backflip said:

I am only 2.5 hours from chicago, but think i'm going 2 hold out for a weekend date...2 much 2 take vacation in the middle of the week...hopefully we will see some weekend dates in chicago, but if not...maybe somewhere close by????

Orionforever said:

Camille71 said:

Anyone know when the third nite will go on sale? Thanks

We talked to a lady that works with Live Nation and she said to her knowledge there would NOT be any more shows in Chicago right now.. but she said that COULD change..

but she said from what she was told there would only be 2... We will have to wait and see...

A residency of two days?

is the venue too big or Chicago and surroundings not big enugh for a decent residency?

MikeA said:

backflip said:

I am only 2.5 hours from chicago, but think i'm going 2 hold out for a weekend date...2 much 2 take vacation in the middle of the week...hopefully we will see some weekend dates in chicago, but if not...maybe somewhere close by????

I would not hold my breath for a weekend date in Chicago. The second show is not selling that well and chances are the third night may not happen if sales don't pick up. That is the reason that third date has not gone on sale yet. What this means for rumored Detroit dates I don't know. I would like to think Detroit would handle at least two Prince shows but the economy here sucks worse than Chicago so you never know.

Apparently Ticketmaster is not aware that the shows aren't selling well. I just checked and there is nothing available for 9/24. The only seats available for 9/25 are in the nosebleeds (300s). Where are all the tickets? The broker sites and Stubhub don't have great seats, most of theirs are behind the stage. I got good seats for both nights, so I am happy. I intially wondered with the small window of time and the worst nights of the week - Monday and Tuesday if there might be a problem selling tix. However, from what I have heard and seen the tix are selling, well they have sold. So, I found your comment interesting. Do you have a source regarding the sales?

[Edited 9/10/12 12:09pm]

errant said:

The chances of me being available to go to an aftershow on the 24th are very, very slim. Gald to know ahead of time that it's an Andy Allo showcase

Yeah, I thought the same thing. The Ryder Cup is in Chicago that week, too - and Sweetie wants to go to a practice round. I am not going to stand for hours at a GA show for Andy - especially if I'm going to have to drag my tired ass around a golf course the next day.

bellanoche said:

MikeA said:

I would not hold my breath for a weekend date in Chicago. The second show is not selling that well and chances are the third night may not happen if sales don't pick up. That is the reason that third date has not gone on sale yet. What this means for rumored Detroit dates I don't know. I would like to think Detroit would handle at least two Prince shows but the economy here sucks worse than Chicago so you never know.

Apparently Ticketmaster is not aware that the shows aren't selling well. I just checked and there is nothing available for 9/24. The only seats available for 9/25 are in the nosebleeds (300s). Where are all the tickets? The broker sites and Stubhub don't have great seats, most of theirs are behind the stage. I got good seats for both nights, so I am happy. I intially wondered with the small window of time and the worst nights of the week - Monday and Tuesday if there might be a problem selling tix. However, from what I have heard and seen the tix are selling, well they have sold. So, I found your comment interesting. Do you have a source regarding the sales?

[Edited 9/10/12 12:09pm]

We pulled up a ton of ticket brokers all over the place and they ALL have ALOT of tickets for sale.. so does Ebay and Craigslist... They may of sold from the arena.. but how many butts will fill the seats is the question..?? He needs to figure stuff out soon tho cause the lady we talked to that is a big head of Live nation ticket sales.. who works directly with the United Center said that the Wed. date is being looked at by others as is the early part of October.. so Prince dear.. if you are wanting more shows at the U.C.. you better book um'.. Personally I think 2 is fine.. He can go to Detriot Minnesota etc... let them enjoy.. ;O)

MikeA said:

backflip said:

I am only 2.5 hours from chicago, but think i'm going 2 hold out for a weekend date...2 much 2 take vacation in the middle of the week...hopefully we will see some weekend dates in chicago, but if not...maybe somewhere close by????

I would not hold my breath for a weekend date in Chicago. The second show is not selling that well and chances are the third night may not happen if sales don't pick up. That is the reason that third date has not gone on sale yet. What this means for rumored Detroit dates I don't know. I would like to think Detroit would handle at least two Prince shows but the economy here sucks worse than Chicago so you never know.

