U2 Tour Dates - Now Official!- Page 3

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 9:44pm

Mabel! Are you trying for Boston or MSG?

That post you had made me sick. *shakes head* I'm glad I didn't get the membership though. You can only buy 1 show, 2 tickets per membership code, and there's only a small percentage of seats sectioned off for members. Good in theory, crappy for those who really would do anything for tickets.

I'm wondering what would be better - camping out at Ticketmaster/B.O., trying over the phone or online. What do you think?

[mabel]

Posted: 1/25/05 at 10:09pm

Tiff, I'm going to school in NYC now, but I'll be done in early May, so I'm shooting for one of the Boston shows (I live in NH, and the friend I'm going w/'s father lives just outside of Boston). I heard (also from one of the previous ticketbastard employees) that your best bet is at one of the ticketmaster service facilities (I know they're at Filene's dept. stores in NH, and there's one right down the street from me at J&R music) so I think that's where I'm going to try for tix on Sat. That's actually how I got tix to two of the last three concerts I went to (Elton John/Billy Joel and Paul McCartney...both the day tix went on sale). For the John/Joel concert, we were getting six tix, and couldn't really make up our minds and the tix just kind of vanished before our eyes (ended up being pretty sucky seats and rather pricey!), and for McCartney, I got a pair of the cheapest tix($50), the first that came up. They ended up being pretty decent (sure, they were way the hell up there, but they were close-ish to the stage...high, but not far back, if that makes sense?!?!) The other concert was REM in Nov. and I went to the box office at MSG a couple hours before the show and got a nosebleed.

I don't know...I don't really have all that much faith in getting decent seats. I think I'll hope for GA, and if they're all gone, then I'll have to go for nosebleeds and hope that they add more shows in locations I can go to (they HAVE to add more NYC and Boston...whether it's on this leg or the tour or somewhere down the road...no way are they only playing one date at MSG...but still, I'd rather play it safe and at least get nosebleeds this time around. Better than nothing, I suppose. I think I really just want a great GA floor spot, because I had such a fabulous time at the Brooklyn gig (I wanna be CLOSE). That was the closest I've ever been for a concert (no actually, that's not true...a few years ago my mom and I saw Elton John from the first row...we got tix the day of. Must have been turn-ins from scalpers...But that's kind of moot, because it's not like being front and center for Elton John, is anything like being up close for U2!!!) Anyway, nosebleeds can be okay. I had a blast (alone...sigh...) at the REM concert. I think I should keep telling myself that, because I have a feeling that's what it's going to be come Saturday.

I'm sending out positive vibes for all you ticket seekers!!

[Jim2]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 12:01am

I am going to try to get tickets for one of the Boston shows this Saturday. Any suggestions on the best way to get tickets?

I would like to avoid going to a Ticketmaster outlet since my experience has always been a large number of people waiting in an unorganized line not to mention the person running the ticket machine really doesn't move that fast and could care less if you get tickets or not.

Would ordering online or on the phone be my best bet?

Thanks everyone for your help!

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 12:05am

Jim, that's what I'm contemplating too. Perhaps both at the same time? I just don't know what's the fastest way to get floor seats.

[Ellie3]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 12:10am

I'm just going to go with online. It's faster, and (hopefully), easier to get tickets by. I mean, say if tickets sell out in 20 mins, and there's a 25 minute line! That would just not do. Online allows you to jump the line, so that's what'll be doing! Of course, you'll probably all end up with tickets, while I'll be crying into my Guinness.

[MadeofGold]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 2:31am

Thanks for the info and I'm so glad I didn't join up. I'm probably going to go for the online ordering as well and hope for the best.

*crosses fingers*

[mabel]

Posted: 1/26/05 at 9:01am

I think I'm going to go to the ticketmaster outlet around 9:30 and if there's a huge line, go back to my dorm and try that. Though, I'm leery of getting the tix online after reading some of the members sob stories yesterday (people that were on ticketmaster at 10:00 sharp, had the tickets selected, and then they just disappeared as they put their credit card info. in...seemed to happen to several people). Basically, it sounded like by 10:05 or so, all the GA's were gone (what, did they just set aside a couple hundred? I would think that the floor section would hold at least a thousand people, wouldn't it?) I don't really know what the best ticket route is. I honestly don't go to concerts all that often (because they're so damnned expensive) and I certainly never end up trying for the best seats that everyone is scrambling for.

ETA: I love how all the ads on eBay say "Impossible to fine tickets" or "Best deal out there." Yeah, they're impossible to get because jerks like you are scoffing 80% of the tix up before they even go on presale, and I hardly call $500 for a pair of tix that cost $100 (that I'd still have to camp out in line all day to get a decent spot) the "best deal"...it's a raw deal! That's what it is!!!

