$175 per ticket?!?!

[Lissa]

You gotta be kidding me!!

[Irish22]

Yep.. best seats are $250 in Canada..$689 for VIP.. also known as the "Leonard Cohen Retirement Plan"

[Lissa]

That's ridiculous IMO. Esp. for his fans. I can't afford that.

[golo99]

175 bucks is pretty much average for a Cohen gig. Some places in Europe were way more than that (eg Prague in Eastern Europe - a poor part of the world - was the equivalent of $275).

[Steve Wilcox]

I truly wish I could resist replying to this thread - and believe me I'm somewhat sympathetic when someone can't afford a luxury they want - but everyone who complains about ticket prices always complains about the highest price category, beit $549, $250, etc. But there are always tickets in the $68-$75 range too. This is a real deal, especially in the 3000-seat venues where 100% of those in attendance will be closer to the stage than 90% of those in the audience for most large touring acts who have one ticket price for the entire stadium and often play for less than 90 minutes!

So, I have to ask

(1) what is the point of stating it to the world (or at least, this Forum) that you think the price is "ridiculous"?

(2) is it really fair to write - it's "known as the "Leonard Cohen Retirement Plan". That shows real respect for the man and his life's work (sarcasm here).

[cohenfreak]

First of all, have you been to a concert lately? I think his tickets are reasonably priced, with a wide range of ticket prices. I was able to buy a ticket for the Chicago show for $116.99 and I'm on the floor, it's off to the side but I'm going to be in the same room as Leonard Cohen and that's all I need. I think Leonard's retirement plan is kind of cute, everyone knows he went on tour to recoup what was stolen from him. I'm happy to contribute, wish I could give more.

[da2008]

There's probably at least two-three threads going for EACH of the concerts right now and for any of the complaints imaginable. I understand that people want to rant/be happy/meet up and everything, but it's simply a boarding nightmare.

Yes, the tickets are expensive. You can go or you can not go. I'm a student and I'm going to eat a bit less and see fewer of other concerts, etc. The choice is always yours... Don't mean to sound patronising, but really - there's too much of this on the board today.

[Irish22]

Oh Steve..get a grip.. I don't think ole Leonard would mind me callin this tour his retirement plan...he probably would say the same thing himself..he does have a sense of humour.(unlike, it seems, some fans.)

And yes it can be bitterly disappointing when you are a big fan and have been looking forward to seeing him live..but you really can't afford to go..or can't get tickets.
This is a forum..she has a right to complain here about not being able to go as much as anyone who is ecstatic about getting tickets.

[Lissa]

I'm just very disappointed that I won't be able to afford to go. We are living on one income so we don't have much money. I didn't mean to offend anyone. I was expecting the normal range of ticketing ... say like $35-50.

[cartesian]

$35-50 hasn't been the 'normal' range for major concert events for some time now

$75 seems to be the average price for the cheap tix available at all venues and I think that is quite fair and about average

I paid $120 ($95 range plus fees) and am sitting 9th row on the far right. I'm pretty pleased

[blue_94_trooper]

is it really fair to write - it's "known as the "Leonard Cohen Retirement Plan". That shows real respect for the man and his life's work (sarcasm here).

And here I though it wasn't much of a secret that this tour is probably only happening because Kelley Lynch, et al absconded with the man's life's savings.

It's a free-market economy. The fact that the tickets are selling (and quickly) is enough evidence that they are not overpriced no matter how much this disappoints those who place reasonable limits on the value of such things. I'm just glad that he's playing a small room in my town and that I can see him from a decent vantage point at a not-too-outrageous fee.

[Lissa]

$35-50 hasn't been the 'normal' range for major concert events for some time now

$75 seems to be the average price for the cheap tix available at all venues and I think that is quite fair and about average

I paid $120 ($95 range plus fees) and am sitting 9th row on the far right. I'm pretty pleased

You are probably right. I haven't been to a live concert in many, many years.

[jonathon]

That VIP package for the Ottawa show at $689 without a Meet and Greet is simply a cash grab. There's no other way to characterize it.

The question now is, will there be Ticketmaster Auctions and/or Ticketmaster Exchange Platinum seats for the Ticketmaster venues at which LC is playing? The $689 VIP package will look like a steal once the prices are posted for the Platinum seats!

I go to alot of shows and many of them are indeed outrageously priced but it's the VIP packages which are downright insulting because it's so obviously a shakedown. The best thing about the high-priced VIP packages is that in many markets they just don't sell (Ottawa is one of those markets!) and then you can just keep an eye out to see when the seats are put back in the system and you can buy them at the proletarian $250 price!

But alas, it's all about demand and supply.

[MusicCityGypsy]

wow...I was only able to spend $150 total for a ticket today (so the 128 plus fees) I was lucky to be able to buy tickets of this price, being a student and only being able to work part time

that being said...I feel so greatful that tickets are ONLY $150 I was expecting them to be even higher!

The band "The Killers" came to town and they had tickets priced at $250, $150, & $50

I didn't go see them because i'm not a fan but THAT is a concert where I would question the ticket prices were overpriced...

being able to see leonard cohen live...on stage...just to be in the presences of the talent just blows my mind.

[swbirder]

Well I just paid $420 for two tickets in San Diego and would not be surprised if I was not heard two blocks away, shouting with joy, when it went through and was confirmed!! There are already tickets being offered for $1,000 each.

I really doubt the retirement plan comment was in any way intended to belittle the man in anyway.