“Springsteen on Broadway” will run five days a week through Feb. 3 after it opens, but already the show is getting a rep as “Born to Gouge.”
“Tickets … went on sale Wednesday morning, but within minutes, the coveted seats were all snapped up, and being resold on Stubhub at exorbitant prices,” noted the New York Daily News. “Select tickets were on sale for up to $9,800, while many hovered around the $1,000-$6,000 mark — significantly higher than the original sale price of $75-850.”
The show at the Walter Kerr Theatre begins previews Oct. 3 ahead of an Oct. 12 opening at the 960-seat venue, said the Chicago Sun-Times.
“Springsteen says he will be performing songs from his career, interspersed with readings from his best-selling memoir ‘Born to Run.’ Ticket demand is so high that Ticketmaster is using a system that requires people to apply for ticket purchases.”
The Daily News added: “Ticketmaster had previously implemented a new system called the Verified Fan program designed to help circumvent bots, scalpers and resellers scooping up tickets immediately, and level the playing field for dedicated fans.”
The system is used by Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift and requires potential concert-goers to register ahead of time for shows they’d like to attend.
A chorus of gripes:
A friend was able to get Springsteen on Broadway tickets for $400 each this am. Sold them nearly instantaneously for $2,000 each.
— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) August 30, 2017
Me waiting for my @Ticketmaster code to get @springsteen on Broadway tickets. pic.twitter.com/j3VwD13Wk2
— Emily Tabachuk (@emtabachuk) August 30, 2017
Tried for over 2 HOURS to get Bruce Springsteen on Broadway tickets, maniacally trying over and over. They’re sold out. #heartbroken
— Dixie Laite (@DixieLaite) August 30, 2017
.@Ticketmaster if you let people who were able to buy @springsteen tickets to register again for the next round, doesn’t that help scalpers?
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) August 30, 2017
It took 3 minutes for @springsteen tickets to hit StubHub, starting at 6,700 a seat. Txs @Ticketmaster #VerifiedFan #fail pic.twitter.com/35u7OhEoMi
— Jason Haber (@jasonhaber) August 30, 2017
you did a great job Ticketmaster…tickets are only $6500 on stub hub from those #verifiedfans!
— Blog It All Night (@blogitallnight) August 30, 2017