Darren Rovell, ESPN.com Sports Business Reporter, recently posted an account of a recent attempt by a fan to buy tickets to the BCS Championship Game from a stranger. Fortunately this fan asked the right questions and avoided losing $2,000 in a far too common scam. Why shop for tickets on websites that do not offer any guarantees? Why buy tickets from unknown sources? Tickets are expensive and if it sounds too good to be true, then it is. Why take the risk of buying fake tickets and not being allowed to enter the stadium, after likely also paying for hotel and transportation?
Here's the posting:
http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/dollars/post/_/id/2615/inside-a-fake-bcs-title-game-ticket-scam
Fricket is a ticket search engine. We only list the ticket inventories of vendors who are well-known, established, top-rated businesses, and offer 100%+ money-back guarantees. Take the risk out your trip and only buy from the best.
When you need tickets, JUST FRICKET IT! http://www.fricket.com/
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
More Upcoming Concerts is Great News for Fans!
This week we've had upcoming tour announcements from Justin Bieber, Yes, and Fleetwood Mac. (One of these is not like the other!) This is great news for fans, both new and old, of these bands. Great music and pllenty of opportunites to hear it live! Life is Better Live!
Here's Justin's tour schedule:
http://www.justinbiebermusic.com/#/events
and the Yes announcement:
http://www.pollstar.com/news_article.aspx?ID=803571
and Fleetwood Mac
Remember, to get the best tickets, to the hottest concerts, Just Fricket It! http://fricket.com/
Thursday, December 6, 2012
The Orange Bowl: A Great Reason to Watch College Football Jan.1
All the NIU Huskie football team did was win 12 of 13 games this year and qualify for a BCS bowl by the rules. Because of this, they now have a historic opportunity to play the Florida State Seminoles in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day. This is a great opportunity for a school (NIU) from a conference (MAC) that has never played in any of the BCS bowls, to go up against a school (FSU) from a “rock-star” football conference (ACC.) Some of the college football experts cried foul when they felt that other, aka. “better” teams were over-looked with the NIU pick. The current line shows that the odds makers think FSU will win by 2 touchdowns, giving the experts all the more reason to jump on the NIU pick. Oh, and one more thing, NIU’s head coach just quit to take the head coaching job at NC State, which just so happens to be…yes…an ACC school. He won’t be coaching the team at the Orange Bowl, needless to say.
I think the BCS pick of NIU was brilliant. Not that the BCS had much of choice, they had to follow the rules and pass on those schools with better rankings, or “resumes.” This pick, and the subsequent whining, gives the Orange Bowl a competitive advantage, where it really counts – TV ratings. Last year’s Orange Bowl, with big time schools West Virginia and Clemson, was the lowest rated in the BCS’s 14-year history. This “David vs. Goliath” story will likely resonate with more fans, and non-fans, alike. FSU has an amazing and rabid fan base, and they will be there in huge numbers at the in-state bowl. FSU also has its fair share of rivalries too, and I think a fair number of these will tune in to see if NIU can prove their BCS pick.
The NIU Huskies have an equally amazing and rabid fan base, and good number will make the trek to Miami in support. The Huskies have a number of players from the Chicago area (eg. NIU QB and MAC MVP Jordan Lynch attended Mt. Carmel HS), and I would expect the game to have strong TV ratings across the region. I think the Huskies would love to be 2 touchdown favorites, but they are a well-coached and experienced team, and I think they understand the significance of this opportunity. They have the talent and schemes to compete. FSU is also well-coached and very talented. I look for this to be a great game. Next to the BCS Championship game. this game has the best National appeal. I will be watching, and I think others will be too.
Remember, for great seats to all the best college and NFL games, you better Fricket it first! http://fricket.com/
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Rolling Stones Concert Tickets for an Early Christmas Present
The Rolling Stones kicked-off their 50th Anniversary tour this past Sunday in London. They have 4 more shows currently planned : 1 more concert in London, Novemeber 29, at the O2 Arena, 1 show December 8, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn,NY, and 2 shows December 13 and 15, at the Prudential Center, in Newark, NJ. The reviews from Sunday's show have been solid, and demand for their remaining shows has been strong. There's talk they'll do a full tour in 2013, but we've not yet seen any official anouncement. If you, or someone you know, are a Stones fan, getting tickets to any of these shows would be a very special Christmas present and the memories will last even longer than fruitcake or underwear!
Here's the review from today's WSJ :
Remember, when you need great tickets, Just Fricket it! http://fricket.com/
Monday, November 19, 2012
Concert Tour News: Clapton announces a month of live shows in 2013
Eric Clapton announced his plans today for a month of live U.S. shows in 2013. The tour begins on March,14 in Phoenix and finishes on April, 12/13 in New York, as part of the Crossroads Guitar Festival. Expected "special guests" include The Wallflowers and many others. You gotta go!
