Arena did not control seating for Springsteen
Regarding Mike Kastanek’s letter (“Behind-the-stage seating mars Springsteen show,” May 12) concerning the April 28 Bruce Springsteen concert at the Greensboro Coliseum:
Please be aware that the seating configuration for concerts is solely determined by the event promoter and/or artist. The coliseum does not dictate which sections are sold or not sold, nor do we determine ticket prices. Being one of the top-selling touring artists of all time, Springsteen typically sells all seating sections in a venue to help accommodate the extremely high demand for tickets and he often can be seen “playing to the crowd” behind the stage during his performances.
In this instance, Kastanek was actually moved to a seat closer to the stage and was upgraded from a section priced at $65 to one priced at $95. Also, contrary to what he had written, speakers were positioned to supply sound to seating areas behind the stage.
As for Kastanek’s recommendation that we need “to be very clear to the purchaser as to where they will be,” seating charts are available at all points of purchase for Coliseum Complex events, including online at www.greensborocoliseum.com and at our box office.
Andrew Brown
Greensboro
The writer is public relations manager, Greensboro Coliseum Complex.
Comments (2)
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I was also at this show, and I was very aware of the location of the seats that I was purchasing. For one thing, it is a known fact that at Springsteen shows they sell the seats behind the stage. Also, there were multiple opportunities to view a seating chart prior to purchasing the tickets. Honestly, who doesn't look at a seating chart prior to purchasing tickets. Lastly, the seats behind the stage were not bad seats. They were very close to the stage and Bruce walked up close to that part of the arena several times during the show. Every seat in the house was a pretty good seat for this show.
Posted on May 20, 2008 10:42 AM
Obviously, the letter writer wasn't a happy customer.
Instead of writing a letter dismissing his complaints, Andrew should have called him personally and offered some way to remedy the situation.
I always check the seating charts but they don't always paint a complete picture. Stages are configured in all kinds of ways and you don't know what you're gonna get until you're there.
The writer probably should have complained on the spot and asked to be moved, but then again, if the show had already started, he might not have wanted to spend 20 minutes arranging to get new seats.
Posted on May 21, 2008 4:52 PM