Concert tipster: Why tix were as low as $19
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Bono and bassist Adam Clayton perform September 16 in Toronto.Photo by MelicansMatkin
Less than a week before the Charlottesville U2 show, the event hadn’t sold out, and the prices appeared to be dropping. Some $30 tickets were offered for $19, the $95 tickets for as little as $71, and the $250s appeared as low as $130. And with just six days before Charlottesville’s own U2 concert, the head of the world’s biggest ticket reseller was advising would-be concert-goers to hold off a little longer.
“Wait out the weekend, and see where ticket prices fall,” said Joellen Ferrer, the communications director for StubHub, the eBay-owned service that links ticket buyers and sellers.
As of Friday, September 25, StubHub members were advertising nearly 1,800 tickets for the October 1 show at Scott Stadium. If the venue holds 60,000, that’s about three percent of all seats.
“That’s actually quite a high amount,” says Ferrer, and that’s why she was predicting a further price drop, as ticket holders have shown a willingness to discount in order to avoid getting stuck with already paid-for tickets.
Overall, U2 ’s “360ยบ Tour” appears quite the profit center— and not just for StubHub (though it’s their #1 ever). The 24 European U2 shows grossed nearly $188 million, which is more than the Rolling Stones raked in during the North American portion of their record-breaking 2005 tour when U2 took the #2 spot.
This year, according to Pollstar editor Gary Bongiovanni, since Madonna seems to have finished her tour, U2 holds a strong chance of standing atop the rankings— even without selling out Charlottesville.
“That’s probably not a surprise in this economy and in a town like Charlottesville,” says Bongiovanni.
Concert venue manager Larry Wilson says he’s pleased with the ticket sales. And with the in-the-round format of the U2 event meaning no blocked-off sections and lots of floor capacity, he might be looking at a record-breaking audience at Scott Stadium, even without selling every ticket.
As for would-be concert-goers, the next few days may be the time to get a bargain on a once-in-a-lifetime event, and StubHub’s spokesperson says any ticket bought by Tuesday should be deliverable in time via Fedex.
“It’s basic supply and demand,” says Ferrer. “This close to the show with high inventory, sellers have to price their tickets more competitively, so that makes a more vibrant marketplace in the favor of fans.”
***
By Monday morning, three days before show date, the number of tickets available on StubHub had fallen 1o just over 1,500, thanks apparently to brisk weekend sales.
“We saw a noticeable spike in sales beginning Friday, presumably after the story ran,” says StubHub’s Ferrer. “Sales have been strong since, and are moving quite briskly today.”
By Monday afternoon, the number available has fallen to around 600, as– according to the “refresh” button on a reporter’s internet browser– tickets were selling at the rate of about 20 per hour toward the absolute deadline of 4pm Tuesday for hard tickets and 3pm Thursday for “eTickets.”
–last updated 3:04pm Monday, September 28
–orig headline: Buy U2 tix Monday or Tuesday
I suggest waiting until Oct. 1st and just showing up –bound to be some very cheap tickets. Don’t think UVA kids are big U2 fans, and the over 40 crowd is either earning less or busy with kids or work.
Beware - they are not blocking off sections, but there ARE obstructed-view seats in line with the four “legs” of the massive stage. Check the seating chart and be sure not to buy anything that puts one of those legs between you and the stage.
Maybe not –think I’ll get my ticket now
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/25/arts/music/25u2.html
Any money you spend going to that show says 120 trucks needed to transport the stage is ok. That’s not very green.
Just read the NY Times article Sue linked to. Was hoping that the Times’ style of referring to everybody as Mr., Mrs., and Ms would result in the construction of “Mr. The Edge,” but alas it was not to be.
ML, no Mr. Bono . Did you look at pic 3 of the slideshow –now you’ll realize why they need 120 trucks.
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/09/24/arts/music/20090924_U2slideshow_index.html
That’s the thing: much like the stage they’re bringing, they don’t need 120 trucks.
It would be less galling if they weren’t outspoken environmentalists. What I’m seeing here is the thousand and twenty sixth case of “Do as I say, not as I do.” Instead they’re “paying for carbon offsets.”
What?
Forgive me if I’m wrong here, but the last time I checked money doesn’t clean up the carbon put out by 120 semis and who knows how many private jets. Go ahead and tour that way; that doesn’t bug me. But stop with the smarmy “we care” crap. It’s impossible not to see through.
Blah blah, ballsack, blah blah. Seriously old farts, get off the internet. You have nothing interesting to say.
Well said MO, and what a fascinating contribution on your part! Thank god you came to the rescue and raised the level of discourse. You are certainly a credit to your age group, and my how competent at spelling you are.
Who cares about carbon offsets? I posed this far more important question on another page:
Will they be selling beer in Scott Stadium as they now do in JPJ?
What the heck do they need 120 trucks for? I mean, its Scott’s stadium, and we can certainly put a stage up, with a simple backdrop, and listen to the music. I doubt an Opera company needs 120 semis to haul its sets and all the orchestra materials as well.
I agree. If they weigh each piece of the spider stage, and load each truck to the maximum weight allowed on the public roadways, they should be able to manage with 110 trucks. :)
Personally I’d rather see Muse than U2.
So the “tipster” is a stubhub spokesman? Silly.
October 6, 2009
The concert was 5 days ago. I went to it.
So what did you all think about it?!
I’m interested to know. :)
Nelson, there’s a big discussion here.