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Final Preparations Underway For U2 Concert In Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- U2 will take the stage at M&T Bank Stadium Wednesday.

Jessica Kartalija reports you still have a chance to see the band perform live in Baltimore.

They've just released an additional 1,500 tickets at all price levels at Ticketmaster.

It's the highest-grossing concert tour in history and the U2 360 Tour has arrived in Baltimore.  The video screen extends and plays to a full 360 with lights, sounds and cameras.  Sky Eye Chopper 13 captured the stage, a 90-foot-tall steel structure with a 54-ton video screen.

"We carry 210 trucks of gear with three steel systems that leapfrog.  We've traveled to 30 countries," said tour director Craig Evans.

The most popular show in the world is understandably the most expensive tour ever.  As many as 80,000 people are expected to fill stadium seats.

"It's huge. It's bigger than a Ravens game.  I mean, you will have people from well outside the state coming to the area," said local economist Morris Segal.

Segal says in addition to the concert giving Baltimore great exposure, it has the potential to pour between $5 and $10 million into the city's economy.

"The ancillary spending that you are going to have at hotels, bars and restaurants, the Inner Harbor and people walking around, so it's a huge event for the city," said Segal.

Concert organizers say in addition to the 500-person crew, 1,500 people will be hired locally for the one-night show.

English musicians Florence and the Machine will be opening for U2 Wednesday night.

The U2 360 Tour has set a record as the highest-grossing tour of all time with final ticket sales at more than $700 million.

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