Chicago

[Reno]

Hello, everyone--

I've got to say that I'm deeply disappointed to have discovered that tickets for Cohen's appearance in Chicago have been on sale for a few, select groups of people already. While I of course do not begrudge any of you for having purchased these so-called presale tickets, I'm particularly disappointed to learn that Cohen has engaged in such an ethically-questionable practice. If only I used an American Express card to purchase all of the worldly goods that a monk might disavow, then I could buy tickets? Ugh. I was already facing a moral dilemma when considering the prospect of spending several hundred dollars to see Cohen perform; now, I discover that Cohen enables certain, more privileged members of society to buy tickets before the great unwashed can do so? Puh-lease. I'm not bitter because I won't be able to buy a ticket when tickets go on sale, since they will have already presumably been purchased; instead, it's that the deeply reflective Cohen has been revealed as a gross con man who supports the creation of a hierarchical structure for those who can see him and those who can't. I'm utterly dismayed, and I wonder whether I can ever again listen to his songs without the bitter knowledge of the insincerity of his integrity. Enjoy the concert, all of you, but don't deceive yourself. You might as well be going to see Weird Al Yankovich, for all that Cohen cares.

[jarkko]

Well, first of all - the fan community has had a presale to every concert in US and Canada; you are just late (but our presale to New York and Los Angeles will be on March 7). Secondly, Leonard has absolutely nothing to do with the ticket sales - it is something AEG Live and the ticketing companies organize. Ticketmaster and AMEX have done similar presales together for long time. Many venues also have groups that have right to first refusal (like season ticket holders, members of a supporting association etc.).

I want to add that AEG Live has been very helpful and friendly in making the tickets and advance information available to the fan community ever since the tour was beginning a year ago! There will still be a lot happening, so stay tuned!

[A Brick in the Wall]

Well, first of all - the fan community has had a presale to every concert in US and Canada; you are just late (but our presale to New York and Los Angeles will be on March 7). Secondly, Leonard has absolutely nothing to do with the ticket sales - it is something AEG Live and the ticketing companies organize. Ticketmaster and AMEX have done similar presales together for long time. Many venues also have groups that have right to first refusal (like season ticket holders, members of a supporting association etc.).

I want to add that AEG Live has been very helpful and friendly in making the tickets and advance information available to the fan community ever since the tour was beginning a year ago! There will still be a lot happening, so stay tuned!

well said --- is there any chance the "rumor" of a 2nd Chicago show may come to be true?

[jarkko]

Brick: relax and wait patiently, we will see...

Reno:
I want to add that the majority of tickets will anyway be offered at the general sale. I don't have exact numbers but it must be some 70-80 % of all tickets, in all price categories! So everybody who did not get any presale tickets, will have fair chance today at 10 am local time when the most concerts go on public sale.
The demand looks to be overwhelming, so most shows will sell out quickly, but that's another thing.

[A Brick in the Wall]

Brick: relax and wait patiently, we will see...

Thx
Once again -- you ask the impossible of me --- it's not in my nature to relax & be patient

[Reno]

Well, first of all - the fan community has had a presale to every concert in US and Canada; you are just late (but our presale to New York and Los Angeles will be on March 7). Secondly, Leonard has absolutely nothing to do with the ticket sales - it is something AEG Live and the ticketing companies organize. Ticketmaster and AMEX have done similar presales together for long time. Many venues also have groups that have right to first refusal (like season ticket holders, members of a supporting association etc.).

I want to add that AEG Live has been very helpful and friendly in making the tickets and advance information available to the fan community ever since the tour was beginning a year ago! There will still be a lot happening, so stay tuned!

Thanks for the calm, thoughtful response. I realize that I must have sounded like a troll, and your (and this community's) response speaks incredibly well of you. Yes, I'll see what I can do at 10:00 am this morning for tickets and, as I noted, I sincerely don't begrudge any of you the ability to purchase tickets early. I think that if I'd have known about the presale, I probably would have done the same thing (but I hope I wouldn't have & I could maintain my usual insufferable self-righteousness).

Although it's likely that Leonard Cohen has little control over this method of ticket sales, I wonder if he might be one of the rare exceptions to this business-as-usual. It would be interesting to read his comments about this practice.

Cheers....

[panjandrum]

Anyone have any luck getting general admission tickets for this (Chicago) show? I've been up on Ticketmaster since the second they became "available", but it looks like the event is already sold out (I am unable to find even a single available ticket).

