Ticket prices!

[Brrrzzz]

ummm, out of curiosity, does anyone else out here feel like they're being RAPED by Ticketmaster?

Not really, no but I suppose you meant ripped off. Again I would say no.

I'm going to Kingston (knock on wood) and very excited to be going there. I love Kingston, it's such a beautiful city. Any excuse to spend a weekend is fantastic so when I saw it was a tour location I was overjoyed and immediately booked a room. The k-rock centre is only a year old - I've never seen anything there but I know when they built it they wanted it to be a performance centre as well as sports place. I have to admit that I hope there's no Pizza Pizza signs but I'm not sure I'd notice after the first 5 min.

Because of this post, I decided to try for tickets to the Kingston concert instead of Ottawa. I'd rather not attend a concert in an arena either - but I went to the Leonard Cohen concert in Munich and that was in an arena, and it was fantastic! The pre-show sound check apparently can last for hours (I guess it's no secret that LC is a perfectionist), and the sound technicians are the best.

So I've got two decent tickets for the Kingston show . . . can't wait!!!

[Irish22]

As Jarkko said, the $689 tickets in Ottawa was for the VIP package..and were not available in the pre-sale. Orchestra were $250..balcony $125. I snared a couple for the 2nd night. The acoustics at the NAC are fabulous..so this will be an amazing show!

[dnotman]

if most of the money goes directly to Cohen, I'm fine with it
otherwise ticketmaster is no one's pal

[Patrycja]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the board and just got an excellent seat to the Hamilton concert. I chose 'best available' just to see what would come up and for how much and was surprised to get one on the floor, centre, for a very good price (way closer to the $98 range than to the $500+ range). Beginner's luck, I guess.... Wishing you all an equally lucky lot with ticketmaster

Patrycja

[Patrycja]

As Jarkko said, the $689 tickets in Ottawa was for the VIP package..and were not available in the pre-sale. Orchestra were $250..balcony $125. I snared a couple for the 2nd night. The acoustics at the NAC are fabulous..so this will be an amazing show!

The NAC is quite an intimate venue as well. I saw Zubin Mehta conduct there last October and you're right, the acoustics were wonderful. Not sure what Copps is like in terms of sound, fingers crossed it's decent

[Flashpan]

VIP package was available in Ottawa... I bought two. However, I have no idea what is included.

[gothowens]

$128 US per ticket in Detroit - main floor, right of center, 20th row. I am happy if it supports a comfortable retirement for Mr. Cohen.

[substance]

I originally intended on going to Hamilton to see Cohen but after some thought, I've decided against it. I will wait for the announcement of a possible Toronto show in the near future and decided then, depending on the venue (here's hoping it's not the ACC!) and it's asking price.
The Hamilton show is a poor choice of venue, but also ticket prices are way too high! I had seen him in Toronto last year and since the shows vary only by a song or two, I will also get my next live Cohen fix off the CD/DVD soon to be released. Had ticket prices been cheaper or a change in set list for the second leg of the tour, I would feel much different.
I would also feel different if perhaps on the second leg of the tour featured Anjani or Sharon Robinson presenting their new material as an opening act!

on a side note...
in 2005, I saw John Cale 3 nights in a row (different set list each night, mixing acoustic and electric interpretations of his material) at a very small salsa lounge here in Toronto, $25 each night, no service charge fee, totally up to $75... on the third night, met him and his band due to the small and intimate venue, and they put me on guest list for a gig in Waterloo that same week! I also saw Depeche Mode at the ACC for $112, including Ticketmaster's service charge. Not that I am comparing these artists to Cohen (you really CAN'T compare Cohen!), their talent, or one over the other, but even then, my choice of seeing John Cale 3 nights in a row was made simply by the cost of the tickets! I could see 3 nights of Cale in a small setting for EVEN CHEAPER than one night of Depeche Mode at the ACC! Made me think differently.

[asandor]

I paid $325 for two mid range tickets in Vancouver where the chosen venue is GM Place ;this is a great venue ...for hockey and Celine etc. but a terrible venue for Leonard Cohen. Most people I know would have paid more to hear him in a smaller venue such as the Orpheum or Queen Elizabeth Theatre . However, I'm sure all the venues will be sold out anyway.

[asandor]

As Jarkko said, the $689 tickets in Ottawa was for the VIP package..and were not available in the pre-sale. Orchestra were $250..balcony $125. I snared a couple for the 2nd night. The acoustics at the NAC are fabulous..so this will be an amazing show!

The NAC is quite an intimate venue as well. I saw Zubin Mehta conduct there last October and you're right, the acoustics were wonderful. Not sure what Copps is like in terms of sound, fingers crossed it's decent

From Vancouver...If I lived back east I would grab the chance to hear him at the NAC which has great acoustics and is a concert hall with good sightlines and comfortable seats. It is not a made over hockey arena , with concrete everywhere and seats that the beer can be hosed off... like the venue in Vancouver.

[Cate]

Because of this post, I decided to try for tickets to the Kingston concert instead of Ottawa. I'd rather not attend a concert in an arena either - but I went to the Leonard Cohen concert in Munich and that was in an arena, and it was fantastic! The pre-show sound check apparently can last for hours (I guess it's no secret that LC is a perfectionist), and the sound technicians are the best.

So I've got two decent tickets for the Kingston show . . . can't wait!!!

Well I certainly hope you enjoy it then!!!

[cubicquinn]

I bought tickets for Kingston, at $53 each. Yes, it's an arena, but there really isn't a bad seat in the house! I saw LC last year in Toronto, at the Sony Centre. That's probably why he isn't coming back to TO, he's been there, done that. 3 shows, too, if memory serves me right. My seats were terrible, I felt like I was looking at the top of his head. Bad seats or good, he was still incredible. I just feel lucky to have him come to Kingston at all! I checked at 8pm last night and there were still preseats available, too. I suspect that it might have to do with this venue not using Ticketmasters to sell their tickets.

[Sochijava]

There are $68 seats available at the NAC - given the quality of the venue - a great price I think. They are not fabulous seats, but there really are no 'bad' seats at the NAC. Obviously the $698 or whatever for the VIP seats is obscene.

Paula

[da2008]

There are $68 seats available at the NAC - given the quality of the venue - a great price I think. They are not fabulous seats, but there really are no 'bad' seats at the NAC. Obviously the $698 or whatever for the VIP seats is obscene.

Paula

actually those are pretty good seats. much better than the back of the floor - that's for sure.