Tampa Concert Layout Change?

[Brysburg]

As a Tampa resident, I have been monitoring the Ticketmaster website to see how tickets seem to be selling for the 10/19 concert at the St. Pete Times Forum. Thanks to the pre-sale through this wonderful forum, I was able (at the exact instant the sale opened) to purchase two tickets in the center of the third row. Because the SPT Forum is such a large venue (and Tampa is...well, Tampa), I have been a bit worried about the turn-out for Our Man. Well, today my fears seem to have been realized. Earlier today, Ticketmaster suspended the sale of tickets. And tonight, ticket sales have resumed but with a new floorplan displayed on Ticketmaster that appears to use about 1/4 of the house. The number of seats on the floor is reduced to two sections which appear to be the premium ($250) seats. The rest of the seating uses the raised "bowl", "end-zone" part of the Forum. This has to mean a change in the location of our seats for those of us who have already purchased them. On the positive side, this layout should create a more intimate and welcoming environment for Leonard and his fans. We saw Leonard's concert in Toronto last year when he was kicking off this long world tour, and it was a very special and memorable evening. Of course, we are very excited to be able to see him again, this time in our little hometown (what a surprise!) as he completes the final leg of the tour.

[lizzytysh]

Hi Brysburg ~

Welcome to the Forum . Lucky you already being there to see Leonard. I'll be driving at least 6 hours. [And, Donalgata... I heard YOU are going to be there, too !]

I was alerted to this thread and am wondering, too, Brysburg. Since I did get the $250 ticket and know you must have, too, since I'm in the third row, as well [perhaps, the first two rows were held back, I'm wondering]... I'm thinking we may be fine so far as our proximity to Leonard. I wonder if we'll be any closer, or if those in the seats behind us will be, instead. Knowing that general area, and Florida in general, save a few, select spots, I wondered, too, about how ticket sales would go... as a reflection on Florida, not on Leonard.

Meanwhile, it sounds like the change will make it more intimate for everyone. That's great news for us, though not as good news for the money managers of AEG... and, by extension, Leonard and his band.

I'm really looking forward to Leonard's Florida concerts. We need him here.


~ Lizzy

[Brysburg]

Hi Lizzy:

I decided to be proactive and called the SPT Forum ticket office for details yesterday. They advised that Ticketmaster is controlling the re-assigment of seats for ticket purchasers and referred me to Ticketmaster Customer Service. I then called Ticketmaster and eventually was connected to "Adam" who advised that my particular section, row and seat numbers would not change. If his information was accurate, there are twenty seats per row in the two remaining floor sections, and the seats are numbered 1-20 from the "outside-in". This means that my seats are still close to the middle, so I'm happy. At this point, all of the $250 and $125 tickets have sold, and the $71 tickets are the best available; these are still great seats and I hope more local folks will seize this special opportunity to see and hear Leonard. It is such a moving experience and I'm doing my part to promote the event to my friends and
neighbors....unfortunately, I get a lot of reactions.

[bridger15]

these are still great seats and I hope more local folks will seize this special opportunity to see and hear Leonard. It is such a moving experience and I'm doing my part to promote the event to my friends and neighbors....unfortunately, I get a lot of reactions.

I applaud your loyalty and enthusiasm for trying to introduce LC to others. You may have found it easier to convince newcomers to go to a beautiful theater, such as your wonderful Tampa Performing Arts Center, rather than to a hockey arena. Too bad.

When I first heard the rumor that the tour would return to the US, I wishfully guessed that he would play in the southeast. That area was totally missed on the Spring leg. I had hoped to go to Florida concerts, figuring Tampa was a Neil Larsen connecton (whose talent I greatly admire), and combine them with a long overdue visit to a nephew who lives near Jacksonville.

When they announced both Florida concerts were to take place in hockey arenas, I changed my mind about going to Florida. I seem to have spent "half my life" happily in hockey arenas. However, a concert in one is a negative experience. Burnt by a less than enoyable Pavarotti concert at the old Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, I swore never to go to another concert in a hockey arena. But for you, LC in San Jose, I will make an exception.

I think management made two serious mistakes. There is a beautiful Performing Arts centers in Tampa and another in Fort Lauderdale in which Grand Opera and Broadway productions take place. The seating capacity in each venue is approximately 2600 seats, about the same size as the San Diego concert and perhaps some others on the tour.

Too bad.

[lizzytysh]

Hi Bridger ~

It could be that those better venues were already booked.


