News

Paul McCartney To Be First Event At Consol Energy Center

PITTSBURGH,None — Beatles legend Paul McCartney will be the first act to perform at the new Consol Energy Center Aug. 18 and 19.

Fans Prepare For Paul McCartney Show At Consol Energy Center

Tickets for the first show ever at the new arena sold out so quickly that a second Pittsburgh show was added to the tour. That date also sold out.

Fans waiting to get inside of the concert said they could not think of a better person to kick-off concerts at the new arena.

"It's great. I don't know what better act you could have to open it. I am sure there are others, but in my mind it's appropriate," said fan David Caldwell.

Crews spent Tuesday preparing for McCartney's Up and Coming tour, which will be Sir Paul's first in Pittsburgh in more than 20 years.

McCartney's publicist, Steve Martin, said the rock legend specifically chose to play shows at the new arena.

"Most of dates over the last two years that I've worked with him have either been cities he's never been to before that he's wanted to get to, or places that did have a sense of historical significance for him, which Pittsburgh does," Martin said. "People should expect the best show they've ever seen."

Concert goers can park in the same lots that were used for Mellon Arena. There's also a 500-space garage attached to the new arena, which costs $20 to park.

McCartney performed back-to-back, sold-out concerts in the Pittsburgh Civic Arena in February, 1990.

Sir Paul made his Pittsburgh debut with The Beatles on Sept. 14, 1964.

Local music manager and promoter Ron Brown told Channel 11 he was at that show.

Video: McCartney Fans Remember Musician's First Show In Pittsburgh

"Went to The Beatles' concert. My reason to go was I wanted to hear them, but you couldn't hear a thing. All you heard was girls screaming," Brown said.

Being in the industry, Brown said the new arena and securing McCartney will mean other big shows for Pittsburgh.

"It gives the town validity in the concert market business. It makes people realize the Consol Energy Center is going to be a viable concert venue," Brown said.

Leading up to the official announcement, Consol Energy Center conducted a "Can You Guess Who?" contest, asking fans to try and guess who the act would be for the Grand Opening Concert.

More than 22,000 fans submitted their guesses as to which artist would be the first to perform at the new facility. Answers ranged from U2 and Bon Jovi to Donnie Iris and The Clarks.

Approximately 7,000 participants correctly guessed Paul McCartney as the opening artist. One lucky winner, Josh Daum of Butler, Pa., was chosen as the grand prize winner. Josh won two tickets to the event.

E-Mail Newsletter: Get The Latest News Sent To Your E-Mail! Mobile: Get WPXI Headlines On Your Phone, iPhone, More RSS: Add Us To Your Page!