Here's a story completely unrelated to the Maritime concert scene- BUT, I will try to tie it in at the end:
Def Leppard/Poison tickets went on sale this am for the Molson Amphitheater in Toronto (capacity, 16,000). I was SHOCKED, AMAZED and APPALLED at the following ticket price points on Ticketmaster:
"Poison Nothin' But a Good Time Tickets"- $675 each (Front Row)
"Poison I Want Action Tickets"- $475 each (Next 2 or 3 rows)
"Poison Ride the Wind Tickets"- $275 each (The rest of 100 level seating, roughly 900 seats)
(I'm not getting into the Def Leppard ticket packages, but at least they include a laminated pass and a t-shirt.)
THEN, it was the "regular" prices for the rest of the venue:
$125 each 200 level
$90 each 300 level
$60 each 400 level
$30 each for the lawn
AND THEN, you get the Ticketmaster "convenience charge" of $11.50 and the building facility fee $3.75 per ticket. You can print your tickets at home, but that's another $2.50 per ticket, or snail mail them to your home for free.
The Poison ticket packages can only be picked up at the box office on the day of the concert. AC/DC also did this with their 2 shows at Skydome for the floor seats.
Why am I telling you this?
First off, I don't think Ticketmaster is in the Maritimes. You are lucky. For everyone else, they are lucky if Ticketmaster's site doesn't hang up before you complete your purchase. Otherwise, your reserved tickets are back on the table for someone else to grab.
Next, "Building Facility fees" could some day be levied on tickets at new facilities under construction or planned. Don't be surprised if you see this on tickets for the new stadium and arena in Moncton or Halifax. Also, don't be surprised if this "scheme" is used to finance and get these new buildings off the ground.
About Magnetic Hill: Wouldn't it be cool if they converted the VIP bleachers into permanent seating in the style of an Amphitheater? Maybe 6,000 seats around 20 rows? You could still have a "pit" area that could hold 1,500 or so. You could also still see the stage from the rest of the Hill like you can now. All concert goers would need to do is pay the dreaded building facility fee.
All in all, you can't complain about the prices for any of the outdoor concerts in the Maritimes. Compared to the scenario above, it's pretty good value and arguably better entertainment, depending on what music you like.
I remember seeing VIP tickets available for the concerts on The Hill, does anyone remember what they included exactly and how much $$$ they were?
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