Need tickets to see Clapton and other great concerts? Just Fricket it! http://fricket.com/
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
NASCAR: Tweeting while racing might cost you $25k.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship point leader Brad Keselowski was fined $25k for having a cell phone in his race car. After last Sunday's AdvoCare 500 in Phoenix, NASCAR had a few fines to dole out, including $100k to Jeff Gordon, and the cell phone fine seems like peanuts. However, as the attached article points out, this fine seems a bit odd given recent NASCAR rulings. Could they be sending a message to Brad for his recent comments/actions?
Be there this weekend in Homestead, Florida to watch the last race of the season and see who wins the NASCAR Chase! Need tickets? Just Fricket it! http://fricket.com/
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Which college gets your vote?
Since it's Election Day, the WSJ ran a breakdown of college football's biggest in-state rivalries, or 15 "swing states." Not surpisingly, it's the U. of (your state's name) in a landsiide, in most cases. The exceptions being out West -states like Utah, Arizona, and California, where the race is too close to call.
What does this mean for the U.S. Presidential Election? For your state, which college gets your vote? Let us know at: Fricket@Fricket.com and let your school pride show!
Remember, when you need tickets, Just Fricket it! http://fricket.com/
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Taylor Swift and Maroon 5 announce North American tours for next year.
Both Maroon 5 and Taylor Swift will be hitting the road (separately) starting early next year. Taylor will out behind her Billboard #1 album "Red", while Adam and the boys will out on their biggest tour yet, following the June release of their latest hit album "Overexposed."
For tickets to see Taylor and Maroon 5, live in concert, remember to "Just Fricket It !:
Taylor Swift announcement:
http://www.ticketnews.com/news/taylor-swift-plans-red-tour-for-early-2013101229743
Maroon 5 announcement:
http://www.ticketnews.com/news/maroon-5-announces-2013-north-american-tour-dates-101226290
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Flying Better Than First Class or Private Jets.
Just in case you were worried about how your favorite professional athlete fits into that same coach seat you were in for 4 hours, here's how they travel, from today's Wall Street Journal. I knew I should have practiced my jump shot more as a kid.
Need tickets to NBA and NFL games ? Just Fricket it ! http://fricket.com/
Looking forward to the Summer of 2013 music schedule!
Jason Aldean, Kelly Clarkson, Jake Owen, and Thomas Rhett are continuing the trend of music concerts at some sport's most loved venues next summer. Is it too early to think about The Summer of 2013 ?
http://www.ticketnews.com/news/jason-aldean-2013-tour-will-visit-historic-stadiums-101225092
Remember if you need tickets, just Fricket it! http://www.fricket.com/
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Will lowering ticket prices put fans in the stands on the South Side too?
Good article by Bruce Levine at ESPN Chicago. The Chicago White Sox were in first place for much of the year, and were in the pennant race to the end. However, even if with that, attendance was <2m, while the North-side, non-playoff-contending, Cubs drew over 2.8m fans. I think there's more to it than just lowering ticket prices. Sox need to find a competive market advantage, and work on improving the overall fan experience. Contact me for ideas.
http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/8520104/chicago-white-sox-slash-ticket-prices-2013
Remember, when you need tickets to MLB games or big concerts, you better Fricket it first!
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
WSJ: The NFL's New Uniforms are Not a Big Hit with the Big Men.
The new, sleeker Nike uniforms are not making the real-big-men of the NFL feel very comfortable on the job. Imagine going to work with your stomach hanging out the bottom of your buttoned-down dress shirt? Alex Boone, the 300-lb starting guard for the NFL San Francisco 49ers does that every Sunday, in front of thousands of fans at his work place and millions on TV. Even his wife gets on him for it, "it looks like he ate a small baby."
Go see Alex and the other real-big-men live! Save time and money on your NFL tickets at Fricket! http://fricket.com/
Friday, September 21, 2012
Prince and Madonna still got it.
Great review and preview articles from The Chicago Tribune's Music Critic, Greg Kot. These artists don't just play the oldies like "we want to hear them" but give their fans something new too. Entertainers and performances like these, and others, Bruce Springsteen just killed it recently for 2 shows at Wrigley Field, demonstrate what you miss not being there live.
Kot previews Prince's THREE upcoming shows in Chicago at the United Center 9/24,25,and 26.
And he reviews M's most recent performances there on 9/19 and 20.
As always, remember when you need tickets, just Fricket it!
Friday, September 7, 2012
Be Prepared for Sunday's Bears vs Colts Game.
If you're heading to the Chicago lakefront on Sunday to see the Bears vs Colts at historic Soldier Field, here's what you need to know (courtesy of Bear's Gameday) :
http://www.chicagobears.com/tickets-and-stadium/coming-to-the-game.html
Remember, for all your NFL and big concert tickets, make sure you Fricket first!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Going to Lambeau this Sunday? Here's what you need to know.
If you're heading to sunny Green Bay, WI this Sunday to see the Packers take on the 49'ers at magnificent Lambeau Field, here's what you need to know (courtesy of Packer's Gameday) :
http://www.packers.com/gameday/gameday-information.html
Remember, for all your NFL and big concert tickets, make sure you Fricket first!
