Lady Gaga tour adds more Monster Ball concert dates for 2011

It’s been a successful year of touring for Lady Gaga, whose ongoing Monster Ball Tour extravaganza has sold out arenas around the world. This week, the pop culture icon’s plans to extend her headline tour — and vice-like grip on the live entertainment industry — into the New Year received an upgrade with the addition of five new U.S. concert dates.

The latest tour stops are set for February 28 at United Center in Chicago, IL; March 23 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, CA; March 31 at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA; April 6 at Frank Erwin Center in Austin, TX; and April 19 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN.

The Bridgestone Arena performance stand (for now) as the new end-date for the tour, which was previously slated to close on April 18 at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth, GA. The 2011 North American leg is still scheduled to open February 19 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.

Public onsales open September 24 and 25 for the five newest concert dates. Ticket prices start at $49.50 and run up to $175, before applicable fees and charges, according to updated event listings on Ticketmaster.com.

This latest unveiling of concert dates comes several months after Lady Gaga’s previous 2011 tour announcement, which came in late May. The calendar now features two dozen performances, many of which are booked for cities already visited by Gaga within the last year.

The 24-year-old sensation launched the Monster Ball Tour in late 2009. Initially, the trek’s stateside shows were booked into large theaters and music halls. But when many of those smaller-scale events sold out, along with a number of larger arena shows in Europe at the start of 2010, Gaga re-imagined her North American stage show for a full-length summer 2010 arena tour.

Like her small-scale fall 2009 outing, many of Gaga’s summer 2010 arena dates sold out early in the onsales period. With demand for Lady Gaga tickets going through the roof, the business-savvy singer quickly unveiled more summer concerts along with the first 2011 tour dates.

Gaga recently wrapped her successful summer tour leg on September 19 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC, but she’ll only enjoy a one-month break before hitting the road again. The singer-songwriter has plans for another arena tour of Europe that will keep her on the international stage from October through December.

Lady Gaga itinerary:
(Dates are subject to change.)

February 19Atlantic City, NJAtlantic City Boardwalk Hall
February 21 – 22New York, NYMadison Square Garden Arena
February 24Washington, DCVerizon Center
February 26Pittsburgh, PAConsol Energy Center
February 28Chicago, ILUnited Center
March 3Toronto, ONAir Canada Centre
March 8Boston, MATD Garden
March 10Columbus, OHSchottenstein Center
March 14Dallas, TXAmerican Airlines Center
March 15San Antonio, TXAT&T Center
March 19Salt Lake City, UTEnergySolutions Arena
March 22Oakland, CAOracle Arena
March 23Sacramento, CAArco Arena
March 25Las Vegas, NVMGM Grand Garden Arena
March 28Los Angeles, CAStaples Center
March 31Anaheim, CAHonda Center
April 6Austin, TXFrank Erwin Center
April 8Houston, TXToyota Center
April 9New Orleans, LANew Orleans Arena
April 12Sunrise, FLBankAtlantic Center
April 13Miami, FLAmericanAirlines Arena
April 18Duluth, GAThe Arena at Gwinnett Center
April 19Nashville, TNBridgestone Arena