U2 concert causes scheduling woes

The announcement that the Irish band U2 will play Moncton this summer is actually bad news for some event organizers.

While most people are excited that U2 will play the Magnetic Hill concert site on July 30, some wedding guests, party-goers and others are now wishing their calendars were free that weekend.

'I think a lot of the people want to go to the concert instead of going to the reunion itself.' —Paul Doiron, Moncton High reunion organizer

Preparations have been underway for the last couple of months for Moncton High School's 25-year reunion, which was originally scheduled for the same day as the concert.

"When U2 was announced, it was like, OK, we have to change the dates because I think a lot of the people want to go to the concert probably instead of going to the reunion itself," said Paul Doiron, who is on the organizing committee.

"I kind of knew something was up when we tried to book hotels probably a month ago," he said. "When they were charging the minimum two-night stays and for the amounts, I knew there was a concert, but didn't know which one at that point."

The reunion can't compete with U2, said Doiron, so it's going to be rescheduled for the weekend before or after the concert.

Anyone looking for a room for a wedding or another function will be wishing they'd booked early, said Hammond Joshi, operator of the Econolodge on West Main Street in Moncton.

"The obvious benefit to it is that [the reservation] is there and should an event like a big event come in to play, you've already secured your (room.)"