U2 in Las Vegas FAQs: How much are tickets? What will they play? Where's Larry?
On September 29, U2 begin their Las Vegas residency, UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere.
On Friday, September 29, U2 follow in the footsteps of Elvis, Adele and Brendan Bowyer with their very own residency in Las Vegas.
Yes, the concerts will be the band’s first major gigs without drummer Larry Mullen Jr. The 61-year-old has spoken of the damage done to his body by years of drumming, and had planned to undergo surgery and recuperation in 2023. For the Vegas shows, he’ll be replaced by Dutch drummer Bram van den Berg, from the band Krezip.
Sphere is an incredible custom-built venue that’s part of the Venetian resort.
It’s reported that building costs have topped $2 billion for the “world’s largest spherical structure”, and the 17,600-capacity venue offers potential for an incredible show.
U2 guitarist The Edge says Sphere has the world’s most advanced audio system, with its 164,000 individual speakers “integrated into a structure which is designed with sound quality as a priority”.
Sphere also includes the highest-resolution LED screen on Earth, 10,000 vibrating “immersive seats”, environmental effects like temperature control and cool breezes.
Rolling Stone was brought to visit a similar rehearsal space to show off Sphere’s offering and revealed that it “makes the traditional IMAX experience seem quaint and chintzy by comparison.”
There are 25 concerts scheduled until December 16.
Tickets are currently advertised for sale between $400 and $1,450. Some of the shows in the run are already sold out, but there is still decent availability if you can be flexible with your dates.
You can buy tickets for Sphere at Ticketmaster via thesphere.com. There is also an option to buy them in person at the Sphere concierge which will be open on event days two hours before the start of the show.
If you flew from Ireland in early November, expect to pay around €500 per concert ticket based on current availability. You can fly through Seattle for about €800 per person. Three nights’ accommodation would set you back about €1,000 depending on how much debauchery you desire.
The show will feature a complete live performance of the band’s 1991 LP, Achtung Baby, so attendees will hear the likes of ‘Even Better Than the Real Thing’ and ‘Mysterious Ways’. Apparently, the set will also include other songs from throughout their career. New tune 'Atomic City' is also likely to feature. It’s worth noting that the show is unlikely to vary in significant ways from night to night.
Opening night comes just a few months after the 30th anniversary of Zooropa. Some fans pointed out that The Edge hasn’t sang Zooropa favourite ‘Numb’ in three decades. Might they break it out? “I think there will be some nods to Zooropa,” the Edge said during an interview recently. “In our minds, the tours [for Achtung Baby and Zooropa] blended into one. But I think Achtung Baby will be the main focus.”
Guests are also encouraged to check out Sphere’s other current ‘immersive experience’, Postcard from Earth, by film director Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, The Whale, etc).
As you walk through the doors, you’ll be greeted by Aura, a real-life humanoid robot. Aura will show you how culture and technology, science and art have always been intertwined throughout human history. You’ll also get to experience some of the latest technology including a 360-degree avatar capture, a beam-forming sound display and a 50-foot high holographic image.
