European Tour Sales = Desaster

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Comments

  • Jimmi
    Jimmi Netherlands Posts: 36
    LizJ said:
    German music magazine (Musikexpress/german Rolling Stone) reporting on the bad sales for Berlin today, asking “Did Pearl Jam gamble away?” (I hope I translated the headline correctly), mentioning the high prices for Berlin in general and the dynamic pricing by Ticketmaster.
    As I said, it’s in German, but I think it’s interesting that it’s being recognized by the press in Germany. 
    And it also shows again, that these prices are not standard prices for concerts in Europe. Mentioning these prices being the level of Adele or Phil Collins (did not know/expect that for Phil Collins btw.), but not for “former grunge or Indie-heroes”. 




    Thanks for the article!
    Apparently ticketmaster tried to copy a businessmodel from the us to the eu
    without adapting it to local standards, like planning, financial means, ⚽️
    Something like that? 
  • Soybeans
    Soybeans Posts: 258
    It's too bad this forum's mobile functionality broke for the first time in years,  right before the ticket fiasco started. We may have engaged in much more talk around the frustration and disappointment folks are feeling.  There was a thread about the forum not working,  but I think it was closed. 
    90 shows and counting...some of my favs: Randall's Island night 2, Milwaukee '95 night 2, Hawaii '06, St Johns '05, PJ20!
  • Air23
    Air23 Roma Posts: 1,411
    Low ticket sale in Europe is not only a fiasco in terms of unsold tickets for 2024 shows. The reputation of the band has turned from grunge heroes to greedy old corporate people
  • LizJ
    LizJ Posts: 367
    Jimmi said:
    LizJ said:

    What's going on? Normally, Pearl Jam concerts in Germany are quickly sold out. It is hard to imagine that the interest in the "Alive" heroes has diminished. However, the ticket prices for these front seats in the Waldbühne are peppered. Up to 300 euros per card. This is the price level of Adele or Phil Collins, not that of former indie rock and grunge heroes. The fact that the not yet-sale could be related to the fact that the band performs twice in Berlin instead of only once would also not be quite understandable. At their last local double header in 2012 in the then O2 Arena (which has a slightly smaller capacity than the Waldbühne), the Tix were also soon gone. 
    Pearl Jam fans, whether registered in the fan club "Ten Club" or not, are a sworn community. They uphold fairness ideals. 300 euros, on the other hand, is an announcement. When Ticketmaster then also vigorously applies the "dynamic pricing system", this annoys some PJ followers, as can also be read in the Facebook comments on our articles on the subject.
    "Dynamic pricing system" sounds fast and cool, but actually means that cards that initially cost 174, 50 euros (the base price) are now heading towards 300 - precisely because the demand is so great. It is obvious that this is not found to be cool, but looks like exploitation. You don't have to research for a long time to find out that these tickets then named "platinum" do not even contain a valuable free gift made of platinum metal (which no one would need anyway, which the name suggests), but simply means that you are a noble fan, because you invest so much money in your favorite band.
    These are some excerpts from the article. 
    I just realized that I can just use the translator on my phone.  :)

    And funny thing is, after seeing this article, that mentions the ticket pricing level of stars like Adele, another article on her upcoming tour in Europe just popped up. Saying that the sales for her 8 planed shows/residency shows in Germany are also selling quite bad/not as good as expected. 
    So even Adele might have misread the situation in Europe.
  • bootlegger10
    bootlegger10 Posts: 16,296
    I hope things turn around for you in Europe. I will send some meal vouchers.
  • matt84
    matt84 Posts: 834
    willwall said:
    I’m so happy that this has backfired on them. 

    Things that are ok in the US, doesn’t mean it’s ok to do here. 

    Manchester is 50% sold. London is easily less than 50% sold. You reap what you sow at the end of the day.

    Those saying it’s not the band and that they are entirely blameless are wrong. They’ll know what’s going on. At least Springsteen had the bottle to come out and own up to the Dynamic pricing and what he was doing. 

