Originally posted by ddarroch:[..]
Hi Greg, I wouldn't say touring arenas in Australia is not financially viable. Plenty of big name artists have had arena tours in recent years.
If you didn't see it, here's a list of artists that have performed at Sydney's Qudos Arena (formerly the SydneySuper Dome).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_entertainment_events_at_the_Sydney_Super_Dome
Touring arenas in Australia can be profitable. The reason I feel that we've been shafted in Oz is not that an arena tour would be unprofitable, but because Live Nations share of those profits would be smaller.
In the US Live Nation has a near monopoly in concert promotion, & actually owns many, many of the arenas. It therefore takes in a greater proportion of any profits. Hence why we have four tour legs in the US, while we in Australia - where Live Nation's piece of the profit pie is much smaller - get nothing.
Damn that Live Nation contact!
Can't ignore us forever I hope. I'd love an arena tour, but would happily take a stadium tour.
And yes, the fact that LiveNation owns almost everything in the US (venues, tickets, merchandise, catering etc.) definitely makes more U2 shows in the US.