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
NFL Rookie QBs: Best QBs in league today started as back-ups.
5 NFL teams have announced they'll be starting rookie QBs to lead their teams in the first the game of the upcoming season. The Forbes article below shows that if the last 10 years are any indication, it could be a long season for those teams' fans and the beer vendors in those stadiums might have fewer customers to watch. Interesting because of their recent performances, these 5 teams really need a good year to get their fan bases re-energized. Conversely, the Denver Broncos, who have consistently had strong fan support, are starting a new QB too this year, but he's no rookie. Ticket demand has gone crazy with Peyton's arrival.
The 5 teams, Indianapolis Colts, Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, and Seattle Seahawks, have fantastic fans, which bleed their teams’ colors. However, their loyalty has not been rewarded much as of late, only 1 playoff appearance for any these teams (Seattle) in the last 2 years. Their combined record is 59 -101, for a 37% winning percentage. The 4 teams that made it to the last two Super Bowls, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers went 96 - 32 over the same time frame, for a 75% winning percentage.
These 5 teams obviously need to shake things up, and two even have rookie head coaches this year as well (Indy and Miami), but rookie QB's can take some time (if ever) to develop. Shouldn't they follow the "blueprint" of those successful Super Bowl teams? Their QBs are considered the best in the league and they all spent at least some time behind a veteran.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Tommy Maddox then Ben Roethlisberger
New England Patriots - Drew Bledsoe then Tom Brady
New York Giants - Kurt Warner then Eli Manning
Green Bay Packers - Brett Favre then Aaron Rodgers.
Even Drew Brees in New Orleans/San Diego spent time watching Doug Flutie.
Being an NFL QB has got to be the toughest job in pro sports. Dear NFL teams, my advice, if you were to ask, let the rookies watch, a least a little bit, if you want them to survive long enough to be great and take your team to the Super Bowl. It's worked for the best teams.
Remember, for the best tickets to the NFL, and other sports and concerts, you need to Fricket it!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
NFL and George Lucas: The Clone Army is in Green Bay.
Just in time for the regular season, the WSJ exposes the Green Bay Packer's secret! They've been using 6' 2" 250lbs "clones." That's how they overcame all the injuries 2 years ago to win the Super Bowl and then post a ("disappointing") 15-1 record last year.
LB or TE??? Interchangeable parts makes sense with all the injuries and free agency. The NFL pass first focus also creates a need for more lean and quick vs big and methodical on both sides of the ball.
For the Packers to win this year, the offense needs to protect the MVP QB (back-up QB situation is shaky) , limit turnovers ( as always) and run the ball with a 4th quarter lead (is Cedric Benson ready?). On defense, bend but don't break, and look for take-away opportunities (sound familiar?)
Here's the WSJ article:
Remeber, if you need tickets to NFL games or great concerts, you better Fricket it!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
The 2012 Lolla is a smash hit! Here's our expert's recap.
Fricket's special guest blogger recaps the very special 2012 Lollapalooza Music Festival. She came. she saw, she heard, she got wet and muddy, and she can't wait to do it again in 2013! Remember Fricket http://fricket.com/ helps you find the best tickets to all the big events!
Ellie Brzezenski is a Chicago native and a music lover. This was her 4th Lolla. She is currently a student at the University of Illinois studying advertising and global studies She's already been to 5 of the 7 continents so far, and knows her way around hot and/or crowded places, which really came in handy this year.
2012 Lollapalooza Recap.by Ellie Brzezenski.
It’s been a wonderful three days roaming around the grounds of Grant Park, but sadly all good things must come to an end. Sore, muddy, sunburnt and tired, the hoards of music lovers return to their daily routines, another festival under their belts. This year’s festival welcomed back many of its favorite elements, but also had a few surprises thrown in (75 mph winds and hail, anyone?) Here’s a look back on this year’s festivities while the countdown to 2013 starts begins!
Favorite performance- The Shins: Though I’m surprised this band didn’t have a larger time slot or a more important place on the festival schedule, the Shins gave an amazing performance Friday afternoon. Playing all good mixture of old and new material, including my favorite song “Australia”, the band sang to a large, but rather mellow audience as the sun set over the Red Bull Stage. Notable mentions: The Black Keys, Bloc Party, M83, and First Aid Kit.
Most unexpected performance- Sigur Ros: I had never listened to this band from Iceland, but I was told that seeing the band life would be a life-changing experience. Their songs were melodic and relaxing, the talent of every member extremely apparent. The band has been making music for almost two decades now, though their rise to fame has been relatively slow. Though it’s not your average easy listening, Sigur Ros is definitely a band that deserves your attention and your eardrums.
Biggest Regret- Jack White: Every year concert goers debate how to spend their time, no doubt running into scheduling conflicts along the way. This year’s festival wasn’t too bad for me, no major conflicts for bands I wanted to see, that is, however, until Sunday night. I ended my 2012 Lolla with Justice, a French electronic group, who put on an excellent performance at the Budweiser stage. However, as fun as it was, I still wish I could have seen the incomparable Jack White perform. The man is an extremely gifted guitarist, singer, and overall musician, putting on what I can only imagine to be a great final set of the day.
