Bon Jovi at the O2 Arena
I have been lucky enough to see Bon Jovi live in concert 3 times (Wembley Stadium, Manchester Maine Road and Coventry Ricoh) - and they have been 3 of the best concerts I have been to. I would not have hesitated to go to a Bon Jovi concert again - after all - they were the soundtrack to my youth! But it seems I will not be going this tour.
Bon Jovi have taken up a residency at the O2 Arena (formerly the Millenium Dome) in London. The venue is not the issue. Trains down to London are dirt cheap booked in advance (about £9.50 each way) - the issue is the price of the tickets.
Bearing in mind there is a recession on, how can the promoters justify the ridiculous prices being quoted by the OFFICIAL ticket agents for this tour.
Lets examine them. Below is the seating plan for the O2.
To get in blocks B1/2/3 and the unmarked Red Blocks on the floor will cost you £100-200 a ticket (£200 for the B Blocks)
To get in A1/2/3 will cost you £575 a ticket! (although you do get the following 'benefits') :-
Parking (normally around £25)
Fast Track Entry into venue (wow - really needed as they are reserved seats anyway)
Pre-show party
Bowl food menu and unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks (you would need to get so drunk that you would not see the show to get your moneys worth!)
DJ and entertainment
Merchandise and souvenir laminate (you are paying for the merchandise - it aint free)
Personal hostesses
After show party
Now here is the real laugh. To get front row - you will be expected to drop £1100 per ticket (although again you do get 'benefits')
Premium seats in front row centre.
VIP parking
3-course dinner with wine in Chairman's Lounge at The O2
Backstage Tour
Limited edition merchandise and souvenir laminate
Personal hostesses
Escort to seats
Return to Chairman's Lounge Post-show VIP entry into after-show party
Then just to confuse matters there are the Silver Package (£650)
Premium seat in Blocks A1, A2 and A3 on the floor
Parking
Fast Track Entry into venue
Pre-show party
Bowl food menu and limited beer, wine and soft drinks
DJ and entertainment
Merchandise and souvenir laminate
Personal hostesses
After show party
and the Gold Package (£920)
Premium seats in Rows B to E in the VIP Circle
V.I.P. Parking
Fast Track Entry into venue
V.I.P. Area with pre/post show bar with table service
Bowl food menu and unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks
DJ and entertainment
Backstage Tour
Limited edition merchandise and souvenir laminate
Personal hostesses
After show party
How many Bon Jovi / Rock fans want these extras? Im sure they are capable of finding their own seats without an escort! And with a personal hostess for each ticket booking, surely people are going to get pretty fed up with these hostesses constantly walking in front of everyone to bring drinks?
Speaking as a rock fan - all I want is a ticket and preferably one I dont have to remortage the house to buy! Admittedly there are seats at £45 and £75 but to quote Ticketmaster's site - "Seats located on Level 4 (Upper Tier, Upper Bowl) are not recommended for those who have a fear of heights." ( and if you dont believe them - take a look at this video )
The big irony in this situation is that Bon Jovi's album is 'influenced' by the current financial situation and contains a song about it called 'Work for the Working Man'. Seems to me that these ticket prices exclude the working man.............
As a side note - I have this week purchased tickets for Kiss (arguably one of the biggest/most spectacular rock shows). They cost me £40 each! They are doing 4 dates in the UK. Puts things in perspective when you consider I could have gone to all 4 dates for less than 1 decent positioned seat for Bon Jovi!......Food for thought indeed!
Steve
