Sticky & Sweet Tour - Background

Background

The world tour was officially confirmed on May 8, 2008, by Guy Oseary, Madonna's manager, and Arthur Fogel, Live Nation's Global Touring CEO and Global Music Chairman. Billboard confirmed that the tour was to begin on August 23, 2008 in Cardiff, Wales, with performances throughout the rest of the year. It was titled Sticky & Sweet Tour and planned to visit three continents on 50–60 dates. The tour was produced globally by Live Nation and promoted Madonna's studio album Hard Candy (2008). Billboard also confirmed performances in Europe until the end of September, arenas and stadiums in sixteen markets of North America in October and November, followed by stadiums of Mexico and South America in late November and early December. The tour was described as a "rock driven dancetastic journey". The show featured four acts: Pimp, a homage to 1920s deco and modern-day gangsta pimp, Old School, portraying early '80s downtown New York City dance roots with works of deceased artist Keith Haring and the dance culture vibe of that time, including the birth of rap – Gypsy, consisting of Romani folk music and dance, and lastly Rave, consisting of eastern influences.

On January 30, 2009, it was announced that Madonna had decided to resume the tour in the summer of 2009, with around twenty-five more shows in Europe. The second leg of the tour was to start from London at The O₂ on July 4, wrapping up two months later in Tel Aviv, Israel. The rest of the dates included stadiums and parks in European markets Madonna had either never played or did not play in several years, according to Fogel. He said, "It absolutely has not happened in the four tours I've been involved with, There has been talk during each one, but it has never come to be. But with this one, she loves the show, she's had a great time and she's excited about playing new markets. We went to quite a few markets she has never played or hasn't been to in 15-plus years. This is really a continuation of that in the sense of playing new and different markets."

Originally, Live Nation reported that the tour would make stops in America and Europe. Music promoter and manager Michael Chugg stated that an Australian leg "will happen" and that local promoters were working hard to make it fruitful. Madonna had apologized to her Australian fans during the 2006 Confessions Tour, saying that she tried to work Australia into her schedule but ultimately could not. Her last tour in Australia was The Girlie Show World Tour in 1993. In October 2008, the Australian TV show Sunrise reported that Madonna will tour Australia in January 2009. She had agreed for performances in Sydney and Melbourne, but they were eventually cancelled. Local promoter Michael Coppel stated,

"Madonna was coming to Australia, the dates were resolved, then economics got in the way It's unknown territory at the moment. A lot of tours went on sale before the dollar crashed. We are only starting to see the effect of the economy on the tour industry. Everyone is feeling their way, the risk level has gone up substantially."

With the announcement of the 2009 extension, the Herald Sun reported that Madonna planned to tour Australia in September 2009, with one show in Melbourne to be held at the Telstra Dome. It was later reported that the rumored date was false. Fogel stated, " there is no validity to the reports."