Announcement of U2's Innocence and Experience Tour 2015
It's that time again, folks - U2 will be heading back on the road with a new tour! After months of rumours, speculation, promotional performances, and bicycle accidents, U2 have officially announced dates for their tour in 2015. See below for dates and ticketing information.
Today's announcement features two legs, the first in North America and the second in Europe. Both legs will be in arenas. It will be U2's first arena concerts since the North American legs of the Vertigo Tour in 2005, and U2's first arena concerts in Europe since the second leg of Elevation in 2001. The stage will be located in the centre of the arena, spanning the length of the arena floor, with a giant double-sided screen above it. Bono has said that the band aim to provide a different experience from night one to night two in each city, but does not elaborate further, only stating that more information will be revealed later.
The tour dates are:
FIRST LEG: NORTH AMERICA
2015-05-14: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - Rogers Arena
2015-05-15: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - Rogers Arena
2015-05-18: San Jose, California, USA - SAP Center at San Jose
2015-05-19: San Jose, California, USA - SAP Center at San Jose
2015-05-22: Phoenix, Arizona, USA - US Airways Center
2015-05-23: Phoenix, Arizona, USA - US Airways Center
2015-05-26: Inglewood, California, USA - The Forum
2015-05-27: Inglewood, California, USA - The Forum
2015-05-30: Inglewood, California, USA - The Forum
2015-05-31: Inglewood, California, USA - The Forum
2015-06-12: Montreal, Quebec, Canada - Bell Centre
2015-06-13: Montreal, Quebec, Canada - Bell Centre
2015-06-24: Chicago, Illinois, USA - United Center
2015-06-25: Chicago, Illinois, USA - United Center
2015-07-06: Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Air Canada Centre
2015-07-07: Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Air Canada Centre
2015-07-10: Boston, Massachusetts, USA - TD Garden
2015-07-11: Boston, Massachusetts, USA - TD Garden
2015-07-18: New York, New York, USA - Madison Square Garden
2015-07-19: New York, New York, USA - Madison Square Garden
2015-07-22: New York, New York, USA - Madison Square Garden
2015-07-23: New York, New York, USA - Madison Square Garden
SECOND LEG: EUROPE
2015-09-04: Turin, Italy - Palasports Olimpico
2015-09-05: Turin, Italy - Palasports Olimpico
2015-09-08: Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Ziggo Dome
2015-09-09: Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Ziggo Dome
2015-09-16: Stockholm, Sweden - Globen
2015-09-17: Stockholm, Sweden - Globen
2015-09-24: Berlin, Germany - O2 World
2015-09-25: Berlin, Germany - O2 World
2015-10-05: Barcelona, Spain - Palau Sant Jordi
2015-10-06: Barcelona, Spain - Palau Sant Jordi
2015-10-13: Antwerp, Belgium - Sportpaleis
2015-10-14: Antwerp, Belgium - Sportpaleis
2015-10-17: Cologne, Germany - Lanxess Arena
2015-10-18: Cologne, Germany - Lanxess Arena
2015-10-25: London, England - O2 Arena
2015-10-26: London, England - O2 Arena
2015-10-29: London, England - O2 Arena
2015-10-30: London, England - O2 Arena
2015-10-06: Glasgow, Scotland - SSE Hydro
2015-10-07: Glasgow, Scotland - SSE Hydro
2015-10-10: Paris, France - Palais Omnisports De Bercy
2015-10-11: Paris, France - Palais Omnisports De Bercy
Our database listings for these shows can be found here. The astute among you will notice some pretty big gaps have been left in the schedule for extra shows to be added once these sell out. We already have rumours, for instance, that there will be additional shows in Paris on 14 and/or 15 November. The earlier rumours of a residency-style tour have only somewhat come true. Although U2 are not setting up camp exclusively in seven cities, the touring schedule is rather restricted. The band have stuck with playing lots of shows in tried-and-true markets on the logic of "built it and they will come".
On neither leg are U2 performing shows in countries or even cities they have never visited before. However, this is the first time a U2 tour will begin in Canada.
The Glasgow dates are exactly 31 years since two epic gigs on the Unforgettable Fire Tour at the Barrowlands Ballroom on 6 and 7 November 1984.
Some of you may be surprised that there are no shows in Dublin or elsewhere in Ireland. There is, however, precedent for this. On Zoo TV, U2 did not perform in Dublin until the end of the fourth leg, a year and a half after the tour began. Irish fans likely won't have to wait that long this time though. U2.com confirm that U2 are booking special shows for the end of 2015, the arrangements for which are yet to be finalised.
TICKETING INFORMATION
Tickets in both North America and Europe will go on general sale on Monday, 8 December 2014. There will be a U2.com presale commencing Thursday, 4 December. That's tomorrow! U2.com subscribers should keep an eye on their emails for their presale code. The presale on the 4th is only for legacy subscribers, i.e. those of you signed up before 9 September 2014; you're called the "Experience Group". For new subscribers since that date, the "Innocence Group", there will be a presale the next day, 5 December. There is a two ticket limit, which you can use either for two tickets to one show or one ticket each to two shows. If you do not use the code now, it will be valid when further shows are announced, including the Dublin gigs. See U2.com's FAQ for more.
In the US, general admission tickets will cost US$65. The most expensive seats will be $250–275 and will work their way down to very cheap $30 seats. The Red Zone from 360 in a corner of the general admission floor will be repeated this tour, and there are are also VIP packages being offered that include merchandise, travel, etc. along with a seated ticket.