I also live in the Detroit area, and would be that at LEAST 2 shows would sell out. Maybe 3. Any more than that, I doubt it.

What could be a big draw is a two-tiered Detroit visit. "Cheaper" tickets at a large venue like The Palace, and more expensive VIP tickets at somewhere like the Fox or Opera House (maybe even with a rehearsal or meet & greet package as an option).

For many, many years Detroit was his second home, and I think it's still one of his biggest fanbases. Poor economy or not, people will still find a way to go to the concert.

Unless whatever dozens of volunteers who receive the giveaway tickets resultingly figure as filler, I can bet minimum 50% of the seats of each show's audience will be empty.

bellanoche said:

MikeA said:

I would not hold my breath for a weekend date in Chicago. The second show is not selling that well and chances are the third night may not happen if sales don't pick up. That is the reason that third date has not gone on sale yet. What this means for rumored Detroit dates I don't know. I would like to think Detroit would handle at least two Prince shows but the economy here sucks worse than Chicago so you never know.

Apparently Ticketmaster is not aware that the shows aren't selling well. I just checked and there is nothing available for 9/24. The only seats available for 9/25 are in the nosebleeds (300s). Where are all the tickets? The broker sites and Stubhub don't have great seats, most of theirs are behind the stage. I got good seats for both nights, so I am happy. I intially wondered with the small window of time and the worst nights of the week - Monday and Tuesday if there might be a problem selling tix. However, from what I have heard and seen the tix are selling, well they have sold. So, I found your comment interesting. Do you have a source regarding the sales?

[Edited 9/10/12 12:09pm]

I said the second show was the problem. There are a ton of the highly expensive VIP tickets available (at those prices I can see why) and in the 300 level (which are also ridiculously priced) you can easily buy 8 seats at a time. Plus as Orionforever mentioned, the ticket brokers and resellers still have a ton. I am sure Prince doesn't care about the latter as that means they still sold from the venue so the $$ is in his pocket, but that may not equate to butts in the seats and a half filled arena.

And Se7en, I agree I would think Detroit would sell well, his history here is greater than it has ever been in Chicago. But a lot would depend on nights of the week. Weekend dates will sell better but it is cheaper to book dates on weekdays and we know Prince is cheap. If he booked a Friday-Sunday trio in Detroit, I have no doubt it would sell well, but at these prices I am not sure it would sell out. I definitely like your idea of a two-tiered visit. Very forward thinking which is why I doubt we will see it happen from Prince.

I personally wish he would do at least one intimate show, like at the Chicago Theatre or a similar venue. A night of non-hits. That would be great to see. I know he's doing the Andy Allo aftershow at House of Blues, but that will be focused on Andy. I would love to see him play some of his more obscure material to an intimate crowd of fans who will appreciate it. I have tix to both United Center shows thus far though.

WARNING: If Prince doesn't sell enough tix on a certain date (say, the 25th, in this case) he could potentially cancel the date with very little notice... It happened to me for the first night of the W2A gig at the Izod in New Jersey. I had to purchase another ticket for the date of the third show and pay $150 extra to change the dates of my flight, as well as having to change hotel dates. I was not very happy with the extra trouble and expense, although I did get very good floor seats on the third night of the W2A show and ultimately had a great time... BTW the third date was on a Friday night and sold a lot more tickets than the original cancelled date of the first W2A concert, which was scheduled on a Tuesday...

[Edited 9/10/12 18:22pm]

PurpleChi said:

I personally wish he would do at least one intimate show, like at the Chicago Theatre or a similar venue. A night of non-hits. That would be great to see. I know he's doing the Andy Allo aftershow at House of Blues, but that will be focused on Andy. I would love to see him play some of his more obscure material to an intimate crowd of fans who will appreciate it. I have tix to both United Center shows thus far though.

This would be a very cool idea.. he could bill the show as a show for Hard Core fans only.. not the type that when asked say "OH Purple rain (or 1999) is my favorite song..

but the ones of us who would say 'Love U in me" Or "Lust U always" as ours..

