Stadium of Light gets ready for Bon Jovi
Live updates
Full Report: Rihanna fans queue for Diamond tickets
Tickets went on sale this morning for Rihanna who'll be performing in Sunderland next year.
Her Diamonds World Tour will be coming to the Stadium of Light in June next year - with David Guetta as a support act.
Fans waited from early this morning and some camped overnight in order to get their hands on tickets.
You can watch the full report from Richard Salkeld below.
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Fans camp out for Rihanna's Diamond tickets
Tickets went on sale this morning for Rihanna's Diamonds tour, which will be making a stop in Sunderland next year.
The star's Diamonds World Tour will be coming to the Stadium of Light in June next year - with David Guetta confirmed as a support act.
Fans waited from early this morning and some camped overnight in order to get their hands on tickets - which start at fifty pounds each.
Bon Jovi at the Stadium of Light
Rock stars Bon Jovi will appear at the Sunderland Stadium of Light in the summer of 2013
Read the full storyCouncil leader delighted with Bon Jovi concert date
– Paul Watson, Sunderland City Council Leader"We're delighted that once again Sunderland will be playing host to a world class act.
"It builds upon tremendous success of the last four years of concerts at the Stadium of Light, which have brought hundreds of thousands of people and, millions of pounds, into our city and our economy.
"The fact that major bands and artists continue to choose Sunderland for their concerts is proof of our ability to host major events and will provide a fantastic boost for the city."
Bon Jovi World Tour dates - UK
Bon Jovi has announced five UK concert dates as part of their Because We Can World Tour in 2013:
- Etihad Stadium, Manchester - Sat 8 Jun
- Villa Park, Birmingham - Sun 9 Jun
- City Stadium, Cardiff - Wed 12 Jun
- Stadium of Light, Sunderland - Thu 13 June
- Hampden Park, Glasgow - Wed 3 Jul
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Bon Jovi to perform in Sunderland
Rock megastars Bon Jovi will play at the Sunderland Stadium of Light as part of their world tour.
The concert will take place in the summer of next year and tickets will go on sale on the 2nd of November
Bon Jovi in Sunderland
– Gary Hutchinson, Sunderland AFC's commercial director“We are absolutely thrilled to have been chosen as a venue for a tour of this magnitude. Bon Jovi are one of the world’s top live bands so to have them perform at the Stadium of Light is absolutely fantastic and we can’t wait to welcome them to the city.
“The hard work and joined up approach of everyone involved in delivering these major events to the north east region has really paid off in recent years and Sunderland is now firmly cemented as one of the go-to venues for major world music tours.”
Police warning to Chilli Peppers fans
Northumbria Police is warning people going to tonight's Red Hot Chilli Peppers concert in Sunderland to allow plenty of travel time.
The American rock band are playing at the Stadium of Light as part of their world tour. Officers are advising concert goers that roads in and around the city will be busy. People are also being urged to use public transport where possible.
Inspector Sean McKenna, of Northumbria Police said:
– Inspector Sean McKenna, of Northumbria Police"There are plenty of buses and Metro trains running from the city centre and we want to make the evening as enjoyable and trouble free as possible for those attending.
"The public were excellent for the Coldplay and Bruce Springsteen concerts and we'd just ask them again to be patient when entering and leaving the ground and when making their way home."
Motorists heading towards the Tyne Tunnel after the concert are also warned that a section of the A19 northbound near Testos roundabout will be closed, and it could add to journey times.
Union says strike was only option
The RMT Union says it had no option but to call for strike action on the Tyne and Wear Metro this month.
Workers have proposed strike action on June 7 and 21 - the same dates as planned Coldplay and Bruce Springsteen concerts at the Stadium of Light.
The disruption is expected to affect people travelling to the stadium, as well as thousands of commuters getting to and from work.
Union bosses say they risk losing public support by holding the strikes, but that it was their only option.
Micky Thompson from RMT Union said: "We've tried to negotiate with the employer. The employer has closed the doors and made their position clear. There is no further amendment.
"We have to taken it to our membership. Our membership have said it's not acceptable and we want to do something about it.
"The situation with the concerts has come up. It's given us a position of strength and we've utitlised this to our advantage. Hence why discussions have now been forthcoming for June 4.
"So hopefully sense will prevail and they'll come back and offer something substantial in respect of rates and pay and conditions of service, and we won't have to disrupt the concerts."
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