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U2 gig 'to break Wembley record' Wembley record 'broken by U2 gig'
(about 9 hours later)
U2's first UK gig in their current tour will break all previous attendance records for a Wembley Stadium concert, organisers have claimed. U2's first UK gig in their current tour is expected to have broken the attendance record for a Wembley Stadium concert, organisers have said.
Around 88,000 are expected at the Irish group's concert on Friday - 5,000 more than what is believed to be its biggest previous crowd for a musical event. About 88,000 people were expected at the Irish group's concert on Friday - 5,000 more than what is thought to have been the stadium's previous record.
U2's radical "claw" stage has enabled tour organisers Live Nation to increase the capacity for the sold-out show.U2's radical "claw" stage has enabled tour organisers Live Nation to increase the capacity for the sold-out show.
As many as 170,000 are expected to see U2 on Friday and Saturday. A similar-sized crowd is expected at a second concert later.
Wembley's previous biggest crowd is believed to be the 83,000 who saw Rod Stewart perform there in 1995. Wembley's previous biggest crowd is believed to have been the 83,000 who saw Rod Stewart perform there in 1995.
That figure was matched last summer by the Foo Fighters when the US band played at Wembley following its rebuilding.That figure was matched last summer by the Foo Fighters when the US band played at Wembley following its rebuilding.
Tickets are still available for U2's Saturday show, which will see them supported by Glasgow-based rockers Glasvegas.Tickets are still available for U2's Saturday show, which will see them supported by Glasgow-based rockers Glasvegas.
Elbow, who won the Mercury Prize last year with their fourth studio album The Seldom Seen Kid, will support U2 later. Elbow, who won the Mercury Prize last year with their fourth studio album The Seldom Seen Kid, were supporting on Friday.
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Watch a tour of U2's 'claw' stage with tour architect Mark FisherWatch a tour of U2's 'claw' stage with tour architect Mark Fisher
Michael Jackson holds the record for Wembley concerts, the late singer having notched up 15 appearances at the legendary venue.Michael Jackson holds the record for Wembley concerts, the late singer having notched up 15 appearances at the legendary venue.
The Rolling Stones come next with 12 concerts, followed by Madonna with nine.The Rolling Stones come next with 12 concerts, followed by Madonna with nine.
However, U2 will exceed the American singer's tally when they play their 10th night at the stadium on Saturday. However, U2 will exceed her tally when they play their 10th night at the stadium on Saturday.
The band's current 360 tour uses three different stage structures, each in the shape of a giant claw.The band's current 360 tour uses three different stage structures, each in the shape of a giant claw.
'Fewer shows''Fewer shows'
The three steel structures cost between £15m and £20m each and offer a largely unobstructed view of the veteran rock quartet.The three steel structures cost between £15m and £20m each and offer a largely unobstructed view of the veteran rock quartet.
"Usually a show like this plays to two-thirds of the capacity of the stadium because you put the stage at the end and you don't sell any of the seats at the back and at the sides," tour architect Mark Fisher told the BBC on Thursday. "Usually a show like this plays to two-thirds of the capacity of the stadium because you put the stage at the end and you don't sell any of the seats at the back and at the sides," tour architect Mark Fisher told the BBC.
"We sell all the way round, so we carry about 25% more stuff than a normal stadium rock show."We sell all the way round, so we carry about 25% more stuff than a normal stadium rock show.
"We have a video screen round the back, lights that light the band when they go to the back and loud speakers both on the sides and behind in addition to those that are on the front. "We have a video screen round the back, lights that light the band when they go to the back and loud speakers both on the sides and behind, in addition to those that are on the front.
"We do fewer shows to perform to the same number of people.""We do fewer shows to perform to the same number of people."