 London’s
02 Arena is the world’s most popular music venue for the second year running,
selling more than two million concert tickets, a 30 per cent rise on 2008.
2009 highlights included five nights by Tina Turner, seven from Beyonce, an
eight-night residency by Britney Spears and shows by The Killers, Paul Weller,
AC/DC, Bob Dylan, Kings of Leon, Cliff Richard and the Shadows, and Sit Paul
McCartney. The venue also played host to Star Wars: A Musical Journey, Ben Hur
LIVE and the inaugural Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
According
to industry body Pollstar, the O2 easily eclipsed its closest rival, the
Manchester Evening News Arena. The Antwerp Sportpaleis, in Belgium, came third.
Only the
top three venues sold more than a million tickets. Madison Square Garden, in
New York, slipped from second in 2008 to fourth.
The 02 is operated by AEG Europe. David Campbell, president and chief executive said:
“We are booked to capacity at the
peak times of the year; I could sell every night in December three times over.”
The arena has set its sights just as high this year, with a line-up
including the world's biggest screening of Mamma Mia! The Movie, Eric Clapton, Lady Gaga, Dizzee
Rascal, Lily Allen, Peter Gabriel, Whitney Houston, Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna,
Michael Bublé and Rod Stewart. It will also see the return of Julie
Andrews to the London stage after 30 years, the venue's first complete opera,
Carmen, and a summer residency by veteran rockers Bon Jovi. The biggest shows of 2009
Tina Turner: 5 dates in March and May. Takings:
£6m/€6.8m
First time Turner had played the UK for nine years, all dates sold out. The London Standard's John Aizlewood:
“Where she aches this morning must
remain between her and her doctor but I was exhausted just watching her.
Glorious”
Britney Spears: 3-14 June. Takings: £5.8m/€6.5m
Her Circus tour pitched its tent for eight nights and was noted for its
spectacular visuals. Adrian Thrills of The Daily Mail:
“She's done it again: Britney Spears
burst back into the limelight at The 02 after several years in the pop
wilderness”.
Beyoncé: 7 dates in May, June and November. Takings: £4.6m/ €5.2m
Visited London seven times last year, recording her live DVD there. The Telegraph's Tom Horan:
"Beyoncé Knowles raised the bar for what can be done in an arena show at
the O2".
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