VIP Experiences
For the U2 360 Tour, you can bid in (RED)Zone tickets and “Experiences” where you can get an exclusive tour of the stage and areas around the stadium and find out more details about the band and the tour, as well as have the opportunity to hopefully “bump” into one of the band members on your tour. (Not guaranteed, but those who have enjoyed the (RED)Zone Experience tour have reported they’ve seen Adam or Paul McGuinness.) Those experiences are part of an auction where the proceeds go to help the (RED) campaign.
Compare that to Bon Jovi’s Circle Tour. (Yes, I know…360 does make a circle…guess circles are popular among bands nowadays). Their standard ticket prices are $127.50, $97.50, $67.50 and $39.50 – comparable to U2’s to a degree. However, their package deals are nowhere near close. This is from Ticketmaster:
Diamond Circle VIP Experience: $1875
Package Includes: One Incredible Front Row* Ticket inside the Exclusive Circle!*(Or in the First Three Rows in the following markets: East Rutherford, Chicago, Foxboro, Regina, Toronto, Winnipeg & Edmonton), One Exclusive Collectable Bon Jovi VIP Concert Chair (You sit in it, you watch the show, and then you take it home with you!), Special VIP Cocktail Upon Arrival, Deluxe Catered VIP Preshow Hospitality, Deluxe VIP Open Bar*, Dedicated On-Site VIP Host, And MORE!Emerald Circle VIP: $989
Package Includes: One Amazing Ticket inside the Exclusive Circle, Special VIP Cocktail Upon Arrival , Deluxe Catered VIP Preshow Hospitality, Deluxe VIP Open Bar*, Dedicated On-Site VIP Host, VIP Preferred Parking* (Where available), VIP Priority Check-In , Separate VIP Entrance at Venue (Where available), One Autographed Bon Jovi Souvenir Tour Program!, And MORE!Platinum VIP Party Pack!: $625
Package Includes: One Excellent Top Price* Reserved Ticket in the Front Floor Sections!*Package Based On Top Ticket Price Outside the Circle, Catered VIP Preshow Party!, Open Bar* (Includes Beer & Wine Selections), On Site VIP Customer Service, VIP Preferred Parking* (Where available), VIP Priority Check-In, Separate VIP Entrance at Venue (Where available), $100.00 Gift Card to the On-Line Bon Jovi Store, One Bon Jovi Souvenir Tour Program, And MORE!Gold VIP Package: $365
Package Includes: One Premium Top Price* Reserved Ticket in Lower Level! *Package Based On Top Ticket Price Outside the Circle, $50.00 Gift Card to the On-Line Bon Jovi Store, One Souvenir Bon Jovi Tour Program, One Exclusive Bon Jovi VIP Messenger Bag, One Limited Edition VIP Laminate & Matching Lanyard, One Commemorative Souvenir Concert Ticket.The Silver Package: $215
Package Includes: One Premium Second Price* Reserved Ticket *Package Based On Second Ticket Price Outside the Circle, $25.00 Gift Card to the On-Line Bon Jovi Store, One Bon Jovi Souvenir Tour Program, One Exclusive Bon Jovi VIP Merchandise Item, One Limited Edition VIP Laminate & Matching Lanyard, One Commemorative Souvenir Concert Ticket
Wow – the term “hey, brother, can you spare a dime?” certainly applies here. So, I suppose score one for U2. Yes, they may have a top ticket price of $250, but they’re not offering a ticket for the price of a used car.
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You’re comparing apples and oranges here. RedZone is just a chance to get in a good spot for the GA without queuing. U2 HAVE actual VIP packages with food, open bar, special parking, take home gifts, etc. for about $1100 for a pair.
Good point – forgot about those. Still, the most expensive U2 VIP package is far cheaper than Bon Jovi’s.
These packages are actually equivalent to the U2 VIP packages – as far as they go. U2 has one VIP package that includes a $250 ticket, pre-show buffet, parking, and a little U2-branded duffel for $520 – roughly the same as BJ’s $625 Platinum package. BJ just went further and offered packages with more ’stuff’ – for more money.
It’s worth noting, too, that BonJovi’s manager and CEO is the lead singer, so I’m guessing he had a lot more input on their VIP packages than say, Bono. (And if you think that’s an ‘honorary’ title for Jon, watch their new doc on Showtime; he absolutely does everything from Paul McG’s job all the way down to writing up each show’s setlist.)
The sad truth is that there are plenty of people willing to pay those kinds of prices for tickets close to the band. And they do pay — via the ticket brokers/secondary market. Bon Jovi has figured out a way to break the brokers and keep the markup for himself.
Plus, BJ’s tickets in the exclusive inner circle and front floor sections actually constitute seats that are close to the band. $250/VIP tickets in the current 360 tour will not get you remotely close to the band because of the way the stadium is configured.
Of course the down side is you have to go to a Bon Jovi concert….sigh…I have tickets to go see him with a friend who is a devoted fan but I just can’t stand his music. I’m trying to build up a tolerance by next April. This must be the way my friends feel when I drag them to U2 concerts. <>
That last bit in brackets didn’t show up! It was: “Shudders at thought of 2 hours of Bon Jovi!”