    Can see a lot of these shows being reduced or even on offer in a few weeks time.
    Exactly! People in the EU/UK are never going to pay the prices that people in the US pay for gigs.
  • KidAOK
    KidAOK Posts: 118
    bootlegger10 said:
    I hope things turn around for you in Europe. I will send some meal vouchers.
    Funny that, you are far more likely to need them than a European.
  • ilockyer
    ilockyer Posts: 2,272
    tD255989 said:
    Hello Friends.  Pearl Jam is the soundtrack to my life.  Born and raised in So Cal.  Today was the ticket sale for the upcoming 2024 tour.  Anything Ticketmaster has to do with turns into a pile of shit.  I know it's not PJ.  I know PJ wants what's best for their fans, however, the bots and the scalpers are a difficult cancer to beat.  Just a blue collar guy who seeks PJ live as rehab from the grind of life.  And todays events with the ticket sale has been a travesty.  A general fuck you to Ticketmaster and all ticket resale businesses. All the REAL PJ FANS will be in the upper decks at the LA forum.  Nothing but corporate greed will be in the decent seats.  GREEN DISEASE.  Take care.
    TM can be challenged, and has been, by a band nowhere near as big as PJ. This dynamic pricing nonsense can be stopped if there is a will from the client (band/band management). 

    https://thatmusicmag.com/the-cures-robert-smith-slays-ticketmaster-and-leaves-no-crumbs/


    The secret to a happy ending is knowing when to roll the credits
  • HailHailVitalogy
    HailHailVitalogy Posts: 6,035
    Yup, I think if this was 2025 with the same venues and dates they would have sold better. They’re competing with so many acts, eurocup, and peak travel costs. Why would you pick Tottenham as the venue on the same day as Green Day, ABBA, and Burna? Oh and by the way the round of 16 euros begin that day. I think they would have had more success in the smaller cities for less coin. 
    2003: Uniondale, MSG x2 | 2004: Reading | 2005: Gorge, Vancouver, Philly | 2006: East Rutherford x2, Gorge x2, Camden 1, Hartford | 2008: MSG x2, VA Beach | 2009: Philly x3 | 2010: MSG x2, Bristow | 2011: Alpine Valley x2 | 2012: MIA Philly | 2013: Wrigley, Charlottesville, Brooklyn 2 | 2014: Milan, Amsterdam 1 | 2016: MSG x2, Fenway x2, Wrigley 2 | 2018: Rome, Krakow, Berlin, Wrigley 2 | 2021: Sea Hear Now | 2022: San Diego, LA x2, MSG, Camden, Nashville, St. Louis, Denver | 2023: St. Paul 1, Chicago x2, Fort Worth x2, Austin 2 | 2024: Las Vegas 1, Seattle x2, Indy, MSG x2, Philly x2, Baltimore, Ohana 2 | 2025: Florida x2, Atlanta x2, Pittsburgh x2
  • ilockyer
    ilockyer Posts: 2,272
    Ryan said:
    Berlin and Barcelona also traditionally get one show per tour, not two (exception being Berlin 2012 when they played the arena).  That venue in Berlin is bigger than an arena.  May have been better off doing single shows in those cities.  As a North American I also would have gone to EU if we didn’t have so many options for shows that on this side of the pond this year.  I’m guessing fewer North Americans are going over there in peak travel months when we have many less experienced options for PJ shows this year.  
    I wonder if there is a reduction in the number from NA traveling over due to the prices here no longer being approximately half to 3/4 what they were in the US at comparative times. Quite a few used to come and do long tours, the savings in tickets off-setting the hotel costs or flight expenses. 
    The secret to a happy ending is knowing when to roll the credits
  • dignin
    dignin Posts: 9,478
    Good on the Europeans for not paying these extreme prices.

