U2 Ticket Prices - CLUAS Irish Indie Music

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Last Post 1/31/2005 10:36 PM by stephen

U2 Ticket Prices

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stephen

Basic Member
Posts:201

1/31/2005 10:36 PM
Guys and gals, I'm a happy man to have my mits on 4 U2 tix for the Twickenham gigs in the summer. But... why does a band like U2 need to charge £60 quid for the cheapest ticket in a 70,000 seater stadium? The band are wealthy beyond their dreams and they know the gig will see out. As many of my friends have pointed out, the new album feels like a retread and the ticket prices feel like a rip off... Do we have a right to expect more from the band?

Gar

Veteran Member
Posts:1676

1/31/2005 11:14 PM
Maybe its the big cake situation. Where eevryone gets a huge slice of the profits from Ticketmaster to PR companies to Stadium Officials to U2 themselves. After thsi tour, I reckon we won't hear from the lads for a long time so this could be worth the money you pay.

bonzo

Basic Member
Posts:364

2/1/2005 9:23 AM
First of all if you think its too expensive then don't go. Secondly, this will most certainly not be the last tour. 150M for 8/9 months work and everything else that comes with it?!

Mully

Advanced Member
Posts:849

2/1/2005 10:04 AM
quote: Originally posted by bonzo First of all if you think its too expensive then don't go. Its never gonna be that easy. People will give out, but pay for it because they want to be there. Nothing will change. Without kicking off about Ripoff Ireland, It seems (looking at Interpols European Tour) we are paying over the odds for gigs. Even local acts are fast approaching the 30quid mark as standard. I'm not saying they dont deserve their slice of the pie, but its not value for money.

bonzo

Basic Member
Posts:364

2/1/2005 10:23 AM
Bottom line is dont go then. If people voted with their cash then things might change. Hence I haven't bought a CD from HMV/Tower/Virgin in over a year and buy all my CDs online. I'm happy to pay 60 lids to see U2 but I won't pay 30 quid for a local act.

Mully

Advanced Member
Posts:849

2/1/2005 10:44 AM
I'm not going. All I'm saying is that by not going out of protest, someone else will be there to pay full whack in your place. Status Quo remains the same. U2 not a local act ... Agree totally on that one.

John Doe

Basic Member
Posts:338

2/1/2005 11:17 AM
I've been a U2 fan for 24 years. I've seen them play at every stage of their career from support act to headliners to the monster outfit they are today. I barely managed to get four tickets for Croke Park via the special website only sale ( for which I had to pay the princely sum of $40 before even getting any tickets ). I've been talking to fellow fans over the last few days and I can tell you all this: there is a huge backlash gathering pace against U2 at the moment over the farce of ticket distribution for this tour. We all know we're being ripped off big time. We're reluctant to blame U2 personally - their job is to make the music and then delegate all the business stuff to Paul McGuinness, Ticketba*stard etc - but personally I can see myself not going to see them after this tour is over. And there's a lot of us older hardcore fans feeling the same way. Watch this space.

bonzo

Basic Member
Posts:364

2/1/2005 11:47 AM
I really don't see what the problem is. Its the way they are selling the tickets, I was delighted to get my tickets early. I like being a member of the fan site as it allows me to see all the videos etc, and extra interviews. Why pay if you think its too expensive? It makes no sense. No one is forcing you to part with your cash. No one has really answered that one.

Vent My Spleen

Advanced Member
Posts:500

2/1/2005 12:59 PM
Personally, I think any band charging $40 for people to join a website for the privilage of getting the opportunity to buy tickets is shocking (and before I get flamed, I'm sure you get lots of stuff for your 40 dollars, but 90% of people joining will be for the sole purpose of getting their mits on the tickets). Is there a justification for this? We p*ss and moan about ticketmaster rape charges all the time, what is different about this process? That said, I live close enough to Croke Park to site in the auld garden, blow the froth off a few cans of special brew and enjoy the tunes without even having to look at bongo strutting his stuff. Sweet!

