NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather & SportsU2 Set To Take Stage In Nashville

U2 Set To Take Stage In Nashville

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By Adam Ghassemi

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It's hard to imagine how anyone could even dream it up. Or figure out a way to not only build it, but tour it across the globe.

From outside the stadium, a disco ball peaks out over Vanderbilt Stadium, but walking inside you can see U2's "Claw" has a gigantic grip on Dudley Field.

"It's a massive undertaking," said Vanderbilt Vice Chancellor Brock Williams who helped bring the band to Vandy.

Now, after a year of work, it's hard to take it all in.

"I don't think I'll ever see anything else again my lifetime like this. I just don't think anybody will see something like this again," he said.

"The Claw" will give nearly 50,000 fans an unobstructed view Saturday night. But long before Bono arrives, almost like ants that never stop, countless workers are unloading 100 semis full of equipment.

"All the people and nobody is running into each other. They all have some type of a job to do," said Donna Tidwell watching from a nearby parking garage.

The equipment brings unimaginable weight that's ruining the football field.

"We have tractor trailers standing by to come in from Florida and we'll re-sod this whole field probably July 5th or 6th once they get out of here and all that grass will be ready to go," Williams said

Special flooring may be just as big of an engineering marvel as "The Claw" itself. It distributes the estimated 100 tons of weight evenly to ensure the field can support the concert.

It's all so fans get to see U2 for their first Music City stop in nearly 30 years from almost any angle imaginable.

There are three sets of "claws" moving around the world so U2 can make all of their tour dates. Each one includes 360-degree cameras that zoom in and "tag" yourself in the stands before sharing it on Facebook or Twitter.
See more here: http://www.u2.com/gigapixelfancam/

Streets around the stadium are closed. Vanderbilt Police will turn fans away until early Saturday morning.

The stadium opens at 5 p.m. Saturday, but the show doesn't start until 7 p.m.

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