2023-08-10 23:30:00
Metallica will stop at the Olympic Stadium tomorrow and Sunday, on the occasion of their world tour M72. Eight years following hosting One Direction and AC/DC, Montreal’s iconic building is gearing up to host the popular American heavy metal band in hopes of reclaiming its spot on the list of facilities that can deliver high-profile shows.
Metallica all weekend
It is well known, the admirers of the artists behind the successes Nothing Else Matters, One et Enter Sandman always want more. Ticket holders will therefore be able to participate in the Pre-Tallica Party from 1 p.m. at the Esplanade of the Olympic Stadium (food, drinks, sale of merchandise and free musical performances by the groups Sword on August 11 and Anonymus on August 13 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ). On August 12, the Banque Scotia Cinema (in downtown Montreal) will present three Metallica films and tribute shows will be presented at the Fairmount and Beanfield theatres.
Photo Martin Alarie
Two shows, two separate evenings
It’s a weekend full of celebrations for fans of the metal band. The August 11 and 13 shows will be two different concerts presented on a central stage (moving Metallica’s famous Snake Pit to the very center of the stage) with different song lists. On Friday, the groups Pantera and Mammoth WVH will open the evening and, on Sunday, the groups Five Finger Death Punch and Ice Nine Kills will provide the first part. As for the layout of the Stadium, fans can get a glimpse of it in the most recent story Metallica’s Instagram; a short video filmed by one of the members presenting the Empty Stadium, 48 hours before the first concert in Montreal.
Instagram screenshot Metallica
Photo Martin Alarie
More tickets available
Tickets for both show nights are still available. Patient Metallica fans may be able to pay less for their tickets than those who bought them when they went on sale. On evenko’s official website, prices vary between $114.24 and $1190 for a pair of tickets on Friday evenings and between $79 and $295 for Sunday evenings. On resale sites, tickets sell for even less. A few hours before the shows, the resellers have to get rid of the tickets they have purchased too much.
Photo Martin Alarie
A bad reputation
Inaugurated in 1976, the Olympic Stadium has seen an impressive number of internationally renowned stars, particularly during its heyday stretching from the end of the 70s to the 90s. If the last large-scale concerts that were presented there date back to the end of 2015 with One Direction and AC/DC, it would be the fault of the bad reputation of the acoustics of the concrete Olympic enclosure and the famous removable roof.
Photo Martin Alarie
“The reputation of the Stadium was that it is very difficult to produce shows there and that people would not come because of the sound. The artists did not want to play there,” explained this week Nick Farkas, vice-president of programming, concerts and events at evenko, which deals with the arrival of Metallica at the Olympic Stadium.
This bad reputation would have put off both the spectators and the artists. Metallica’s double concert this weekend thus represents great hopes for evenko and the Olympic Park, who wish, if all goes well, to try once more to seduce big players in the entertainment industry.
Photo Martin Alarie
“It is important for us that it is a success. And even more important for the Stadium. If it is not a success, it will be very difficult to convince artists to come back to it”, explained Nick Farkas to the daily newspaper The duty earlier this week.
Plan your Metallica show well
120,000 people are expected at the Metallica shows on August 11 and 13 (60,000 each evening). Spectators are invited to arrive very early on the site, which will open at 1 p.m., because the roads and public transport will be congested (rue Viau will be closed). A special “Week-end Unlimited Metallica” pass will be offered by the STM (*get your round-trip tickets avant the day of the concert). Expect a mandatory search, no re-entry following entering the Pre-Tallica Party site, and no lockers and changing rooms. Bags larger than 4.5 inches X 6.5 inches (including handbags, backpacks and fanny packs) are prohibited. It is imperative to download your ticket on your phone avant to go there (no screenshots or prints). Stadium doors open: 4 p.m. Beginning of the concert: 6 p.m.
Metallica at the Olympic Stadium in a few figures
Photo Martin Alarie
24 big trucks (*one of them had a serious road accident while driving between New York and Montreal a few days ago, but evenko assures that this will not affect the shows of this end in any way weekdays) 40 production trucks 3 days to build the huge stage (the pre-assembly started last Sunday) 2 days to set up the entire production team 160 local technicians 100 tour technicians The only 2 dates at the Canada in 2023 2017: year of Metallica’s last performance in Montreal (Jean-Drapeau Park)
Iconic concerts at the Olympic Stadium
The group Pink Floyd offered three grandiose concerts there in 1977 (attracting 80,000 people), in 1988 and in 1994. Sting and The Police went there in 1983. On August 16, 1984, Diane Dufresne became the first Quebecer to perform (and to fill) the Olympic Stadium on the occasion of his tour Pink magic.
Photo d’archives
The group The Jackson performed there the same year, in 1984, and it is said that this show was a sound fiasco. Giants David Bowie and George Michael stopped by the Olympic Stadium in Montreal in 1987. The failed show of Metallica and Guns N’ Roses at the Stade du August 8, 1992 will long be remembered – and for no good reason. Metallica’s James Hetfield had been burned in the foot in a pyrotechnic accident, forcing the band to abort their show. Guns N’ Roses had delivered a few songs following several hours of waiting, before cutting the concert short because of technical problems and a problem with the voice of the singer, Axl Rose. A legendary riot ensued.
Photo d’archives
In 1993, Madonna presented her Girlie Show. The Queen of Pop had been exasperated by the many sound problems. The Rolling Stones attracted 82,000 fans on December 5 and 6, 1994. Irish rock band U2 performed there in 1987, 1992 and 1997. Genesis visited in September 2007 on their tour Turn It On Again.
The last major concerts at the Olympic Stadium date back to 2015 with One Direction on September 5 and AC/DC on August 31. The latter group had also played there in August 2009.
The 5 musical shows that attracted the most people to the Olympic Stadium
Pink FloydJuly 6, 1977, tour In the Flesh78,322 spectators
Photo d’archives
Emerson, Lake and Palmer, August 26, 1977, Works Tour73,898 spectators
The Rolling Stones, December 14, 1989, Steel Wheels64,664 spectators
U2October 1, 1987, Joshua Tree63,504 spectators
Pink Floyd, 22, 23 and 24 May 1994, Division Bell62,689 spectators (187,302 in total)
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