klootfan

Advanced Member
Posts:851

2/1/2005 1:36 PM
To be honest, i think the fans let the artists themselves off too easy when it comes to ticket prices. In the case of established artists, they must have some control over the ticket prices. People tend to blame the management company and leave it at that, but if the band had any respect for their fans they would try make sure that the price charged for tickets was reasonable. I remember going to see Snow Patrol in the Ambassador last year, and it was their first irish gig after they had broke the scene, at gigs prior to this gig, and including the Final Straw album launch gig, the t-shirts were selling for about 12 Euro. Quite a reasonable price. However at the ambassador gig the t-shirts had jumped to 25Euro. And there was a sign at the tshirt stand apologising for the price of the tickets and explaining that they were priced so high because everyone wanted a cut basically. A nice touch I felt.

Pilchard

Advanced Member
Posts:699

2/1/2005 1:55 PM
i was discussing this whole "u2 tickets shocker" thing last night and it strikes me that it's again proof of the U2 marketing/hype/promo pudding. ALL ticket sales are lotterys. there is a limited no of tickets available for ALL shows so there will always be unhappy people if and when a popular show sells out. some eejit was on 2fm last night giving out that he clicked onto ticketmaster to buy u2 tix in new york and they were all gone. hello? isnt this a natural state of affairs? MSG is 20k capacity. There are 8 million people in NYC. even if only 1 percent are u2 fans, that's still 80k people looking for tickets, not to mention those outside NYC who will travel to see the show. regarding u2 and dublin shows - there is ALWAYS some kind of kerfuffle, be it bishops demanding lower ticket prices (point, '89) or this current u2.com bad buzz. u2 are experts at ambient marketing. i see that theyve sold 8.5m copies so far of their worst album (HTDAAB) and we can expect them to have doubled this by the end of the tour. as for prices, the market charges what the market thinks it can get away with. remember neil young or dylan in vicar st? high tix prices but happy punters because they were seeing these acts up close and personnel. while this does not apply to u2, the charges are similar - they and their promoters know that people will go doodally to see them in croker hence the high prices. i know i'd pay a ton to see tom waits or bruce springsteen in somewhere like vicar st if i had the chance. the problem with u2 and ireland was identifed years ago by bill graham (the only decent writer Hot press - ah s**te, i mentioned them again - ever had). theres an expectation and a chip on the shoulder and a begrudgery thing going on which has dogged them here since they first went "big". anything which can be subtley used to give them a bang on the ear or a push or a shove or a kick up the arse is used. everyone just waits for u2 to complain and whinge about such treatment but they never will - sure, why take the time out from saving the world/counting their money/buying groovy art/cleaning their motorbikes/getting their haircut?

bonzo

Basic Member
Posts:364

2/1/2005 2:26 PM
All of the above comments are perfectly legitimate. If you are shocked, outraged and generally pissed off that U2 are charging huge prices for gigs and their website access then don't pay it and go about your merry way. If you do want to pay it then go right ahead. I think fair play to them.

Optimus

Basic Member
Posts:312

2/1/2005 2:50 PM
£60 a ticket? That sounds about right from the world biggest up their own arse band. I'm sick and tired of U2. "Oh they're so good". "I love them, they're great". "They're so talented and their lyrics mean something". It's all b****x! Simple as. U2 are a shadow of their former self. A hanful of decent songs does not a make a good. Nor does it justify the level at which the band are adored. The only talented one in the band is Larry Mullen and I pity him for having to do the same drum arrangements over and over, thanks largely to the less than talented efforts the Edge(of a coma) and Adam(couldnt be more "wierd" if I tried, honestly, I couldnt. Cos I'm mad I am.) Clayton. I dont know who they think they are and I dont know who anyone else thinks they are, but here be the truth. They're talentless, over-rated, over-paid, pathetic excuses for a real band, and whoever gave them their first big shot at the top should be hung, drawn and quartered. Now THATS something I'd pay £60 to see.