I also think a huge problem is these tickets are just TOO much.

Prince forgets that his main fan base is probably from 35-50 A good group of us have bills, mortgages, kids, car payments etc.. to drop such large amounts on multiple tickets is rough.

We did it.. going to both shows. .but we will have to cut and skimp BIG TIME later.... sigh...

It 2004 the best seats were $75... such a deal. I was right at the stage several nights.. we went to 7 of the shows in 2004.. 5 in Chi Town..

And with it being a week night this time.. they should of sold the tickets for alot less...

purplethunder3121 said:

WARNING: If Prince doesn't sell enough tix on a certain date (say, the 25th, in this case) he could potentially cancel the date with very little notice... It happened to me for the first night of the W2A gig at the Izod in New Jersey. I had to purchase another ticket for the date of the third show and pay $150 extra to change the dates of my flight, as well as having to change hotel dates. I was not very happy with the extra trouble and expense, although I did get very good floor seats on the third night of the W2A show and ultimately had a great time... BTW the third date was on a Friday night and sold a lot more tickets than the original cancelled date of the first W2A concert, which was scheduled on a Tuesday...

[Edited 9/10/12 18:22pm]

It may of happened before.. but I highly doubt Prince would cancel the show on the 25th and then re schedule ANOTHER show at a later date..

Now I could see him canceling a show cause of poor ticket sales... OR if he already had 3 or more shows booked canceling one in the middle.. but it just wouldn't make sence to play Monday, Cancel Tuesday and then re sell tickets to say Oct. 1st. that would be a total mess for Ticket master.. In 2004 he had to cancel 2x... 1 time cause he was sick.. a 2nd time cause of Johns child drowning. but he rescheduled the shows weeks later and you got to either turn in your tix. for your $ back OR you got the exact same seats for the new dates. We will just have to wait and see...

PurpleChi said:

Orionforever said:

PurpleChi said:

I personally wish he would do at least one intimate show, like at the Chicago Theatre or a similar venue. A night of non-hits. That would be great to see. I know he's doing the Andy Allo aftershow at House of Blues, but that will be focused on Andy. I would love to see him play some of his more obscure material to an intimate crowd of fans who will appreciate it. I have tix to both United Center shows thus far though.

This would be a very cool idea.. he could bill the show as a show for Hard Core fans only.. not the type that when asked say "OH Purple rain (or 1999) is my favorite song..

but the ones of us who would say 'Love U in me" Or "Lust U always" as ours..

I also think a huge problem is these tickets are just TOO much.

Prince forgets that his main fan base is probably from 35-50 A good group of us have bills, mortgages, kids, car payments etc.. to drop such large amounts on multiple tickets is rough.

We did it.. going to both shows. .but we will have to cut and skimp BIG TIME later.... sigh...

It 2004 the best seats were $75... such a deal. I was right at the stage several nights.. we went to 7 of the shows in 2004.. 5 in Chi Town..

And with it being a week night this time.. they should of sold the tickets for alot less...

Not to belabor the obvious but I've seen fans on here checking out flights and hotels for these shows but the price of the ticket is the bank breaking expense? Concerts are not a neccesity of life and attending multiple shows by a single artist is definitely splurging. I have a friend who is still crying over(and paying off the cards) the price she paid to go to all 6 W2A shows in NYC/NJ and the bottom line it's always the fans choice. Spend what you can afford and if the prices are too much then there's the option of not going. These price have been pretty consistent for the entire run of this tour with the exception of the LA Forum shows. The cost shouldn't be a surprise but a given aftr almost 2 years.

Orionforever said:

purplethunder3121 said:

WARNING: If Prince doesn't sell enough tix on a certain date (say, the 25th, in this case) he could potentially cancel the date with very little notice... It happened to me for the first night of the W2A gig at the Izod in New Jersey. I had to purchase another ticket for the date of the third show and pay $150 extra to change the dates of my flight, as well as having to change hotel dates. I was not very happy with the extra trouble and expense, although I did get very good floor seats on the third night of the W2A show and ultimately had a great time... BTW the third date was on a Friday night and sold a lot more tickets than the original cancelled date of the first W2A concert, which was scheduled on a Tuesday...

