By Alfred Branch, Jr.
Van Halen may have figured out a way to put the “diamond” into Diamond David Lee Roth’s nickname.
Following the lead of Beyonce and Lynyrd Skynyrd/Hank Williams, Jr., it appears that the veteran rockers may be scalping dozens of tickets for their upcoming 2008 shows, based on a review of Ticketmaster’sTicketExchange website. The band’s current tour, featuring the return of Roth on vocals with Eddie, Alex and Wolfgang Van Halen, has been one of the top-selling tours all year, according to TicketNews’ weekly ranking of leading concerts.
For a March 17, 2008 show at Madison Square Garden, for example, tickets were being offered on the TicketExchange for as high as $2,885 a piece for some premium seats. Tickets went on sale for the show at 10am today, but these seats, and dozens of others, were up on the TicketExchange in less than 10 minutes after the general onsale, which would appear to be impossible unless the tickets were withheld from the public and posted separately. Traditionally, bands, promoters and venues play around with tickets for shows, making them available in waves or withholding them outright for complimentary or other purposes.
“It’s impossible for those tickets to be from anyone but the artist and promoter,” said one ticket broker who observed the onsale. “They were up on the exchange within minutes.”
Since there is no distinction of where the tickets came from, there is no guarantee they were posted by Van Halen, but the quickness in which they appeared on the TicketExchange provides some insight. In addition, most of tickets were listed in pairs, threes and fours, which would indicate they were doled out in blocks.
The tour is promoted by Live Nation, and Van Halen is represented by Front Line Management, which Ticketmaster’s parent company IAC/InterActiveCorp bought a controlling interest in earlier in the year. High Profile Media’s Jamie Liszweski, spokesperson for the band, did not respond to questions concerning Van Halen and the tickets.
“If you’re going to do it [auction tickets], do it, but don’t then claim your seats are only $150,” the broker said. “Just say you’re selling VIP tickets for more and sell them.”
Last Updated on July 25, 2017
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To back up the ticket broker’s oppinion, ticketmaster accidently posted the “ticketexhange” tickets (all of them in the first 5 rows) 12 minutes prior to Celine Dion shows for Montreal and it has prompted an uproar with fans as the shows sold out in 10 minutes.
Ticketmaster, management companies, and promoters have completely ruined the concert and sporting event experience. Their multiple, insane fees (I actually have to pay a charge for email delivery???) and obvious disregard for the individual consumer have competely erased the chance for normal fans to buy a great ticket to any show or game.
How are the multitudes of professional, organized scalpers — ooops, I mean “ticket brokers” — always able to get the majority, or every single one, of the best tickets? Simple: collusion between the three groups mentioned above.
I was just about to purchase tickets to the VH concert in Manchester, NH. My payment info was entered, and all that was left to do was to confirm the purchase. I had 5 minutes to complete the order. Then I remembered hearing something the other day about the VH tickets that were put up for sale for extremely high prices immediately after they went onsale, so before I completed the purchase, I did a google search and found this article.
After reading the article, I decided to not purchase the VH tickets, even though I have wanted to see the “real” VH all my life, having only had the chance to see Sam Halen. In fact, I will not purchase tickets to VH or any other show from now on out. My disdain for their greed far outweighs my desire to see any concert.
The only way I will buy concert tickets again is if these scumbag companies start showing some accountability to the fans: I would like to see the official ticket retailer (almost always Ticketmaster) forced to provide a real-time tally of all the tickets available for a given show, broken down by section and specific quantity, and showing to whom the tickets were sold or distributed. It would be harder for these greedy companies to continue screwing the fans if the fans could see that before tickets are even available for purchase, 80% of those tickets have already been allotted to the professional scalpers.
Until then, screw Ticketmaster, screw the bands, screw the promoters, screw the management companies, screw the auctions, and screw the professional ticket brokers/scalpers. Screw ’em, they won’t be getting any more of my money.
I’ve seen plenty of auctions on Ticketmaster’s TicketExchange site. I saw one for Neil Young, for example, which didn’t really surprise me. Fine. Let ’em. But I’ve seen auctions for kids’ shows too like Hannah Montana and even the Doodlebops.
If I ever want front row seats to the Wiggles for the price of a small luxury vehicle, I guess I know the first place to look.
I’d rather see it there than on a scalper website. At least the initial auction price will go to the artist rather than bobs take it in the ass ticket service.
B/c he’s not the one making the $2000 per ticket. Classic.
What ever happened to the days where the first person in line could actually have a chance at front row tickets? Premium seats were showing up on scalper sites weeks before they were on sale to the public. Yes, the public! You know the ones who buy the CD’s and shirts and posters,etc…I was on the ticketmaster site, for Van Halen tickets to the Glendale show, immediately after the tickets went on sale. The best I could do was half way back on the side for $161 dollars a piece (including the everpresent ticketmast inconvenience charge!!).
I agree completely that the broker seems to be suffering from jealousy… but in all fairness he does make a point, having tickets appear on the exchange minutes after they go on sale is very discouraging.
Perhaps Ticketmaster could release tickets in a random order for the first hour of an on-sale or a presale… would make it harder for brokers to snap up the good ones and you would give “lucky” fans great seats… Just a thought.
i am 43 yrs ols & a svp at a small company where i live, i would never ever spend 2885.00 on a concert ticket even if jim morrison rejoined the doors. these prices are NOT WORTH IT!! same w led zeppelin.