Best way to buy Van Halen tix?

[bpd111]

With the VH tickets upcoming, what's the best way to buy them to get the best seats? It's been a while, i.e. pre-internet. Assuming I'm going to buy them online, does it matter how fast/slow my connection is? I don't want to camp out!

[vaijem777]

AOL is supposedly going to have a pre-sale. That would be a great way to get some decent seats.

Also, find out which local radio station is going to be sponsoring the show. They'll usually have pre-sales for the "members" of whatever club they have for listeners. Check out their website and see if you can find a sign-up form. If you're not sure which station is sponsoring the show, just go to the websites of all of the local classic rock and hard rock stations and sign up for their clubs. It's always free

Aside from that, just check Ticketmaster constantly. As soon as they announce the on-sale for your area, they'll probably have a "Pre-sale begins on XX/XX/XX" note as well. A password will be needed, and should be available through whoever is putting on the show. I think it's AOL this time, but I'm sure Clear Channel will have their fingers in it as well. You can check them out at www.cc.com.

Oh yeah...if you want to be a TOTAL fanboy, you can go to www.iloveallaccess.com and shell out some ridiculous $$ for special ticket/merchandise packages

[bob mclaughlin]

Van Halen is my favorite band, but $375???? Must be the "Cant pay the taxes" tour........

[bpd111]

Well, I took advantage of an about 15 million-hour trial period that I'll probably never be able to get out of and downloaded AOL, so I could get in on the pre-sale. I know I'm taking a chance here, but I decided not to buy. I got in just minutes after the sale started (the website said local time -- I assumed that was my local time), and the only seats that were available were on the back third of the auditorium. I'm hoping that the pre-sale was for those seats and not the decent ones.

[jemsite]

the best (and only way) to get good seats for a stadium show, short of having a friend work for the venue/band, is ticket brokers. if you wait until the show date, there are always tons of seats available in the arena area from guys walking arouind with dozens of tix which brokers did not sell at $375. i've landed some GREAT seats like that and cheap (near face value) for last minute "i'll go too" shows. The sellers want any $$$ they can get at that point, especially if the place is not sold out. Another choice would be a smaller, local ticket broker (not an internet one like posted). You can also look on ebay but noone will have firm info until a few days/weeks after tix are released... glen

[Soup Kitchen Studios]

Just for clarification, the www.iloveallaccess.com tickets are not a ticket broker. Those are legitimate "ticket packages" authorized by the band and they include "bonus memoribilia" and for the most expensive one, a meet & greet and backstage tour.

[hamand]

Glen, when you say "ticket brokers" is that a euphemism for "scalpers"? Is that legal over there? When I went to the Vai gig in London, there were some very shady looking guys in trenchcoats selling tickets, whilst constantly scanning for police.

[jemsite]

around here there are quasi-legal "brokers" (who are scalpers) who sell via phone & mail... legitimate businesses and also there are the "scalpers" (ie. shady, quasi-criminals) who sell at shows while looking to not get arrested. some states allow "brokering" for a certain upcharge over face value and if not you can buy from an out of state broker legally... glen