Second time lucky for desperate U2 fans

Nicola Lincoln can't contain her joy as she comes away with precious tickets to U2. Picture / Richard Robinson

Nicola Lincoln screamed with delight yesterday when she grabbed a second chance to buy U2 tickets at Auckland's Real Groovy music store.

Another stand to be erected at Ericsson Stadium means room for 3000 more people at each of the Irish band's two concerts on March 17 and 18.

The 6000 extra tickets sold out within 25 minutes.

But there were no bedding or tarpaulins outside the Queen St store this time as most people were unaware that more tickets were on sale. It was only announced yesterday morning on The Rock radio station. People started lining up at 9am and the tickets went on sale by noon.

In December, people camped outside Real Groovy for up to two days. The first concert sold out within 90 minutes; the second one took only 10 minutes longer.

Yesterday, only about 250 people queued outside the store. Mrs Lincoln, who lives in Ellerslie, was the first person in line.

The tickets were well worth the wait for her as she had tried to get some the last two times by phoning Ticketmaster and using the internet, but could not get through.

"I have a 21-month-old son," she said. "Thank God he was in daycare today otherwise this would have been impossible. It's a fluke that I'm here really, a miracle."

The tickets for the band's Vertigo tour were sold at Real Groovy in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin and the Visitor Information Site at Auckland's Viaduct Harbour.

Mrs Lincoln has been a U2 fan since she was 12.

Craig Borley, from Devonport, jumped on a ferry as soon as he heard more tickets were on sale.

"It's one of those stupid things that ridiculously dedicated fans do," he said.

Mr Borley, a fan of U2 for 18 years, had also frantically tried to get tickets online last time.

"I really didn't think they'd go that quickly."

Fans of all ages joined the queue. Like many others, 19-year-old Michelle Hyslop, from Pakuranga, had taken the day off work.

"I lined up here last year but I really didn't stand a chance," she said from her number 10 slot in line yesterday.

But it was Friday bloody Friday for Monique Laloli, who just missed out on tickets for the third time.

"I was really, really annoyed, especially because I thought I had a good place in the line. "It was moving really slow."