U2 Tour Ticket Allocation Dilemma: Irish Officials Caught Off Guard
Irish officials were caught off guard when they discovered they had significantly fewer free tickets for a U2 tour of the United States than they had initially thought. The band's management had reached out to the Department of Foreign Affairs prior to their 1987 Joshua Tree tour, offering to include "key people" on the guest list for various shows. Diplomats were hopeful of inviting representatives from semi-state bodies, colleague ambassadors, and other notable figures to the concerts. A list of up to 60 guests per concert was prepared, based on the belief that this number would be acceptable.
During a meeting with U2 manager Paul McGuinness in February 1987, the potential for mutual cooperation to benefit Ireland's image abroad was discussed. It was suggested that the band would provide a certain number of backstage seats for the Ambassador or consul in each city on the tour. This information was relayed to Irish representatives in cities like Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington DC in March. However, the band later decided to limit the allocation to just 10 tickets per night, causing embarrassment for the officials who had already approached potential guests for their preferred dates.
The response from the Department of Foreign Affairs headquarters acknowledged the band's decision and suggested asking if more than 10 guests per night could be accommodated to address the awkward situation. Additionally, there were discussions about U2 potentially performing a free concert at the Eiffel Tower to mark its centenary, following an expression of interest from then Paris mayor Jacques Chirac. Ultimately, the band did not perform at the tower, with Johnny Hallyday and Stevie Wonder headlining the event instead.
In conclusion, the newly released Government files shed light on the challenges faced by Irish officials in managing the allocation of free tickets for U2's tour of the United States. Despite initial expectations of a larger number of tickets being available, the band's decision to limit the allocation to 10 tickets per night led to an embarrassing situation for diplomats who had already made arrangements with potential guests. The documents also revealed discussions about U2 potentially performing at the Eiffel Tower, although this did not come to fruition.