NEW YORK (AP) - U2 will revisit North
America for another leg of 22 dates in October and November, with an official announcement expected Tuesday (Sept. 11). Having already wrapped treks in North
America and Europe, the Irish quartet will kick off round three of its Elevation tour Oct. 10 at the 12,000-capacity Joyce Center on the campus of Notre Dame University in South Bend, Ind.
Half the cities on the second route are repeat markets from the first leg of the sold-out tour, including Montreal (Oct. 12),
Chicago (Oct. 15), New York (Oct. 24), East Rutherford, N.J. (Oct. 28), Philadelphia (Nov. 2), Denver (Nov. 7), and Los Angeles (Nov. 12). Given that U2 has committed to 22 dates and only 16 markets are on the trek, several multiple-night stands are expected.
"We felt we did dramatically underplay some of the major markets," says Arthur Fogel, president of touring for Clear Channel Entertainment (CCE), worldwide producers of the Elevation tour. "We felt it was important to go back and play them again."
So far, U2 has played 50 dates in North
America and 33 in
Europe on this jaunt, all of which sold out. To date, the tour has grossed $105 million; the remaining dates should take U2's gross close to $135 million for the year. Such numbers make a strong case for the group as 2001's top touring act in the world.
As tours go, Elevation appears to be that rare unqualified success among critics, fans, venues, band, and producers. "It has been an unbelievably smooth tour," Fogel says. He adds that no more dates are expected following the fall North American run. No opening act has yet been finalized, but it is understood that U2 has whittled down the candidates to a list of five. PJ
Harvey opened the first round of North American dates this summer, while various artists supported in Europe.
Here are U2's new North American tour dates:Oct. 10: South Bend, Ind. (Joyce Center)
Oct. 12: Montreal (Molson Centre)
Oct. 13: Hamilton, Ontario (Copps Coliseum)
Oct. 15:
Chicago (United Center)
Oct. 18: city/venue TBA
Oct. 19: Baltimore (Baltimore Arena)
Oct. 24: New York (Madison
Square Garden)
Oct. 28: East Rutherford, N.J. (Continental Airlines Arena)
Oct. 30: Providence, R.I. (Civic Center)
Nov. 2: Philadelphia (First Union Center)
Nov. 5: Austin,
Texas (Frank Erwin Center)
Nov. 7: Denver (Pepsi Center)
Nov. 9: Salt Lake City (Utah)
Nov. 15: Oakland, Calif. (Oakland Arena)
Nov. 18: Las
Vegas (Thomas & Mack Center).