Updated On: 1/26/05 at 09:01 AM

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 3:44pm

I don't know what pisses me off more - the aSshole scalpers who are selling those goddamn GA tickets at 15 times the actual price (I actually say yesterday 2 tickets going for >$1200!!!); or TicketBastard, who ROYALLY screwed over all of the US and Europe pre-sale members!! Aren't we all glad we didn't by the membership? Yeesh. I can only imagine (and dread) what the regular sale will look like!

Here's an active U2 forum that details all the nightmares going on right now.

http://forum.interference.com/f230.html

Does anyone know, when rollover dates are announced (in other words, additional dates in already-announced cities), do these dates normally come before or after the confirmed date? And how soon do these dates go on sale?

[mabel]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 5:52pm

I have yet to see anything about additional dates being added, but I'd be willing to bet they are pretty much inevitable. I would think they'll probably announce them sometime after the other tix go on sale this weekend/early next week (aka, after the masses go crazy scrambling for tix). I've also been reading theories that most of the people selling tix on eBay/craigslist don't actually have tix in hand...that they're just testing out the demand waters and assuming that they'll be able to pick them up when the gen. public sales start this weekend. I'm not sure if I really believe that, but I read (somewhere) on u2log.com that a member had been talking to a scalper (a low end scalper, mind you, who pretty much scalps to pay for his own tix...something like that, I don't remember) but the jist of it was that he didn't physically have tix yet, but he's been advertizing GA's on eBay. Sounds really screwy to me. I feel terrible to say this, but I'm kind of glad they didn't let the members have free reign. I read there were something like 90,000 members (many who likely joined the night before) and they were each able to get two tix. I would think that would put a HUGE dent in the tix available. Sorry to be selfish, but I've never been to a full on U2 concert (just the hour or so in Bkln, which only whetted by appetite!) and I frankly can't afford $40 for the sole purpose of getting first dibs on tix. Granted I'm not a diehard fan, but I sure as hell love them more than (likely) thousands of scalpers who paid $40, which would prove to be a drop in the bucket for tix that they can sell for thousands. It's a stretch for me to spend $50 on a ticket. Add $40 to that, and the ticketbastard fees, I'm up over $100 for my GA ticket...not an option! It's either going to be impossible to get tix, because 80% of them have indeed already been shipped off to brokers (not to mention the inevitable system overload come 10am). Then again, maybe I'm just freaking out for nothing. Maybe there'll be GA's available (or at least some quasi-decent nosebleeds...seriously, if they're sort of close to the stage and high up, I could deal w/ that...I guess). I just really hate the fact that these scalpers are totally taking advantage, and I REALLY hate that people are stupid enough to buy them. Come on folks, if you'd just NOT buy them, they wouldn't keep selling them and hiking up the price. I wish there'd be some mass decison to boycott scalpers! We must band together!!! I'd seriously never buy a scalped ticket...now, procuring the concert I missed, well, I wouldn't put that past me...that's another matter altogether!

Updated On: 1/27/05 at 05:52 PM

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 9:55pm

Exactly Mabel. There's some rumors floating around of unlisted Ticketmaster phone numbers in all the major cities that allow people to cut through the busy signal, and people on the forum I linked previously have said they heard that all of the GA tickets have been released to scalpers and "brokers" already, which I'm so angry about if this is true.

Don't apologize for being selfish. I'm glad members didn't get free reign too. It's not fair to the non-members who would like at least a shot to get *something*! The biggest fiasco aside from Ticketmaster.com and .co.uk stalling was that I believe the tickets sold for MSG had the incorrect seating chart, so people thought they were buying the best stand seats in the house, and suddenly they checked and their top dollar seats were actually at the back of the arena, farthest away from the stage!

[Ellie3]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 11:26pm

I want my tickets NOW. Just for peace of mind. It's not every day you get to see Bono thrust his crotch wildly in person!

[mabel]

Posted: 1/28/05 at 9:29am

Here here, Ellie!!! (Is that even the right spelling for "here here?!?! Is there supposed to be a comma between them?!?!!?...hmmm) Anyway, the madness begins for me tomorrow. I know whatever I decide to do, I'll wish I did the opposite! If I go to Ticketmaster (even if there are only a handful in front of me) it'll undoubtedly be slow as hell, and I'll kick myself for not fending for myself. Likewise, if I man the computer(s) (I'm thinking of taking over a couple in the computer lab in the dorms...no one's ever in there) and get timed out, I'll kick myself for not going w/ the safer bet of having a ticketmaster employee working the keyboard. I don't know. I have a day to finalize my plan of attack, and I'm sure I'll go back and forth several times.

