Rumors are flying today about U2's plans to announce a 2015 world tour and put tickets on sale -- both of which are expected to happen within the next week.
Before we get to the rumors, this disclaimer: U2's official reps have not confirmed any of the rumors we've shared and asked them about over the past few weeks, and it's possible that all of this is wrong. As always, don't make any travel plans or buy any ticket offers until dates are officially announced and tickets are sold through official channels.
Now, on to the rumors....
The Italian fan site U2place.com is reporting that the tour will be called the "Innocence and Experience Tour." (Let's hope so, because that name would all but lock U2 into releasing Songs Of Experience while the tour is happening.)
Emails we've received say that tour dates will be announced tomorrow (Wednesday) at 9 am ET (USA). Ticket pre-sales will reportedly begin a day later, on Thursday, December 4, for U2.com members. We've received tips from readers saying that public ticket sales will begin next week, either Monday or Tuesday (December 8-9).
The tour is rumored to start with two shows in Vancouver, Canada, on May 14-15. Other rumored dates and cities that U2place.com is reporting include:
Los Angeles: eight concerts between May 26 and June 8 at the Staples Center. (Note: Our tips are slightly different. We've heard U2 will use the The Forum with shows on May 26, 27, 30 and 31. It's possible the band could use both venues, although scheduling around the LA Clippers expected playoff games might be tough at the Staples Center. We've also heard U2 may play at the Honda Center in Anaheim.)
Montreal and Boston: four concerts in each city
Chicago: six concerts at the United Center
Toronto: at least one concert on July 6 at the Air Canada Centre (probably more than one show)
New York City: eight concerts at the end of July
Turin, Italy: beginning of the European tour in early September
Sources on the above are primarily U2place.com, a Facebook page called U2niverse citing Live Nation, and emails we've received from readers/sources over the past couple weeks. Again, U2's reps have not confirmed or commented on any of the above. If the rumors are true, we'll have official details on Wednesday.
UPDATE, 5:20 pm PT: We've been contacted by a source at a Canadian radio station letting us know that the station is set to begin airing commercials at 6 am PT tomorrow (that's 9 am ET) promoting U2 ticket sales. The commercials will announce two concerts -- May 14 and 15, 2015 -- at Rogers Arena and that public ticket sales will begin on December 8th. In other words, this confirms several of the rumors above.
