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Fans' six hour misery after Madonna late show
Lawrence Conway06.07.09
Thousands of Madonna fans faced delays of up to six hours getting home from her Saturday night concert at the O2 Arena after she turned up late and Jubilee line services were suspended for engineering works.
She arrived on stage more than an hour late - and demanded the air-conditioning be switched off, despite sweltering conditions.
Some ferry services ran later than normal and taxi companies were alerted by the venue, but many people reached central London to find all Tube services had closed for the night.
Fans, including Daniel from London, were quick to voice their anger online. He wrote: "I thought the concert was amazing but actually she should apologise for starting late. I almost had a heart attack trying to get the last Tube. I love Madonna but it doesn't seem the feeling is mutual for her fans."
Andrew, also from London, wrote: "The O2 is supposed to be the premier concert venue so better air-conditioning, food and transport would have been appreciated.
"It was a nightmare journey to get to the show due to the Tube line being down. But if the audience can make the effort so should she. I never thought I would hear a crowd booing at a Madonna concert."
A carnival atmosphere had been expected, with London's ex-pat American community out in numbers to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday.Fans faced more travel disruption on Sunday night because of the continued suspension of the Jubilee line. However, the show started and finished on time.
A spokeswoman for arena owners AEG Worldwide said that a transport plan had been put in place to tackle the expected problems. She said of the Saturday gig: "Madonna unfortunately came on stage much later than we expected. Madonna requested that the arena be a certain temperature the air conditioning was turned on an hour before Madonna came on stage.
"We have become accustomed to the Jubilee line closures so have a robust alternative transport strategy in place. We do work closely with TfL to try to do everything we can to make the journey home as smooth as possible."
Last month fans were left queuing for hours after a concert by Beyoncé because of another planned suspension of the Jubilee line.
Reader views (33)
I used to be a fan but stopped buying her music after 'Ray of Light' -the last decent album. Her music and attitude have just become so cynical, the lame raps and childish lyrics just exemplify her attempt to stay current. The last tour I went to was 'Drowned World' and we were so far away we would have been more entertained by just getting the DVD. As others have said, she's all about the money.
- Rebecca, London
If you read the O2 spokesperson comment it is clear that the excuse they are giving is that the arena was too hot and Madge demanded the air-con be switched on. It was pretty hot, but not unbearable. Also, the booing was after we'd all waited about an hour - as soon as the lights went out, everyone went wild and all was seemingly forgiven. The show itself (as is reported elsewhere) was amazing.
We had no trouble getting home - there was a massive line of Jubilee replacement buses waiting which only stopped at Canning Town, West Ham and Stratford, so got us there in about 15mins and the Central Line was still running (we got there at about 11:50). 2 weeks ago, I tried the free shuttle ferry which was a disaster. It took about 30 minutes to fill up, one minute to cross the river, another 10 minutes to park and then another 15 minutes to empty. Suffice to say that night we didn't make the tube. I do think. To be honest, I do reckon the O2 could have been more insistent and made sure she started on time, but then again, she is a massive diva, and that is part of why people love her...
- Art, London
BJ: No bus service from the O2 to Stratford? Did you look at the bus maps at all? There's a 24 hour direct bus route, the 108.
TfL can be blamed for a lot... but not for the inability of passengers to look at maps.
As in interesting point - I wonder if the blame here really lies on the O2. TfL notified them of these works months ago, and yet the O2 still held an event. Arguably any responsible venue would not hold major events when there is transport disruption planned.
- Mark Lee, Vauxhall
She was fantastic, and I had no problems getting home, I just hopped on the first bus that was going vaguely in the direction I needed, then got on the DLR at Canning Town (which was almost empty) then the Northern line, I was back in Clapham within about an hour. Don't know what the fuss is.
- D.W., London
We had exactly the same trouble on 20th June when the Jubilee Line was closed. Although the show started on time, we were left waiting at QEII Pier for nearly 2 hours for a ferry across to the DLR, despite assurances beforehand that adequate provision had been made Consequently, by the time we got to Bank the tubes had stopped running and we were stranded with our 10 year old son. We had to take 2 night buses and then a long walk in the end. We got home just before 3am. I've emailed the O2 twice with my concerns but no explanatio/apology has been received to date. A real shame, it was a great show and a great evening up until then but but we won't be going to the O2 again.
