U2 confirms anticipated Istanbul date as part of European capital of culturel

The wildest dreams of U2 fans in Turkey will finally come true next year. İstanbul is included on the Europe 2010 leg of U2's 360° Tour as part of Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture, according to an announcement posted yesterday on the band's official Web site. The Irish rockers are scheduled to take to the stage on the evening of Sept. 6, 2010, at Atatürk Olympic Stadium for their first-ever İstanbul appearance, with ticket prices expected to be announced at a later date. "Following the success of the 2009 tour, U2 have confirmed that their acclaimed 360° Tour will continue in 2010. European fans who missed out in 2009 will have a new opportunity to experience the U2 360° Tour extravaganza with stops confirmed in Germany, Denmark, Finland, Russia, Austria, Greece, Turkey, France, Brussels, Spain and Portugal," the statement said. The announcement comes one day after Turkish State Minister Egemen Bagis, during an award ceremony in New York, promised U2 frontman Bono that he would work to get the band to perform on the Bosporus Bridge if they added Turkey to their itinerary. Surprised by Bagis' pledge, Bono asked whether this was really possible, upon which Bagis said, “You will see this is truly possible when you come to Turkey next year," according to reports in Turkish media yesterday. U2, whose history stretches back 30 years, released "No Line on the Horizon," their 12th studio album and first release since 2004's "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," in March.