claudeflowers

This won't help me, but maybe it will help future shows, or future tours.

Having seen the absolute shambles of general admission entry in Vancouver and Seattle, I think a formal, structured solution needs to be adopted by the band.

Could future shows allow separate G.A. lines based on how tickets were purchased? So, for example, those who are longtime fan club members were assigned the "Red Hill" group when buying tickets. They would gather in a Red Hill G.A. line at the venue, getting first entry.

Newer fan club members were in the "Wires" group for ticket purchases. Day of the show they would be in a Wires G.A. line and be admitted once all Red Hill ticketholders are inside the venue.

Lastly, those who bought tickets during the public on-sale would be in a third G.A. line allowed into the venue after fan club members.

In short, three separate GA lines, each (loosely, but fairly) reflecting the dedication of the fans.

If U2/Live Nation still insists on using Credit Card entry, I would hope/expect there is a way to flag purchases along these same lines (Red Hill/Wires/Public).

I'd love to know what fans and moderators think of the idea.

Logistically, the gig was a poor reflection of the band, Live Nation, and the venue.

The G.A. line was handled horribly, with security allowing new arrivals through the metal detectors at the same time as those who had queued for hours (or days).

Security said we would be reorganized once inside by the numbers we had been assigned, but that never happened. Instead, we were staged inside as a huge clump of people who surged forward when the inside door was open.

One of the "security" guys at the B-stage spent the duration of Mumford and Sons' set singing along, sneaking peeks at the band, and waving his arms for people to sing along but not stopping the potsmokers.

Very disappointing. I expected better.

I was listening to this today, and it perfectly reflect Bono's last few weeks since the bike accident. Imagine them opening with this and then plunging into "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u3xBZoAU9c

Lyrics:

Sitting in a hospital bed
Sitting in a hospital bed
Sitting in a hospital bed
Sitting in a hospital bed
I, I want life
I want my life
I want my life
I want my life

It really sucks
It really sucks

Sitting in a hospital bed
Frustration going through my head
Turn off the TV set
Take some drugs so I can forget
I, I want life
I want my life
I want my life
I want my life

It really sucks
It really sucks

I got knocked down but I'll get up
I got knocked down but I'll get up

I'm not buying tickets yet, largely because all five Vancouver shows I've attended since 1992 have been disappointments. I'm hoping for an earlier pair of shows to be announced for Washington or Oregon.

Also, with credit cards apparently being required for entry to the shows, I am concerned that using my card in a foreign country (i.e. Canada) could present some kind of difficulty.

Lastly, having been a fan club member since summer 1987, I, too, am disappointed that the process of getting tickets has become so difficult for us. Even though sending in checks for Popmart tickets was awkward -- the new company handling tickets for the tour was slow to confirm if we'd gotten seats or not -- it was far less stressful than what we're subjected to, nowadays.