Today's announcement features two legs, the first in North America and the second in Europe. Both legs will be in arenas. It will be U2's first arena concerts since the North American legs of the Vertigo Tour in 2005, and U2's first arena concerts in Europe since the second leg of Elevation in 2001. The stage will be located in the centre of the arena, spanning the length of the arena floor, with a giant double-sided screen above it. Bono has said that the band aim to provide a different experience from night one to night two in each city, but does not elaborate further, only stating that more information will be revealed later.
The tour dates are:
FIRST LEG: NORTH AMERICA
2015-05-14: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - Rogers Arena
2015-05-15: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - Rogers Arena
2015-05-18: San Jose, California, USA - SAP Center at San Jose
2015-05-19: San Jose, California, USA - SAP Center at San Jose
2015-05-22: Phoenix, Arizona, USA - US Airways Center
2015-05-23: Phoenix, Arizona, USA - US Airways Center
2015-05-26: Inglewood, California, USA - The Forum
2015-05-27: Inglewood, California, USA - The Forum
2015-05-30: Inglewood, California, USA - The Forum
2015-05-31: Inglewood, California, USA - The Forum
2015-06-12: Montreal, Quebec, Canada - Bell Centre
2015-06-13: Montreal, Quebec, Canada - Bell Centre
2015-06-24: Chicago, Illinois, USA - United Center
2015-06-25: Chicago, Illinois, USA - United Center
2015-07-06: Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Air Canada Centre
2015-07-07: Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Air Canada Centre
2015-07-10: Boston, Massachusetts, USA - TD Garden
2015-07-11: Boston, Massachusetts, USA - TD Garden
2015-07-18: New York, New York, USA - Madison Square Garden
2015-07-19: New York, New York, USA - Madison Square Garden
2015-07-22: New York, New York, USA - Madison Square Garden
2015-07-23: New York, New York, USA - Madison Square Garden
SECOND LEG: EUROPE
2015-09-04: Turin, Italy - Palasports Olimpico
2015-09-05: Turin, Italy - Palasports Olimpico
2015-09-08: Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Ziggo Dome
2015-09-09: Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Ziggo Dome
2015-09-16: Stockholm, Sweden - Globen
2015-09-17: Stockholm, Sweden - Globen
2015-09-24: Berlin, Germany - O2 World
2015-09-25: Berlin, Germany - O2 World
2015-10-05: Barcelona, Spain - Palau Sant Jordi
2015-10-06: Barcelona, Spain - Palau Sant Jordi
2015-10-13: Antwerp, Belgium - Sportpaleis
2015-10-14: Antwerp, Belgium - Sportpaleis
2015-10-17: Cologne, Germany - Lanxess Arena
2015-10-18: Cologne, Germany - Lanxess Arena
2015-10-25: London, England - O2 Arena
2015-10-26: London, England - O2 Arena
2015-10-29: London, England - O2 Arena
2015-10-30: London, England - O2 Arena
2015-10-06: Glasgow, Scotland - SSE Hydro
2015-10-07: Glasgow, Scotland - SSE Hydro
2015-10-10: Paris, France - Palais Omnisports De Bercy
2015-10-11: Paris, France - Palais Omnisports De Bercy
Our database listings for these shows can be found here. The astute among you will notice some pretty big gaps have been left in the schedule for extra shows to be added once these sell out. We already have rumours, for instance, that there will be additional shows in Paris on 14 and/or 15 November. The earlier rumours of a residency-style tour have only somewhat come true. Although U2 are not setting up camp exclusively in seven cities, the touring schedule is rather restricted. The band have stuck with playing lots of shows in tried-and-true markets on the logic of "built it and they will come".
On neither leg are U2 performing shows in countries or even cities they have never visited before. However, this is the first time a U2 tour will begin in Canada.
The Glasgow dates are exactly 31 years since two epic gigs on the Unforgettable Fire Tour at the Barrowlands Ballroom on 6 and 7 November 1984.
Some of you may be surprised that there are no shows in Dublin or elsewhere in Ireland. There is, however, precedent for this. On Zoo TV, U2 did not perform in Dublin until the end of the fourth leg, a year and a half after the tour began. Irish fans likely won't have to wait that long this time though. U2.com confirm that U2 are booking special shows for the end of 2015, the arrangements for which are yet to be finalised.
TICKETING INFORMATION
Tickets in both North America and Europe will go on general sale on Monday, 8 December 2014. There will be a U2.com presale commencing Thursday, 4 December. That's tomorrow! U2.com subscribers should keep an eye on their emails for their presale code. The presale on the 4th is only for legacy subscribers, i.e. those of you signed up before 9 September 2014; you're called the "Experience Group". For new subscribers since that date, the "Innocence Group", there will be a presale the next day, 5 December. There is a two ticket limit, which you can use either for two tickets to one show or one ticket each to two shows. If you do not use the code now, it will be valid when further shows are announced, including the Dublin gigs. See U2.com's FAQ for more.
In the US, general admission tickets will cost US$65. The most expensive seats will be $250–275 and will work their way down to very cheap $30 seats. The Red Zone from 360 in a corner of the general admission floor will be repeated this tour, and there are are also VIP packages being offered that include merchandise, travel, etc. along with a seated ticket.
Posted on by Axver