Edit: Tickets do appear to be available through other "third party" vendors, leading me to believe that the even has been hit hard by the professional ticket scalpers (oh, excuse me, "ticket brokers"). As much as I enjoyed the concert in Toronto, and would love to go again, I won't be paying an inflated price to do so. The "current economic climate" doesn't support it (plus, these scum-bags are morally reprehensible and won't be getting any of my money).

I'll keep trying ticketmaster, but my hopes are quickly dimming.

[PanCogito]

I was trying for about 20 minutes and nothing, nada, zip, not even single ticket!

[A Brick in the Wall]

Anyone have any luck getting general admission tickets for this (Chicago) show? I've been up on Ticketmaster since the second they became "available", but it looks like the event is already sold out (I am unable to find even a single available ticket).

I found some VIP tix available -- great seats but $$$$ --

I guess my friend will have to hear my report instead of seeing it.

I'd suggest you keep trying -- they may have had a glich.... fingers crossed for you.

[panjandrum]

Edit: Tickets do appear to be available through other "third party" vendors, leading me to believe that the even has been hit hard by the professional ticket scalpers (oh, excuse me, "ticket brokers"). As much as I enjoyed the concert in Toronto, and would love to go again, I won't be paying an inflated price to do so. The "current economic climate" doesn't support it (plus, these scum-bags are morally reprehensible and won't be getting any of my money).

I'll keep trying ticketmaster, but my hopes are quickly dimming.

Ah, it seems my fears were well-founded: Tickets have now become available through Ticketmaster's "marketplace". Prices start at $211.37 I think I'll be holding off on this for now, especially as I wanted 3 tickets.

[A Brick in the Wall]

Edit: Tickets do appear to be available through other "third party" vendors, leading me to believe that the even has been hit hard by the professional ticket scalpers (oh, excuse me, "ticket brokers"). As much as I enjoyed the concert in Toronto, and would love to go again, I won't be paying an inflated price to do so. The "current economic climate" doesn't support it (plus, these scum-bags are morally reprehensible and won't be getting any of my money).

I'll keep trying ticketmaster, but my hopes are quickly dimming.

Ah, it seems my fears were well-founded: Tickets have now become available through Ticketmaster's "marketplace". Prices start at $211.37 I think I'll be holding off on this for now, especially as I wanted 3 tickets.

FWIW -- VIP tix are still available --- like I said -- FWIW

[Reno]

I was lucky enough to buy one ticket, but this is almost worse than getting none at all, since two of us had planned on attending. I'm amazed that I couldn't buy two tickets at 10:00 am sharp, happy to have been able to get one, then disappointed that when I tried to buy one more, the tickets were all gone. There has to be a better way of selling tickets...

[Joe Way]

I checked both Chicago & Minneapolis just now and it appears that they are both sold out. If, indeed, there is a chance of a 2nd show in Chicago, it should be announced soon as that was the way it worked last summer in Canada.

For anyone still looking for a hotel, I was able to get a $109.00 rate going through the bidding process at Priceline. We were put at the Hotel Burnham which is a 4 star only a couple of blocks from the Chicago Theater.

Marie, thanks again for the incredibly generous offer of allowing fans to park in your neighborhood. We'll be driving down that day from Madison and I think that we will be hard pressed just to get there in time for a meet-up near the theater. Anne & I are hoping to meet you, Steve & Ann, & Alice plus any others who are interested. We can hardly wait. Even though this will be the 5th concert that we have seen, our enthusiasm has not abated.

Joe

[panjandrum]

I frequently visit Chicago and "the loop" in particular. I highly recommend the "Exchequer Pub" for those of you who are going to meet-up before or after the concert. Fantastic Chicago-style pizza and a great "pub" atmosphere. Easy walking distance from the Chicago Theater.

[A Brick in the Wall]

I checked both Chicago & Minneapolis just now and it appears that they are both sold out. If, indeed, there is a chance of a 2nd show in Chicago, it should be announced soon as that was the way it worked last summer in Canada.

For anyone still looking for a hotel, I was able to get a $109.00 rate going through the bidding process at Priceline. We were put at the Hotel Burnham which is a 4 star only a couple of blocks from the Chicago Theater.

Marie, thanks again for the incredibly generous offer of allowing fans to park in your neighborhood. We'll be driving down that day from Madison and I think that we will be hard pressed just to get there in time for a meet-up near the theater. Anne & I are hoping to meet you, Steve & Ann, & Alice plus any others who are interested. We can hardly wait. Even though this will be the 5th concert that we have seen, our enthusiasm has not abated.

Joe

Owwww --- Tha's quite a deal....

We're seriously thinking that we may try to score tix for the hoped for 2nd Chicgo show --- maybe we'll try Priceline for that night....