Northern Ireland

Bruce Springsteen in Belfast: What you need to know before his Boucher Road gig on May 9

The Boss and the E Street Band will be playing in Boucher Road Playing Fields on May 9

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (James Manning/PA)
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (James Manning/PA)
By Liam Grimley

BRUCE Springsteen is playing Belfast’s Boucher Playing Fields on Thursday May 9 and here’s everything you need to know if you’re going to see The Boss and the E Street Band.

Springsteen will go on stage at 7pm and there will be no support acts. The gates to the playing fields open at 5pm.

Concert-goers are advised to leave plenty of travel time as Thursday is a busy day in Belfast, especially around retail parks and Shane’s Park shopping areas.

Road closures

  • The Boucher Road city-bound lane will be closed between its junction with Shane’s Retail Park and Boucher Crescent between 5pm and 8pm on the night.
  • Boucher Road will be fully closed between its junctions with Tates Avenue and Stockmans Lane between 8pm and midnight.
  • Stockmans Lane will be closed between its junctions with Balmoral interchange and Lisburn Road between 8pm and midnight.
  • The Balmoral Road and Link will also be fully closed from noon until midnight.

Tickets

Screenshots or printouts of digital tickets will not be accepted at the venue so attendees are advised to have their tickets ready for inspection when they arrive at the venue.

You could also download your concert ticket from your Ticketmaster account to your iPhone wallet or Google Pay wallet in advance of show day.

If you are downloading a ticket to your phone, remember to have your phone fully charged before leaving for the concert. If you run out of battery, go to the box office where someone will help you to find your order.

Due to the risk of fake tickets, concert organisers are urging people not to buy tickets from unofficial sources.

Bags at the concert

If you want to get ahead of the crowd, leave your bags at home as those without bags will be fast-tracked through the queue. If you do bring a bag, it must be smaller than an A4 sheet of paper and will be searched by security.

If a bag is bigger than A4 it won’t be allowed into the venue or cannot be left unattended near the entrances.

There is no parking near the venue but Boucher Playing Fields is well-served by public transport.

For those who had intended arriving early to claim a spot near the front be aware that early queuing will not be permitted in the streets around the venue as they are residential areas.

As it is an outdoor event attendees should watch the weather forecast and plan their outfits accordingly.

Prohibited items

Alcohol, food, hampers and umbrellas are among the items which are banned, along with:

  • Any article that may be used as a weapon, any person deemed to be offensive or abusive, or who may compromise public safety, will be reported to the police
  • professional cameras and recording devices (this will apply to cameras that have detachable lenses)
  • bottles
  • glass vessels
  • cans
  • flasks
  • frisbees and related items
  • dangerous or hazardous items
  • illegal substances
  • scooters
  • skateboards or other skates
  • flag poles and flares
  • laser devices
  • prams/push chairs
  • inflatable and folding chairs
  • large suitcases
  • laptops
  • illegal merchandise items
  • umbrellas
  • hampers and cold boxes
  • air horns
  • drinks
  • selfie sticks
  • animals (except service dogs and guide dogs)

Public transport

Bus and rail transport options can all bring you within walking distance of Boucher Playing Fields.

The closest rail station is Adelaide, which is serviced by Great Victoria Street Station.