I was on the floor for the first two shows. Some quick comments:
The setlist was fairly good overall. Obviously, it was primarily targeted towards more casual fans. A first time concert-goer would be thrilled with these selections (most of the big hits, with a few epics). Like most people on this forum, I would have preferred more variety, but I understand why the band chose these songs. (The first eleven songs were close to perfect, though they could have been sequenced better. The last six songs were uninspiring - for a moment I actually thought they were going to start the encore with "Tailgunner"). It seemed that most of the people around me (on both nights) were casual fans - they liked the hits, and looked lost during "Rime", "SSOASS", etc.
I have mixed feelings about the screens. They worked quite well when there was movement (ie "Rime", "Aces High"). But something felt off for the static images. For example, the "Powerslave" pyramid felt insubstantial. There seemed to be more pyrotechnics on the second night (though still not many by their standards).
Most fans respected the "no phones" policy. There were still a lot, but less than you'd typically see. The band's message seemed to strike the right tone - their request was clear, without being heavy-handed.
The crowd wasn't too rough (particularly on the second night).
Simon Dawson played well both nights. No complaints. He seemed genuinely appreciative of the audience's support. The biggest flub was probably Harris on the second night (after the quiet part on "Rime").
Halestorm was one of the better openers that they've had. Lzzy Hale has a powerful voice. The drummer (her brother) had an intense drum solo, and at one point used comically oversized sticks. The band's final song was about Mount Everest (a topic that I thought Maiden might have wrote about at some point).
The sound mixing was excellent - maybe the best I've ever heard at a Maiden show. It was loud, but not deafening.
Assuming the band continues playing live in 2027, how can they possibly top this? Would they really be content in playing stadium shows, to going back to smaller venues? (Or would they be able to continue to sell out stadiums if they're not doing a "greatest hits" tour?)
My favourite moment? The intro to "Clairvoyant", where we just hear Harris's bass. (Actually, throughout the night, there wasn't much low end - not a complaint, just an observation).
I didn't realize that there are two stadiums next to each other. On the opening night, I went to the wrong one. I spent 20 minutes circling the building and couldn't figure out why nobody was outside. Someone pointed me in the right direction. I got to the floor just after Halestorm had started. I was fairly far back - at least 20 rows from the barrier. (I did much better on the second night - I arrived around 18:45 and was in roughly the 7th row, in front of Harris and Gers).
I'm happy that the band is selling out stadiums, and like I said, this is a dream setlist for people who haven't seen a Maiden concert before. I've seen the band a fair bit, so I'm somewhat less enthusiastic. (I enjoyed the second show a lot more - partly because I was closer to the stage, but also because I went in with more realistic expectations about who this was targeted towards). I'll see the band when they (presumably) perform in Toronto next year, but I don't think I'll go out of my way to see them in other cities.