- Ruth, Hampton
Madonna just like tina Turner will keep on touring all the while there are people willing to pay the extortionate ticket prices,-they are business people after all,-the music is just a sideline.
- Jacob, Canterbury England
Madge was useless, she needs to be taken to old people home immediately and never allowed to rip people off. I left after 1 hours as I was soo bored, went into the west end and have some fun!!
- Martin Seymour, London
The downfall of the London Arena was poor transport. The O2 organisers do their best but TFL should be supporting this excellent venue. The Thames service is fine for getting back to the City but what about us East Enders? We want to get to Stratford and there is no relevant bus service.
- Bj, London
Leaving Wembley Stadium on Sunday was equally bad. We drove because of the Jubilee Line closure. It took well over an hour to get out of the car park and adjacent squalid industrial estate. Wednesday gig was, apparently, no better. This is a new venue, again with the most appalling access. Heaven help visitors in 2012.
- Dee, London
I think there are alot of jealous people commenting on this story. She's not a "granny" yet, her pension surely doesn't need "topping up", She's not elderly (people of 80+ are elderly), she's not a child snatcher - if she was she'd be in jail, she's not a pensioner yet (you need to be 65 to be a pensioner) and she's not particularly wrinkled. You people need to get a life and not be so jealous.
- Not Even A Madonna Fan, London
I hate to say it but by the sounds of it she was as arrogant as she was at Wembley last September. Worst concert I have EVER been to - and it wasn't the venue - although the size, and all the empty seats certainly didn't help - but the problem was her - she was utterly dreadful. She came on 50 mins late with no explanation, or dare I suggest any apology, didn't know the words to the new stuff at that time - and even made a joke about it - the screens were tiny and the rubbish that is some sort of folk singer playing a guitar dressed in a poncho happened as well. In the middle of it I was drinking a cup of tea - how very rock and roll. Complete and utter waste of money and I will never go and see her again (oh and it was the first time too).
- Jane, Staines
In my view, Madonna (a highly inappropriate name for this genre of performance art) is both overrated and overpaid. But who am I to argue with the type of people that obviously have more money than sense?
- Ted, London
Had a great time at the Sunday night concert. She actually came out on time, spoke with the audience and there was a genuine buzz in the air. Maybe she actually listened to the criticism?
Of course the fun night was let down by the disasterous transport arranged for leaving the venue. How can TFL actually think that a ferry service which allows 1 person at a time to board can actually replace a tube service. What a bunch of idiots! Needless to say it took an hour to board a ferry and hours more to get home even though she finished on time. So who is TFL going to blame for their incompetence this time?
- Simon, London
Why waste yout money on Madge, when Blur were absolutely fantastic last Thursday, in Hyde Park. Forget the transport problems and realise you are listening to the wrong music!
- Rod, Epping, UK
Saw her last night - great show. Travelled by boat and was all very smooth - we commented on how well it was organised. Obviously things didn't go so smoothly on Saturday...
- William Norris, London, UK
Anyone who would pay £120 to see this deluded, self important, child snatching pensioner in stockings pretend she is still a 20 yr old pop star deserves no sympathy
- Mr Opinion, London Village
You all should have come to Take That instead...... they were incredible! And I got home from Wembley to Streatham in no time at all. It was a perfect night, absolutely wonderful!
- Jc, London
I'm sure most of those who bought tickets to see Madonna must have mothers or grandmothers her age. Why not ask them to dress up in hotpants or a leotard, stick on a Madonna CD and ask them to mime to it.
Probably better value than seeing her. She's never been a good singer anyway.
- Marian, London
Anyone who paid that much to watch an elderly lady with a fairly wrinkled body dance around scantily clad must be mad. You can see more attactive women at the pensioner's annual seaside outing in Margate.
- Peter Johns, Nice, France
you are all mad - she is not worth it
she is passed it a long time a go !!!!
- London Eye, London
She did this to us last year at Wembley so its a habit.
I complained to the organisers that she started late and we had to leave early to get tube and train connections, plus the sound was poor, she mimed (badly), was on stage for very little time and we had to watch videos for 50% of the time.
