U2.com today confirms U2 360° tour dates

U2.com today confirms that the U2 360° tour will open at the Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelona on 30th June. The U2 360° Tour is sponsored by BlackBerry� and it is the band’s first stadium outing since the Vertigo Tour 05/06 and follows the release of their acclaimed album, No Line On The Horizon. Their 12th studio album, No Line On The Horizon is already number 1 in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Belgium, Finland, Japan and the Czech Republic with further chart positions to be announced this week.

Produced by Live Nation Global Touring, U2 360° will visit 14 cities across Europe including dates in Milan, Gothenburg, Amsterdam, Paris, Nice, Dublin, Chorzow, Berlin, Gelsenkirchen, London, Sheffield and Glasgow before finishing at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 22nd August. The European tour will be followed by dates in North America beginning at Chicago’s Soldier Field on September 12th, 2009.

Long-time U2 Show Director Willie Williams has worked again with architect Mark Fisher (ZooTV, PopMart, Elevation and Vertigo), to create an innovative 360˚ design which affords an unobstructed view for the audience. U2 360° also marks the first time a band has toured in stadiums with such a unique and original structure (which can be viewed at U2.com).

“U2 has always been at their best when surrounded by their audience, this staging takes a giant leap forward. With 85 percent of the tickets priced at less than $95.00, general admission floor tickets priced at $55.00 and at least 10,000 tickets at every venue priced at the $30.00 price range, we have worked very hard to ensure that U2 fans can purchase a great priced ticket with a guaranteed great view” says U2’s manager Paul McGuinness.

Arthur Fogel, CEO Global Touring/Chairman – Global Music Live Nation: “Following the overwhelming worldwide success of the Vertigo tour where every available ticket was sold, there is tremendous anticipation for this tour and to experience this revolutionary production. As usual fans will not be disappointed.”

“This tour announcement marks the first stage of a relationship and shared vision between Blackberry and U2 that we expect will lead to new and innovative ways to enhance the mobile music experience on the BlackBerry platform for U2 fans,” added Paul McGuinness. “We look forward to sharing more details as the relationship unfolds.”

In keeping with their long-standing tradition, U2 will welcome a number of different support acts to the tour including Glasvegas, Elbow, Kaiser Chiefs, Snow Patrol and Black Eyed Peas with additional artists to be announced.

Tickets for U2 360° performances in Milan and Gothenburg go on sale this Friday, March 13th. Tickets for the Amsterdam performance go on sale this Saturday, March 14th. Full details of all dates and on-sale information as well as a virtual model of the unique production and seating positions can be found on a dedicated microsite at U2.com. As usual, existing subscribers to U2’s official website u2.com will have an opportunity to purchase tickets in advance of the public on sale date.

EUROPEAN TOUR SCHEDULE:

30-JUNE BARCELONA, SP NOU CAMP

07-JULY MILAN, IT SAN SIRO

11-JULY PARIS, FR STADE DE FRANCE

15-JULY NICE, FR PARC CHARLES EHRMANN

18-JULY BERLIN, DE OLYMPIC STADIUM

20-JULY AMSTERDAM, NL ArenA

24-JULY DUBLIN, IE CROKE PARK

31-JULY GOTHENBURG, SE ULLEVI

06-AUG. CHORZOW, PL SLASKI STADIUM

10-AUG. ZAGREB, HR MAKSIMIR STADIUM

14-AUG. LONDON, UK WEMBLEY STADIUM

18-AUG. GLASGOW, UK HAMPDEN PARK

20-AUG. SHEFFIELD, UK DON VALLEY STADIUM

22-AUG. CARDIFF, UK MILLENNIUM STADIUM

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR SCHEDULE:

12-SEPT. CHICAGO, IL SOLDIER FIELD

16-SEPT. TORONTO, ON THE ROGERS CENTRE

20-SEPT. BOSTON, MA GILLETTE STADIUM

24-SEPT. NEW YORK, NY GIANTS STADIUM

In September and October, U2 360 will also visit: Atlanta, GA; Charlottesville, VA; Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA; Norman, OK; Phoenix, AZ; Tampa, FL; Washington, DC and Vancouver, BC. Complete Tour and ticketing information to follow.