U2 Concert Costs Transit Agency $61K

The Bay Area agency had to extend service into the night hours when the show ran overtime.

1 minute read

May 26, 2017, 2:00 PM PDT

By Elana Eden


Berlin Subway

elbud / Shutterstock

Fifty thousand people bought tickets to see U2 play Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara May 17, filling the arena to capacity. But the city is less than thrilled: The show ended at 11, an hour past Santa Clara's 10 p.m. curfew.

"That forced the Valley Transportation Authority — which provides light-rail service to the stadium — to add 11 extra after-hours trains to accommodate the 6,500 concertgoers who would have otherwise been stranded at the stadium," costing the agency about $61,000, explains the San Francisco Chronicle.

It's actually not unusual for the VTA to spend this much on an event at Levi's Stadium. But this time, the 49ers didn't respond to a request to help cover costs.

"Public transportation is not intended to make money, but we are facing a $21 million deficit," a spokesperson told the paper.

City officials have said the 49ers will be fined for the curfew violation. The penalty is $1,000.

Sunday, May 21, 2017 in San Francisco Chronicle

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