[Edited 9/10/12 18:22pm]

It may of happened before.. but I highly doubt Prince would cancel the show on the 25th and then re schedule ANOTHER show at a later date..

Now I could see him canceling a show cause of poor ticket sales... OR if he already had 3 or more shows booked canceling one in the middle.. but it just wouldn't make sence to play Monday, Cancel Tuesday and then re sell tickets to say Oct. 1st. that would be a total mess for Ticket master.. In 2004 he had to cancel 2x... 1 time cause he was sick.. a 2nd time cause of Johns child drowning. but he rescheduled the shows weeks later and you got to either turn in your tix. for your $ back OR you got the exact same seats for the new dates. We will just have to wait and see...

I don't think he's canceling the 25th. It looks like a lot of tix were sold on Ticketmaster--enough that it wouldn't warrant canceling. Remember that's the extent of both Prince and Live Nation's interests. Tix resold on broker sites don't have any further effect on them. United Center holds around 23,000 people. There are a little over 900 tix on Stubhub/Ebay (I think they're the same) for each night right now. Other broker sites seem to average about 100-200 tix each. Yes, there may be some empty seats, but I can't imagine that if the place is even 70% sold he would cancel on all those fans. I would guestimate that least 15,000 seats are sold to actual people. And Chicago has a big pay date coming up--the 15th. City workers and many business pay on the 1st and the 15th, so there may be spike in ticket sales then.

I wouldn't hold out for a show on the 26th though unless he does a smaller venue, which I am personally hoping for.

Is there anything backing up the Detroit/MN rumors or is it just speculation?

Emancipation89 said:

PurpleChi said:

I don't think he's canceling the 25th. It looks like a lot of tix were sold on Ticketmaster--enough that it wouldn't warrant canceling. Remember that's the extent of both Prince and Live Nation's interests. Tix resold on broker sites don't have any further effect on them. United Center holds around 23,000 people. There are a little over 900 tix on Stubhub/Ebay (I think they're the same) for each night right now. Other broker sites seem to average about 100-200 tix each. Yes, there may be some empty seats, but I can't imagine that if the place is even 70% sold he would cancel on all those fans. I would guestimate that least 15,000 seats are sold to actual people. And Chicago has a big pay date coming up--the 15th. City workers and many business pay on the 1st and the 15th, so there may be spike in ticket sales then.

I wouldn't hold out for a show on the 26th though unless he does a smaller venue, which I am personally hoping for.

Thanks for the info. There are still premium seats available for the 100 level section for both nights but yeah at least official box office tickets for the 24th are sold out! I just checked Madonna's tickets (who's performing on the 19th and 20th at the United Center btw) and looks like she still got a lot of 100 level seats available for both nights...I'd say so far it looks pretty successful for Prince besides people are still buying tickets as we speak so I'm sure venues are going to be pretty full for both nights!

I agree with PurpleChi about the tix and the intimate show. Didn't he do something like that to fill out his run in L.A.? It would be awesome if he threw in something like that for the folks who really know and appreciate the breadth of his catalog. I don't think anything is wrong with the hits-friendly arena shows, but an intimate one in the midst of them would be great because there would be less pressure to contend with casual fans for tix. That is what was so great about the three shows he did in one night in L.A. The Nokia Theatre show was all about hits, the Conga Room show just rocked and the Club Nokia show was a mix of new and old, popular and obscure.

About the tix, I agree that between all of the broker sites, you probably have less than 20% of the tickets for each night, so I cannot imagine an arena that is 50% empty. Also, many people wait until those inflated broker prices drop and buy tix closer to the show date. Lastly, those 100 level seats on the broker sites do not appear to be premium to me as most of them are behind the stage.

I think he will be fine. Reports of the W2A shows demise seem premature.

