Second concert confirmed after U2 tickets sell out

A second U2 concert in Auckland has been confirmed after tickets for the first date sold out in 90 minutes this morning.

The concerts will be at Ericsson Stadium on March 17 and 18. Tickets for the second show go on sale next Monday.

The Herald understands the Irish band were asked by tour organiser Michael Coppel to add another concert after today's quick sale.

Demand for the 30,000 tickets for the first concert, priced from $99 to $199, caused websites and phone lines to jam after the 9am start.

Some of the tickets bought went straight on sale on the online auction site Trade Me. One pair of tickets had attracted a bid of more than $2000 by 11.05am, though the highest priced auction later was around $1000.

The Trade Me sales brought angry comments from some fans.

One said to the person selling the tickets: " There should be a law against people like you."

However, a comment on another sale said: "He paid for the tickets. He should be allowed to do what he wants with them."

The Auckland concerts are part of the band's Vertigo/2006 Tour, which also includes four dates in Australia. More than 100 dates have been sold out in Europe and North America.

When the concert was announced last month, drummer Larry Mullen said: "We're really looking forward to playing in New Zealand -- it's been ages since we were there."

Some fans queued all night to buy tickets.

Jason Smythe, 27, an Otumoetai College teacher, and his Irish backpacker friend, 24-year-old Brendan Coffey, set up camp outside Rebel Sport in Tauranga at 9pm.

They headed the queue of about 100 people and brought padding and sleeping bags to protect themselves from the hard concrete.

"Part of the experience is queuing up - living the dream," said Mr Coffey good-humouredly.

"To quote Bono: 'dream out loud'," added Mr Smythe, who has been a fan since 1988.

Neither men have attended a concert by U2 before. Mr Smythe said he was too young when they last performed here 12 years ago.

Equipment and staff for U2's spectacular show will arrive in New Zealand in 32 ocean containers and aboard three 747 planes chartered for the world tour. The band is also bringing 100 crew, adding an extra 130 local crew for the show.

- HERALD STAFF, NEWSTALK ZB, BAY OF PLENTY TIMES