2008 Woodie Awards
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 3/27/07 Section: News
1,143 tickets for Folds already purchased
SPEC Concerts officials welcome record-breaking sale
Mordechai Treiger
Ben Folds is rockin' the sales.
Tickets for this year's Spring Fling concert - headlined by Ben Folds and prefaced with a set from Third Eye Blind - went quickly yesterday, the first day they were available on Locust Walk.
"I'm pretty sure we've broken every record out there," co-Director of the Social Planning and Events Committee's Concerts Committee Matt Mizrahi said of today's sales.
"It's a welcome surprise to all of us," said Mizrahi, a Wharton and Engineering senior.
Spec sold 1,143 tickets today for the April 13 concert, a number well above the 300 that were sold on the first day of tickets sales for last year's O.A.R. Spring Fling performance.
The concert's capacity is 3,000.
Mizrahi said he does not expect to sell out for at least another day or two.
"There was pretty much a constant stream of ticket purchases," said College junior and SPEC co-director Tony Rizzo, who was on Locust Walk for most of the sale. "The line kind of grew and shrank as classes ran out, but sometimes it was up to 20-30 people."
The first 500 tickets were sold for $20 each; after that, each ticket cost $25, and students rushed to take advantage of the discount.
But there was little time to waste.
By 11:09, Wharton freshman Alex Anderson had already bought ticket number 342.
"I knew the price would go up, and I wanted to make sure I got a ticket because I wouldn't want to miss this opportunity," Anderson said.
Still, the $5 ticket increase didn't stop students from snagging one today.
College freshman Danny Fein bought tickets 1071 through 1075 at about 2:30.
"At this rate, we'll be sold out within a week," Rizzo said.
Mizrahi credited the sale's pace to the $5 discount awarded to the first 500 people who bought tickets.
"There were people who were disappointed, but the majority of people would get to the table and say 'oh no' and then run to the ATM … to get more cash," Rizzo said.
Some students were caught off guard by the pace of the sales.
"I had no idea they were selling so quickly," said College freshman Josh Corn.
Corn added that the speed of the initial sales will likely make the remaining tickets disappear even faster.
Tickets will be available again on Locust Walk tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will cost $25 each.
Tickets for this year's Spring Fling concert - headlined by Ben Folds and prefaced with a set from Third Eye Blind - went quickly yesterday, the first day they were available on Locust Walk.
"I'm pretty sure we've broken every record out there," co-Director of the Social Planning and Events Committee's Concerts Committee Matt Mizrahi said of today's sales.
"It's a welcome surprise to all of us," said Mizrahi, a Wharton and Engineering senior.
Spec sold 1,143 tickets today for the April 13 concert, a number well above the 300 that were sold on the first day of tickets sales for last year's O.A.R. Spring Fling performance.
The concert's capacity is 3,000.
Mizrahi said he does not expect to sell out for at least another day or two.
"There was pretty much a constant stream of ticket purchases," said College junior and SPEC co-director Tony Rizzo, who was on Locust Walk for most of the sale. "The line kind of grew and shrank as classes ran out, but sometimes it was up to 20-30 people."
The first 500 tickets were sold for $20 each; after that, each ticket cost $25, and students rushed to take advantage of the discount.
But there was little time to waste.
By 11:09, Wharton freshman Alex Anderson had already bought ticket number 342.
"I knew the price would go up, and I wanted to make sure I got a ticket because I wouldn't want to miss this opportunity," Anderson said.
Still, the $5 ticket increase didn't stop students from snagging one today.
College freshman Danny Fein bought tickets 1071 through 1075 at about 2:30.
"At this rate, we'll be sold out within a week," Rizzo said.
Mizrahi credited the sale's pace to the $5 discount awarded to the first 500 people who bought tickets.
"There were people who were disappointed, but the majority of people would get to the table and say 'oh no' and then run to the ATM … to get more cash," Rizzo said.
Some students were caught off guard by the pace of the sales.
"I had no idea they were selling so quickly," said College freshman Josh Corn.
Corn added that the speed of the initial sales will likely make the remaining tickets disappear even faster.
Tickets will be available again on Locust Walk tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will cost $25 each.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 10
Yeah
posted 3/27/07 @ 8:24 AM EST
Amazing that tickets actually sell when Spec listens to students. Having two headliners made a difference, but many people will only be staying through Third Eye Blind's set. (Continued…)
Yes
posted 3/27/07 @ 2:50 PM EST
I actually saw Third Eye Blind last year at Villanova in late April, don't know if that was their spring festival or whatever, but it was an overwhelming success. (Continued…)
patrick
posted 3/27/07 @ 4:07 PM EST
Not to start an argument or anything (really, who has the time anymore?), but have you seen Ben Folds live, or are you basing that estimate on hearing "Brick" on the radio a few times in 1998?
I think Folds was a great choice. (Continued…)
fools
posted 3/27/07 @ 5:13 PM EST
spec said last year that ben folds was the top voted for artist in their survey, and said the same this year.
not saying 3eb didn't play a major part in this now soldout show; but give folds the credit he deserves. (Continued…)
YES
posted 3/27/07 @ 5:27 PM EST
Yes, I've have seen Ben Folds. In fact, I've seen him more times than I've seen 3eb (including the first time he played Penn's spring fling, when I was in high school). (Continued…)
dh
posted 3/27/07 @ 7:29 PM EST
so uh if anyone's wants to sell me theirs i'd be willing to pay a hefty premium; e-mail thorpald@gmail.com with your price
Mike
posted 3/27/07 @ 10:31 PM EST
So the grapevine says this show is sold out. It is pretty ridiculous that because I am out of town right now I can't go. This show should DEFINITELY be moved to Franklin Field or Hill Field, where it has been done in years past, if the Penn administration cares at all about the safety of its students. (Continued…)
Jack
posted 3/27/07 @ 11:21 PM EST
Reason that it sold out: students bought LARGE amounts of tickets for visiting friends. I saw people purchasing 8-10 tickets each, and SPEC had no control over this. (Continued…)
student
posted 3/28/07 @ 1:25 AM EST
they're not going to move the venue; its in the artists contracts where theyre playing
rework the contracts
posted 3/28/07 @ 3:00 AM EST
The artists could care less about where on campus they're performing. what makes perlman quadrangle such a great venue? you could always draw up a new contract and put it in franklin field. (Continued…)
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