Biggest Upset- Alabama Shakes: Never before in my Lolla-going years has the festival ever been canceled due to weather, so when police were called in Saturday afternoon to shut down the park, we knew something serious was headed through Chicago. However, after the hail and winds passed through we were luckily let back in the park, the festival resuming as normal. It was a shame though, that due to the unpredicted chain events a few artists were cut from the bill. One of these groups was the Alabama Shakes, a relatively new band that has gained tremendous popularity since the debut of their first album. Though safety always come first, I know many were sad to have missed their performance.
Best New Discovery- Uncorked Wine Tent: It seems like every year, Lollapalooza ads some new element to make the festival more refined and luxurious. This year I happened upon the Uncorked Wine Tent, a hidden gem tucked away in the trees at the south end of the park. Visitors were welcome to sip wine at the colorful bar or on one of the comfy inflatable couches. After a day of sweating and running around in the dirt, it was nice to take a break and experience a little refinement.
Most Notable Fashion- frat tanks and denim shorts: I don’t know who sent out the memo, or why I didn’t seem to receive it, but it seemed this weekend’s attendees had an unofficial uniform. Almost every girl I saw wore high waited jean shorted, not my first pick for a hot Chicago day, and every guy seemed to be wearing some kind of shirt with a catchy slogan. Some of my favorites included, “Don’t Bro Me if You Don’t Know Me” and “I got 99 Problems but My Swagger Ain’t One”.
Favorite Food Find- Grilled Cheese on a stick: For those of you who didn’t walk through the festival’s farmers’ market, I feel sorry for you only because you missed out on a wonderful culinary experience. Through the wonders are Facebook and Instagram, my friend heard about this stand, called Brunkow Cheese, where they take a slice of cheese, put it on a stick, and grill it for you. My friend and I opted for the pizza flavored cheese and savored every bite. Thank you, Instagram.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
An Expert's (Un)Official Guide to Lollapalooza 2012.
The Lollapalooza Music Festival hits Chicago 8/3-8/5 and I asked a Lolla expert to write a special guest post to the Fricket blog to help everyone who will be attending this year, to not only survive the experience, but maximize their fun. With over 1m people expected this year and this hot weather, you'll need all the help you can get.
With that, may I introduce Ellie Brzezenski....
Ellie brzezenski is a Chicago native and a music lover. This will be her 4th Lolla. She is currently a student at the University of Illinois studying advertising and global studies She's already been to 5 of the 7 continents so far, and knows her way around hot and/or crowded places (at school, the Underground, the jungle, the Outback, those Michigan Avenue stores.....)
Take it away Ellie....
The (Un)Official Guide to Lollapalooza 2012
There’s nothing like Chicago in the summer, and what better way to spend it with a little outdoor music? Lollapalooza starts tomorrow, and whether you’re going for the first time, a seasoned veteran, a one day visitor, or a three day wristband wearer, here are some dos and don’ts for Chicago’s biggest festival.
5 Helpful Tips
Get the App- Like everything these days, there’s an app for everything and anything you want to know about or do. This app is especially great for first time festival goers as it has maps, artist info, as well as a personalized festival schedule. With Lollapalooza increasing festival grounds in the past couple years, spanning an area from Monroe to almost Roosevelt Avenue, everyone will need a map at one point this weekend.
Group Text- If you have the Lollapalooza app, a group text function is included, but there are dozens of other ways to keep a group in contact. Surprisingly enough I’ve always had good service at the festival, and a group text makes it easy and fast to find out where everyone in your party is without standing around for twenty minutes.
Plan ahead- Just in case the group text doesn’t go through, always have a general game plan for the day. That not only includes which artists you plan on seeing but also plans for food, water, and the occasional rest period. A general meeting point is always good to have, my friends and I use Buckingham Fountain located in the center of the park, just in case technology fails us.
Carry a Trash bag- Though we are all praying to the weather gods that this weekend will be nothing but clear skies and sun, sometimes weather is less than ideal. Umbrellas can be cumbersome and easily lost, so what I always do it carry a trash bag. Yes, if you are fancy enough, bring a actual poncho, but a trash bag can be easily converted into a hood-less poncho by ripping two holes in the side and one in the top. While it’s not perfect, it will keep you warm and help you dry faster once the rain has stopped.
Accessorize carefully- It sounds like a simple thing, but the accessories you wear can greatly affect your festival experience. Remember that you are going to be standing and/or dancing for long periods of time, so wear shoes that will last and be comfortable for all day wear. Second, don’t weight yourself down with too much stuff—a full backpack will just weigh you down and a weighty shoulder bag will leave you unevenly sore. As lame as it sounds, a fanny pack is my best choice for packing light and avoiding sore muscles.
