Hundreds of die-hard Bruce Springsteen fans started queueing even before The Boss has arrived in Ireland.
Aiken Promotions had to send people away on Monday after they formed a line five days before the first of his three shows on Friday. He will return to the RDS in Dublin on Sunday and Tuesday.
Promoter Peter Aiken said: “I think this will probably be his youngest audience. A lot of kids are coming. We see now people outside wanting to queue. They’re coming earlier and earlier.
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“When we did Garth Brooks, we thought we’d get a lot of people because we were operating a pit then but it is nothing on the scale of Bruce.
“We had hundreds of people here yesterday. We had to send them away.
“Official queuing will start in a couple of days or so but they want to be in the pit.
“Those couple of thousand people at the front of the stage… they create the atmosphere. They’re Springsteen fans and they sit and reminisce about the great shows.
“They all know each other. A lot are going for three nights. They were from everywhere.
“We’ll start it probably on Thursday afternoon. We don’t want them out there all night.
“You have to look after them as well as we have the residents to think about. The minute they take a photograph of 500 people standing there, there will be 5,000 people in no time.”
Springsteen is set to perform with his E Street Band and an 18-piece group and Peter said not much will be changed to his three-hour set.
He added: “It’s OK when it’s the E Street but when you’ve got a whole brass section, an extra drummer… they wouldn’t be up to speed.”
After a surprise appearance from Michelle Obama at Springsteen’s gig in Barcelona last weekend, fans are wondering if there will be an unexpected guest at the Dublin shows.
But Shane Mates, head of operations at Aiken Promotions, said: “I’m not aware of any special guests who may be appearing on stage with Bruce. That’s not to say there won’t be any.”
Springsteen has not yet arrived in Ireland but Shane said he would be here “well in advance” of Friday night.
He added: “This place certainly holds a special part in his heart. It’s a second home.
“It’s a long time coming. I’m sure everyone coming is in for a real treat and while I am not from these shores, I had the privilege of working on multiple Springsteen tours in Melbourne. I know first-hand that everyone coming is in for an absolutely fantastic time.”
Fans have been told the RDS gates open at 5pm each day with the shows beginning at 7pm. Early queuing will not be permitted in the streets surrounding the venue as they are residential areas. Bags are also not permitted at the venue unless they are less than A4 size.
With no parking available in the immediate vicinity of the RDS Arena, Supt Garda Tim Burke has advised patrons to “travel early” and use public transport. The stadium is served by bus, rail and DART services.
Meanwhile, Springsteen’s three concerts could be a wash out and punters are told to dress for the bad weather.
A Met Eireann spokesman said: “Friday will bring a dull and damp start to the day with outbreaks of rain.
“The rain will clear northeastwards around lunchtime, followed by sunny spells and slow-moving
scattered showers from the southwest.
“Some showers will be heavy at times and there is the chance of isolated thunderstorms.
“Expect highest temperatures of 15C to 18C possibly reaching 19C, in mostly light southwesterly breezes.”
Looking ahead to the second show on Sunday, the Met Eireann spokesman added: “A mix of
cloud and sunny spells to start the day along with well-scattered showers.
“Heavy outbreaks of showery rain will build from the west later in the day.
“Highest temperatures of 15C to 18C generally in light to moderate south to southwest winds.”
The final forecast for Tuesday has yet to be published, however, the forecaster said: “Current indications suggest that it will be unsettled early next week with spells of rain and showers.
“Mild again for Monday before turning cooler with temperatures reaching the low to mid-teens for most.”
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