GNR Speech Saved 1 Million

Whatever Irish promoter Denis Desmond said to convince Axl Rose and his band to return to the Dublin O2 stage last September may have saved his company close to euro 1 million.

At the very least, it saved his MCD Productions from a legal argument with the U.S. rockers, who left the stage after 20 minutes because fans were canning them for turning up more than an hour late.

“Here’s the deal: One more bottle and we go home,” a fuming Axl Rose warned the audience, which had paid a total of euro 878,889 to see the show.

Minutes later, the act left the stage and Desmond and his staff took an hour to calm the crowd and persuade the act to return.

The figures were made public as the Live Nation-owned company that owns the world’s second-busiest arena reported making £5.7 million from a £16.5 million turnover in 2010.

Apollo Leisure, which was originally purchased by SFX Entertainment, operates music venues throughout the UK.
Amphitheatre Ireland, which operates the O2, doesn’t make separate filings to Companies House as its results are consolidated into Apollo’s figures.

The most recent accounts for Amphitheatre Ireland, which owns the venue in partnership with Dublin businessman Harry Crosbie, showed an after-tax profit of euro 7.15 million in 2009, its first full year of operation.

Pollstar figures show The O2 grossed euro 40.8 million in box office receipts in 2010 and that 665,000 music fans paid to attend 103 gigs.

Top earner was Lady Gaga’s three shows in October that saw 37,676 fans pay euro 2.89 million to see the international superstar.

Other top attractions to perform at The O2 last year include Sting, Rod Stewart, Rihanna, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, and the Queen musical “We Will Rock You.”