Month: May 2009

Green Day returns for North American Tour!

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Green Day, having taken over a three year break since their last tour, has announced that they will return with a total of 39 concerts across North America, promoting their soon-to-be-released album, 21st Century Breakdown. The opening show will take place in Seattle’s Key Arena on July 3rd, and the tour will continue across the U.S and Canada until the final show on August 25th at The Forum in Los Angeles. All Canadian Green Day tickets go on sale May 8th, except for the Ottawa and Montreal shows which go on sale on the 9th. For the American concerts, ticket sale dates vary, so check out Green Day’s official tour page for details on each show.

“Know Your Enemy,” the first single off of the album that is being promoted on the tour, has already taken the top spot on radios for the Alternative genre, making it their ninth number one single for the genre. The album has already impressed critics, with one reviewer from Rolling Stone in particular claiming “21st Century Breakdown is Green Day’s best album.” If you’re a fan of Green Day, it sounds like you have a lot to look forward to with the new album and tour!

Canadian Green Day Tour Dates

Vancouver Green Day Tickets: Saturday, July 4 – General Motors Place – Vancouver, BC
Edmonton Green Day Tickets: Monday, July 6 – Rexall Place – Edmonton, AB
Saskatoon Green Day Tickets: Tuesday, July 7 – Credit Union Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Winnipeg Green Day Tickets: Thursday, July 9 – MTS Centre – Winnipeg, MB
Hamilton Green Day Tickets: Thursday, July 16 – Copps Coliseum – Hamilton, ON
Ottawa Green Day Tickets: Friday, July 17 – Scotiabank Place – Ottawa, ON
Kanata Green Day Tickets: Friday, July 17 – Scotiabank Place – Kanata, ON
Montreal Green Day Tickets: Saturday, July 18 – Bell Centre – Montreal, QC

American Green Day Tour Dates

Seattle Green Day Tickets: Friday, July 3 – Key Arena – Seattle, WA
Fargo Green Day Tickets: Friday, July 10 – Fargodome – Fargo, ND
Minneapolis Green Day Tickets: Saturday, July 11 – Target Center – Minneapolis, MN
Chicago Green Day Tickets: Monday, July 13 – United Center – Chicago, IL
Auburn Hills Green Day Tickets: Tuesday, July 14 – Palace Of Auburn Hills – Auburn Hills, MI
Boston Green Day Tickets: Monday, July 20 – TD Banknorth Garden – Boston, MA
Philadelphia Green Day Tickets: Tuesday, July 21 – Wachovia Center – Philadelphia, PA
Pittsburgh Green Day Tickets: Wednesday, July 22 – Mellon Arena – Pittsburgh, PA
Hartford Green Day Tickets: Friday, July 24 – XL Center – Hartford, CT
Albany Green Day Tickets: Saturday, July 25 – Times Union Center – Albany, NY
New York Green Day Tickets: Monday, July 27 – Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
Washington Green Day Tickets: Wednesday, July 29 – Verizon Center Washington – Washington, DC
Nashville Green Day Tickets: Friday, July 31 – Sommet Center – Nashville, TN
Duluth Green Day Tickets: Saturday, August 1 – The Arena at Gwinnett Center – Duluth, GA
Tampa Green Day Tickets: Monday, August 3 – St Pete Times Forum – Tampa, FL
Miami Green Day Tickets: Tuesday, August 4 – American Airlines Arena – Miami, FL
Orlando Green Day Tickets: Wednesday, August 5 – Amway Arena – Orlando, FL
New Orleans Green Day Tickets: Friday, August 7 – New Orleans Arena – New Orleans, LA
Houston Green Day Tickets: Saturday, August 8 – Toyota Center – Houston, TX
Antonio Green Day Tickets: Sunday, August 9 – AT&T Center San – Antonio, TX
St. Louis Green Day Tickets: Tuesday, August 11 – Scottrade Center – St. Louis, MO
Kansas City Green Day Tickets: Wednesday, August 12 – Sprint Center – Kansas City, MO
Omaha Green Day Tickets: Thursday, August 13 – Qwest Center Omaha – Omaha, NE
Denver Green Day Tickets: Saturday, August 15 – Pepsi Center – Denver, CO
Salt Lake City Green Day Tickets: Sunday, August 16 – Energy Solutions Arena – Salt Lake City, UT
San Jose Green Day Tickets: Tuesday, August 18 – HP Pavilion at San Jose – San Jose, CA
San Diego Green Day Tickets: Thursday, August 20 – Cox Arena – San Diego, CA
Las Vegas Green Day Tickets: Friday, August 21 – Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino – Las Vegas, NV
Phoenix Green Day Tickets: Saturday, August 22 – US Airways Center – Phoenix, AZ
Sacramento Green Day Tickets: Monday, August 24 – ARCO Arena – Sacramento, CA
Inglewood Green Day Tickets: Tuesday, August 25 – The Forum – Inglewood, CA

A seventh Canadian NHL franchise?

