A record audience turnout is expected at Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium for concerts given by the U2 rock band as part of its “360” world tour. An estimated crowd of 104,000 fans are expected for the two concerts.
The concerts mark the reopening of Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium to the public after recent renovations. An audience of 52,000 people is expected on both nights, representing an all time record of attendance at the venue.
Previous audience records date from concerts given by the Rolling Stones and Tina Turner, each attended by 50,000 fans. Dual concerts given by Bruce Springsteen in 2003 attracted a precise total of 89,856 people.
Back in 1952, over 70,000 attended the Helsinki Olympics at the stadium.
The concerts-in-the-round feature the world’s biggest stage set for a pop tour. Some fans have been camping outside the venue since Wednesday, hoping to catch a glimpse of “the claw”, a steel construction at the heart of the band’s stage set.
About 600 extra tickets to the shows went on sale on Friday morning.
This is the band’s third visit to Finland since 1983, when they played at Turku’s Ruisrock festival.