Ask the Memphian: Why hasn’t Liberty Stadium had a concert in years?
Construction begins on Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on July 20, 2024. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)
On a warm spring evening in Memphis almost 28 years ago, the four Irish lads in U2 delighted 22,734 fans at what was then the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on their PopMart tour, playing Memphis for the second and — so far — last time.
But while the fans in attendance May 14, 1997, were likely thrilled to hear such beloved classics as “With or Without You,” “I Will Follow” and “Where the Streets Have No Name” as part of the 22-song setlist, the fact is of the 35,000 tickets available for the show, fully one-third — more than 12,000 — went unsold.
In fact, the Memphis concert was the second-lowest attended show on that first leg of the PopMart tour, edging out an appearance two days later at Clemson University that drew 20,251. Overall, the band averaged 37,812 people per concert on that 29-show leg, 15,000 more than came to the Liberty Bowl.
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Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium University of Memphis Memphis music Subscriber Only Ask the MemphianWe’re in the final countdown of 2025. ⌛🪩🎉
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Jody Callahan
Jody Callahan graduated with degrees in journalism and economics from what is now known as the University of Memphis. He has covered news in Memphis for more than 25 years.
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