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Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of Research In Motion, producers of the ubiquitous Blackberry, likes to think there will be, and he is determined to make it happen.
Having made attempts in the past to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Nashville Predators with the intention of moving them north of the border — and being foiled both times by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman — Balsillie is making yet another attempt to purchase an ailing NHL franchise, this time with the clear stipulation that the team will be relocated to the “healthy Southern Ontario hockey market.”
While it hasn’t been confirmed, it is believed that the city of choice is Hamilton, ON, based on Balsillie’s intention of moving Pittsburgh and Nashville there in years prior.
While the $212.5 million offer to purchase the Phoenix team seems favored by it’s current owner, who had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy right before being removed from an authority position by the NHL, and coach Wayne Gretzky, who has been offered 10-15% ownership of the franchise, commissioner Bettman is believed to once again step in and stop the purchase and subsequent move, stating, “We think when a franchise is in trouble, you try and fix the problems…. We don’t run out on cities.”
All of this news comes after the Phoenix Coyotes failed to reach the playoffs for the sixth season in a row.

Canucks hold onto lead in Game 3

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Before last night’s performance, the Canucks have had a tough time maintaining their intense level of play through an entire 60-minutes; in the first two games against the Blackhawks, they gave up a three-goal and a two-goal lead, the latter resulting in a demoralizing 6-3 loss. So when the Canucks achieved yet another three-goal lead in last night’s Game three in Chicago, no one could be blamed for remaining cautiously optimistic.
While both teams seemed to be playing an off game — evidenced by the three overall delay of game penalties for flipping the puck over the glass, and the ridiculous number of times a man was taken down by his own skates — the Canucks were able to take the lead late in the first period off a goal from Raymond, and added to it twice more with two early second period goals, one from Bernier and the other from Henrik Sedin.
However, just 2:30 after the third goal, Chicago struck back with a powerplay goal, a reminder to the Canucks how quickly things can change when the momentum shifts, especially when the opposing team has the home-ice advantage. The remainder of the game was a display of Vancouver’s defensive fortitude, as they pressured the Blackhawks in their own zone with the help of Ryan Kesler, one of the best defensive forwards, and stood their ground in their own zone with an overall count of 21 blocked shots.
Although Chicago had their chances at making a third comeback, the Canucks, buoyed by Luongo’s performance, were able to hang on to the two-goal lead and take the 2-1 series lead in Chicago. Of all the games the Canucks have won so far in the 2009 playoffs, this was their most important. The Canucks will face the Blackhawks in Chicago for the second time tomorrow night at 5:00PM PST in Game 4.

Coldplay tickets still available, tour just weeks away

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As written about previously, Snow Patrol will be coming to North America to open for a small band you may have heard of: Coldplay. That’s right, in case you didn’t know, Coldplay will be starting to tour on May 15th with a focus on North American locations, and only a select number of European shows. In total the band will be performing 46 shows in promotion of their latest studio album, Viva La Vida or Death and All his Friends, which had topped the UK album charts only three days after its release, and resulted in 3 more Grammy Wins in 2009 for the British quartet. The tour will begin in West Palm Beach, Florida, and will continue through until August 9th in Tampa, Florida.

Coldplay 2009 Canadian Dates:

Winnipeg Coldplay Tickets: Monday, June 15th – Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre
Calgary Coldplay Tickets: Wednesday, June 17th – Calgary, AB – Pengrowth Saddledome
Edmonton Coldplay Tickets: Thursday, June 18th – Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place
Vancouver Coldplay Tickets: Saturday, June 20th – Vancouver, BC – General Motors Place
Vancouver Coldplay Tickets: Sunday, June 21st – Vancouver, BC – General Motors Place
Toronto Coldplay Tickets: Wednesday, July 29th – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre
Toronto Coldplay Tickets: Thursday, July 30th – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre
Montreal Coldplay Tickets: Saturday, August 1st – Montreal, QC – Parc Jean-Drapeau

