Croke Park prepares for U2 arrival
The stage is set for U2’s massive homecoming this weekend with organisers promising fans a show to remember.
A giant steel claw which rises to 11 storeys high is being constructed above the pitch in Dublin’s Croke Park, where the rock band will perform three concerts.
Around 240,000 tickets have been snapped up by fans from as far as Japan, Brazil, Canada and the USA, with hotels across the city fully booked.
It is estimated the series of gigs – on Friday, Saturday and Monday – will boost Dublin’s economy by €50m.
U2 tour director Craig Evans said it was a thrill to be back in Dublin.
“This is the only city that we will do three shows in,” said Mr Evans.
“To be able to bring this show, with this design and stage system, to Croke Park is absolutely the highlight of what will be a two-year world tour.”
Mr Evans said fans can expect the biggest, most spectacular, and the most impressive U2 show that they have ever seen before.
“The goal of this tour was to see U2 play stadiums in a full 360 configuration, which had never been done before,” he added, during a visit to the venue.
“It’s an incredible feat to take an engineer’s structure like this, that is travelling in over 100 trucks, build it, use it and then take it down.”
It has taken a week to construct the 360 degree custom built stage, which includes 550 tonnes of steel, 56 tonnes of video screens, rises to 11 storeys high, and covers 43,000 square feet.
Peter McKenna, stadium director of Croke Park, said 300 construction workers are building the stage, with a further 2,500 people working at the venue during the weekend.
“This is up to the limit of what we do, it’s like three All Ireland’s back to back,” said Mr McKenna.
“These aren’t just concerts, they are truly international events.
“It really is without doubt the biggest stage that has ever been in Ireland.”
Gates open at 6pm with the first support acts taking the stage at 6.30pm.
MCD and garda urged concert-goers to follow traffic plans in the area and respect local residents.
Traffic officers also reminded fans driving to the show on Monday that it will coincide with the opening of the new Ikea store off the M50 and that the start College Green bus corridor.