5 Things to Avoid
Autograph Tent- Yea, autographs are the ultimate concert favor, but unless you are a performer’s biggest fan, spend your time more wisely. Chances are the tent will be so crowded and moving so quickly you’ll be let down by the generic signature and rushed interaction with your favorite celeb.
Promotional Booths-While these booths are cool, they’re not what you payed to see. Don’t waste your time trying to win free prizes or play promotional games when you could be watching a band perform. No one at home is going to want to hear about how you won a free energy drink, they’ll want to hear about the amazing shows you saw.
Littering- It seems like an obvious thing, but somehow festival areas are always gross at the end of each day. Lollapalooza has come under fire in the past years for the condition of Grant Park after the festival weekend, so do your part to help out. Volunteers are usually close by to take your trash and recyclables, giving you even less of an excuse to toss your trash on the ground.
Endless Ringing-You’re going to be listening to a lot of music over three days, s make sure you’re taking care of your ears. Ear plugs will be your best friend if you wear them, and are a great way to avoid hearing loss and the loud inner ear ringing that comes with it.
Dehydration- It seems like an obvious thing, but it’s easy to forget to drink water when you’re enjoying yourself and some good music. You’re allowed to bring in two sealed water bottles to Grant Park as well as empty Camelbacks to fill up at filling stations, so there is no reason to be feeling faint.
Thanks, Ellie. I hope you all have a great time and remember Fricket, I need tickets!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
The Who are coming and you ready?
The Who just announced they will start a new North American concert tour this November in Florida. They're not stupid. November in Florida should have nice weather, and many retired Who fans. It has been 4 years since the group last toured and we will soon get a glimpse of how things will sound this time around. The group will be performing at the London Olympics Closing Ceremonies.
http://www.ticketnews.com/news/the-who-announce-dates-for-fall-tour071231887
Check back with Fricket http://www.fricket.com/ We will have tickets for The Who's shows soon.
Friday, July 20, 2012
MLB: Trade deadline approaching. Your team need a starting pitcher?
Fox's Rosenthal's take on the availability of starting-pitchers with the upcoming July 31 tradeline.
GMs seem to find a way around trade deadlines, but there are plenty of teams still in the playoff hunt to keep prices high for the middle to top guys. St. Louis will be interested, especially since Carpenter is out till Spring Training. They draw the fans and they have some dough.
After last year's performance, being 10.5 games back in the wild-card race with 33 games remaining, then going 24-9 and clinching on the last day, you can also give St.Louis credit for teams thinking they're never out of it till the very end.
NFL: Green Bay Packers OL battles to protect Aaron Rodgers
Coming into training camp this year, unlike other years, the Packers can somewhat confidantly put 5 names on the OL to start. How it will look at the end of training camp, is, of course, is beyond anyone's capabilites. With a new veteran center, and some experienced depth, they look ready to protect their QB, team leader, and league MVP. If Rodgers goes down, they'll need 2nd year player Graham Harrell or rookie B.J. Coleman to step up.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Zac Brown Band tickets staying hot this summer!
With a new album, "Uncaged," in stores now, the band's summer tour is getting great reviews from both fans and music critics alike.
http://www.ticketnews.com/news/zac-brown-band-enjoys-increasing-success-on-summer-tour071219564
Tickets go onsale this Saturday for their Sept. 30 show near Chicago at the First Midwest Amphitheater in Tinley Park. For the best ticket selection and prices, go to www.Fricket.com No need to go anywhere else!
Friday, July 6, 2012
Another Chicago Weekend: Barenaked Ladies after Ringo, Chesney & McGraw.
Big music weekend in Chicago. You first have Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw bringing their "Brothers of the Sun Tour" to Soldier Field, Saturday night.
On Sunday, see Ringo Starr and his 13th All-Starr Band perform at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond.
http://www.fricket.com/ringo-starr/ringo-starr-and-his-all-starr-band-07-08-2012-1441443.html
To extend the weekend to Monday, you have the Barenaked Ladies bringing their "Last Summer on Earth Tour" to the Charter One Pavilion on Northerly Island. They will be joined there by Big Head Todd and The Monsters, Blues Traveler, and Cracker.
(concert IS at Northerly Island and NOT UIC Pavilion)
http://www.fricket.com/barenaked-ladies-07-09-2012-1484792.html
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Are sold-out stadiums important to the NFL? WSJ article Game Changer.
The NFL, but especially individual teams at their local level need to focus on creating demand for their "live product." I know it's a tough request from this fan of live events, because the league receives $28B from TV. In the WSJ article below, the 5 teams listed that had the highest % attendance in 2011, had a combined record of 39-41, while the 5 teams that sold the least had a combined record of 25-52.
Good teams, good attendance = TV money. but then those "bad" teams also shared in that TV money too.
So, bad teams, bad attendance = TV money.
Might work in the short run, but without the live fans, and given all the entertainment alternatives, the NFL might be working its way towards a hard decision. Would people still watch a game on TV if the stadium was empty? Does the media money give the NFL incentive to create "media-only fans" and the ability to worry less about those fans actually attending the game live?
