Furious Take That fans stuck in huge queues outside the Stadium of Light on Tuesday night were so frustrated that some gave up and went home. Thousands of fans descended on Sunderland for the concert, but many missed the support acts due to lengthy entry waits.
While tens of thousands enjoyed what was described as Take That's 'best show yet' despite the rain, others had their experience marred by the delays. The problems appeared concentrated at one specific entry point.
Fans who had bought tickets for the band's return date on The Circus Live tour, supported by Belinda Carlisle and The Script, voiced their anger. One fan said: 'Green queue was a b***** joke! We got in as The Script were finishing!' They added: 'Queue from the stadium down to St Peter’s metro station and back up.' Another commented: 'Arrived at 6pm. Spent two hours in the green queue. Missed both supporting acts.'
A fan who thought Take That were 'amazing' had also missed both support acts, saying: 'Queued for 90mins to get in the green entrance. Ruined our night to be honest.' Another described hearing only two Script songs after a 'horrendous' one-hour-30-minute queue in the rain.
Some disappointed attendees apparently went home. One ticket-holder shared a photo showing the green queue heading from the stadium to St Peter's Metro station and back, adding: 'We left as Belinda was playing, a waste of three tickets as might have got in to see the end of Take That.'
One comment on Sunderland Live said: 'What a disgrace! £130 a ticket and can’t even get in!' Another responded: '£262 per ticket for us… and we missed half the show!' Others wrote: 'An absolute joke trying to get in!' and 'We joined the green queue in plenty time to see The Script. Sadly we only caught the last song. Queue was awful. Never known anything like it.'
Another called the green queue 'ridiculous' after 6pm, saying it took over an hour to get in, missing all support acts, and then there were problems with a lack of wristbands for standing areas. The comment concluded: 'Total shambles but Take That were amazing.'
One person noted: 'It seemed to be the green that was an issue,' adding that two queues there fed into one for standing and seating, and that it 'was a b***** joke'.
A fan who arrived at 6pm wrote: 'We were in the green queue, it was horrendous; didn’t see Belinda Carlisle and only saw four songs from The Script.' Criticising the organisation, they added: 'Take That were amazing, a truly spectacular show.'
Another in the green queue said: 'Never had a concert experience like it! Missed Belinda Carlisle and caught the final Script song.' In response to comments about rain, one fan retorted: 'Wasn’t a case of moaning about the rain, it was being made to stand in it for an hour and half before getting in!'
However, not everyone shared the experience. Some found entry straightforward, with comments like: 'Got straight through turnstiles at 6pm no queues. Every act was fantastic but Take That were amazing!' Others went 'straight in' from the green queue and praised staff. Several other colour-coded entry points received positive feedback, though one noted: 'Red queue took over 50 minutes. Crazy.'
The Stadium of Light has been contacted for comment.
