Sponsored by
Sellers cashing in on Take That mania
tAKE THAT FANS QUEUING AT THE STADIUM OF LIGHT
TICKETS for Take That’s performances in Sunderland are already on Internet sites selling more than 10 times their face value.
After massive demand for tickets – which went on sale yesterday – the band, pictured, has already announced it will be playing a second gig in the city, but demand for tickets is still outstripping supply.
Ticket websites and phone lines crashed under the strain of hundreds of thousands of fans clamouring for tickets to see Robbie Williams taking to the stage with his old band mates for the first time in about 16 years.
And, fearing they wouldn’t get the hottest tickets in town, Take That fans from across the country turned up at the Stadium of Light to make sure they would see their idols next year.
Now many fans have expressed disgust with people who got tickets and are then trying to make money out of genuine fans.
On eBay bids for a pair of tickets for the first gig in Sunderland – with a face value of £110 – were at more than £1,000.
Tanya Kane, the first Take That fan to get her hands on tickets yesterday, said the blatant profiteering was “disgusting”.
Tanya, 28, of Winlaton, Gateshead, queued for more than 72 hours to make sure she was first in line when the ticket office opened. She said: “It’s absolutely disgusting that they are selling them for that much money.
“The ones I bought for other people were for those who couldn’t stand and queue. The fact that they are going on ebay is disgusting.
“Tickets should be printed with people’s faces on or their names so things like this don’t happen.”
Problems with ticketing websites yesterday kept queues outside the Stadium of Light bulging throughout the day.
Husband and wife Martin and Michelle Atkinson had come from their home in North Shields to buy six tickets. Mrs Atkinson said: “I have tried to get on all day but it just hasn’t worked so we ended up coming down.”
And Mum Linda Sime, from Washington, brought her children and Fiona, 11, and Ross, eight, to the Stadium to join the queue. She said: “I’m lucky that they are on half-term so I could bring them down, because I’ve been a big fan of Take That for a while now.”
Catherine Spence, from Bedale in North Yorkshire, had panicked after she was unable to get tickets online deciding to drive almost an hour north to queue.
She said: “I’ve never seen them before so I didn’t want to take the chance that I won’t get tickets. When I couldn’t get through I ran out of the house without a coat on, got in the car drove up.”
It is thought profiteers could make an estimated £10million by selling on tickets to desperate Take That fans.
With the return of Robbie Williams demand for tickets is thought to have exceeded all previous UK records surpassing Michael Jackson’s ill-fated This Is It tour, Oasis’ 2009 stadium tour and Madonna’s 2008 and Sticky and Sweet tour.
Ticketmaster said the demand was at least double that seen when tickets for Michael Jackson’s planned comeback at the O2 arena went on sale last spring.
A spokeswoman said: “Due to totally unprecedented demand all ticket agents have struggled to cope with the number of people logging on to try and buy Take That tickets.
“The technology available has not been able to keep up with demand however all ticket agents are confident they will be able to process all enquiries so are asking fans to keep trying.”
A Take That spokesperson urged fans to keep trying.
Police have warned fans not to buy from unofficial agencies, whom they said may not fulfil orders and may use personal details in identity theft.
Edward Parkinson, from ticket website Viagogo, said: “Fans need to be extra vigilant when they see a site offering Take That tickets and should not judge a site by its appearance; they must do their homework before they buy. Check to see whether the website has been endorsed by events or brands that you recognise. Legitimate ticket resale websites will have partnerships with leading entertainment properties.”
- Despite the problems more than a million tickets were sold for Take That concerts across the country.
A statement from the band said: “We are speechless, truly and utterly shocked. This is the most amazing news for all of us. To sell one million tickets in a day is mind blowing and we think we will be in shock for a few days.”
SELL, SELL SELL!
TAKE That fans are scrambling to get their hands on tickets - at any price.
• 35 bidders battled for two standing tickets “get as close as you possibly can” in Wembley for £999,999 on eBay for 2 standing tickets in Wembley.
The vendor, from Stoke on Trent also asks for £4.99 for postage.
•Another set of tickets listed as “X2 TAKE THAT ROBBIE TICKETS LONDON WEMBLEY SAT 2ND JULY” currently has 20 bids, currently at £250,300.00 with £4 for postage from a vendor in Swindon
•The top price for tickets in Manchester so far is £500 for two standing
•Several pairs of standing tickets were up for minimum bids of £700 at Hampden Glasgow
•The top price for a standing pair at the Dublin gig on Saturday, June 18 was £450
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sunderland
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 26 mph
Wind direction: West
Comments
There are 5 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
davylad
Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 09:15 PM55 quid to watch Take That? Its not the touts who are ripping people off...
Offshoremackem
Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 05:23 PMSurely people are not that gullible that others will want to jump the queue, of course they will. Start off a pushing and shoving then all hell lets loose, Been there done that never again. As for people selling tickets, well let them get on with it, if people are daft enough to buy them at high prices. By the way I thought people had no money???? £50 a ticket is too expensive plus how much it is going to cost on the day for refreshments etc. Just wait awhile and tickets will sell for a lot less.
Tucky
Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 04:47 PMIts funny to see people complain about people selling tickets yet the ticket company basically endorses it. They gave everyone a 8 ticket limit surely a 4 ticket limit would suffice also the ticket master re sale site has tickets up for 3x face value and they will get commision for re selling that can be more than the price of the tickets themselves. After camping in line I can honestly say after the night I put up with drunks, fireworks and freezing weather along with a rude awakening at 5.30am to quickly pack my tent away as people at the back decided to jump the ques while the majority had just woke up and tried to pack up these people who resell for a higher price are alright to sell tickets onto people who were too lazy to get in line and if it makes money especially in this day and age no one cares about ethics or morals they make money from demands of take that fans just because some people feel its wrong wont stop it happening.
Tucky
Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 04:41 PMIts funny to see people outraged yet people sat in the
darren
Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 04:31 PMDisgusting. who says we are skint and in a recession when people have more money than sense.......
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.