fairynuff

New Member
Posts:9

2/1/2005 2:59 PM
Ticket prices have become outrageous. It's a crying shame. The fans should'nt have to forgo a show to make the point. The artists have the sway, if they all took the stand (together)the problem would'nt effect as many people. Respect to Pearl Jam and the likes! It's not even a case of, if you dont want to pay dont go, some people just cant afford the price of tickets these days. Tis the greed industry.

bonzo

Basic Member
Posts:364

2/1/2005 3:25 PM
quote: Originally posted by fairynuff Ticket prices have become outrageous. It's a crying shame. The fans should'nt have to forgo a show to make the point. The artists have the sway, if they all took the stand (together)the problem would'nt effect as many people. Respect to Pearl Jam and the likes! It's not even a case of, if you dont want to pay dont go, some people just cant afford the price of tickets these days. Tis the greed industry. Maybe so, I hate paying Ticketmaster their commission but at the same time I want to see the shows that I go to. However, if I really thought it was too expensive to go I wouldn't. I paid 85 Euro to see the Stones at the Point, best money I ever spent gigwise.

bonzo

Basic Member
Posts:364

2/1/2005 3:27 PM
quote: Originally posted by Optimus £60 a ticket? That sounds about right from the world biggest up their own arse band. I'm sick and tired of U2. "Oh they're so good". "I love them, they're great". "They're so talented and their lyrics mean something". It's all b****x! Simple as. U2 are a shadow of their former self. A hanful of decent songs does not a make a good. Nor does it justify the level at which the band are adored. The only talented one in the band is Larry Mullen and I pity him for having to do the same drum arrangements over and over, thanks largely to the less than talented efforts the Edge(of a coma) and Adam(couldnt be more "wierd" if I tried, honestly, I couldnt. Cos I'm mad I am.) Clayton. I dont know who they think they are and I dont know who anyone else thinks they are, but here be the truth. They're talentless, over-rated, over-paid, pathetic excuses for a real band, and whoever gave them their first big shot at the top should be hung, drawn and quartered. Now THATS something I'd pay £60 to see. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Its what makes the world a wonderful place. However, to say U2 charge too much to their concerts is one thing, to call them talentless is quite another. Optimus, I know U2's style is not like your beloved Guns N'Roses or other similar heavy metal band but it shows some ignorance on your part to not at least recognise that they are talented.

Vent My Spleen

Advanced Member
Posts:500

2/1/2005 4:01 PM
Easy y'all! Whether U2 are talented/float your boat is irrelevant to the u2.com circus. I would be the first to salute them if they sold all of their tix through the website bypassing ticketmaster etc thus giving the band a bigger slice of the cake. But this is not the case here.

bonzo

Basic Member
Posts:364

2/1/2005 4:04 PM
No its not. Everyone is making buckets of cash. They sold 900000 tickets last week. People are so willing to part with their money to see the band. Some people think the prices are too high, they shouldn't go to the gigs then. They are not being disenfranchised, they just don't want to spend that type of money.

Optimus

Basic Member
Posts:312

2/1/2005 4:38 PM
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Its what makes the world a wonderful place. However, to say U2 charge too much to their concerts is one thing, to call them talentless is quite another. Optimus, I know U2's style is not like your beloved Guns N'Roses or other similar heavy metal band but it shows some ignorance on your part to not at least recognise that they are talented. Dont make assumptions there big mouth. They are talentless. They have a self reliance on one echo effect, the re-hashing of the last 3 records they've released and they know they'll sell tickets regardless. It's the Metallica syndrome all over again. U2 have become lazy. Compare them to the stones or zeppelin. There's no experimentation or diversity in U2. They have yet to hit THAT peak by which all of their other records are graded like every music fan the world over knows. And for your information, bon(z)o, because your assumptions are ridiculous, I used to like U2 before I woke up and decided that it was easier to ignore them like the talentless musicians that they are. They're such a lame export that are looked upon as the golden children of music. It's bulls**t. There's no talent in the same beats, the same effects, and the same crap lyrics. Call me crazy, but these days, I need something with a bit more heart and soul and less attractive packaging. But hey, thats me. I'm not as easily to manipulate and influence as the mass population are. Oh and guns n' roses, while admittedly being ONE of my favoured bands, are not metal. And U2, are definately NOT rock.

