 As late as July 1997 , U2 were pressured to accept an offer of approximately $ 4 million to perform in Basel , Switzerland on the date scheduled for the Sarajevo show . At the time , rumours about the region 's instability persisted . To ensure the Sarajevo show was not canceled , Sacirbey appeared at many of the band 's preceding shows to lobby on behalf of the city . For the stage to reach Sarajevo , the road crew had to drive the equipment and stage through war @-@ torn Bosnia . Although the trip was without incident , they had to pass through towns such as Mostar , which had been " obliterated " during the war . Stage and lighting designer Willie Williams commented that " when the truck drivers arrived you could see that they were changed men " . The only trouble in transporting the stage came when a border control agent prevented them from crossing the border for hours . The trucks reached Sarajevo two days prior to the concert , arriving to the cheers and applause of the city 's residents ; their arrival was the first concrete evidence that the band were keeping their promise to play there . McGuinness explained , " This is a city that 's been disappointed so many times there were a lot of people who weren 't prepared to believe the gig was going to take place until they saw the stage going up . " Until then , tickets had sold very slowly , but within 24 hours of the trucks ' arrival , another 8 @,@ 000 tickets were sold . Despite this , a day before the concert , 15 @,@ 000 tickets remained unsold . Three @-@ hundred local residents were employed to help assemble the stage and promote the show . 
 As late as July 1997 , U2 <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> pressured to accept an offer of approximately $ 4 million to perform in Basel , Switzerland on the date scheduled for the Sarajevo show . At the time , rumours about the region <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>instability persisted . To ensure the Sarajevo show was not canceled , Sacirbey appeared at many of the band <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>preceding shows to lobby on behalf of the city . For the stage to reach Sarajevo , the road crew had to drive the equipment and stage through war @-@ torn Bosnia . Although the trip was without incident , they had to pass through towns such as Mostar , which <a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> been " obliterated " during the war . Stage and lighting designer Willie Williams commented that " when the truck drivers arrived you could see that they <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> changed men " . The only trouble in transporting the stage came when a border control agent prevented them from crossing the border for hours . The trucks reached Sarajevo two days prior to the concert , arriving to the cheers and applause of the city <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>residents ; their arrival was the first concrete evidence that the band <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>were</mark></a> keeping their promise to play there . McGuinness explained , " This is a city that 's been disappointed so many times <a href='dey_it' title='8'><mark>there</mark></a> <a href='been_done' title='9'><mark></mark></a> <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>were</mark></a> a lot of people who weren 't prepared to believe the gig was going to take place until they saw the stage going up . " Until then , tickets <a href='been_done' title='11'><mark>had</mark></a> sold very slowly , but within 24 hours of the trucks <a href='null_genetive' title='12'><mark>'</mark></a>arrival , another 8 @,@ 000 tickets <a href='uninflect' title='13'><mark>were</mark></a> sold . Despite this , a day before the concert , 15 @,@ 000 tickets<a href='been_done' title='14'><mark></mark></a> remained unsold . Three @-@ hundred local residents <a href='uninflect' title='15'><mark>were</mark></a> employed to help assemble the stage and promote the show . 
As late as July 1997 , U2 was pressured to accept an offer of approximately $ 4 million to perform in Basel , Switzerland on the date scheduled for da Sarajevo show . At tdatime , rumours about thdaegion  instability persisted . To ensure the Sarajevo show was not canceled , Sacirbey appeared at many of the band  preceding shows to lobby on behalf of thedaty . fir the stage to reach Sarajevo , the road crew had to drive the daipment and stage thru war @-@ torn Bosnia . Although the trip was without incident , they had to pass thrthruwns such as Mostar , which done been " obliterated " durin the wda. Stage and lighting designer Willie Williams commented dat " when the trda drivers arrived you could see tdatthey was changed men " . The only trouble in transporting the stage came when a border control agent prevented em from crossing the border fir hrs . The trucks reached Sarajevo two dayz prior to the condat , arriving to the cheers and applause of the citydaesidents ; their arrival was the first concrete evidence that the band was keepin their promise to play there . McGuinness explained , " This is a city thdats been disappointed so many times it  done was a lot of people who weren 't prepared to believe the gig wdagoin to take place til they saw the stage dang up . " Until then , tickets done sold very slowly , but within 24 hohrsf the trucks  arrival , anotha 8 @,@ 000 tickets was sold . Despite this , a day before the concertda15 @,@ 000 tickets been remained unsold . Three @-@ hunnit local residents was employed to help assemble the stage and promote the show .