Tampa announces Billy Joel and Sting in concert at Raymond James Stadium
Billy Joel and Sting have both played around Tampa Bay over the years, but never together.
On Saturday, Feb. 24, the two musical icons will perform in concert at Raymond James Stadium — the first place in the country where you can see both headline on the same night. The Tampa Sports Authority announced the news Thursday at a news conference with Live Nation.
“Not only are we known around the world for our Super Bowls and our sporting events, but now again this has put us on the national stage,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said during the news conference.
Castor noted the concert will bring “funding that is critically important, to the tune of millions of dollars.”
Sting — a composer, actor, activist, author and singer-songwriter who rose to fame after co-founding the Police — was last here in May 2022. During his Hard Rock Event Center show, the 72-year-old English rocker performed half solo project songs, half hits by the Police.
Joel, now 74, hasn’t performed in Tampa since his Amalie Arena show in Feb. 2020, although he was just at Raymond James Stadium in April. He brought his daughters to the Eras Tour and met with Taylor Swift backstage.
Other than that, the Piano Man been busy continuing his record-breaking Madison Square Garden residency, which will end next summer after a decade and over 150 concerts. Joel has also been performing occasional gigs around the country with Stevie Nicks this year. He is not one for long tours these days.
“Having to schlep all over the world is a job in itself,” he said told Tampa Bay Times writer Jay Cridlin in 2018. “That’s where people get burned out. All the traveling and the checking into hotels, checking out of the hotel and going from here to here — it sounds like fun and it sounds very romantic, but after a few years, it’s not. You’re a traveling salesman. You get the Willy Loman thing. And that is a bummer.”
According to that interview, the singer has long had a fascination with Florida. He has owned property in South Florida for years, and is quick to sell out 20,000-ticket shows in Tampa. You can read the 2018 interview here.
Get tickets for Billy Joel and Sting in Tampa
General public presale begins 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 20, via LiveNation.com.
Citi members can access a presale from 10 a.m. Monday through 10 p.m. Thursday via citientertainment.com. Verizon customers have their own presale that runs from 10 a.m. Tuesday through 10 p.m. Thursday. Verizon will notify its customers via email.