bonzo

Basic Member
Posts:364

2/1/2005 5:15 PM
Thats put me back in my box.

stlmurph

New Member
Posts:1

2/1/2005 6:29 PM
I think the ticket system in general is broken. All over the world. Its only when acts like U2, with the highest level of demand, are processed through the system, do the cracks in that system show. My hope/prayer is that U2 will do two things: 1) They will pay more attention to these things in the future. There is clearly a bond between the fans and the band that is very unique. They need to be more diligent than the average act. They certainly have the clout to demand this. 2) Mr. McGuiness needs to organize his peers with the other bands and try and bring some changes to the ticketing system in general around the world. We are all getting screwed by this process. We need to transfer the benefits from these ticket brokers back to the fans. If ticket "brokers" were able to operate in Ireland and handle tickets for Six Nations Rugby and similar events in Ireland like they do for shows in the US, there would be a bit more red tint to the color of the River Liffey. Just my opinion from the states. Murph' - St. Louis

stephen

Basic Member
Posts:201

2/2/2005 2:37 PM
quote: Originally posted by bonzo I really don't see what the problem is. Its the way they are selling the tickets, I was delighted to get my tickets early. I like being a member of the fan site as it allows me to see all the videos etc, and extra interviews. Why pay if you think its too expensive? It makes no sense. No one is forcing you to part with your cash. No one has really answered that one. Bonzo, I will attempt to answer your point now. As I pointed out before, U2 are amongst the wealthiest people that have ever lived on this island. Many many people have made their fortune on the back of the band and they well deserve it for the pleasure they have given millions over the world. The fact that U2 are charging the most for a standing ticket at a single gig in the history of the UK has to be accounted for. Rumour has it that the Rolling Stones continually tour to fend off the taxman (or to pay for MJ's latest love child...). For U2, who are assiduously managed, this surely cannot be the excuse. Just because 70,000 people are willing to pay £60 for a standing ticket (me included) does not make it right. I am confident U2 will make a huge profit from this tour - do they need to though?

Pilchard

Advanced Member
Posts:699

2/2/2005 2:57 PM
quote: Originally posted by stephen The fact that U2 are charging the most for a standing ticket at a single gig in the history of the UK has to be accounted for. really? find it very hard to believe that the likes of Simon & Garfunkel or Elton John or Paul McCartney or even those Stones have not charged more. its certainly not the most expensive ticket in ireland - Macca and S&G were more last summer and the summer before. not arguing with the thrust of your argument, more keen to see if this fact is true or not

bonzo

Basic Member
Posts:364

2/2/2005 3:32 PM
I take your points but I hate people who complain about anything that is expensive - just don't buy it. One exception - medicine and medical care.

Mully

Advanced Member
Posts:849

2/2/2005 3:59 PM
quote: Originally posted by bonzo I take your points but I hate people who complain about anything that is expensive - just don't buy it. One exception - medicine and medical care. You vote Fianna Fail, dont you ?!?

bonzo

Basic Member
Posts:364

2/2/2005 4:04 PM
quote: Originally posted by Mully quote: Originally posted by bonzo I take your points but I hate people who complain about anything that is expensive - just don't buy it. One exception - medicine and medical care. You vote Fianna Fail, dont you ?!? Im not sure what thats suppose to mean. Since sharing my opinions on this thread I've been called a loud mouth and while this comment is trying to be funny its slighty personal as well.