Coldplay 2009 American Dates:

Friday, May 15th – West Palm Beach, FL – Cruzan Amphitheatre
Sunday, May 17th – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre
Monday, May 18th – AL Pelham, AL – Verizon Wireless Music Center
Wed, May 20th – Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Thursday, May 21st – Bristow, VA – Nissan Pavilion
Saturday, May 23rd – Hartford, CT – Comcast Theatre
Sunday, May 24th – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
Tuesday, May 26th – Center Camden, NJ – Susquehanna Bank
Wed, May 27th – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Ctr
Saturday, May 30th – Pittsburgh, PA – Post Gazette Pavilion At Star Lake
Monday, June 1st – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Tuesday, June 2nd – Clarkston, MI – DTE Energy Music Center
Thursday, June 4th – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
Friday, June 5th – Noblesville, IN – Verizon Wireless Music Center
Saturday, June 6th – Nashville, TN – Sommet Center
Tuesday, June 9th – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Arena
Wed, June 10th – San Antonio, TX – AT&T Center
Friday, June 12th – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena
Saturday, June 13th – Omaha, NE – Qwest Center
Friday, July 10th – Ridgefield, WA – Clark County Amphitheater
Saturday, July 11th – Quincy, WA – Gorge Amphitheatre
Monday, July 13th – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
Tuesday, July 14th – Marysville, CA – Sleep Train Amphitheatre
Thursday, July 16th – Chula Vista, CA – Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
Saturday, July 18th – Carson, CA – Home Depot Center
Sunday, July 19th – Irvine Irvine, CA – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Tuesday, July 21st – Dallas, TX – Superpages.com Center
Wed, July 22nd – Spring, TX – Woodlands Pavilion
Friday, July 24th – Maryland Heights, MO – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Saturday, July 25th – East Troy, WI – Alpine Valley
Sunday, August 2nd – Jersey City, NJ – Liberty State Park
Monday, August 3rd – Mansfield, MA – Comcast Center
Thursday, August 6th – Raleigh, NC – Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek
Friday, August 7th – Charlotte, NC – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Sunday, August 9th – Tampa, FL – Ford Amphitheatre at the Florida State Fairgrounds

Coldpay 2009 European Dates:

Thursday, July 2nd – Arras, France – Arras Main Square
Friday, July 3rd – Werchter, Belgium – Festival Grounds
Sunday, July 5th – Roskilde, Denmark – Festival Grounds

Six is the new four

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The second round of the playoffs are now underway, and aside from the Pittsburgh and Washington series (which will see the ice tonight at 7:00 PM PST), all of them are tied at one a piece. Now, this obviously means that these series will require a fifth game at the least, but it also shows how quickly the playoffs can intensify and how teams can no longer hope for a series sweep; the way the first two games have been played so far in this second round, teams will be lucky to finish the job in six games, avoiding at all costs the seventh game, which would no doubt be played on pins and needles rather than ice.
While it is still completely possible to win the series in five games, all eight teams seem evenly matched with each other despite their respective standings. Simply look at the eigth placed Anaheim Ducks from the Wesern Conference and ther ability to contend with second placed Detroit; their second game went into three frames of overtime before a winner was determined, just hinting at the extra-curricular games that might be played by the end of the second round.
The depth of the remaining eight teams’ is shown even further when you look at individual lines and players: in the Chicago/Vancouver series you have Sharp, Toews, and Kane squaring off against the Sedins and Burrows; the Pens and Caps have the hyped matchup between Crosby and Ovechkin; the Bruins and Canes have the matchup between the posts with Tim Thomas (.944 Sv%) and Cam Ward (.937 Sv%). Each team has the potential to move on to the third round, but it will be a war of attrition as the series inches toward the sixth and seventh games.
However, the true winners in these drawn-out series are the organizations behind the players who will see a big return in ticket sales for the extra games that would otherwise not be played if the series were to be swept. The first round of the playoffs has the organizations sharing the profits with the NHL, but once they move into the second round and on, the organizations see full acquisition of profits from tickets, not to mention the ongoing merchandise sales that will surely increase as the teams move closer to the playoff finals.
Be sure to follow the second round tonight as Pittsburgh faces Washington on the road at 7:00 PM PST, and tomorrow when Vancouver meets Chicago in the Windy City, and Detroit goes on the road to Carolina.