Ed Sheeran kicks off the first of his three dates in Phoenix Park tonight and given the size of the crowds that will be making their way there, the more information you are armed with the better.
Here's some helpful advice and tips from Aiken Promotions to assure you have a great night:
When it kicks off:
- The venue will open at 5pm on the show days.
- Early queuing will not be permitted in the streets around the venue. This is a residential area and we ask ticket holders to please respect the privacy of the residents and respect the local community.
What you can bring:
- PLEASE do not bring a bag unless it is totally necessary.
- People without bags will be Fast-tracked. If you must bring a bag it needs to be less than A4 size. Bags under A4 size will be subject to a search which will result in queueing. NO bags larger than A4 size will be allowed into the venues nor will you be allowed to leave them unattended anywhere in the venue so please adhere to the above restrictions.
- Umbrellas are also not permitted in the venue.
Tickets:
- There are some tickets remaining on Ticketmaster and Aiken strongly discourage patrons from purchasing tickets from any sites other than www.ticketmaster.ie which is the authorised seller of tickets for this event. Anyone presenting a bogus ticket will be refused entry to the show.
- For tickets purchased online: To gain access to the concert you are required to bring your tickets along with the purchasing credit card or a photo/photocopy of the credit card and a valid form of ID to reflect family name.
- For tickets purchased in outlets: Whether you have paid by cash or credit card your name will be printed on your tickets and you will be required to bring valid ID matching the name printed on the ticket, or a photocopy, to gain access to the show.
- *Update: Following complaints from some concert goers after Wednesday night's show, Aiken released the below statement:
Re some comments from audience members who mistakenly thought they had seated tickets when they were in fact standing tickets, we want to clarify that tickets with Gen Admission (GA) on them are tickets for the designated standing area. If you have a seated ticket it will clearly state on it a Block / Row and seat number
Please check your tickets carefully.
Last night a number of people arrived late. Please leave plenty of time to get to the venue.
Please check online for details on where concessions and toilets are located and your best routes from the area you are in to those facilities.
There are bars and concessions left and right of the stage
Red Route is for seated tickets - Seating blocks A&B must enter by the North Rd entrance (Cabra and Ashtown side), Seating Blocks C,D,E must enter at Chesterfield Avenue
If you have standing tickets - Yellow Route or Blue route you can enter by either side - please follow signage and directions of stewards.
Last night movement of people through the large gap between two banks of seats (that is the connection between the concessions area/entrances and the viewing area/pitch) worked well all night until Ed took to the stage when approximately 5,000 people were still to come in. When Ed went on stage those people who were in the
concessions /toilet area and those still entering came in through the gap but did not move on to take a place in the designated standing area, they just stopped inside the gap to watch the show. This gap was not meant to be a viewing area, it was designed to facilitate movement between areas.
This meant the people behind those who had stopped were unable to get into the viewing area and likewise some people were unable to get back out to the toilets for a time. There was at all times plenty of space left and right but it took time and many stewards and Gardai to move them on in. Once this had been done normal movement between the areas resumed.
Following a meeting this morning the team are putting additional measures in place to prevent it happening again.
There have been no reports of any (even minor) injuries as a result of this.
Attending with children:
- Under 18’s MUST be accompanied at all times by a parent or guardian attending the event who will remain with them and take full responsibility for them throughout the duration of the event.
- There will be FREE-TAG-A-KID safety wristbands which will be available at all the customer care points both outside and inside the venue. Parents/Guardians attending with young children are encouraged to avail of these white wristbands which have a space for Parent/Guardian to write a contact number and seat number if applicable. The purpose of these wristbands is to help reuniting lost children with parent/guardian should your child become separated from you within the venue.
Getting there:
By bus:
- The venue is well served by public transport. Bus and Rail transport options can all bring you within walking distance of the venue. Plan your journey online from anywhere in Ireland to the venue via www.transportforireland.ie
- Save yourself the walk to the park with SHEERAN SHUTTLE operating Wednesday 16th May / Friday 18th May / Saturday 19th May.
- The buses will depart from: Custom House Quay, Dublin 2 from 15:00 to 19:00 each concert day.
- People who booked online are guaranteed to depart at the time booked. Tickets can be bought at the bus stop on Custom House Quay each concert day. Return buses from Phoenix Park will depart from 22:30 until Midnight each evening and will leave on first come first serve basis. Due to the nature of the travel please expect waiting time.
- Discount fares are still available for Friday and Saturday's concerts if you book before 5pm on Thursday, 17th May 2018.
- The full fare (online or walk up on the day) of €15 will be charged after 5pm on day before each concert. (Online booking system closes each day at 10:00am.) Please note: There is a €0.50 admin included in the fee per person.
For further information & online bookings, visit https://bit.ly/2IiGWId.
By car:
- As traffic and parking delays are inevitable you are strongly advised to use public transport or car pool.
- As the venue is situated in residential and business areas, road closures will be put in place for each concert. An Garda Síochána will have a traffic management plan in operation for city. Please visit the following website for further details: www.garda.ie.
- We strongly advise you plan your journey in advance allowing yourself sufficient travel time to and from the venue.
- Plan your route in advance on www.transportforireland.ie and check the AA Roadwatch website for reports on traffic, road works, delays on your route.
- Please use city perimeter car parks.
- Car parks are located in the following areas:
• Parkrite Smithfield – until 1am
• Q Park Four Courts – until 1am
• Red Cow Park & Ride – 24hrs
• Cheeverstown Park & Ride – 24hrs
• Carrickmines Park & Ride – 24hrs
• Heuston Train Station – 24hrs
Support Acts:
- While all times are subject to change, here is roughly when you can expect to see the support acts on stage, as well as when the man of the moment will be showing up.
5:45pm: Beoga
6:30pm: Jamie Lawson
7:30pm: Anne Marie
8:45pm: Ed Sheeran
Food and Drink:
There will be plenty of great food and drink stands in the venue.
Weather:
It's Ireland - prepare accordingly and check the forecast before you leave. Be aware however, umbrellas will not be permitted in the venue.
Also to note:
- Aiken Promotions have created an Ed Sheeran Irish Tour App which is available now on android and Apple. It can be downloaded in the Google Play Store or Apple Store.
- Please remember to keep your tickets safe and to check your tickets in advance to ensure you are attending the correct venue on the correct date. Be morto to show up on the wrong day after all.
- Please keep an eye on the following websites for all the latest event updates:
www.facebook.com/aikenpromotions
www.twitter.com/aikenpromotions
