Bon Jovi World Tour

Bon Jovi announces a two-year world tour and plays a mini-concert outside the under-construction new Meadowlands Stadium in E. Rutherford, N.J.

Photo: AP Photo
During an invitation only performance outside the New Giants Stadium.

The band also made it official – its two concerts scheduled for the new home of the New York Giants and New York Jets football teams will open the stadium May 26-27.

Bon Jovi’s upcoming album – The Circle – arrives in stores Nov. 10.

The band performed for about 5,000 contest winners and fan club members as well as construction workers building the new Meadowlands Stadium. Bon Jovi was also joined by New York Jets Chairman and CEO Woody Johnson, New York Giants President and CEO John Mara and New Meadowlands Stadium Company President and CEO Mark Lamping.

Photo: AP Photo
Outside the New Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

WPLJ DJ Race Taylor emceed the event, which was streamed live on BonJovi.com and iClips.net.

Although the band won’t play the new stadium until May, “The Circle World Tour” actually starts Feb. 19 at Seattle’s KeyArena. The next date on the schedule is Feb. 22 in San Jose at the HP Pavilion.

Photo: AP Photo
Cheering their favorite band outside the New Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Feb. 24 is Glendale, Ariz., at the Jobing.com Arena; Feb. 26 is Anaheim at the Honda Center and March 2 is Sacramento at the ARCO Arena.

Other stops include Los Angeles, Denver, Las Vegas, Omaha, Fargo, Detroit, Montreal, Philadelphia, Nashville, plus just about every city you’d expect a tour of this magnitude to play.

Although the band only released North American dates today, the tour is expected to play well into 2011 and will include a residency at London’s O2 June 7-8, 10-11 and 13. All in all, the band will do at least 135 shows in 30 countries.

Photo: AP Photo
Richie Sambora & Jon Bon Jovi during Bon Jovi’s mini-concert outside the new Giants Stadium.

Tickets for the London O2 residency go on sale Oct. 30 at 9 a.m. Brit time. Tickets for the new Meadowlands Stadium gigs go on sale Oct. 31 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. Other tour dates go on sale beginning Nov. 9. For more information and another look at the webcast, please click here for the Bon Jovi website.