Mully

Advanced Member
Posts:849

2/2/2005 5:01 PM
quote: Originally posted by bonzo Im not sure what thats suppose to mean. Since sharing my opinions on this thread I've been called a loud mouth and while this comment is trying to be funny its slighty personal as well. You called someone ignorant, they called you a big mouth. Deal with it. Dont mind the FF comment. Its just the attitude that 'If you dont agree with the price, dont pay it', is nonsense. Its what has the country as the most expensive in Europe, & No I'm not going to move to Azerbijan ! Celtic Tiger, Rraaarrgghh. w*k. I know 70-80 quid is the cost of a quiet night out in Dublin, so if I stay in, then the ticket is paid for. But that is not the point. It is not value for money. Say I'm John Doe (sorry), A Huge fan but warey of the price. I dont go. What have I done except miss an amazing gig I really wanted to see. The cost is just gonna get higher for the next band to roll into town. Oh Look, Oasis for 60quid ... Next ! Madonna at Slane last year was the first time people didnt go. Madonna still got paid her 7.5mil per minute or whatever it was. MCD lost out. No sweat off their back, they'll just throw 3eur onto the cost of every ticket for the next 12mths. So Even by not paying, we are* paying.

bonzo

Basic Member
Posts:364

2/2/2005 5:11 PM
Wheres the happy medium in all this? Should bands do more free shows or cheaper shows?

Optimus

Basic Member
Posts:312

2/3/2005 10:02 AM
I apologise for calling you a loud mouth. But you made an assumption about me that was personal as well.

bonzo

Basic Member
Posts:364

2/3/2005 1:00 PM
No need to apologise although apology accepted. I also accept that when I used the word ignorance it was bang out of order.

bonzo

Basic Member
Posts:364

2/3/2005 2:50 PM
LETTER FROM LARRY MULLEN ON U2.COM: Dear beli This is not something that I would normally do, but I feel that I have to do something to redress this situation. There was a mess up in the way the tickets were distributed through U2.com for the Vertigo pre-sale. Some of it was beyond our control, but some of it wasn't. I am now in the process of figuring out a way of distributing the tickets for our intended return to North America in the fall. The only fair way of doing this, is to give U2 Propaganda members, who are now U2.com members, priority in the queue. After that, people will be given priority in the order in which they joined. Many people who joined U2.com and didn't get tickets are understandably angry. They now have the option to get a full refund of their subscription fee. The idea that our long-time U2 fans and scalpers competed for U2 tickets through our own website is appalling to me. I want to apologise to you who have suffered that. If your U2.com pre-sale experience has left you disappointed, I hope this will go some way towards reassuring you of our total commitment to our audience. Slainte Larry. By the way, a note to those so-called U2 fans who are quick to accuse U2 of unseemly behaviour, I've only got two words for you...

Mully

Advanced Member
Posts:849

2/3/2005 3:29 PM
quote: Originally posted by bonzo I've only got two words for you... Well ..... Dont leave us Hanging .... What are they ?!?

curling is great

New Member
Posts:22

2/3/2005 7:36 PM
I agree with optimus in that U2 are completley up their own arse in that they think they don't even have to try anymore. Of course they are talented but you have to admit they have lost it. There is no way there new album would get in my top ten Irish albums of last year. 60 euro is'nt too bad though but i won't be going

Gar

Veteran Member
Posts:1676

2/3/2005 9:12 PM
I disagree, I thought the new U2 album was quite good. One of the best Irish releases of last year in fact. Of course, it isn't their own personal best but I think that too many people are slating them for the sake of it really. I won't be getting a ticket for the Croker gig though. Maybe Cluas can blag a press pass for us poor reviewers....

Gar

Veteran Member
Posts:1676

2/4/2005 11:13 AM
Sold out in less than 60 minutes today for two shows. And I bet the touts got a huge lump of them. It's getting harder for music fans to actually get to gigs nowadays.

bonzo

Basic Member
Posts:364

2/4/2005 11:41 AM
quote: Originally posted by curling is great I agree with optimus in that U2 are completley up their own arse in that they think they don't even have to try anymore. Of course they are talented but you have to admit they have lost it. There is no way there new album would get in my top ten Irish albums of last year. 60 euro is'nt too bad though but i won't be going But the Brian McFadden album is good?

mutch

Basic Member
Posts:392

2/4/2005 1:10 PM
i was in the queue and could see the kids of the touts queueing, I felt rather angry to be honest. I'm not a big U2 fan (not a begrudger! honest!), was getting them for a mate who cant be in Ireland for work reasons and couldnt use his credit card (didnt actually get any at all in the end) but as you said Gar, the true fans couldnt get tickets cos of these complete wasters. Its a pity touts cant be banned from buying tickets the way football hooligans are barred from matches in England. Disgusting behaviour though. Wasters ruining what should be a great event fo fans of U2.

