wiseblood wrote on Nov 11
th, 2009 at 5:57pm:
super. another stadium tour.
Logistically, if they play South America, there's really little alternative.
Economy too weak to play arena shows to fans paying US-sized ticket prices, highs costs involved in transporting equipment there and there isnt enough money in it for them to justify staying more than a few days and playing multiple shows.
Its telling that for all the talk of South America being a favourite audience, they bypassed the region entirely on the Licks tour and then on the ABB played a total of just 3 shows - 2 in Buenos Aires (which were so oversubscribed they could have played about 5, and which led to riots with fans being mugged outside the stadium for their tickets) and a one-off show in Rio which, while it was a 'free' gig was bankrolled by the local government and filmed for cinema and DVD release enabling the venture to turn into a profitable one.
There was more money to be made playing arena shows in US cities they'd already visited, so they went back there immediately afterwards.
The Stones will always put profit margins WAY before things like artistic concerns or rewarding fanbases - even when they play a theatre show (eg The Beacon) and keep the prices down, the motive was still financial as the shows were being filmed for a movie - and a tour opening in Argentina in a football stadium will unfortunately barely cause a ripple in the entertainment industry worldwide, and especially in North America. With a tour likely to have high ticket prices as usual AND take place in the middle of a worldwide recession, they're going to need all the publicity and media attention they can get.
Additionally, the Stones should know by now that touring during the World Cup is disastrous for ticket sales. Theyve had problems in 1990, 98 and 2006 selling tickets in countries which were competing in or hosting the World Cup. Whilst the World Cup is in South Africa in June-July, they do NOT want to be competing with it in any way, especially in countries like Argentina and Brazil.