U2 Tour 360 Zagreb 9.8.2009

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I went to Zagreb for the third (Sarajevo ’97 and Vienna ’05) U2 concert. On the U2 360 tour, they chose Zagreb as one of the venues in the first year of the tour. At the time, I hadn’t yet decided to buy a ticket, which were sold quickly. Later they add another day for the concert in Zagreb and then I also bought a ticket. Prices were € 33-266; more precisely 250 kuna (tribune north), 500 kuna (terrain) up to 750 and 1000 kuna (tribune south, east, and west), and 2000 kuna (VIP lodge on the tribune west). I took the whole package with transport from Ljubljana, so I didn’t want to think about how to get to the venue.

U2 Tour 360 Zagreb 9.8.2009 1
U2 Zagreb – družina

With Tone, we set off with an organized transport. We lost some time at the border. We arrived in front of the venue early enough. We found a place where we had a beer. Of course, you could already see the crowd outside, rushing towards the Maksimir Stadium. We slowly joined. When we got inside, I was looking for my cousins Adele and Kenan.

On the 360o tour, the U2 puts a 50-meter stage in the middle of the stadium, where 4 legs (Claw) hold the screen and speakers. It all looks pretty cosmic. The band is surrounded by fans from all sides. This allows spectators to watch from all the stands so they could pack 20% more people than usual. The Maksimir Stadium itself is a set of different stands and is one of the ugliest in my opinion. U2 sold 7+ million tickets on this tour in 2009-2011 and made $ 700+ million in turnover, a record among the tours at the time.

The introduction was made by the 2 bends, The Hours and Snow Patrol. Before U2 showed on stage we heard Space Oddity from David Bowie. The Irish band was on stage just after 9pm, which woke up 60,000 fans. They opened a concert with Breathe. Old tracks and from the new album No Line on The Horizon were mixed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY8Gz3ef7vs

Of course, I’m more nostalgic and my heart beats stronger with the songs I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Where the Streets Have No Name, and One (dedicated to the Bakan Wars). Of course, even this concert is not without political messages, Aung San Suu Kyi is mentioned, and Desmond Tutu is that<nkful for bends help. Edge had a birthday, Bono is experimenting in Croatian (Dubravka-Gundulić; “krasni ludi”).

After 2 hours, they return for the encore, Bono is in a lighted suit, and a microphone is lit as well for Ultraviolet. Of course, With or Without You is my favorite. They finally leave us after performing Moment Of Surrender. As the stadium empties, in the background plays a song by Elton John

After the concert, I said goodbye to my family and wandered back to the bus with Tone. Otherwise, the trip back was longer due to the border. But pleasantly tired and full of impressions I don’t think about it

Setlist

  • Breathe
  • No Line On The Horizon
  • Get on Your Boots
  • Magnificent
  • Beautiful Day / Dubravka (snippet)
  • Mysterious Ways / Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (snippet)
  • I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For / Stand By Me (snippet)
  • Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of
  • Unknown Caller
  • The Unforgettable Fire
  • City of Blinding Lights
  • Vertigo / She Loves You (snippet)
  • I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight / Two Tribes (snippet)
  • Sunday Bloody Sunday
  • Pride (In the Name of Love)
  • MLK
  • Walk On / You’ll Never Walk Alone (snippet)
  • Where the Streets Have No Name / All You Need Is Love (snippet)
  • One
  • encore:
  • Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
  • With or Without You / Shine Like Stars (snippet)
  • Moment Of Surrender

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