If the NFL and teams want to fill the stadiums, focus on those features that make the live experience different, and not replicable by TV/media. Yes seeing the replays on the Jumbo-tron is good. Yes getting the crowd fired up with music is good. Yes seeing the scores of the other games is good. Don't spend time and money making it easier to be distracted by an electronic device. We do that all day. We can do that at home. Focus on the live expeience. Charge reasonable prices. Provide a safe venue for all ages. Build a consistantly good team and organization. Build community connections.
Do these things, and the fans will come. If that's really important anymore.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Rascal Flatts and Little Big Town play Milwaukee's Summerfest 6/27!
Plenty of great opportunities left to see some the best bands touring this summer at the Milwaukee Summerfest. On 6/28 it's the Foo Fighters and Rodney Atkins. On 6/29 it's Train with Kelly Clarkson. This weekend you can see 3 Dog Night, ZZ Top, Chicago and The Beach Boys!
For complete event listings, here's the link to the festival's website:
Only 2 Days till the Electric Forest turns it on in Michigan!
This amazing music festival in Rothbury, Michigan starts this Thursday. For tickets and info about the music line-up, here's the link to the festival's website:
The 2012 Voodoo Experience Music Line-up! Tickets On Sale Now!
According to the good people at TheConsequenceofSound.net, the New Orleans Voodoo Experience music festival has revealed the rest of its music line-up. Here's the link to their story:
http://consequenceofsound.net/2012/06/voodoo-experience-reveals-2012-lineup/
and here's the link to the festival's website :
https://elevate.com/boxoffice/?cref=c6a84227-32fb-432e-a164-e4da4492466f&goto=ga
Treasure Island Music Festival 2012 Music Line-up! Tickets on sale 6/27!
From the good folks at ConsequenceofSound.net - here's the link to their story :
http://consequenceofsound.net/2012/06/treasure-island-music-festival-reveals-2012-lineup/
Here's the link to the festival's website :
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Chesney and McGraw Tour are packing them in this summer!
Brothers of the Sun Tour is one hottest tickets in this Summer of 2012, which is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory! Get out there now and get your tickets before the summer is gone!
http://www.ticketnews.com/news/brothers-of-the-sun-tour-banking-high-individual-show-sales061217969
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Summer concert season is heating-up with BieberFever!
Justin Bieber and Peter Gabriel concert tours.
Tickets go onsale this weekend!
Rolling Stone says "Prepare for the Summer of the Biebs! "
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/on-the-charts-prepare-for-the-summer-of-the-biebs-20120606
Mumford & Sons announces a new album and tour!
http://www.ticketnews.com/news/mumford-sons-announce-new-album-and-us-tour061202249
Here's the band's tour schedule:
http://www.mumfordandsons.com/
Dave Matthews tour is off to a nice start!
http://www.ticketnews.com/news/return-of-the-dave-matthews-band-summer-tour061201694
Here's the band's tour schedule:
http://www.davematthewsband.com/#/tour
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Secondary ticket market makes sure Streisand tickets still available.
Barbra Streisand returns home to perform in Brooklyn, NY on October 11 this year. Pre-Sale tickets (available to AMEX holders) to the concert sold out in minutes. Tickets go on sale Monday, May 21 to the General Public. The attached article from CBS New York, and others like it, describe the fans' frustration with the current process for buying tickets to events and their disdain for those involved in the process e.g "money hungry scalpers" ( is taking a risk and making money a bad thing???) The article points to a set of 4 pre-sale tickets having sold for $53,000 in the secondary market The article seems to indicate that the average Barbra fan will be priced-out of the event and be unable to attend.
This is why ticket aggregation and real-time price analysis are so important and why Fricket will simplify the ticket shopping process for both ticket buyers and sellers. http://fricket.com/
A quick look at a comparable, aggregating ticket shopping site, shows the price range of tickets now available for the Barbra concert tops out at $16,500/per for those "once in a Barbra fan's lifetime, great seats, on the floor, near the stage" experience, to $165/per, for the privilege of seeing the Barbra's backside for most of the concert (is the 100x a coincidence???). The cheapest seats to view Barbra's front-side start around $500/per. The face-value of the tickets start at $90 and goes up to $650. So, yes, the person who sold the set of 4 for $53k likely made a good bit of profit. While the Barbra fan who bought those tickets can sit back and anxiously await seeing the Barbra perform from up close. (Win-Win???)
While paying $13,500 for a ticket to a concert is a lot of money, the "average fan" can still attend for much less. The secondary, or resale, ticket market gives the ticket customer the opportunity to get the tickets they want and pay as much, or as little, as they want. Ticket industry statistics show about half of all tickets sell below face value, while about 40% of tickets go unsold. A greater number of ticket transactions are occurring within 72 hours of the event, as buyers wait to take advantage of possible lower prices from disparate sellers.
