BLACKSBURG, Va., — May 6, 2025 — Overview: The field of Lane Stadium, repurposed into a concert venue for Metallica on Wednesday. Photo: Sam Mostow
By Sam Mostow
May 6, 2025
Metallica playing a concert in Lane Stadium on Wednesday is the culmination of years of negotiations, hundreds of people and 87 trucks.
Both Virginia Tech and the heavy metal band have discussed bringing a tour date to the university’s campus for years — to no avail. That is, until the band announced its 2025 tour dates on September 19, 2024, which included 12 major cities plus one small town: Blacksburg, Virginia.
“[The negotiations were] shockingly easier than some of the negotiations we do with everybody else,” said Brad Wurthman, Virginia Tech’s executive associate athletic director for external operations and chief revenue officer. “It’s nice when two parties have mutual interest and want this thing to work. Having the ability to say, ‘OK, this is what we want to do,’ and them coming back and saying, ‘Well, great, we want to do it, too’ — then it’s just a matter of details. As long as you agree on the big rocks, you can solve the details.”
Though Blacksburg is in a smaller municipality than the rest of the band’s tour dates, its show was the fastest-selling, as Tech Sideline reported. Metallica will perform one date of its M72 tour on Worsham Field along with openers Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies.
The band has been a part of Virginia Tech culture since 2000, when the school began playing its 1991 hit, “Enter Sandman,” as its football team enters the field, according to the university. Wurthman said the band committed to playing the song.
Wurthman said the show will remain the same as if it were in a large city.
“The show will be the same,” he said. “It’s just everything surrounding it [that’s different]. If we’re in Philadelphia, there are a million hotels in that area. If you’re in Blacksburg and the NRV, there are not as many options. Really, it’s everything surrounding it that’s the biggest difference. Inside, the football field is 100 yards, whether we’re at the Eagles’ stadium or the Hokies’. Fitting that isn’t the biggest difference — it’s everything around it.”
BLACKSBURG, Va., May 2, 2025 — Wurthman: Brad Wurthman, Virginia Tech’s executive associate athletic director for external operations and chief revenue officer, fields questions with Lane Stadium in the background. Photo: Sam Mostow
BLACKSBURG, Va., May 3, 2025 — Salas: Damian Salas, Virginia Tech’s assistant athletics director for digital and internet strategies, poses in front of Tech Softball Park. Photo: Sam Mostow
BLACKSBURG, Va., May 9, 2024 — Bruckner: Alex Bruckner, a Virginia Tech alumnus, stands with a statue of longtime football coach Frank Beamer following his graduation. Photo courtesy of Alex Bruckner.
BLACKSBURG, Va., — May 6, 2025 —Stage: A close-up of Metallica’s stage. Photo: Sam Mostow
BLACKSBURG, Va., — May 6, 2025 — Logo: Metallica’s “M72” logo, signifying its current tour, in the walkway to its famed “snake pit.” Photo: Sam Mostow
BLACKSBURG, Va., — May 6, 2025 — Drums: One of the band’s several drum sets on its circular stage. Photo: Sam Mostow
BLACKSBURG, Va., — May 6, 2025 — Tunnel: A walkway under Lane Stadium’s south stands where staff stationed equipment. Photo: Sam Mostow
BLACKSBURG, Va., — May 6, 2025 — Trucks: Some of the band’s 87 trucks in the parking lot adjacent to Lane Stadium. Photo: Sam Mostow
BLACKSBURG, Va., — May 6, 2025 — Tower: Metallica’s Tower No. 5, featuring video screens, speakers and cables holding them. Photo: Sam Mostow
BLACKSBURG, Va., — May 6, 2025 — Underneath: Another one of Metallica’s towers, shown from below. Photo: Sam Mostow
BLACKSBURG, Va., — May 6, 2025 — Entrance: The entrance to Metallica’s snake pit, which requires patrons to enter underneath the stage. Photo: Sam Mostow
BLACKSBURG, Va., — May 6, 2025 — Sound check: A member of the band’s crew sound checks a drum set. Photo: Sam Mostow
BLACKSBURG, Va., — May 6, 2025 — HokieBird: A statue of the HokieBird rests near the stage. Photo: Sam Mostow
BLACKSBURG, Va., — May 6, 2025 — Message: A sign notifies patrons that only those with access are allowed near the stage. Photo: Sam Mostow