  • yorkshirestone
    yorkshirestone Posts: 38
    Personally, I can just about stomach/afford standing for Manchester at 160 gbp, it is however outrageous that the back row of the upper tiers are the same price and I’m not surprised they aren’t selling. 
    London, I’ve begrudgingly paid for a good lower tier seat, again tens of thousands of rear seats still available and over priced. These come down to 50-70 gbp they will sell. At 125-160gbp, they won’t. 
    I’d planned on doing London with my partner but at 160 quid, she’s out. We’d also planned on doing Berlin or Barcelona, but at the price they are, they’re out too. 
    So from an original plan of 2x Manchester, 2x London and 2x Berlin or Barcelona tickets we’ve landed with 2 for Manchester and 1 for London. 
    Simple economics - I’ve a budget and it’s covered 3 tickets rather than the 6 we’d hoped. I’ll go, I’ll enjoy the shows but I hope they aren’t sold out to send a message 
    On the pricing itself something is very, very wrong when I’m paying more for pearl jam than green day, foo fighters, Springsteen and taylor swift this summer. 
    The inflation and increased cost arguments are utter rubbish in my opinion
    its greed. 

  • ilockyer
    ilockyer Posts: 2,272
    yorkshirestone said:
    On the pricing itself something is very, very wrong when I’m paying more for pearl jam than green day, foo fighters, Springsteen and taylor swift this summer. 
    The inflation and increased cost arguments are utter rubbish in my opinion
    its greed. 

    Here's some shocking perspective based on cheapest tickets to get you through the door for a band with an unmatched love of money, The Eagles. (info on the Eagles from See Tickets)

    Eagles £75.00 (£87.08 inc fees)
    PJ £130.00 (£160.00 inc fees). 
    The secret to a happy ending is knowing when to roll the credits
  • TO42596
    TO42596 The Netherlands Posts: 143
    The main issue I believe is that the evolution of ticket prices has been completely different in the US than in EUR. Taking the US prices, which have become acceptable (if I go by the comments on the board) in the US and switching the $ for EUR looks to be a misjudgment...enough of us (the hardcore fans) are still, grudgingly, willing to pay, but for the more casual fan the prices are too much. We'll see, the good thing about dynamic pricing is that the prices can "dynamically" be lowered. Supply and demand will meet somewhere...
    2000 London I
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    2013 Buenos Aires & Wrigley Field / Brad Utrecht / Soundgarden Oslo & Amsterdam
    2014 Amsterdam I & II, Vienna, Berlin & Leeds / Soundgarden Santiago, Utrecht & Tilburg
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    2018 Amsterdam I & II, Krakow & Berlin
    2022 Stockholm, Copenhagen, Amsterdam & Toronto
    2023 Austin I & II
    2024 Manchester, Barcelona I & II, Melbourne I & II, Sydney I & II
  • kaw753
    kaw753 Posts: 941
    I did the Europe tour in 2012 and 2016. The thing is these are the same cities and festivals as they played on those tours. Dublin looks like a poop show to get to, London is a big no thanks due to the massive stadium for unknown reasons, and I am a hard pass on big GA festivals like NOS Alive.

  • jimjam1982
    jimjam1982 AZ Posts: 1,471
    Soybeans said:
    willwall said:
    I’m so happy that this has backfired on them. 

    Things that are ok in the US, doesn’t mean it’s ok to do here. 

    Manchester is 50% sold. London is easily less than 50% sold. You reap what you sow at the end of the day.

    Those saying it’s not the band and that they are entirely blameless are wrong. They’ll know what’s going on. At least Springsteen had the bottle to come out and own up to the Dynamic pricing and what he was doing. 

    Can see a lot of these shows being reduced or even on offer in a few weeks time.
    Is already happening. The prices for Barcelona are coming down. Barcelona uppers down $30, lowers have come down by $50.

    But it's too late for many. Scanning the sad comments on the socials, it's clear that our proud Spanish PJ brothers and sisters are done. Sadly,  I have to hope these arenas remain half empty at show time. 
    If its half empty the show gets cancelled. Be careful what you wish for if you have tix
  • kaw753
    kaw753 Posts: 941
    jimjam1982 said:
    Soybeans said:
    willwall said:
    I’m so happy that this has backfired on them. 

    Things that are ok in the US, doesn’t mean it’s ok to do here. 

    Manchester is 50% sold. London is easily less than 50% sold. You reap what you sow at the end of the day.