Fricket will aggregate the ticket inventories of the top-rated brokers. As a buyer, you'll have access to a huge inventory, with side-by-side comparisons, and extremely competitive prices. In addition, we are working on providing the first "real-time view" of what tickets are actually being bought and sold, for how much, and through which vendor. The "Fricket Ticker" will be analogous to the scrolling stack ticker and provide a level of price transparency unavailable anywhere else. For the ticket seller, you'll be able to better estimate value of your tickets and minimize the chance of a total loss on your "deadwood", or unsold inventory.
If you are a ticket seller and would like to be a Fricket ticket partner, please contact me at:
Monday, May 14, 2012
MLB: Fans in the stands not always watching better baseball.
Make sure to "vote" for Fricket through the Built in Chicago.org website through May, 18, so here's the link. You first need to register with the site, then promote Fricket through the links provided using Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Google+. Thanks!
http://www.builtinchicago.org/blog/new-venture-challenge-people-s-choice-award-fricket
A little over a month into the MLB season, the top 5 teams, ranked according to overall average attendance, have about the same combined record vs the bottom 5 teams. The Top 5 were 83 - 91 (48% wins) overall vs Bottom 5 record of 80 - 92 (47% wins). (ESPN data) It's still early. No team has yet been elimated from the playoffs. Interesting to note, 4 of the Top 5 are National League teams, while 4 of the Bottom 5 are in the American League, with the only NL team, Houston, re-locating to the AL next season.
Top 5 Record Avg. Attendance Avg. Attendance last year
1. Chicago Cubs 15-20 37,143 35,028
2. Philadelphia Phillies 17-19 36,958 39,220
3. NY Yankees 19-15 36,949 39,167
4. San Francisco Giants 17-17 36,122 37,287
5. Milwaukee Brewers 15- 20 35,714 34,356
Bottom 5:
30, Cleveland Indians 18-16 18,794 26,698
29. Chicago White Sox 16-19 21,613 26,980
28 Kansas City Royals 13-20 22,392 25,273
27. Oakland A's 18-17 23,933 24,254
26. Houston Astros 15-20 24,525 27,053
In the race between the 5 new MLB managers:
1. Mattheny St.Louis 20-15
2. Guillen Miami 18-17
3/4 Ventura, Chicago White Sox and Valentine, Boston both 16-19
5. Sveum Chicago Cubs 15-20
Hot Tickets available this week include:
17 Carrie Underwood concerts plus tickets for Springsteen at Fenway Park, Barbra Streisand in Brooklyn and Elton John in Jackson, MS!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Promote Fricket on Built in Chicago and you might win tickets!
Promote Fricket on the Built in Chicago website to help us win the Polsky Center's New Venture Challenge People's Choice Award, then email me, John@Fricket.com to tell me what you like about Fricket. If we win, you might win tickets to either a Cubs or White Sox game with me and one of my great advisers. For more information on how to promote Fricket though Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+, watch my video through the link below:
http://www.builtinchicago.org/blog/new-venture-challenge-people-s-choice-award-fricket
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Kentucky Derby horses and elusive ROI; The Chicago Handicapper's Picks
Good article in the WSJ. Sounds like horse racing can be like trading. "Hey Kid, do ya' wanna' make a small fortune trading? Then start with a large fortune."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304743704577380240511941590.html?KEYWORDS=derby+horses
Here are the current Derby picks of The Chicago Handicapper The Midwest's Leading Private Handicapper.
TCH likes Gemologist the best. May use with Rousing Serman Done Talking, and Dullahan,
Here are some of the concerts + locations, which have tickets going onsale this Friday/Sat/Sun:
One Direction - PA, CA and Tinley Park, IL
RUSH - VA, CT, MO, MN, CA, TX
Van Halen - PA, OH, MI, SC
Jackson Browne - NJ
Jimmy Buffett - Las Vegas, NV
John Fogerty - CA
Joe Cocker and Huey Lewis - NJ, NY
Nicki Minaj - Chicago,IL
Sunday, April 29, 2012
No fans in the stands, but teams still playing. The Boss still packs them in.
Taking another look at attendance so far in the MLB. Are fans watching the best teams play, or are they missing opportunites to see some pretty good baseball? They're are going to see the Texas Rangers put up the best record in the league. The Rangers are 16-5 and draw the highest H/A attendance average of 39,625. However, the combined record of the next 4 teams with highest H/A attendance averages is 40-47. The 5 teams with the worst H/A attendance averages are a combined 54-53. The Chicago White Sox are 11-11 and rank 28 out 30, with a H/A attendance average of 22,203, while the Northside National League Cubs are 8-14, but rank 4th overall with an H/A average of 37,385. I realize this is nothing new to those who follow it. My feeling is that you should always support your team, no matter the record. However, if you're a baseball fan, you can get GREAT deals on seats to see teams that are playing pretty well. Next time you have the chance, check out Boog's BBQ in Baltimore, or the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and then have your choice of seats at the park.
