Virginia Tech shares how they landed a Metallica concert at Lane Stadium

BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) — The Metallica song “Enter Sandman” and Virginia Tech football have gone hand in hand for nearly a quarter of a century.

Last week, it was announced the legendary band will be performing at Lane Stadium on May 7, 2025. Since Monday, presale tickets have been going on and will wrap up Thursday at 10 pm. Friday, tickets go on sale to the general public.

Getting Metallica to Lane Stadium has been more than a decade-long process. But once the Virginia Tech administration got the word it got the green light the band was coming to perform, there was a buzz and excitement that their goal was accomplished. It was a reality Metallica was coming to Virginia Tech and Blacksburg.

“For them to come here, it’ll obviously be a really big day for Virginia Tech for Blacksburg, Southwest Virginia economic impact to all of that. When we started two years ago, Brad [Virginia Tech Executive Associate Athletic Director] was visiting with them about two things: a concert, and then we had also approached them about playing one song before a game,” Virginia Tech Director of Athletics Whit Babcock said.

“Whatever we could get, we would love to get and of course, we asked for both,” Babcock said.

“[Metallica] did have a little bit of interest in the one game, but after looking at that, [the band] felt like the operations of the production were just too big to come in for one song. They said ‘hey, by the way, the first time we play there we wanted to be a big show so how about a concert?,'” Babcock said.

A limited number of tickets have been specially priced for current Virginia Tech students. These tickets will be general admission seats in the north endzone of Lane Stadium. Additional tickets with specific seat locations will be available for students in sections 501, 502, 509 and 510 of the upper south endzone. There is a limit of two tickets per student.

“You have to shoot for the moon sometimes right and try it and see what happens. We had a few folks on staff who believe we can get it done which is nice,” Virginia Tech Executive Associate Athletic Director/External Affairs and Advancement Brad Wurthman said.

“When people believe in a crazy idea that sounds somewhat ridiculous to most that gives you enough to kind of roll with it. I believe we can get it done from the jump, that’s that’s probably my nature. Why not give it a shot and see. In worst cases, they can’t but they’ve been amazing. The band, their representation, Live Nation, everybody has been so incredible from the beginning on trying to find a way to make this work,” Wurthman said.

“It’s not as easy as people think. This isn’t we just show up and here’s a band that we booked on a moment’s notice and they come and play. This is part of a world tour where they’ve been everywhere from Finland to Chicago, you name it, playing it so you have to find options that kind of work out well for you,” Wurthman said.

To purchase tickets, click here .

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