And Tiff, it irritates the hell out of me at the possibility of scalpers getting all of the GAs!!! I think I've only read two or three cases of members getting them! I didn't want them to scoff them up, but a hundred or so across the WORLD (from the responses, it sure doesn't seem like it could be much more than that!) is totally insane! Damn you scalpers! May you have bad karma for all things you want to buy in this life and any potential lives to follow!!! "Damn! Why can I never find jeans that fit any more?!?!" "This movie is already sold out, and I drove 40 minutes to get here! Noooo!" That's what you get for scalping, my friend!!! Bad buying karma! (I'm pissed but wishing these jerks bad anything beyond that seems kind of harsh, even if the whole idea is pretty silly anyway!...Oh, nevermind )

[mabel]

Posted: 1/29/05 at 9:47am

Well, so much for my genius idea of goign to the Ticketmaster down the street to get tix for Boston. They only had MSG and NJ tix (that go onsale Monday!) Pity, because there was no one there! (I guess that's probably why though) Oh well, it was good fun basically be told I'm a jackass for wanting to blow money on U2 anyway, while the TM guy made fun of all the masses that will inevitably turn up on Monday to see "Bone-o" (mustn't forget the humorous little dance he did along w/ it!) Oh well, I'm off...manning a couple of computers in the lab in the dorms (learned the other day that if you open more than one browser they just get timed out...at least that's what happened the time I tried). Best of luck y'all!

UPDATE: I got two REALLY bad seats, but hell at least I'll be there! They're in Sec 310...nosebleeds and WAY in the back of the arena. Whatever! At least I'll be there! I can pretend I can see Bono! It was insane! In processing my order (after waiting 10 minutes or so for it to process!) it said there was an error and to return to the event page...I almost cried right here in the computer lab (see, I guess I really will enjoy my crappy seats...they are indeed better than not having them, because I was seriously about to freak out!). So, I went to the my accounts page and put in all of the billing info again, and got a printout saying "Your tickets have been purchased and are in the process of being printed." so that's good! Other dates are popping up on ticketmaster, so keep you eyes peeled!

Updated On: 1/29/05 at 09:47 AM

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 1/29/05 at 12:43pm

Aw, Mabel, I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. I would have cried if I were you! I'm glad you got tickets, though. You're seeing U2, that's all that matters! I'm trying for tickets on Monday for MSG, wish me luck! If I want to call ticketmaster, when should I call? A few minutes before tickets go on sale? I'm going to try to get them online, but I figure calling at the same time might also work, right?

[grownupgroupie]

Posted: 1/29/05 at 2:37pm

#1Elphie, Tiff, Ellie, good luck with Tix!!!!

Mabel, I sent you a VERY long PM back re: tix and seat opinions You will have an amzing time, nosebleed or no!!

Elphie, I got tix this morning for San Diego and I had better luck with online than the phone--never got through on the phone a single time and I was hitting redial the entire time I was online.

So guys, what do you think: closer behind the stage, or further up on the side? (We got VERY VERY lucky to have the choice and have to decide what to keep and what to sell.)

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/29/05 at 3:24pm

I'm sort of confused, Mabel - so did you get tix for MSG or Boston? Which one is going onsale when? My friends are saying they'd rather get seats - as in actually seats - instead of GA because we'd need to be camping out 2 days before if we want a hope of getting close to the stage, and we figure we'd rather be higher up and actually get to see Bono (Bone-oh??!) than on the floor at the back of the area seeing the tip of his hair. So I might be getting nosebleeds at the back of the arena too!

Groupie, I would say closer behind the stage, personally, because I'm more about the proximity, even if it means adoring Bono's bottom instead of his face. Plus it's likely he'll be turning around a few times to play to the back, but there's nothing he can do to get closer to the people farther away on the side! Which one did you choose? Are you selling your other ones on eBay? (I would say start selling at face value, so we can't murder you for ripping people off!)

ETA: #1Elphie, I'd recommend online instead of telephone if you can help it.

Updated On: 1/29/05 at 03:24 PM

[grownupgroupie]

Posted: 1/29/05 at 3:57pm

Thanks for the thoughts Tiff....we haven't decided which ones to use yet, but we'll either sell the other ones to friends or sell them on craigslist....for what we paid, I think, because I can't have that evil vulture karma of those brokers who are selling them for like, $955!!! Evil!!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/29/05 at 4:01pm

Mabel, I sat in section 310 for Bowie at the Fleet Center. It was a surprisingly great vantage point. As luck would have it, the sound mix was pristine, and I assume U2's will be as well. Between that and the large screen projections (another U2 staple), I couldn't have been more surprised by how fine the seats were.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/29/05 at 4:08pm

Mabel, the Fleet Center official site has a floorplan where you can enter your section and see how the concert view is. It doesn't look all that bad! (How much did you get the tickets for?)

http://www.fleetcenter.com/seatviewfinder.asp?CHART=endstage&SECTION=1

Namo, I remember you had a U2 avatar a while back. Are you trying to get tickets?