I got a full refund, so please do the same! I will not ever put money in her pocket again. Her CDs, DVDs and concerts are permanently off my list.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants
I paid to see her in London about 5 years ago. Ticket said show started at 7.30 and she came on at 9.30! There was no pre-show act and the crowd started getting really bored. Programs (with no words) were £25 and she repeatedly felt the need to swear through her show. I am not a prude by any means but it just wasn't necessary. She is the sort of act that you 'have to see once' but I wouldn't bother again as its obviously all gone to her head.
- Kirsty, Poole, Dorset
Paid £120 for tickets, never again. WORST CONCERT ever. Madonna have gone past her sell by date. She took too long for costumes change and some fat pot bellied gypsy came on stage belting some non descript tune. I DID NOT PAY TO SEE SOME FAT MIDDLE AGE GYPSY. The screens weren't big nor are they adequate as we had to crane our necks to watch. Regarding the air con switched off, I suspect its a money saving ploy plus only 2 tiny screens on stage. The best bit was the MJ lookalike tribute not performed by her... OVerall it seemed she was just going through the motion type of concert and we left feeling ripped off, bored and it felt as it we were topping up her pocket money er pension ??
- Cc, london
I went to a concert at Glasgow's main stadium on Saturday. When the concert finished and everyone poured out, I was amazed and impressed to find that there were about 20 buses from the local bus routes waiting to pick conert goers up. The buses stopped at all of the stops on their normal routes but obviously the stadium had co-ordinated with the bus company to ensure there was a quick relief for the concert goers. I remember thinking, "Why can't the venues in London do this, too?".
- Ross, London, UK
And this is the city that expects to run a major sporting event in 2012?
If the creaking transport infrastructure can't cope with a pop concert, the Olympics don't stand a chance.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
GO TO THE O2 ON A WEEKEND ?
YOU MUST BE CRAZY. London Transport huh!!!!
- Mr S.Port, London
The concert on sat was ok but definitely not worth the extortionate ticket price. Madonna was ridiculously late on stage and made no attempt to connect with her fans. When it finished, she just walked off stage without saying anything let alone an encore. Then with no jubilee line, I waited an hour for a boat but still paid £50 for a cab home. I don't about sticky and sweet - I am left feeling rather bitter! Has anyone successfully complained yet - any apology, refund or goodwill gestures made by the organisers?
- Victoria, London
More fool the Madonna fans - she's only after your cash - I wouldn't pay such prices to see a a granny in a "Summertime Seaside Special".
- Mr Pastry, Brisbane
Living approx 5 miles from the O2. Even when the Jubilee Line is running a normal service it is still a nightmare travelwise. The last concert I attended at the 02
the Jubilee Line was shut down. The Thames Clipper didn't turn up at Greenwich to take us to the O2 so we had to bus it. On return there was a 1hr wait minimum for the Thames Clipper and the buses were impossible to get on. We haven't been back to the O2 since. And there is never enough buses. Great venue just a shame the public transport links are so bad!
- A.Lucas, London
The concert on sat was ok but definitely not worth the extortionate ticket price. Madonna was ridiculously late on stage and made no attempt to connect with her fans. When it finished, she just walked off stage without saying anything let alone an encore. Then with no jubilee line, I waited an hour for a boat but still paid £50 for a cab home. I don't about sticky and sweet - I am left feeling rather bitter! Has anyone successfully complained yet - any apology, refund or goodwill gestures made by the organisers?
- Victoria, London
This is not the first example of appalling planning by TFL in respects to service suspensions across the London transport network at the same time as significant events taking place within the capital.
Yes we understand that work needs to be done, but the use of the "oh well sir, it was scheduled so there's nothing we can do" is simply unacceptable from an organisation that creams millions from London taxpayers each year to ORGANISE public transport within the capital.
- John, Twickenham
More fool them for paying to see this ageing prima donna who buys children.
- Neil, London, London UK
Why are there constant engineering works on this Jubliee Line extension which is only 10 years old? Same goes with the DLR which is not exactly the "oldest metro system in the world" is it?
I know they need to install new signalling systems in there but other metro networks across the world don't seem to need to shut down during weekends to do the same thing! Case in point: the Hong Kong MTR (same age as the DLR) managed to do all the maintenance / extensions / build new tracks and extensions on exisitng lines without a single day of closure.
I am really beginning to think that these weekend works are just excuses to be lazy!
- Ed, London
