Bono has acknowledged that some fans will probably pay too much to see U2 on the band’s forthcoming Greatest Show on Earth world tour, while saying the group has no objection to charging wealthy supporters premium prices.
“We also have no problem separating rich people from their money,” the U2 frontman said. “You know, as we say, rich people have feelings, too. If they want to pay very high prices, we’ve no problem.”
Bono, 66, added: “If they’re in America, we want people to feel really good about the choice to pay a ticket—and probably pay too much for it—to see us.”
The comments came as presales opened for the tour, which is due to begin in Mexico City on February 23. U2 has also been named as the halftime act for the NFL’s first Thanksgiving Eve game, which will stream on Netflix on November 25.
U2 says the best seats should remain affordable
Bono said the band had “very little” control over ticket prices, but claimed U2 could influence the cost of the most sought-after positions in a venue.
“What we do in our band is we take the best seats in the house—we’ve done this all our life—and make sure that they’re often the most affordable,” he said.
U2 adopted a similar approach for its Vertigo//2005 tour, when general admission floor tickets in North America were advertised at 49.50 US dollars, plus service fees.
Other performers have also reserved lower-priced tickets. Olivia Rodrigo set aside 20-dollar tickets for her GUTS tour, although the number available was not clear.
U2 ticket prices range from about $100 to $1,500
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive U2 tickets has widened since 2005. During the band’s 2023–24 residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, tickets began at 140 dollars including taxes and fees, while 60 per cent were priced below 300 dollars.
A limited number of premium seats were also offered. Tickets for the (RED) Zone, a VIP riser close to the stage, sold for 600 dollars, with some proceeds going to the anti-Aids organisation co-founded by Bono.
Pricing for the 2027 tour in São Paulo ranges from R$500, or about 100 dollars, for a Fan Ticket to R$7,547, approximately 1,510 dollars, for an Ultimate VIP Hospitality package.
General admission floor tickets cost R$790, or about 158 dollars. The location of Fan Ticket holders in the stadium will not be disclosed until the day of the concert.
North American and European dates have been promised but have not yet been announced.
Dynamic pricing and ticket resale criticism
Ticket costs are divided between artists, promoters, venues and ticketing platforms, but Ticketmaster has faced particular criticism from fans.
In April, a federal jury in Manhattan found that Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary had illegally maintained monopoly power, and that Ticketmaster had overcharged fans by 1.72 dollars per ticket. Live Nation said the verdict was “not the last word” and that it would appeal any unfavourable rulings.
Ticketmaster is also facing a separate lawsuit brought by the Federal Trade Commission and seven states. The case alleges that the company knowingly allowed brokers to use thousands of accounts to bypass ticket limits before profiting from the resale of tickets on its marketplace.
A federal judge refused to dismiss that case. In a filing dated October 13, Live Nation described the lawsuit as “misguided”.
Dynamic pricing, under which prices rise in response to demand, has also drawn criticism. Ticketmaster has said artists and promoters set those prices, while the issue came under government scrutiny in the UK after Oasis reunion tickets rose well beyond their advertised price.
U2 has not said how many lower-priced seats close to the stage will be available. Such allocations, including Brazil’s Fan Tickets, are often limited and can sell out early, leaving other fans to choose between full-price tickets and the resale market.
