Three-year tour earns U2 over €500m

New figures show that U2’s 360° tour has grossed over $703 million (€534m) after seven million rock fans paid to see the band over the past three years.

According to figures published by music industry journal Pollstar, the tour grossed $231.9m last year after 2.38 million music fans paid to see the band in 34 gigs across 26 cities.

The US-based publisher said that the tour grossed the highest amount of any rock band last year and, on average, grossed $8.9m per gig, with an average attendance of 91,828.

The figures showed that U2’s three-gig stint at the Murumbi Stadium in Sao Paolo, Brazil, earned $32m. The $703m is a gross figure and does not take into account the significant costs involved in staging the tour, which played 110 gigs in 79 cities over the three years.

Hundreds of people were employed in transporting and constructing the 360 degree “Claw” stage, while the concerts provided an economic boost in cities where the band played.

Profits are shared between the four band members, Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr and Adam Clayton, and manager Paul McGuinness along with promoters Live Nation and the venue operator.

The 360 degree production increased the capacity by up to 25%, leading to record attendances several venues. The figures also show that the top earning single run of gigs over the three years was the band’s sold out three-night run at Dublin’s Croke Park, where the tour grossed $28.5m.

A breakdown of the annual figures shows that the tour grossed $231.9m in 2011; $160.9m in 2010 and $311m in 2009, when three million people paid, on average, $101 to see the band play. 2009 was the largest grossing year of the tour, where the average gross per concert was $10m.

The 2010 drop-off was a result of postponed North American dates after Bono injured his back in Munich.

Meanwhile, accounts for U2’s main Irish firm, U2 Ltd, which protects and licences the band’s intellectual property, show a return to profitability in 2010, with pre-tax profits of €46,571.