Emancipation89 said:

PurpleChi said:

I don't think he's canceling the 25th. It looks like a lot of tix were sold on Ticketmaster--enough that it wouldn't warrant canceling. Remember that's the extent of both Prince and Live Nation's interests. Tix resold on broker sites don't have any further effect on them. United Center holds around 23,000 people. There are a little over 900 tix on Stubhub/Ebay (I think they're the same) for each night right now. Other broker sites seem to average about 100-200 tix each. Yes, there may be some empty seats, but I can't imagine that if the place is even 70% sold he would cancel on all those fans. I would guestimate that least 15,000 seats are sold to actual people. And Chicago has a big pay date coming up--the 15th. City workers and many business pay on the 1st and the 15th, so there may be spike in ticket sales then.

I wouldn't hold out for a show on the 26th though unless he does a smaller venue, which I am personally hoping for.

Thanks for the info. There are still premium seats available for the 100 level section for both nights but yeah at least official box office tickets for the 24th are sold out! I just checked Madonna's tickets (who's performing on the 19th and 20th at the United Center btw) and looks like she still got a lot of 100 level seats available for both nights...I'd say so far it looks pretty successful for Prince besides people are still buying tickets as we speak so I'm sure venues are going to be pretty full for both nights!

Interesting... The two Madonna shows here locally at a major venue are completely sold out--even the nosebleed seats. I guess even for major performers like Prince and Madonna, it really depends on the cities, venue locations within cities, and dates of performance which determine whether or not they will sell all seats in arena venues. BTW when Prince came here locally last year the shows were completely packed--if there were any empty seats I certainly didn't see any!

Also, I should have qualified my "warning" in regard to the W2A concerts at the Izod in 2010 by adding that the concerts which followed those at Madison Square Garden were a complete success in comparison to those held at the Izod in New Jersey. Similarly, the concerts held at the Oracle Arena in Oakland were completely packed--if there were any empty seats, they were few and far between. In a similar fashion, the Forum in LA, on the last two W2A dates in May 2011, were completely packed and the crowds on both nights raised the roof off of the old building.

[Edited 9/11/12 0:58am]

If Prince is concerned with ticket sales, all he would have 2 do is lower the prices!!!! The whole upper level $25!!! Lower level around $75 and keep his V.I.P. for the "ballers"! Problem solved!

How many shows is the 'residency' now?

Section 112 at Madonna's show at United is $372.33.

Section 112 at Prince's show at United are around $163.00.

Madonna's ticket prices range from $90.00 to $355.00 for normal seat.

Prince's ticket prices range from $49.50 to $149.50.

Madonna's best VIP package is $1750 for one person.

Prince's best VIP package is $1500 for two people.

Who needs to lower their prices?

purplethunder3121 said:

Emancipation89 said:

Thanks for the info. There are still premium seats available for the 100 level section for both nights but yeah at least official box office tickets for the 24th are sold out! I just checked Madonna's tickets (who's performing on the 19th and 20th at the United Center btw) and looks like she still got a lot of 100 level seats available for both nights...I'd say so far it looks pretty successful for Prince besides people are still buying tickets as we speak so I'm sure venues are going to be pretty full for both nights!

Interesting... The two Madonna shows here locally at a major venue are completely sold out--even the nosebleed seats. I guess even for major performers like Prince and Madonna, it really depends on the cities, venue locations within cities, and dates of performance which determine whether or not they will sell all seats in arena venues. BTW when Prince came here locally last year the shows were completely packed--if there were any empty seats I certainly didn't see any!

Also, I should have qualified my "warning" in regard to the W2A concerts at the Izod in 2010 by adding that the concerts which followed those at Madison Square Garden were a complete success in comparison to those held at the Izod in New Jersey. Similarly, the concerts held at the Oracle Arena in Oakland were completely packed--if there were any empty seats, they were few and far between. In a similar fashion, the Forum in LA, on the last two W2A dates in May 2011, were completely packed and the crowds on both nights raised the roof off of the old building.

