Bruno Mars fans claim they've been locked out of concert heaven by Ticketmaster
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - About 500 people lined up at the Aloha Stadium box office this morning, hoping to buy Bruno Mars concert tickets. Stadium officials say that all but 75 were able to purchase seats for the Nov. 10 event.
"I'm very excited, I've been waiting to get tickets ... since October," said Megan Whetstone, who waited in line two hours to get a ticket to see the Roosevelt High School graduate turned pop superstar in concert.
But it was a different experience for consumers like Kevin Rathbun of Ewa Beach, who tried to purchase tickets online from Ticketmaster.
He said he logged onto Ticketmaster's website before 10 a.m. when ticket sales were supposed to start.
"You wait and you wait and it comes back and says, 'sorry someone else got your tickets," said Rathbun, who wanted to purchase four $125 seats.
Dan Judson of Upcountry Maui said the Ticketmaster website — which is supposed to give local residents preference — denied him access to its electronic checkout counter.
He said moments after he was locked out, he went to a ticket resale website, StubHub, and found similar tickets going for $100 more.
"To me it's the same song all over again, the same way it always is, that somehow the scalpers got in there early," Judson said.
Fans were hoping that concert organizers would avoid the problems that plagued Mars' last performances four years ago. Those concerts were held at the Blaisdell Center, which sold out quickly.
Hundreds complained when many tickets turned up at Stub Hub and other resale sites at huge mark ups.
Fans were hoping that with the larger venue — Aloha Stadium – more seats will be available for Hawaii residents.
They were also encouraged that organizers agreed to give local consumers a two-day head start over mainland residents to purchase tickets.
Stadium officials said there were aware of problems buying tickets online. Later the in day, concert organizers announced a second concert for Nov. 11.
Tickets for that concert go on sale next Saturday.
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