Bruce Springsteen's coming to Ireland to research his roots and fleece the Irish
Posted on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 07:25 AM
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| Springsteen in Dublin, July 2009 |
Irish sure people do seem to love him. Tickets to his shows are always hard to come by. Often extra shows are added after the first sells out quickly. In November 2007 Springsteen tickets went on sale for a show the following May. It sold out in 15 minutes, a second show was added and then a third. Springsteen sold more than 110,000 tickets that day to watch him and his band play in the RDS, a showjumping arena that is not a great venue for a concert. A year later he returned and sold out two shows, another 80,000 tickets.
That was early 2009. A lot has changed since then. Although we knew hard times were coming, they weren't really here yet. The ticket prices were steep, but the full impact of what was about to befall Ireland hadn't been fully realized yet. For the 2008 show the prices were €81 ($109) to stand in a field or €91 ($122) to sit in the distant stands. A year later they were €86 ($115) and €96 ($129).
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Read More:
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'Suffering of Irish people outrageous' says NY Times Paul Krugman
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Money was tight then. It's much tighter now. I'm curious to see if Springsteen's Irish fans can and will pony up this time. The tickets that go on sale this Thursday are the same price as in 2009.
The prices of the tickets just stick in my craw. It's not just the old (and valid) complaint about Springsteen supposedly being this blue collar hero while charging top dollar for tickets to his shows. It's that a reduction in price was warranted and what's worse is that tickets for his shows in England are a lot cheaper.
Based on inflation figures there should have been a reduction in the ticket prices. There's more to it than than that, though. Springsteen is not your typical ignorant showbiz type. I'm convinced he knows Ireland is experiencing an economic collapse. I'm sure he has read some of Paul Krugman, who yesterday referred the suffering of the Irish people as "outrageous."
Possibly even more galling is that the tickets to see Springsteen are cheaper in England. A lot cheaper. Okay, there are differences in taxes, but that doesn't account for the vast difference in prices between here and England. The English have to pay £55 ($85) to stand in the field. The tickets to Springsteen's Dublin show are a third more expensive. Why? Why is Springsteen charging his English fans less than his Irish fans?
Whenever Springsteen comes here he mentions his Irish roots, talks about how much he loves it here. He always gets an enthusiastic reception. His Irish audience helped him sell a show recorded during his tour promoting the We Shall Overcome album, the title alone an ironic whack to the head for his Irish fans.
Springsteen's Irish fans are loyal. Very loyal. Some won't care what it costs, "Costs be damned! It's The Boss, after all." I'm sure others will sweat and worry, but pay too whether they should or not. For many, however, $125 including booking fee is simply too much nowadays. Would it have killed Springsteen to have shown his loyal Irish fans some consideration and at least charge them no more than his English fans?
Next summer 'The Boss' is apparently going to spend a little time searching for his Irish roots while he's here. Maybe when he arrives he'll realize it's not his Irish roots, but his Irish heart that he needs to find.
{Photo from James Horan/Photocall Ireland}
14 comments
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TheYank | Nov 30, 2011, 11:40 AM EST
Okay, this is my last comment on Springsteen's religion because (a) it's irrelevant and (b) there's hint of antisemitism creeping in here.
Springsteen is (was?—not sure) CATHOLIC. He went to St Rose of Lima for Grammar school. Very few Jews in NJ go to Catholic School.
Springsteen's mother and father were both CATHOLIC. His father also went to St Rose of Lima.
Springsteen is (was?—not sure) CATHOLIC. He went to St Rose of Lima for Grammar school. Very few Jews in NJ go to Catholic School.
Springsteen's mother and father were both CATHOLIC. His father also went to St Rose of Lima.
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IrishJets47 | Nov 30, 2011, 11:07 AM EST
Springsteen is a Jews, with why his father never like his Music if he part Irish it have to be from his mother side of family.
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TheYank | Nov 30, 2011, 09:35 AM EST
gobdawpaddy,
He is Italian too. Probably more than Irish, but I'm not sure. His Italian roots are on his mother's side. His Irish roots are on his father's side despite the Dutch name.
He is Italian too. Probably more than Irish, but I'm not sure. His Italian roots are on his mother's side. His Irish roots are on his father's side despite the Dutch name.
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TheYank | Nov 30, 2011, 08:22 AM EST
I understand the promoter argument, but Springsteen is ultimately responsible for those to whom he outsources certain tasks. Concert promotion is one of those tasks. He is powerful enough in music business to get his way if he insisted on lower ticket prices.
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gobdawpaddy | Nov 30, 2011, 08:15 AM EST
Always thought Bruce was of Italian origin. Don't care what religion he is, I enjoy his music.
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TheYank | Nov 30, 2011, 08:00 AM EST
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bogsidebunny | Nov 30, 2011, 06:40 AM EST
Springsteen and Bono. Two VERY RICH, talentless, Liberal hucksters. Whoever said the Irish were merely Jews hiding behind $1,000 pink sunglasses was spot on.
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Ajreaper | Nov 29, 2011, 03:10 PM EST
LOL, explain how one's religion determines their ancestory? Silly comment at best and racist at the worst.
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krisdaly | Nov 29, 2011, 02:02 PM EST
Since Bruce is Jewish, what Irish roots is he talking about?????
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krisdaly | Nov 29, 2011, 02:01 PM EST
Since Springsteen is Jewish, so what Irish roots is he talking about?????
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Ajreaper | Nov 29, 2011, 11:15 AM EST
Whether we like it or not entertainment is a commidity and has a going rate like everything else. Gas is priced sometimes very differently on one side of the same city so the difference in ticket prices is not surprising. I saw U2 in Nashville this summer- was about $90 to stand on the field. Was pretty close to the stage and the show was, as expected, tremendous so I thought it $90 well spent and I imagine those who pony up to see the boss will think the same.
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gobdawpaddy | Nov 29, 2011, 09:40 AM EST
Have to agree with the Captain, Irish people don't need Bruce to travel all the way from Jersey to fleece them, they have plenty of home grown chimps with greasy paws to do that. Shortly after the concert's announcement last week, one Ballsbridge hotel hiked the price of a room from $159 to $335. The Irish hospitality sector still doesn't get it, whether it's rental cars, hotel rooms, the price of a drink etc. I happened to be in California a year ago when Sting was playing a concert in Concord. The hotel that I stay in when in the area was charging the same rate it always does, content with the extra business in occupancy and bar/restaraunt sales. In Ireland, Galway or Listowel races, Bruce, Rose of Tralee, Cork Jazz, Tall Ships, a major soccer or rugby game etc. and visitors just expect to be fleeced.
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CaptainCon | Nov 29, 2011, 07:39 AM EST
I've a feeling that Bruce Springsteen isn't the one deciding what ticket prices will be in Ireland. It'll be one or two of the notoriously dodgy concert promotions agencies in Ireland involved I'm fairly sure. An interesting story though and I'd bet good money if Irish Central were to look under the surface of the ticket pricing differential between Ireland and England on this tour it won't take long to find a native rat on a looting opportunity.
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