O2 customers to get priority for Point tickets

O2 customers will be able to snap up concert tickets up to 48 hours before general release when Dublin’s famous Point Depot reopens in December, it was revealed today.

The mobile phone company has secured the naming rights of the music venue, which is under an 80 multi-million euro transformation.

But the deal could enrage thousands of music fans over fears O2’s 1.6 million users can buy tickets first. It’s customers will also gain fast-track access to the 13,000 capacity venue.

The O2, at Dublin’s Docklands, will stage around 150 live events for some two million people each year. It will be Europe’s first venue, of its size, which is custom designed for live music.

The naming deal with Live Nation – which is one of the biggest live entertainment promoters in the world – is the first to be negotiated in Ireland. The amount paid is being kept under wraps.

02 previously secured the naming rights over stadiums in London, Prague and Berlin.

Mike Adamson, of Live Nation Ireland, said without the deal it would have been impossible to make such a major investment in the redeveloped venue which will be one of the best and most modern live music venues in Europe.

“Teaming up with O2 means we are able to ensure that concert goers will have an experience which, I believe, will be unmatched anywhere in the world,” he said.

“In addition with the improved and increased size and scale of The O2, we will now be able to attract the biggest and best artists, and their full shows, to The O2 for music fans in Ireland.”

The O2 is being development by the Point Exhibition Company Limited, made up of Live Nation and Harry Crosbie. Live Nation operates over 155 music and entertainment venues across three continents and promotes acts as diverse as Madonna, U2, The Rolling Stones and Jay Z.

Designers claim the venue’s new amphitheatre outlay boasts unrivalled acoustics and, with its tiered seating, has an intimate feel for both the artists and the audience who will all have a view of the stage.

Danuta Gray, of Telefonica O2 Ireland, added: “Through this new deal with Live Nation in Ireland, we will use our technology; our expertise in marketing and distribution and our insight into what our customers want to ensure that at The O2 our customers will have a completely new and superior music experience.

“In addition, by exploiting the endless opportunities that mobile technology provides, we can extend this experience for our customers to include before, during and after the entertainment event itself.”