U2 Go Stadium Style For World Tour, Announce Initial Dates

We have to admit, we're a bit disappointed. Once you get to a stadium-level show, there is, to some extent, no way to make that show intimate. It might be a spectacle, it might be an amazing performance, but there's no way to get someone sitting a football field away from you (and then some) to feel that involved in the show.

Which is why we find ourselves secretly longing for the Spring of 2001, when U2 were at the low of their popularity, and were forced to do a North American arena tour. While arenas (generally basketball venues) are still large, they're just small enough that they managed to find U2's grandiose stage show become intimate enough to envelope the entire venue. Those shows were truly magical - to get a taste, check out Live From Boston - it really captures the vibe well.

Sadly (depending how you look at it), the band has unquestionably reestablished their popularity in the past eight years. As such, they are back on the stadium circuit that was the hallmark of the Zoo TV and Pop tours. Yes, we get it: there are more fans, and more money to be made, and all the other things that go along with being the "best band in the world", but we're still bummed. What can we say - we like our rock and roll up close and personal, not on a jumbotron.

That being said, we're not really ready to relinquish the U2 live experience. You can bet we'll be there, stadium or otherwise. The band has just announced their tour for No Line On The Horizone - entitled "The 360 Degree" tour. The tour features an innovative 360 degree visibility stage design, that apparently creates no obstructed views. That's something, at least.

They'll be summering in Europe, and then hitting the Eastern US in the Fall, with more dates to come. Stadiumtastic all the way, boys.

U2 2009 360 Degree Tour:
30-JUNE - BARCELONA, SP - NOU CAMP
07-JULY - MILAN, IT - SAN SIRO
11-JULY - PARIS, FR - STADE DE FRANCE
15-JULY - NICE, FR - PARC CHARLES EHRMANN
18-JULY - BERLIN, DE - OLYMPIC STADIUM
20-JULY - AMSTERDAM, NL - ArenA
24-JULY - DUBLIN, IE - CROKE PARK
31-JULY - GOTHENBURG, SE - ULLEVI
06-AUG. - CHORZOW, PL - SLASKI STADIUM
10-AUG. - ZAGREB, HR - MAKSIMIR STADIUM
14-AUG. - LONDON, UK - WEMBLEY STADIUM
18-AUG. - GLASGOW, UK - HAMPDEN PARK
20-AUG. - SHEFFIELD, UK - DON VALLEY STADIUM
22-AUG. - CARDIFF, UK - MILLENNIUM STADIUM

12-SEPT. - CHICAGO, IL - SOLDIER FIELD
16-SEPT. - TORONTO, ON - THE ROGERS CENTRE
20-SEPT. - BOSTON, MA - GILLETTE STADIUM
24-SEPT. - NEW YORK, NY - GIANTS STADIUM