1. Originally posted by marik:also, does anyone know how many nights at Croke are already booked by others for 2023? Might help us eliminate it as a venue.

    (Wasn't Bono checking out a new stadium last month.... in disguise as a Harry Styles fan)
    Aviva Stadium is hardly "new" (I saw a gig there in 2013 and it had been holding concerts for 2 years by then) but I'd definitely love it if they play there.
  2. U2 are North siders. I couldn’t see them playing the Aviva for any reason at all if Croke was an option.


  3. Just going to say this here as well. The stadium reports are really early in the game. While the Soldier field report is from someone who typically knows his stuff, it’s just popped up. The Dublin rumour couldn’t even confirm what stadium. And KROQ hinted it was U2 but didn’t come right out and say it was. And none of this matches with the Vegas thing. Is that something tacked on at the end? Or is that an alternate plan? The band often have several scenarios in play until they tighten things down…
  4. They've played it in 97 for Popmart and played the RDS in 92, I'd rather they played Lansdowne as it's a better venue for gigs as the sound in Croke park can be poor due to the design and size of the venue .Larry is the only current Nortsider the rest live in leafy posh areas on the South side. 🤣
  5. Originally posted by popmarter:[..]
    They've played it in 97 for Popmart and played the RDS in 92, I'd rather they played Lansdowne as it's a better venue for gigs as the sound in Croke park can be poor due to the design and size of the venue .Larry is the only current Nortsider the rest live in leafy posh areas on the South side. 🤣
    Croke would have been under development during Popmart I believe. Supposedly they struggled to get anywhere in Dublin that year so through the Belfast gig together just in case.

    ZooTV in the RDS always stood out as an odd one but I imagine it’s a cheap rent. Plenty of acts still using it these days.
  6. I loved the RDS in 1993 - it was a bit odd, but very charming with a lot of green and great atmosphere on both days. Plus, much to my surprise, the tents for hospitality etc came from a company based in my hometown in Germany.
  7. Originally posted by germcevoy:[..]
    Croke would have been under development during Popmart I believe. Supposedly they struggled to get anywhere in Dublin that year so through the Belfast gig together just in case.

    ZooTV in the RDS always stood out as an odd one but I imagine it’s a cheap rent. Plenty of acts still using it these days.
    Croke Park wasn't available in late August (93) for gigs as it was booked up for GAA matches and they started to redevelop it so they had to opt for the RDS, they also played Cork that week which they could do again as the stadium 🏟 was recently redeveloped and has hosted a good number of gigs in the last 2 years.
  8. raises the general question for me -

    I've heard in America, the choice of a venue U2 picks can come down to where LiveNation has deals (for example in LA - Staples Centre vs Forum)

    But in Dublin specifically, is there anything known about what factors into their venue choice? Is it behind-the-scene whoooing to lure them? Does LiveNation (2009 onwards) have a deal with Croke specifically? Or was there a diff reason they wouldn't have tried Aviva in 2017?
    Surely, the northside/southside means nothing to them at the point of picking a venue
  9. Originally posted by u2wanderer1:[..]


    Just going to say this here as well. The stadium reports are really early in the game. While the Soldier field report is from someone who typically knows his stuff, it’s just popped up. The Dublin rumour couldn’t even confirm what stadium. And KROQ hinted it was U2 but didn’t come right out and say it was. And none of this matches with the Vegas thing. Is that something tacked on at the end? Or is that an alternate plan? The band often have several scenarios in play until they tighten things down…
    I was reading Vegas wouldn’t be until November as they are aiming to open it the same week the F1 race is there, which is the week of American thanksgiving.
  10. Originally posted by marik:raises the general question for me -

    I've heard in America, the choice of a venue U2 picks can come down to where LiveNation has deals (for example in LA - Staples Centre vs Forum)

    But in Dublin specifically, is there anything known about what factors into their venue choice? Is it behind-the-scene whoooing to lure them? Does LiveNation (2009 onwards) have a deal with Croke specifically? Or was there a diff reason they wouldn't have tried Aviva in 2017?
    Surely, the northside/southside means nothing to them at the point of picking a venue
    MCD who is the Irish promoter usually involved, and Live Nation have both held shows at both venues. Croke is the bigger venue of the two, so you can play to a bigger audience there.

    It’s more of a thing in North America where venues sometimes are tied to one specific venue or another. But even then U2 have shown a willingness to play non-Live Nation venues when others are not available that match their needs.
  11. Originally posted by u2wanderer1:[..]
    MCD who is the Irish promoter usually involved, and Live Nation have both held shows at both venues. Croke is the bigger venue of the two, so you can play to a bigger audience there.

    It’s more of a thing in North America where venues sometimes are tied to one specific venue or another. But even then U2 have shown a willingness to play non-Live Nation venues when others are not available that match their needs.
    In Holland it's the same. Live Nation/Mojo/Ticketmaster has a deal with Amsterdam Arena (Johan Cruijf Arena nowadays). Non logical thinking band would otherwise play there.

    Eventim has a deal with De Kuip in Rotterdam which is a better stadium for the sound at concerts (but facilities are outdated a lot)