Loathe am I to defend Bono but...

https://www.irishpost.com/news/u2-do...ireland-183239

Ah fair enough, caught out!

Has the venue waived some of its standard fees for hosting events for these NHS shows?

Hoping this means they'll do some other shows around the UK to make up for the shortfall

I got tickets despite Ticketmaster being a complete bastard with my stored credit card details. Haven't booked a flight yet. Just going to wait and see how things develop.

Awww shit, i didn't expect them to sell out by the evening. Then again, this is not going to be a short term thing where everything goes back to normal so i'm going to have to accept that this year (at a minimum) is a right-off.

Yep me too, got kicked out once but managed the second time.

Some advice if anyone can help. I was hoping to stay in Bristol on the Saturday night to make it easier to get to the airport on Sunday morning. I was checking earlier and it looks as though the last train from Cardiff to Bristol is around 22:50. Anyone know if there are later buses from Cardiff to Bristol?

Given that we're very unlikely to have a vaccine by December, is having thousands of NHS staff packed into one room necessarily a good idea?

Thought the same but didn't want to be a downer. I appreciate the intention but it's likely that this might get cancelled because of restrictions anyway, but having it in the middle of cold and flu season seems utterly bizarre to me.

Yeah, I mean the idea is obviously absolutely wonderful and incredibly generous, but it does seem a little... short sighted, maybe.

They're not the first to have this idea. So far off the top of my head there's Paul Heaton and Jaqui Abbott, Rick Astley, Fatboy Slim, Liam Gallagher.. all scheduled before these.

Eh, seen loads of gigs getting rescheduled for September onwards but nowt earlier. Can't help but feel that that may be a bit on the optimistic side like. I've got tickets for both nights but I accept the very real possibility that we might not know for sure whether they're going to go ahead or not for ages.

A vaccine is still 12-18 months away. So are arena shows.

The lockdown will be lifted before then, and probably quite soon, but social distancing restrictions will be with us for a long time.

Eh, fuck knows. No shortage of evidence that the government prioritises the economy over public health and welfare. Well, their policies have been killing the poor and vulnerable for years, chances are if Covid-19 were a person they'd be in line for a cabinet position.

I'm surprised by just how many gigs and tours have been announced and rescheduled meself but I''m glad they are. Even if they don't go ahead as planned, it's good to have something to look forward to in these crazy times, for now at least.

Fucked if I'm even gonna try to guess where we go from here tbh.

Any way of getting tickets for this now? Probably for the non-NHS night?

:lol: I'm sure they meant well, but yeah...

I'll be surprised if this ends up going ahead without a vaccine. I'm reluctant to go tbh.

I think it’s highly, highly unlikely it will take place in December, especially as Wales have been more cautious than England in loosening restrictions. Various West End theatres in London have already confirmed they won’t be back until at least 2021, so don’t see how indoor gigs will be any safer without a vaccine.

I'd be extremely surprised if it still goes ahead, the WMC for example has taken the decision to close until january. I'm convinced we're heading into a second wave and december ain't that far away.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-...losed-18405882

JDB mentioned on Radio Wales that they'd like to do it still, rescheduled if it has to be. I know that's not very revelatory, but thought I'd mention it

Boris just announced large concerts to go ahead from October.

Just in time for flu season....

That's just england though, the welsh government have their own rules and haven't yet committed to any reopening date for large venues. At the moment the devolved nations are acting in a far more responsible manner than whatever the blonde nightmare's government is up to.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/u...-live-18586058

And once again, even if it's allowed to go ahead, is it really wise to have employees of the service that's on the frontline helping people with the virus all packed into one place where it can spread quickly?

James said in a recent interview that the gigs will happen, even if they can't happen in December, they'll be moved to a later date.

The arena’a capacity (5000) is 0.36% of the total NHS workforce (1.4 million). I think we’ll be okay! :)

All gigs have 2nd and 3rd dates. So it will happen. When is very much the question. I hear MSP will now begin daily briefings including excellent slides on the progress of the pandemic, and Wires setlist notes. No questions from the media.

Just seen a post on Facebook about Idlewild postponing their November tour. Not heard of anything scheduled for December being postponed yet, don't know if anyone else has?

Even if they do go ahead in December, and it's a big if, I'm not sure if I'd want to go. Alright, anxiety's nowt new to me so a pandemic is just the icing on the cake really. Have been finding myself a bit panicky when people get a bit too close for comfort with the whole social distancing thing. Wouldn't have been an issue at the Leeds RIF gig, mind.

I'm not suggesting the whole of the NHS will fall apart as a result, just that NHS workers are just about the last people I'd want to pack 5,000 of into a small space given the possibility of worsening figures in the winter.

I get that, but also they hang out in hospitals and with ill people all day long. They’ve probably calculated that it can’t be much worse than a day at work.

I'm with you on this. Hadn't booked a flight and cancelled my hotel a few weeks back. If it does go ahead I'll probably just sell my ticket.

PM'd ;-)

The same here. I haven't booked flights nor B&B yet, and am carefully keeping an eye on the Japanese government policy on border control. If they would keep the current restrictions on returning travellers from abroad in the coming months, and if the concerts would go ahead, I'll probably have to give up going.:(
I can't decide yet what to do with my ticket, though.

The way things are at the minute i can't see it going ahead. Possibly rescheduled to Spring next year. I've had a few other gigs postponed until March and November next year.

These dates are 100% postponed. Not officially postponed but still 100% postponed. Not 99.9%.

If a vaccine was suddenly made available tomorrow, these shows would still be postponed due to the time it would take to get it to everyone.

Presumably for insurance reasons, promoters have to wait for the venue to cancel the event.

Now 16th and 17th July 2021

Still looking for a Saturday ticket if anyone wants to sell

Glad to know the score finally. Really, really hope they can go ahead in July. I'm sad to lose my Manics Cardiff Christmas adventure but a summer one will be just as amazing. Steep increase in hotel prices though - £150 more for the same hotel! Ouch.

Just hope it's not 38 degrees :eek:

argh the rearranged date is the rearranged date of my cancelled 2020 holiday :( will have two tickets for sale :( :(