I have to admit I like several of Bon Jovi songs and would like to see him in concert (within reason). I know that opens me up for heaping piles of scorn but nevertheless that's the way I am.
So, his 2018 tour begins in Denver where I live. Just for fun, I looked at ticket prices. The lowest price I found, as far away from the stage in the upper arena as you can get and still be in the building, is $73/ticket. Two sections away from the stage in the upper arena goes for $150/ticket. In the lower arena in the very back, it's $270. On the floor it's $600-$5500 per ticket ($5500 is front row center).
I've been to plenty of concerts in my 54+ years. I make well above average income. Denver is a pretty expensive place to live. Who is buying all of these tickets? I'm to the point that I don't want to just be in the building for a concert or sporting event, I want to have a pretty good seat. And I know the guy has a ton of hits and fans, but take your significant other to the concert in the lower arena, park, eat at an above average restaurant, have a few beers at the concert. It's > $1000 for freakin' Bon Jovi! Guess I can rest easy knowing that, in my mind, there isn't a musical act playing today that I'd pay $1000 to see.
I realize ticket prices for entertainment have skyrocketed over the past 20 years. But this just seems ridiculous. I guess if there are enough idiots out there willing to pay these prices, God bless 'em. I went to see Reckless Kelly in the Old Boulder Theater and was standing 4 feet from the stage and the tickets cost me $27 apiece. Obviously, Bon Jovi is a much bigger draw but, for my money, there is no way he can put on a 10X better show. Have tickets for concerts passed the point of diminishing return, i.e. are there empty seats at these prices vs. having a sellout at 1/2 the price? Bon Jovi doesn't care but, if it were me, I'd rather play in front of a packed house vs. one that's only 70% full, especially at BJ's level where he doesn't need the money and is playing as much for the rush as anything else.
So, his 2018 tour begins in Denver where I live. Just for fun, I looked at ticket prices. The lowest price I found, as far away from the stage in the upper arena as you can get and still be in the building, is $73/ticket. Two sections away from the stage in the upper arena goes for $150/ticket. In the lower arena in the very back, it's $270. On the floor it's $600-$5500 per ticket ($5500 is front row center).
I've been to plenty of concerts in my 54+ years. I make well above average income. Denver is a pretty expensive place to live. Who is buying all of these tickets? I'm to the point that I don't want to just be in the building for a concert or sporting event, I want to have a pretty good seat. And I know the guy has a ton of hits and fans, but take your significant other to the concert in the lower arena, park, eat at an above average restaurant, have a few beers at the concert. It's > $1000 for freakin' Bon Jovi! Guess I can rest easy knowing that, in my mind, there isn't a musical act playing today that I'd pay $1000 to see.
I realize ticket prices for entertainment have skyrocketed over the past 20 years. But this just seems ridiculous. I guess if there are enough idiots out there willing to pay these prices, God bless 'em. I went to see Reckless Kelly in the Old Boulder Theater and was standing 4 feet from the stage and the tickets cost me $27 apiece. Obviously, Bon Jovi is a much bigger draw but, for my money, there is no way he can put on a 10X better show. Have tickets for concerts passed the point of diminishing return, i.e. are there empty seats at these prices vs. having a sellout at 1/2 the price? Bon Jovi doesn't care but, if it were me, I'd rather play in front of a packed house vs. one that's only 70% full, especially at BJ's level where he doesn't need the money and is playing as much for the rush as anything else.
