Superstar with ten concerts:Adele’s concert summer in Munich: Six facts
Adele’s concert summer is taking place in Munich: ten concerts at the same venue, 740,000 visitors, an arena built especially for the superstar. What fans need to know now.
She is one of the most successful singers in the world: Adele will be giving several concerts in Munich in August. In an exclusive interview, she talks about the time before she became famous.July 14, 2024 | 3:04 minAfter the European Championships, the concerts of superstar Taylor Swift and before Oktoberfest, Munich is experiencing another spectacle: Between August 2 and 31, the British singer Adele will perform on ten evenings in an arena specially built for her in the trade fair city. These are her first concerts on the European mainland since 2016 – and for the time being the only ones in Europe.
1. Why Munich?
Adele’s manager Jonathan Dickins says that no shows were actually planned for Europe. The idea of an arena being built just for her in Munich changed Adele’s mind. In an exclusive interview with ZDF, Adele speaks of a “unique, frankly strange idea”.
The organizers have identified Munich as the perfect location: its proximity to Austria, Switzerland and Italy is a plus. In addition, major events are routine for the Bavarian capital. Adele says she has no special connection to Germany, but that could change.
I’m sure I’m going to put down roots in Munich because I’m going to be there for an awful long time, so maybe this will become my annual vacation.
Adele, musician
2. Superlative shows – sustainable?
According to the organizers, the Adele shows are the “largest single concert event of all time.” The entire area in Munich is as big as 60 football fields. “The scale exceeds anything that has ever happened before,” says concert organizer Marek Lieberberg: “I have never experienced anything like this in more than 50 years of my career.”
I think it also makes ecological sense to stay in one place and not keep moving hundreds of trucks from one city to another.
Marek Lieberberg, concert organizer
The organizers are even trying to set a world record with a gigantic LED screen: it is supposed to be the longest screen ever used in a live show. However, it remains controversial how sustainable the concept is. 75,000 square meters of asphalt have been paved just for the shows – the asphalt will be removed again after the summer.
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3. How fans get to the shows
In addition to the subway, which runs at an increased frequency on concert days, shuttle buses will be set up between Max-Weber-Platz and the exhibition center in Riem.
In order to ease the journey by public transport, the organizers hope that fans will arrive at the exhibition center hours before the shows. An Adele experience world has been set up around the arena – with drinks, food and an Adele cover band.
4. Criticism of ticket prices
If you build a stadium of this size and bring an artist like Adele to Munich, we are talking about hundreds of millions of euros. Of course, this is reflected in the ticket price.
Klaus Leutgeb, co-organizer
Fans had to dig deep into their pockets for tickets: standing places directly in front of the stage cost 419.90 euros, while the best seats cost 399 euros. Although there were also tickets for just under 80 euros, many fans criticized the prices online.
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5. How Munich benefits
The city of Munich is not contributing to the costs. Since around 80 percent of Adele fans will be travelling from abroad, the city hall is expecting the concert series to be a goldmine. Economics advisor Clemens Baumgärtner is expecting revenue of 560 million euros – from restaurants, hotels, public transport and from renting the exhibition grounds.
6. Munich as a last chance
If you want to see Adele, Munich is your last chance.
My storage is pretty empty at the moment.
Adele, singer
In an interview with ZDF, Adele revealed that she’ll be calling it quits after the summer. “I want a big break after all this,” said the British singer. There won’t be a new album for the time being, and no new music is planned.