Edmonton cashes in on U2 concert
By Michelle Thompson ,City Hall Bureau
First posted: Thursday, June 2, 2011
Bono of U2 performs at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alta., on Wednesday, June 1 2011. It has been 14 years since U2 played in Edmonton. AMBER BRACKEN/EDMONTON SUN/ QMI AGENCY
Edmonton is rocking and rolling in the cash following a sold-out U2 concert that drew nearly 65,000 people.
“It was a huge event, there’s no doubt about that,” said Jim Taylor, executive director of the Downtown Business Association of Edmonton.
“Absolutely it was an economic benefit to the city — to downtown, particularly.”
Hailed as the biggest concert in Edmonton’s history, U2′s 360 Tour show drew fans from across the globe Wednesday night.
The 63,155 people who filled the stadium weren’t your typical Commonwealth crowd, Taylor said.
“This is a one-time event with an eclectic and really diverse group of people,” he said.
“Those people going to a one-time event of that size are bound — absolutely bound — to hit restaurants and bars on their way home.”
Pubs and eateries weren’t the only businesses to benefit from the show, Taylor added.
“Our marketing committee said all the hotels downtown were absolutely sold out,” he said.
“And my wife said she’s never seen so many people coming out of a stadium and spilling into the downtown.”
Downtown Edmonton was packed with concertgoers before and after the show
Edmonton Economic Development spokesman Bin Lau said he noticed the area was much busier than usual.
“I saw lots of foot traffic on Jasper Avenue at a time when there isn’t usually as much,” Lau said.
“We know a facility the size of Commonwealth — and having a group like U2 perform there — is going to attract fans from all over.”
Lau said it was too early Thursday to give an estimate on the event’s economic impact.
michelle.thompson@sunmedia.ca