Groupie, for your amusement, I bring you the current eBay list for U2 tickets. I'm glad to see most of them haven't been bidded on, but I'm sure closer to the concert date, the prices will be much higher than this!

http://search.ebay.com/u2-concert-tickets_W0QQfkrZ1QQfromZR8

[grownupgroupie]

Posted: 1/29/05 at 5:02pm

Tiff, before I forget, I LOOOVE the "Gollum Flyn Boyle" avatar. NICE!!

Thanks for posting that ebay link. People are just evil.

Oh, and speaking of the bigscreens they always feature (Namo mentioned as well....) can you see those from behind the stage?
Still unsure where we'll decide to sit. If there are any BWW users in SoCal looking for tix, pm me since we will have a pair to spare once we decide.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/29/05 at 5:03pm

If it was me, I wouldn't pick the behind the stage seats. But that's me.

[mabel]

Posted: 1/29/05 at 6:11pm

1.) Tiff: Arg to confusion. Long story short, I've got tix for Tuesday the 24nd in Boston. I live in NH, go to school in NY, school ends the first week of May, so I'll be in NH by the end of May, and hence, will catch the concert in Boston. Since I'm in NY now, I figured I'd try to get tix at a Manhattan ticketmaster, since there wouldn't be much demand for shows in Boston (alas, they only sold tix for the tristate area), so my strategery (it was funny when Dubbya said it, but typed out, it just looks like I can't spell!) didn't end up helping me any! To add fuel to the "where the hell is mabel seeing U2 anyway" fire: Since NY's only a bus ride away Boston, I'm half tempted to try getting something cheap for the MSG show too, when they go on sale Monday. The more I type this out, the more confusing it ends up sounding!!!

2. I checked the Fleet "view from your seat thing" and I initially typed in 301 (numerically dyslexic moment!) and got all excited, until I realized it was really 310 that I meant. It'll still be fine, but 301 looked a lot better!

3. Namo, thanks for your imput about the Bowie concert! Good to know someone sat there and has positive feedback about it! I'm in the 15th row, so it's a hell of ways back, but that's okay!

4. My 310 tix were $50 each, plus all the ticketmaster charges ($121 for a pair).

5. groupie, I emailed you an even LONGER response to your PM.

6. I don't know why I'm numbering these...it's kind of annoying! Sorry!!!

7. Best of luck to Elphie trying for MSG on Monday, and Tiff (don't remember when Vancouver goes on sale, but good luck too!!!)

Updated On: 1/29/05 at 06:11 PM

[Jim2]

Posted: 1/29/05 at 7:02pm

What a nightmare trying to get tickets. Forget the phone. I never got through-just a lot of busy signals. Online wasn't that much better but I was able to get two tickets for the show that was added on Saturday night. The seats are not that great, section 322, row 13. I figured that even though they are behind stage, they are better than nothing.

[mabel]

Posted: 1/30/05 at 2:17pm

Awww, I just got an email back from my friend that I'm bringing to the U2 concert, and she said she was so excited to finally see U2 live, she thought she was going to cry! I can't wait till May! Good luck to all you MSG-ers and all the other dates that go on sale to the general public tomorrow!

Oh, and to Elphie: I read online several people got GAs calling TM by phone, so I suppose it really couldn't hurt for you to call while you're manning the computer too. I think you're best bet is probably on-line, but if you've got a friend or something that can call while you're on the computer, that may be a good idea (cover as many bases as possible).

Oh yeah, and my other word of wisdom is to keep your eyes peeled right at ten when the tix go on sale for an added date or two for MSG. That's what they did for the Fleet in Boston, and I read that several people got GAs for the third show that they added right at 10. Most people probably weren't expecting it to be added right away, and were more preoccupied tring to get tix for the two dates that were already announced (I know that's what I did). It took me a couple of minutes to notice the third date, because I was too busy clicking away at the others, and by then it was pretty much too late. I'd be willing to bet almost anything that they'll add at least one MSG show at 10. Even though they're supposed to come back for another US leg in the fall, I can't believe that they'll only do one date in NYC for this first spring leg.

Again, best of luck!!!

[Jim2]

Posted: 1/30/05 at 11:44pm

Best of luck tomorrow morning to everyone trying to get U2 tickets for the MSG show. As previously suggested, make sure and watch for them to add more shows. That's how I got my FleetCenter tickets, they added a third show.