~ Lizzy

[donalagata]

Hi Lizzy,
Thanks for thinking of me in regard to this change with the Tampa Concert layout. I think that we will be fine in Row 3 . In fact with the smaller layout more theatre like in appearance as Ticketmasters has decribed we will have a most enjoyable, intimate concert with Leonard. It will be similar to when I saw him at the Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor several years ago. I was in Row 5 then and had an excellent view of everyone on stage. This may have worked out entirely in our favor. Big is not always better......
TheTampa venue will prove this and be a most enjoyable experience sitting in Row 3 directly in front of the artist. I will look for you there. I will be with my sister Sharon and we are staying at the Embassy Suites just a couple of blocks from the St Pete Times Forum .
donalagata

[FanForLife]

I just checked Ticketmaster:

"Sorry, but this event no longer exists in our database.
Tickets Not Available"


Anybody know what is going on ?????

[donalagata]

Dear Fan For Life,
I just checked Ticketmaster after reading your post the time here is 11:14PM. The site still shows the Tampa concert being available for ticket sales . I ran a test and was able to pull up tickets in section 126, row 4 costing $125.00. I of course cancelled that order since I was just testing the system so they should still be available. Maybe the site was down for awhile but things are still good and as far as I can see the concert is still scheduled. By the way those seats I saw would be very good seats. Best of Luck to you when you check again.
donalagata

[FanForLife]

Thhanks donalagata

Unfortunatly, when i tried it just now I get teh same message

If you go to http://www.leonardcohenforum.com
Click on Tour
Go to the seventh section, (Oct 19, 2009 8:00pm Tampa, Florida St. Pete Times Forum) and click on Purchase

What do you get ?

Thanks

[Mabeanie1]

I think the link has changed with the change in venue layout. Try this instead:

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0D004 ... norcatid=1

Wendy

[FanForLife]

Thanks Mabeanie1

I get a link to a page that is offering tickets at $16.75 ???? Is that for real ?

[Brysburg]

Bridger,

I, too, wish that Leonard's concert was being held at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (Morsani Hall), or better yet, the historic and beautiful Tampa Theatre. There is no coflicting event scheduled at these venues on 10/19. However, TBPAC doesn't have the tie-in with Ticketmaster, and that seems to be the driving force. Locally, Live Nation controls the Ford Amphitheatre (an outdoor facility which holds 20,000 and is a horrible place to see a concert if you care about seeing and hearing the performers), and Ticketmaster seems to control the SPT Forum.
The lay-out change for Leonard's concert will tend to mask the fact that the SPT Forum is a hockey arena and should mean better acoustics and more good seats for all.
Due to the nature of "Florida's culture" (what an oxymoron!), I never thought Leonard's tour would come here. Perhaps the promoter was gambling that Tampa's airport, beaches and area attractions would bring traveling fans from afar. Be that as it may, I'm sure that the audience for Leonard's Tampa concert will be just as rapt as those elsewhere.

[LindaB]

Is anyone else as disappointed with the Tampa concert layout change? I just had notification that my Row One seating has been changed to row 4. I was floating on a cloud since the sale, now I'm in the dumps!!!

[donalagata]

Dear Linda B.
I also recieved notification from Ticketmaster that my seats have been moved also to Row 4 seats 11 and 12. However I was previously in Row 3 not Row 1 like you. Based on what Brysburg wrote in an earlier forum entry (Seats are numbered 1-20 from the outside in) my new assigned seats will be closer to the middle of the row but of course I am now back another row and in on the opposite side of the stage. I am going to call Ticketmasters tomorrow because they indicated that I would now get a paper ticket and not will call pickup. I am concerned because I live in Michigan not Florida and the tickets will not be mailed until September 29th (standard delivery). I am leaving for Florida on October 9th and my concern of course is that my tickets will not be here before I leave. They also have fees for delivery of paper tickets so I am wondering if the fee will be waived. Many questions for Ticketmaster like is Row 4 now the new Row 1 and if not who has been assigned to my original seat which I selected and paid for up front . I wonder if any one else out there can help answer any of these questions.
donalagata

[lizzytysh]

Good heavens. Perhaps, I need to start checking my email ! I hope my Row 4 tickets there don't morph into Row 7's. How strange all the changes, right down to pick-up mode. It seems your best best is definitely to talk with Ticketmaster, Donalagata. I don't like things being mailed because things get delayed and lost in the mail. It seems like they ought to send it by expedited mail, at their own expense.

Due to the nature of "Florida's culture" (what an oxymoron!), I never thought Leonard's tour would come here.

This made me laugh... and I thought the very same. I'm immensely grateful for their decision to come here, though!

$16.75 is REALLY hard to imagine! But see above paragraph if there were to be an explanation.

I stopped laughing when I read LindaB's posting... Dang! I mean how could they just DO THAT!?! I'd call, too, if I were you, and find out what's what.


~ Lizzy