I was really impressed by this year's Berlin gig not only because of The Stones themselves but also because of outstanding venue choice.
Venue matters, for sure! There are a lot of small intimate clubs and great modern arenas but there is something special in open-air gigs
in original places.

Surely there were dozens or hundreds of outstanding open-air venues during last 50 years of rolling so maybe you could refresh
your memories and tell about most original ones you've seen Stones in so far

Cheers!

Well...Circus Maximus

It's an ancient Rome chariot racing stadium (overlooked by an ancient Roman forum). Not sure they have played in a place more historical?

Spectacular venues in recent times:

Waldbühne
Circus Maximus
Hollywood Bowl
Copacabana
Slane Castle
Jaz Beach (Budva)

Hyde Park for sure

Havent seen it personally but guess that the truck mini gig in NYC in the mid. 70s was the most unique one.

Altamont
Zilker Park, Austin
Glastonbury



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014-06-24 11:34 by 1962.

Fifth Avenue, New York (1975)

The truck in NYC must be truly a one off, but Berlin and Roma must be most original on this tour for beauty and scenery.
Obviously Roma was long and narrow, but wherever you were at that venue, everyone seemed to have a great time.

Knebworth....huge natural ampitheatre

Hermitage museum square in Sint-Petersburg.

Miami pop fest

Reliant Stadium Houston, Texas 2003
Zilker Park Austin, Texas 2006

sad;y, Altamont might fit this list.

Bernabeu (mainly for Real Madrid fans)
The Madrid poster is not bad at all! (but I'm for Barca...)

i believe Circus Maximus was bound to be historic.
found no way to get to Rome in time. from my own experience:
#1 Hyde Park, London
#2 Waldbühne (whenever) Berlin
#3 Cannstatter Wasen, Stuttgart



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014-06-24 21:44 by Nikkei.

Quote
1962
Altamont
Zilker Park, Austin
Glastonbury

I've been to Zilker Park. Nothing special. Just a park.

Hyde Park is just a park as well. something made it stand out though. with Austin, it might have been the thing that lots of people saw it on the DVD afterwards and found it to be remarkable because it was so different from the football stadiums of 05-07

edit:
copacabana beach gets a honorary mention, too



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014-06-24 16:22 by Nikkei.

Churchill Downs

I've got to submit my "home" stadium of Fenway Park in Boston. Considering all of the "______ball" stadiums they've played over the past 30+ years, I'm pretty sure the've never played a stadium as unique as Fenway.

Peace,
Mr DJA

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Happy24
Hyde Park for sure

How's that unique, it's just a park?

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petewasbristol
Well...Circus Maximus

It's an ancient Rome chariot racing stadium (overlooked by an ancient Roman forum). Not sure they have played in a place more historical?

I think it was a fantastic venue. I love history so it appealed to me. I was wondering if where I was stood - on the slopes - was where the Roman spectators would have stood watching the chariots?

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Koen

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Happy24
Hyde Park for sure

How's that unique, it's just a park?

...Hyde Park is NOT 'just' a park in London (just like Central Park is NOT 'just' a park in NYC)...;
plus you might remember the free concert in front of 300,000 people, London Sixties at its best, Mick T's debut, and a farewell to Brian Jones all-in-one, about 45 years ago...!?

All that makes it pretty unique as a venue in my book.

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Turning To Gold
Churchill Downs

Awww. Good one! yes A Bigger Bang Tour. I don't think anybody can beat that.

I love Jagger's comment at the Stones Hollywood Bowl shows in '05 when he told the people up front in the $450 seats, that when they played there in '66, those seats were only $4.50.

If we are actually talking about "unique"then the venue has to be not typical or unusual for a concert. This basically removes any venue such as a stadium, arena, concert hall, amphitheatre or park that requirely hosts concerts.

I was also very impressed with the Waldbuhne and would have to say it would be one of my favorite places to see a concert. But it isn't unique as they've been hold concerts their for years. This past show wasn't even the 1st, 2nd or 3rd tour the Stones have played there.

Unique would be places like Palace Square in St Petersburg or Jaz Beach in Montenegro. Or they were certainly unique when the Stones first played there. You could consider a place like Churchhill Downs as well but I believe they have been holding other concerts there in recent years. Fenway was mentioned and is a bit unique as they only have allowed one concert per year but it now happens with regularity each year so it isn't that special anymore really.

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RoughJusticeOnYa

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Koen

Quote
Happy24
Hyde Park for sure

How's that unique, it's just a park?

...Hyde Park is NOT 'just' a park in London (just like Central Park is NOT 'just' a park in NYC)...;
plus you might remember the free concert in front of 300,000 people, London Sixties at its best, Mick T's debut, and a farewell to Brian Jones all-in-one, about 45 years ago...!?

All that makes it pretty unique as a venue in my book.

A unique event for sure, but not a unique place.

Quote
Turning To Gold
Churchill Downs

i googled pictures. how beautiful!

Remember another unique open-air Stones event was "The Museumplein" in Amsterdam 1995, the second Paradiso clubshow was directly screenend on a big screen at this square. I was there, but can't remember exactly how many people also. A lot, some 10.000 or so just watching the screen, listening and even singing along! I have to look it up in my old scrapebooks.
The night before I had been at the first Paradiso-gig. You had to choose between first or second night at the spot at "the ticketsale" (a wristband - 25 gulden) if you wanted in first or second night. I opted for first night because only the second night was to be screenend live at "The Museumplein".
Although the second night had even more special songs, this Paradiso clubgig remains the number one show in "my Stones-Tour (1982-and counting) of the 34 I witnessed.
Berlin Waldbuhne 2014 comes in about no. 5 by the way... .
See you in Werchter!!!

i must admit that i envy you for both paradiso experiences. also the term "my ongoing Stones-Tour (1999-and counting)" is very nice. spot-on. was it your first time at waldbühne?

Has to be a Place called The Steal Pier off the boardwalk
in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Not there any more.
I had a friend who was there. Best concert he ever saw.

Playing on a pier over the Atlantic ocean with 1000 screaming
girls between you and the ocean.