9mo ago

The Curious Case Of The Underselling Arena Tours

www.stereogum.com The Curious Case Of The Underselling Arena Tours

It's not just the Black Keys. Why are so many big tours selling poorly?

“Who can afford to go to multiple shows?” says the anonymous tour manager. “Two tickets to a show, you’re talking probably about $200 with fees and everything. You go to a meal around the show, you’re talking at least $100 or $200 for a nice dinner. Then you got parking and babysitters, then you add the VIP stuff to that and you want to make it a special night, you’re talking $500 to $1,000 a night for a couple to go out. It’s capitalism at its best.”

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Sleep Token toured the US earlier this year, and came near where I live. The cheapest ticket prices were $700. That's approaching Taylor Swift prices for a popular, but still niche, metal band.
I would pay $700 to see Mayhem play a live De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas with a resurrected Per "Dead" Ohlin (and no Varg Vikernes, because fuck that guy), but I'm not paying $700 to see Sleep Token.
- That’s not even “approaching Taylor swift levels,” it’s more. 6th row floor seats for TS were like $500. Nosebleeds were under $200. I’d love to see Sleep Token though
  
  I think they're exaggerating. My friends went to sleep token in Tampa and floor seats were $250.
  
  That still seems like a lot. Went to A Day To Remember last week for $25 and at the very least, I'd argue they're less niche than Sleep Token. Godsmack will be around later this year for around $100.
  
  I would tend to agree but this was a mid size arena and it was sold out. Sleep token fans are a bit fanatical, even if they're not a mainstream act per se.
- Not going to bother resurrecting Euronymous?
  
  Oopsie. Forgot him. 😬

38 comments