This frustration is not unique to a particular venue, but here's how it goes with concert offerings:
Radio, television and print ads announce a concert and say something like: "Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m." In reality, tickets have already been on sale, either through myriad "pre-sale" opportunities or as part of "premium ticket packages."
The pre-sales reward certain classes of people favored by the band/artist (such as fan club members) or the concert promoters (such as holders of credit cards issued by a bank sponsoring the tour). I have no objection to these pre-sales.
The premium ticket packages typically bundle the very best seats in the house with merchandise and other perks and price the packages at whatever the market will bear. I also have no objection to this practice, as the band/artist and the promoter and the host facility are much more deserving of the extra cash than are professional scalpers who would otherwise scoop up the prime seats and sell them at a wicked mark-up.
But then, even in the opening seconds of the general public on-sale period, there is practically nothing left.
I don't usually advocate government intervention in the private sector, but something needs to change. Promoters should be required to either reserve a reasonable amount of tickets in each seating class for the general public or change the announcements to something reflecting the actual kinds of tickets that will be available. To do otherwise is dishonest, misleading and unfair.
David J. Oppedisano Latham
