Fans have struggled to obtain codes on Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan to see American rock legend Bruce Springsteen in his upcoming Broadway shows.
Even those that have successfully received a code are faced with the realisation that the cheapest ticket available is around $600 (£447/€505), or some even claimed the codes they received did not allow them to buy tickets.
Springsteen on Broadway, which will run into June 2018, is an eight-week engagement of intimate shows at the Walter Kerr Theatre.
Tickets went on sale yesterday (Tuesday) through the Verified Fan programme, but left many fans feeling frustrated and some without tickets.
Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan asks those hoping to buy tickets to provide personal information including their phone number, email and social handles. Verified Fan then assesses whether they are human, looking for clues like past ticket-buying history and social posts, and lets ticket-buyers know if they’ve made the cut.
It is believed that fewer tickets are finding their way to resale platforms because of the ‘slow ticketing’ model as fans are able to grab official tickets at any time.
Many Springsteen fans took to Twitter to voice their concerns, with one person tweeting: “Just keeps spinning and spinning. Spent over 40 minutes trying for tickets, very disappointed. What’s the point of signing up for a code if it doesn’t work?”
Another said: “Finally get a text that I can buy Springsteen on Broadway tickets. Searched through 4 dates to see if there any even slightly affordable tickets. Nope. Springsteen has always cared about being accessible for the average fan. $600+ ticket prices aren’t that.”
Earlier this week, it was reported that Taylor Swift is inspiring the industry to move towards a ‘slow ticketing’ model in which prices will be higher, choice for consumers will be greater and there will be no instant sellouts.
By using Verified Fan, along with charging slightly higher prices, Ticketmaster is shifting the primary market to be more like the secondary. However, the sharp increase in ticket prices left some Swift fans feeling ripped off, and took to Twitter to complain about the $1,500 VIP tickets and $800 ‘Snake Pit’ tickets.
Organisers defended themselves by stating that tickets are being priced as they would be on the secondary market.