reuters

Irish rockers U2 will step on stage tomorrow in Tampa, Florida, helped by BlackBerry’s sponsorship of their world tour in a deal no record company could offer.

Research In Motion Ltd.’s “BlackBerry Loves U2” advertising campaign is part of a trend where brands are stepping into the breach as plummeting sales shrink music labels’ marketing budgets. Once reluctant to be seen as selling out to corporate sponsors, artists are keen to sign up.

“BlackBerry made the TV commercial with our music and then spent many millions of dollars on media and TV worldwide,” U2 manager Paul McGuinness said by phone from the Toronto leg of the group’s multi-city tour. “They provided a budget that no record company could have possibly matched.”

Many question the fact that at most venues it does not even look like Blackberry is the sponsor. No creative thought into taging U2 and my blackberry at all. So I thought we would come up with my own 360 Blackberry marketing program if we was in charge of promotional work for either U2 or Blackberry. Yes we own a blackberry bold. So here goes

1. Take a photo at one of the venues and you can upload it to a blackberry photo booth where you can view, share and send your photo to anyone you like. The site would be branded with both U2 and Blackberry and the frames around the photos can be something like Blackberry loves U2 and U.
2. Change your tag line from “Sent from my XX Carrier Blackberry to Sent from U2 Venue Blackberry”
3. Create a photo booth at the venue where I can send a image to a friend again cross branding.
4. Blackberry Users and new owners get special access to media rich content that can be downloaded and saved on your blackberry.
5. Blackberry wrappers around the venue - ( industry term, large plastic wrapper)
6. For the early arrivals call home or send a message using a special Blackberry from the backberry tester. 
7. Enter win something anything
8. Tie promotion in with US wireless company - hum now that’s an idea
9. Create a limited edition U2 blackberry ( ah sounds like hum my U2 Ipod)
10. Do nothing. which seems to be the norm according to most venue fans.

 P.S. We had more but hey we don’t get paid for marketing Blackberry - But this last one is really good screen savers that can feature the venue or a member of the band

Promotional Consideration: NONE - We own Blackberry’s  long before it was cool to own one.