    Those saying it’s not the band and that they are entirely blameless are wrong. They’ll know what’s going on. At least Springsteen had the bottle to come out and own up to the Dynamic pricing and what he was doing. 

    Can see a lot of these shows being reduced or even on offer in a few weeks time.
    Is already happening. The prices for Barcelona are coming down. Barcelona uppers down $30, lowers have come down by $50.

    But it's too late for many. Scanning the sad comments on the socials, it's clear that our proud Spanish PJ brothers and sisters are done. Sadly,  I have to hope these arenas remain half empty at show time. 
    If its half empty the show gets cancelled. Be careful what you wish for if you have tix
    If they cancel a show due to poor ticket sales because the prices are too high, you don't think the fans who have booked travel and vacation time from work might be just a bit upset? 

    I saw Arcade Fire on a Monday night in Vegas in an arena with like 3000 people. They just play the show and lose some money. They are already paying the crew, hotels, etc.
  • BloodMeridian80
    BloodMeridian80 Seattle Posts: 717
    If the venues are half empty when the shows occur, then there’s a story here. 
  • SHZA
    SHZA St. Louis, MO USA Posts: 4,315
    edited February 2024
    kaw753 said:
    jimjam1982 said:
    Soybeans said:
    willwall said:
    I’m so happy that this has backfired on them. 

    Things that are ok in the US, doesn’t mean it’s ok to do here. 

    Manchester is 50% sold. London is easily less than 50% sold. You reap what you sow at the end of the day.

    Those saying it’s not the band and that they are entirely blameless are wrong. They’ll know what’s going on. At least Springsteen had the bottle to come out and own up to the Dynamic pricing and what he was doing. 

    Can see a lot of these shows being reduced or even on offer in a few weeks time.
    Is already happening. The prices for Barcelona are coming down. Barcelona uppers down $30, lowers have come down by $50.

    But it's too late for many. Scanning the sad comments on the socials, it's clear that our proud Spanish PJ brothers and sisters are done. Sadly,  I have to hope these arenas remain half empty at show time. 
    If its half empty the show gets cancelled. Be careful what you wish for if you have tix
    If they cancel a show due to poor ticket sales because the prices are too high, you don't think the fans who have booked travel and vacation time from work might be just a bit upset? 

    I saw Arcade Fire on a Monday night in Vegas in an arena with like 3000 people. They just play the show and lose some money. They are already paying the crew, hotels, etc.
    When they postponed/canceled due to Covid on the day of the show, the fans who traveled and took vacation time were upset. Yet they've done it multiple times. 

    I tend to think they'd bite the bullet if sales were poor for one particular show but if it's an entire leg, I could see multiple shows being canceled. Hopefully with enough notice to cancel travel plans 
  • ilockyer
    ilockyer Posts: 2,272
    edited February 2024
    jimjam1982 said:
    Soybeans said:
    willwall said:
    I’m so happy that this has backfired on them. 

    Things that are ok in the US, doesn’t mean it’s ok to do here. 

    Manchester is 50% sold. London is easily less than 50% sold. You reap what you sow at the end of the day.

    Those saying it’s not the band and that they are entirely blameless are wrong. They’ll know what’s going on. At least Springsteen had the bottle to come out and own up to the Dynamic pricing and what he was doing. 

    Can see a lot of these shows being reduced or even on offer in a few weeks time.
    Is already happening. The prices for Barcelona are coming down. Barcelona uppers down $30, lowers have come down by $50.

    But it's too late for many. Scanning the sad comments on the socials, it's clear that our proud Spanish PJ brothers and sisters are done. Sadly,  I have to hope these arenas remain half empty at show time. 
    If its half empty the show gets cancelled. Be careful what you wish for if you have tix
    With this lovely variable pricing, a show doesn't need to sell out to be break even or be profitable. So long as they sell enough at whatever price to raise the funds for the promoter to cover all costs including paying the band, there'd be no reason to cancel even if 50% of the seats were unsold.
    The secret to a happy ending is knowing when to roll the credits

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