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I was today-years-old when I first considered how much it costs to insure one event at an arena or stadium. No price quotes in this article, but it does give you an idea of what venues like this are up against, in terms of safety, at all times. (1) https://riskandinsurance.com/stadium-safety/
I'm old enough to remember when 11 people, holders of "festival seating" tickets (what we now call GA) were trampled to death at a Who concert in Cincinnati. This is gruesome. You should read it. (2) https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rock-roll-tragedy-why-11-died-at-the-whos-cincinnati-concert-93437/
I'm old enough to remember John Lennon rhapsodizing about how great it was to live in New York City, because it gave him the freedom to walk anywhere and do anything like a regular person. About a month later, he was shot dead in front of his home by an obsessed stalker. (3)
I'm old enough to remember 129 concert goers shot dead at the Bataclan Theatre in Paris. My own favorite band was also in town that night. (4) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/12007090/Paris-terror-attacks-25-photographs-that-defined-the-tragedy-in-France.html
I'm old enough to remember when 22 fans were killed and 116 injured, most of them heartbreakingly young, most of them girls, after an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, UK. (5) https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/manchester-arena-bombed-during-ariana-grande-concert
I'm old enough to remember this "no motive" bullshit. (6) https://www.npr.org/tags/555310364/las-vegas-shooting
I'm old enough to know that Bono travels around with those cute security guys, who we can all point out by name, because he's received credible death threats going as far back as 1987. I'll bet he'd like to take a walk on his own someday. (7)
I'm old enough to know that the security team at Sydney Cricket Ground have no idea who you are, whether you're on the rail at your zillionth U2 show or up in the nosebleeds. The band might recognize you; other fans might recognize you. Security doesn't give a fuck. (8)
I'm old enough to know that when your job on a Friday night is to guard the tree-stage, that's what you do. If you see someone other than the band or the crew flinging themselves around on it, you expect the worst and you react appropriately (Which they did.) (9)
If you're lucky enough to be pulled up on stage, bless you. More than once, wow, that's amazing. Personally I'd rather have my fingernails pulled out than risk hysterical paralysis in front of Bono and 20-75k strangers, but hey, vive la difference. (10)
I saw the video, abundantly. I know the fan was invited up. I know he alarmed security and I know quite a few other people who felt freaked out. YES I KNOW WHO MacPHISTO IS. I understand I was also supposed to know who this fan is, but I didn't. (I do now, thanks.) (11)
I'm doing this tedious thread because people are sharing my tweets around out of context. So here is context. My profile is unlocked (to most.) I'm a U2 fan. I respect the band. They earned that respect. Ask me anything. (end)
