Music: Re: [u2tour] GA procedure, my experience in Pittsburgh

Interesting to see so many people share the perspective on ths subject. Pittsburgh was my 50th U2 show and I've done GA for every show that they had the floor set for it.

Let's start with 2009 since going back much farther is pointless. I arrived in Chicago the day before the show (1st show). I looked for the "list" and was hit up by Chicago police who told me I had to get off the Soldier Field property and that there was "absolutely" no camping out. I drove around the stadium and saw no one. This was around 11pm. I ended up parking my car in a grocery parking lot and sleeping til about 4:30am. I returned to the stadium, waited for the lot to open where I paid $46 to park and then accidentally found the line under the bridge. Luckily, I did get a good spot on the list but argued with the "line keeper" that it is unfair to have such a line list when someone like me (no Facebook, Twitter, etc) has no way to know where it is and the venue has strict rules against queuing. Nothing was on Interference.

When I came out of the show and went to get in line, there was already a long line for the second show. Not sure how fair that is...

I went to 5 shows on the last leg of the 360 tour and the GA list got more and more frustrating! How early is early enough? And when you are traveling from another state, you are at a big disadvantage. Most people have jobs and can't take time off just to go 2-3 days early so they can sign a list. I'd much rather use that time off work at an actual show!

I agree that you shouldn't be able to write your name down and then leave. That was the process though this leg. So if I live in Pittsburgh, it was easy to sign up and then go home, come back once a day and check in... Not so easy when you are driving from another state. You now have hotel expenses or just have to figure out what to do for 48 hours before the actual line begins!!'

I propose that all que information should be kept online that anyone can have access to. It should be clear. And the "list" should not be allowed to begin any earlier than 24 hrs before the actual line begins. And you should have to stay in line. The big problem is the cities/venues do not allow it. They don't want the responsibility of having possibly hundreds of people camped out on their property. So that is why people have been encouraged to sign up and then leaving only to be back by 4-5am. I'm ok with that as long as the list doesn't start 2 or more days early. 24 hours before a show should be good enough....and it makes it far for all.

For Chicago, it was 24 hours. For St. Louis, grew to 36 hours or more. I had to leave for Pittsburgh a day earlier than planned because now the list started 2 and 1/2 days early! I got there Sunday at 4pm and there were already 50 people on the list ahead of us.

I agree that at check in times or at the 5am roll call, if you didn't show up, you should be crossed off. And I also think if your name is gonna be down, you have to be there. Too many times people are adding "friends" names who aren't showing up til later.

Tours over now so time will tell. It is a problem that needs to be fixed but a problem I don't see U2 fixing. I think it's something that us long time, die hard fans can fairly fix. Everyone should have the opportunity to get a good spot. And then if you pay your dues, you should get the spoils.

Kevin
acrobatnation@yahoo.com

Kevin