Wicker

Basic Member
Posts:185

2/4/2005 1:34 PM
oops, just realised you meant £60 Sterling... bit pricey alright what's the Irish price ? If I had a free ticket I still would not go as their latest album is nothing more than threading water in musical terms. They are well passed their peak and no longer keep my attention for too long

curling is great

New Member
Posts:22

2/4/2005 1:53 PM
Bryan Mcfaddens album is a lot better than U2's new album and you'll have no problem getting a ticket for one of his gigs so if all you crazy u2 fans did'nt get a ticket maybe Bryan will be playing Whealans soon.

roseanne barrs armpit

New Member
Posts:40

2/4/2005 3:14 PM
quote: Originally posted by curling is great Bryan Mcfaddens album is a lot better than U2's new album and you'll have no problem getting a ticket for one of his gigs so if all you crazy u2 fans did'nt get a ticket maybe Bryan will be playing Whealans soon. well said. i fully agree that bryan is a much more talented artist, and after seeing his last performance in whelans i would definitely recommend checking him out. hes on fire.

dope fiend

New Member
Posts:78

2/5/2005 4:56 PM
he does have that anthemic sound that the u2 fans exept with unquestioning loyalty every time. actung baby is cool it has a cock on the cover. u2 seem sound enough id like to chew the fat with them tell bono to stop dying his hair tell the edge that his two sounds are nice but its a bit boring a this stage

stroller

Advanced Member
Posts:576

2/5/2005 7:06 PM
quote: Originally posted by curling is great There is no way there new album would get in my top ten Irish albums of last year. I'm not been smart but did you actually manage to find ten decent Irish albums last year. I'd be intrigued to know what they were as I struggled to find half that number.

dope fiend

New Member
Posts:78

2/5/2005 7:30 PM
thats a hard one. im sure theres a few deadly albums sitting on someones harddrive or 8track or whatever waiting to be unleashed on the public. but cant even think of five

stroller

Advanced Member
Posts:576

2/5/2005 7:50 PM
I've seen U2 play three times in Ireland; at the RDS in 93, Lansdowne Road in 97 and Slane in 2001. Filled with youthful enthusiasm I really enjoyed the first two concerts but the Slane Gig was a serious let down. The fact that they were promoting the worst album of their career didn't help (although judging by what I've heard of their latest effort it doesn't seem any better). The simple truth is that they no longer feel that they've anything left to prove. Acthung Baby is their best work and while Zooropa, Passengers and Pop weren't entirely convincing at least they were interesting. Inconsistent as they were these albums contained some of the band's best work. But even more importantly they gave you the impression that the band were still striving to make relevant music and they still seemed open to new ideas. In short they were still trying to make an album as good or better than Acthung Baby. But when U2 released All That You Can't Leave Behind it was just an admission that they'd given up. They'd grown too lazy, too wealthy and too tired to even bother with trying to push new ground or experiment. They admitted artistic defeat and just started pedalling back to basics pub rock as a highly lucrative pension scheme. It's a shame, a real shame. As for there new stuff that Vertigo song just reminds me of She Sells Sanctuary and that can't be a good thing.

curling is great

New Member
Posts:22

2/6/2005 12:04 AM
I think there are easily 10 better Irish albums than U2's effort last year, As Keenan would say 'ahh here it goes': 1. Jeff Martin 2. Jimmy Behan 3. Jape 4. Republic of loose 5. Cathy Davey 6. redneck manifesto 7. David Kitt 8. Q 9. Snow Patrol 10. Bryan Mcfadden There ya go!

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