Due to a reported $750,000 daily overhead and three $30 million claws, U2 has yet to make a profit on its currently ongoing 360 world tour, despite having already played 32 stadium shows across the U.S. and Europe.
Speaking to Reuters (via Gigwise), the band’s manager Paul McGuinness explained that it wouldn’t be later this year before Bono and Co. begin to see a profit.
The engineering problems are enormous and costly. We had to find a way for it to be aesthetic and figure out a way of doing video,” McGuiness explained. “That cylindrical screen we have — that didn’t exist, we had to get somebody to invent that. We had to design this four-legged thing (the claw) — and build three of them.
He went on to note that even after all debts are paid off, major profits aren’t necessarily a sure thing. “(It won’t) exactly (be) gravy, because whether we’re playing or not, the overhead is about $750,000 daily. That’s just to have the crew on payroll, to rent the trucks, all that. There’s about 200 trucks.. Each stage is 37 trucks, so you’re up to nearly 120 there. And then the universal production is another 50-odd trucks, and there are merchandise trucks and catering trucks.”
Hmm… perhaps someone should tell this to Bono before he goes and spends a boatload of money on a swinging microphone that shoots laser beams for the band’s performance on Saturday Night Live. Opps, too late…
U2 2009/2010 Tour Dates:
09/29 – Washington, DC @ FedEx Field
10/01 – Charlottesville, VA @ Scott Stadium
10/03 – Raleigh, NC @ Carter-Finley Stadium
10/06 – Atlanta, GA @ Georgia Dome
10/09 – Tampa, FL @ Raymond James Stadium
10/12 – Dallas, TX @ New Cowboys Stadium
10/14 – Houston, TX @ Reliant Stadium
10/18 – Norman, OK @ Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
10/20 – Phoenix, AZ @ Univ. of Phoenix Stadium
10/23 – Las Vegas, NV @ Sam Boyd Stadium
10/25 – Los Angeles, CA @ Rose Bowl
10/28 – Vancouver, BC @ BC Place Stadium
08/10 – Frankfurt, DE @ Commerzbank Arena
08/12 – Hannover, DE @ AWD Stadium
08/15 – Horsens, DK @ Casa Arena
08/20 – Helsinki, FI @ Olympic Stadium
08/25 – Moscow, RU @ Luzhniki
08/30 – Vienna, AT @ Ernst Happel Stadium
09/03 – Athens, GR @ Olypmic Stadium
09/06 – Istanbul, TR @ Ataturk Olympic Stadium
09/15 – Munich, DE @ Olympic Stadium
09/18 – Paris, FR @ Stade de France
09/29 – Seville, ES @ Olympic Stadium
10/02 – Colmbra, PT @ Stadium
