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SALT LAKE CITY — No need to have a heart attack ack, ack, ack, ack, ack over traveling to Billy Joel's newest North American tour because the Piano Man is coming back to Utah and he's bringing another rock legend with him.
Live Nation Utah announced Thursday that Billy Joel and Sting will play at Rice-Eccles Stadium on May 23, 2025, mirroring similar stadium announcements earlier in the day. The two will also play at stadiums in Indianapolis; Syracuse, New York; and Charlotte, North Carolina, in early 2025.
The Utah announcement was leaked early on Sting's website. Still, Live Nation carried on with a planned ceremony that ended with Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham riding into the stadium on his motorcycle while a medley of Billy Joel songs played on the stadium speakers.
"I'll tell what, I'm fired up," Whittingham said, as others on stage held up No. 25 Utes jersey with Billy Joel's and Sting's names printed on the back. "When I heard (Joel) was coming, I was absolutely elated by that. I've been listening to Billy for 50-plus years."
Joel last played in Utah back in November 2017 at what was then Vivint Smart Home Arena. Next year's show will be his 15th in the Beehive State, dating back to when he played at the Ice House in Provo 50 years ago, per Setlist.fm.
Sting has been more of a Utah regular, having played in Utah five previous times since 2010, including a show in West Valley City last year. Combined, the two have 18 Grammy Award wins under their belts; both are also members of the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame.
Citi card members will have access to presale tickets beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday, before general admission tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Oct. 4 through Ticketmaster.
Thursday's announcement builds on the number of shows held at Rice-Eccles Stadium, which brought in Luke Combs, George Strait and Chris Stapleton to large crowds this summer. It's also hosted Garth Brooks and the Loveloud festival — orchestrated by Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds — in recent years.
Jason Farrell, president of Live Nation Utah, explained that policy changes in recent years to allow alcohol sales at Rice-Eccles Stadium have made it easier to attract high-profile musicians when the field is available in the football offseason because it's made concerts more "financially viable."
Live Nation Utah plans to advertise the upcoming show with several surprises during athletics events this fall. Farrell didn't divulge all the plans, but said fans may see the Olympic Cauldron outside of the stadium lit to Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire."
"It means everything that Utah is tied in and that it is a major market that these stadium tours are going to," he said, after the event. "Even if our population is less, the spirit and the excitement for this level of entertainment is equal to anywhere."
