Elite Neil Diamond tickets going for nearly $400
06 September 2004
By KIM RUSCOE
Premium tickets to Neil Diamond’s concert in Wellington are selling for $375 – despite the singer-songwriter’s insistence that all tickets cost under $100.
Melbourne-based promoter Paul Dainty announced less than a month ago that Diamond would perform at the Westpac Stadium on March 5, followed by a concert in Christchurch on March 7.
Diamond had in the past shown his disgust at high concert prices and had insisted all tickets for the New Zealand performances cost under $100, Mr Dainty said at the time.
But Ticketek last week started advertising premium tickets for $375. For their money, punters would get centre stage reserved seats, a pre-concert buffet dinner and wine, after-show dessert and cheese board, a special Diamond show pack including a CD of the veteran singer’s work, and a programme.
Stadium boss David Gray said only “a few hundred” tickets would be sold at the higher price. A further 24,000 would be sold for under $100 and about 4000 for under $70.
“It’s normal practice at any event that there are some hospitality opportunities provided,” he said.
Mr Dainty could not be contacted last night.