Bon Jovi at Soldier Field, July 30

Coming on the heels of U2’s announcement of a return engagement to the giant toilet bowl on Lake Michigan that once was this city’s grand and noble Soldier Field, New Jersey hair-hoppers gone country-popsters Bon Jovi have announced that they, too, will play the venue next summer, on July 30, under the auspices of the second biggest national concert promoters, AEG Live.

(The Austin, TX, promoters behind Lollapalooza, C3 Presents, won a deal with the city to bring more entertainment to Soldier Field more than a year ago, but they have as yet done nothing with it. That, however, is another story.)

Bon Jovi tickets go on sale Monday, Nov. 16, at 10 a.m. through www.ticketmaster.com, (312) 559-1212. Regular ticket prices were not announced. There also are VIP and Fan Club packages available starting at 9 p.m. tonight through www.bonjovi.com.

So, you ask, isn’t it odd for next year’s big summer concerts to be coming on sale before Chicago has even seen the first snow of this season? What’s up with that?

Well, you buy your ticket and you pay your money now (plus egregious Ticketmaster service fees, of course), and your hard-earned cash sits for 9 months in the bank accounts of the promoters, the bands and the ticket sellers, accruing interest that might otherwise have gone into your bank account.

Better Jon Bon Jovi and Bono eke out a few more dollars than their fans keep that money, right? Because they really need it for the mortgages on their third or fourth vacation homes, no doubt.