[Edited 9/11/12 0:58am]

I am curious as to what city you are in when you say "here locally" because Madonna's shows for Sept. 19 and 20 are not sold out here in Chicago. I just checked and there are still premium seats available on TM. Unlike Prince's shows where you can only find 300 level seats on TM, there are choice 100 level seats there for Madonna. I pulled section 102 row 19 seats 8 and 9, which is a great view at the United Center for her stage set up. The tickets are $373 each.

I also see that StubHub has twice as many tickets available for Madonna's shows at the United Center than it does for Prince. Madonna's tix went on sale in February. Prince's went on sale last week. They are playing the same venue, but Prince has more seats because of his stage set up. So it seems that Prince's shows have sold better than Madonna's in terms of actual ticket sales. She will gross more because her tix cost twice as much. However, I think he has done well for his two dates in Chicago given the short notice and nights of the week he's performing.

BTW, I was at the last NJ show on Friday night and the MSG show on Saturday. The NJ show was pretty crowded. I saw empty seats here and there on the 100 level but nothing major. As we know, MSG was sold out. I had a great time at both shows, and I know I will have a great time at both Chicago shows as well. Chicago gets up for Prince. Remember he did five sold out shows at the Allstate Arena during the Musicology tour. He announced that tour months in advance and had premiums nights of the week. I will never forget seeing him on a Saturday night and how loud the audience sang that part of Little Red Corvette - "It was Saturday night . . . . Awwww, the memories.

[Edited 9/11/12 7:34am]

why is there always a desperation by some on here to show how few tix are shifting. There's still over a week to go, there's been no promo, no video, no big hit single or album and the tix still appear to be shifting. Even the most hardened critic cannot fail to be impressed that he pulls this off 'most of the time' - not always!.

Good luck to him, he will rightly do the usual hits show as this is NOT a series of gigs for the hardcore - again some fans just don't get it. Oh and don't bring that shit about in 84 & 86 70% of the show was from a new album nonsense - he's in a different place now with a back catalogue that the masses want to hear. If I see Elton, Stevie, the stones etc I wanna hear the hits -simples!

HonestMan13 said:

Section 112 at Madonna's show at United is $372.33.

Section 112 at Prince's show at United are around $163.00.

Madonna's ticket prices range from $90.00 to $355.00 for normal seat.

Prince's ticket prices range from $49.50 to $149.50.

Madonna's best VIP package is $1750 for one person.

Prince's best VIP package is $1500 for two people.

Who needs to lower their prices?

Right. Prince's tix are in line with what I paid to see Sade and George Michael at the same venue in Chicago. Madonna's aren't in line with anyone that I have ever purchased so I have no frame of reference for her prices.

funkyhead said:

why is there always a desperation by some on here to show how few tix are shifting. There's still over a week to go, there's been no promo, no video, no big hit single or album and the tix still appear to be shifting. Even the most hardened critic cannot fail to be impressed that he pulls this off 'most of the time' - not always!.

Good luck to him, he will rightly do the usual hits show as this is NOT a series of gigs for the hardcore - again some fans just don't get it. Oh and don't bring that shit about in 84 & 86 70% of the show was from a new album nonsense - he's in a different place now with a back catalogue that the masses want to hear. If I see Elton, Stevie, the stones etc I wanna hear the hits -simples!

I honestly believe a large group of Prince's fans want his arena booking potential to crumble so he'll be forced to do small clubs and venues from now on. Hence he'd more than likely be playing to his smaller hardcore fanbase and not the casual fanbase that fills arenas. The fact that LiveNation is working with him(almost 2 years in) and he can still book arenas without having a new CD to push or a hit single on the charts speaks to that not happening anytime soon.

THIRD show on Wednesday the 26th just announced: http://www.unitedcenter.c...ent_id=649

lisa79 said:

THIRD show on Wednesday the 26th just announced: http://www.unitedcenter.c...ent_id=649

3 nights in a row?

remko said:

lisa79 said:

THIRD show on Wednesday the 26th just announced: http://www.unitedcenter.c...ent_id=649

3 nights in a row?

Yep. The press release and ticketmaster.com says tickets go on sale tomorrow (Wednesday the 12th) at 4pm.

http://www.ticketmaster.c...norcatid=1