Hotels booking up fast for rumoured U2 concert

The rush is on to book hotel rooms in the Moncton area for July 30.

That's the date the Irish rock band U2 is expected to perform at Magnetic Hill.

A standard room—if you can find one—is going for more than $200.

Some hotels in the Moncton area have said rooms for the July 30 weekend have been sold out for weeks.

Others have a few rooms left but are charging as much as $379 a night.

Most have a two-night minimum, and some require guests pay in full when they book.

Janalyn Smith, manager of the Super 8 in Amherst, about a 45 minute drive from Moncton, said they still have a few rooms left for July 30th at $150 a night, but there is no minimum stay.

"I know that we did put our rates up of course 'cause we are so close and there's a three-day motorcross tournament as well, so between both of them we'll be sold out," said Smith.

Réal Robichaud, the executive director of the Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick said there's nothing wrong with hotels charging more at peak times.

"When you have major concerts like that sometime you pay a little bit more for your room," said Robichaud. "But then again there's only so many rooms available so you know people have to be in front of the line I guess."

Past concerts at Magnetic Hill, including the Rolling Stones and AC/DC, have drawn estimated crowds of more than 70,000 people.

The City of Moncton and its partners have scheduled the official concert announcement for Monday at noon.