ST. LOUIS • U2 was nowhere to be found at Busch Stadium on Saturday morning, but the stadium was bustling in preparation for Sunday night, when the biggest show to ever hit St. Louis takes place.
Outside of Busch, dozens of trailers were spotted around the venue, making it all too evident that something major was afoot. Inside, workers, largely local, busily lifted, hammered and assembled various bits and pieces of U2's massive 360° Tour.
It's the best-selling tour of all time, expected to gross more than $700 million before the tour wraps later this month.
More than 50,000 fans are expected Sunday.
Gates open at 5 p.m., with Interpol performing at 7 p.m.
U2 is expected to begin performing sometime between 8:15 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.
Clearly, the tour is a well-oiled machine this late in its run, which began in 2009. Bridges, ramps and video screens went up Saturday, along with other visual and audio elements.
"The Claw," the tall, four-legged structure serving as the set's main component, was fully erect, all 90 feet of it with its center spear topped by a disco ball reaching 150 feet.
By day's end Saturday, about 95 percent of the set was expected to be completed, leaving mostly band arrival and sound check for Sunday, if U2 even decides to do a sound check.
Everything was deemed ahead of schedule by tour production director Jake Berry, who promises a great night.
It'll be a hot night in more ways than one.
An excessive heat warning is in effect through Friday, with the high temperatures expected near 100 degrees Sunday. Though other events have either moved indoors or been canceled the last few days, U2 is expected to go on.
Berry said sun is better than rain, though in this case not by much.
Joe Abernathy, vice president of stadium operations for Busch Stadium, said: "It is St. Louis, and it will be hot."
Abernathy says the stadium will take several measures to keep fans as comfortable as possible. There will be three cooling stations at Clark Avenue, with misting fans, a firetruck with a pumper spraying water and free drinking water. On the field, fans will find two cooling stations and free water.
There will also be extra paramedics and rooms inside the stadium with air conditioning.
Concertgoers are advised to watch their alcohol intake, dress appropriately and to wear hats and sunscreen.
Fans who'll enjoy the show on the field's general admission surface shouldn't wear flip-flops. "A couple of steps on this hot deck at 5 o'clock and you won't last long," Abernathy said.
Berry says U2 will feel the same weather as the fans.
Concertgoers can bring water and soda into Busch Stadium, but those beverages must be in open cups or clear plastic bottles.
They can also bring backpacks, purses, diaper bags, fanny packs and soft-sided coolers that don't exceed 16 inches by 16 inches by 8 inches. Small personal cameras are allowed. All bags must be able to fit under a seat.
Prohibited are alcohol, bottles, cans, thermoses, hard-sided coolers, hard plastic cups or mugs, umbrellas, laser pens or pointers, fireworks, professional cameras with detachable and/or large lenses; and video and audio recorders. Expect inspections.
General admission ticket holders won't be allowed to line up at Gate 5 until 7 a.m. Sunday, and must enter at Gate 5. No open fire, glass or alcohol is allowed in line; concessions will be available. No blankets are allowed on the field.
Though the show has been billed as sold out, limited premium seats at $250 and standing room only tickets at $55 are available. The SRO areas are the same SRO areas for baseball games.
Eastbound lanes of Highway 40 (Interstate 64) will be closed between Jefferson Avenue and the Poplar Street Bridge through Sunday at 5 p.m.
Eastbound and westbound lanes on Interstate 44 at Jamieson will be closed through 5 a.m. Monday.
MetroLink will extend hours of operation Sunday night, running until all downtown stations clear.
