By Mike Frash //
Grateful Dead nation is split into two distinct factions after the Ticketmaster on sale Saturday morning for the group’s final shows — those who scored tickets and the other ones left with none. This is arguably the most in-demand concert series in recent years, and most Deadheads knew what they would be up against after only one in every 10 mail order tickets were awarded for purchase.
Many folks have reported Ticketmaster crashed at the on-sale time of 10 a.m. CT. From there, many hopeful attendees had their souls crushed as the Ticketmaster waiting room minute countdown continued to fluctuate one hour later, which is common for instant sellout events.
The final three shows, dubbed “Fare Thee Well” for the 50th Anniversary of the Grateful Dead, will feature Bruce Hornsby and Phish’s Trey Anastasio filling in the Jerry Garcia role over Fourth of July weekend at Chicago’s Soldier Field. The injection of the phanner community has helped to make these three shows the hottest tickets of the year.
In opposition to the ethos of the Dead, premium tickets are being sold for as much as $215. And of course, many 21st century scalpers took notice of the demand and have taken to third party sellers for mad, mad profit.
A sign that the day of granting miracles to show-going hopefuls might be kaput, tickets for these shows are selling for as much as $4,000. Granted that could be a deal between a greedy scalper and someone that gives no fucks about spending money, but the overall median for sold tickets so far is $933 for the first show and $941 for the second at 11 a.m. CT.
So if you’re considering the idea of dropping $1,000 to get into this show, don’t let that deal go down. Ticket prices will likely go down from here and will be broadcasted in some way. But come on, it’s not like Jerry’s coming back for the event — that I’d pay a grand for.
What are your thoughts on this over-demand fiasco?
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