Look at that ball travel over that fence. Around the bases we go, high-fives all around. Another victory for the home side is assured.

But this isn't the game of baseball we're playing here, it's the game of getting concerts. And in that derby, landing a big show such as Saturday's performance by U2 at Copps Coliseum carries the weight of a handful of homers. At least.

"I can't recall any other show we've had being as current and as hot as this tour," said John Elder, programming manager for Hamilton Entertainment and Convention Facilities, Inc. (HECFI), the management body for Copps Coliseum, Hamilton Place and the Hamilton Convention Centre.

Needless to say, a lot of grunt work goes into landing a show of this magnitude, but there's also aspects of luck and timing.

Elder says Copps made a pitch for a U2 Elevation tour show way back in January, hoping to get on the first North American leg of the tour.

In basic terms, a pitch is a bid package outlining terms and conditions for a show. In the case of an in-demand show such as the Elevation tour, the promoter then pores over proposals and maps out the best route for the performer Source.