Are you ready to rock at Wednesday’s U2 show? And wait in traffic? And curse in the security line because some knucklehead is trying to bring an umbrella into Raymond James Stadium?
When Bono and the boys were last here in 2009, they packed more than 70,000 fans into the Tampa stadium – at the time, the concert drew the largest crowd ever at RayJay.
That makes for a lot of delays. Reports from earlier stops on this Joshua Tree Anniversary Tour were nightmares of hour-long waits to get in.
RIGHT NOW | Fans are already lining up for @U2 concert at @RJStadium. What you need to know before the show >> https://t.co/ls4AfNRRVW pic.twitter.com/G8wRzyeOIn
— ABC Action News (@abcactionnews) June 14, 2017
Diehard fans following the Irish lads across the U.S. say those kinks have since been worked out, but that doesn’t mean security won’t be tight. And new ticketing technology aimed at curbing scalpers slows the process a bit, too.
So plan on getting to the stadium early, especially if you have a paperless ticket and need to swipe your credit card to get inside. Plan on arriving at least two hours before U2 comes on around 9:00 p.m. Stadium gates officially open at 5:00 p.m.
Save yourself additional stress by following this quick list of dos & don’ts:
-
Start with this link, which has all the basic rules, including when parking lot times open (earliest is 8:00 a.m. for those people lining up for General Admission floor seating): raymondjamesstadium.com/u2-the-joshua-tree-tour/
-
Stadium parking is $30, but neighborhoods off Himes and other nearby streets will provide spaces for a lot less.
-
If you have a paperless ticket, you have to enter with your ENTIRE party and scan the credit card used for the purchase. If you don’t follow this one, you’re not getting in.
-
Dale Mabry Highway is going to be a traffic nightmare, so your better bet might be Himes Avenue. That said, if you’re NOT going to the concert, traffic everywhere in the vicinity is going be thick, including I-275. You’ve been warned.
-
Normal stadium rules apply to what you can bring through security. Thank means no umbrellas, but ponchos are allowed. Clear transparent bags and small clutches only. Read the allowed list in the above link.
-
Uber and Lyft drivers will be picking up people attending the concert across the street at Steinbrenner Field.
- The show ends around 11:00 p.m. Do not plan on getting home fast due to traffic around the stadium.
