Fans enjoy magical evening - and hang the expense...

Every little thing The Police sang was magic and close to 40,000 fans packed the Olympic Stadium to be spellbound by the music last night.

A few fans had camped overnight Tuesday outside the stadium's doors, hoping to grab a spot near the stage. By 1pm yesterday afternoon, the group had swelled to 1,500 faithful, who were waiting for the 5pm opening of doors.

They were there for The Police, three British rockers riding a world-wide crest of popularity, with their latest LP Synchronicity at the top of the charts. But they were also given reggae star Peter Tosh, rocker Stevie Ray Vaughan and new wavers the Talking Heads.

Concessionaires made a killing on $15 sweaters, $12 t-shirts, $8 hats, $7 programmes, $4 posters and $2 buttons all emblazoned with pictures of the group.

And while 50-foot high speakers blasted forth the music, fans tossed frisbees, beach balls and balloons around the stadium's tarpaulin-covered field.

For the convenience of the faithful, the spot that usually marks home-plate during baseball games was covered by 18 portable toilets.

Most fans didn't flinch at paying between $18.50 and $20 for tickets.

"Just seeing The Police is worth it," said Louis Tessier, 21, of Ville St. Laurent. "I've seen them twice before."

"I've followed this group from the first time they came to Montreal three or four years ago," said Jean Smith, a 21-year-old nurse from Notre Dame de Grace. "They're excellent. I paid $18.50 for my ticket, which is not so bad to see all those groups.

"I just wish we could have brought our own cans of beer in. They (stadium security) let people in with wine skins and who knows what's in them? But we couldn't bring our beer in."

Christine Binette and Jo-Anne Tremblay had come from Ottawa for the show by bus yesterday afternoon and had planned to return home after it.

Both estimated the trip had cost them about $50 each.

"The Police know how to make people like their music," said Binette, a 20-year-old secretary, while she sighed at photographs of the band in a copy of the programme.

"The whole show seems to be well organised. They started on time and there haven't been any problems so far."

"I love The Police," said Tremblay. "Two weeks ago, I spent $45 coming to Montreal for the David Bowie concert. It's costing a fortune but it's worth it."

Binette and Tremblay said they'd probably increase their expenditure by buying souvenir t-shirts.

Stadium officials reported no security problems.

"People tried to push in when thew doors opened but we expected worse than that," an official said. "No one was hurt."

(c) Montreal Gazette by Stephanie Whittaker