Attendance Average Home and Away (W-L) (Source:ESPN)
1. Texas Rangers (16-5) 39,625
2. N.Y. Yankees (12-9) 38,511
3. Milwaukee Brewers (10-12) 37.438
4. Chicago Cubs (8-14) 37,385
5. Philadelphia Phillies (10-12) 36,020
______
30. Cleveland Indians (11-9) 17,237
29. K.C. Royals (6-15) 21,395
28. Chicago White Sox (11-11) 22,203
27. Toronto Blue Jays (12-10) 22,603
26. Baltimore Orioles (14-8) 22,681
Bruce Springsteen's Wrigley Field concert sold-out in under an hour. Lots of concerts at some of the ballparks this summer. Bands selling out ballparks nothing new, just ask Sir Paul.
http://www.ticketnews.com/news/summer-concerts-in-ballparks041227804
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
MLB: How many more wins does big money buy? 8, so far.
Payroll / Rank / Team / Current Record Payroll / Rank / Team / Current Record
$197m 1. Yankees 6-6 $55m 30. Padres 3-10
$174m 2. Phillies 5-7 $55m 29. Athletics 5-7
$173m 3. Red Sox 4-8 $60m 28. Astros 4-8
$154m 4. Angels 4-8 $60m 27. Royals 3-9
$132m 5. Tigers 9-3 $63m 26. Pirates 5-7
Combined: 28-32 Combined: 20-41
Money seems to be winning here early. How about managerial experience? Here are the 5 MLB managers that have been with their current team the longest vs the 5 managers in their first year with a new team.
Year started / Manager / Team / Current Record First Year's
1999 1. Scioscia Angels 4-8 Matheny Cardinals 9-3
2002 2. Gardenhire Twins 4-8 Ventura White Sox 6-5
2004 3. Manuel Phillies 5-7 Guillen Marlins 6-6
2005 4. Leyland Tigers 9-3 Valentine Red Sox 4-8
2005 5. Maddon Rays 6-6 Sveum Cubs 3-9
Combined: 28-32 Combined: 28-31
Dead heat. Early on, money wins over experience. 3 of longest tenured managers have Top 5 payrolls.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
MLB: So far, more fans in stadiums doesn't always equal more wins on the field.
The top 5 teams, ranked according to average attendance over the first week of the season, had about the same record vs the combined record of the bottom 5 teams. The Top 5 were 11-12 overall vs Bottom 5 record of 12-13. (ESPN data) It's still early. Some teams still haven't played at home yet. Weather is a factor, as well.
Top 5:
Record Avg. Attendance Avg. Attendance last year
1. Texas 4-1 42,015 32,608
2. Milwaukee 3-2 39,356 34,856
3. San Fran. 1-3 39,348 37,287
4. Boston 1-4 39,069 34,851
5. LA Angels 2-2 38,942 32,608
Bottom 5:
30, Cleveland 1-3 20,505 26,698
29. Houston 3-2 24,679 27,053
28 Baltimore 3-2 29,630 24,899
27. Oakland 2-4 29,870 24,354
26. Toronto 3-2 30,255 25,051
In the race between the 5 new MLB managers:
1. Mattheny St.Louis 5-1
2. Ventura White Sox 2-2
3. Guillen Miami 2-3
4/5 Tie. Valentine, Boston and Sveum, Cubs are both 1-4.
So far this month, here is are the most requested tickets from fans :
1. 1. One Direction
2. Drake, J. Cole & Waka Flocka Flame
3. The Gloabal Warming Tour: Aerosmith & Cheap Trick
4. New York Yankees
5. Wicked
6. Brother of the Sun Tour: Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw
7. Zac Brown Band
8. Boston Red Sox
9. Jersey Boys
10. Jason Aldean & Luke Bryan
Acts on tour this month include Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Van Halen, Radiohead, The Beach Boys, The Black Keys and One Direction.
The Kentucky Derby will be on May 5th, the first Saturday in May, as always.
The Indianapolis 500 will be on Sunday, May 27, Memorial Day Weekend, as always.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
27mill Users + Zero Revenue = Insta-Billion
Looks like Mr.Systrom made the correct pivot with Burbn. "He couldn't explain it (Burbn) to anyone", "but users loved the photo feature, so Mr Systrom focused on that."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303815404577333840377381670.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303815404577334270758693972.html
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Ticket Prices Rise with that Opening Day Optimism!
I'm a St. Louis Cardinals fan, so paying $250 for a ticket on opening day, seems worth it. I wasn't able to attend any of last year's WS games, with the possible 'Best Ever Game 6", so this might be the next best thing. Their regular season tickets are around $40-50, not including the premium seat,and parking is not bad either.
http://moneyland.time.com/2012/04/04/average-ticket-prices-spike-for-baseballs-top-teams/
Friday, March 30, 2012
More Corn, but how about my M&M's?
A couple of WSJ articles help tell the story of supply & demand in the agricultural markets. Farmers here can choose to plant more corn, while cocoa farmers in South Amerca struggle with increasing demand. Ag prices rising along with gas prices. More good news.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304177104577310160997655178.html?KEYWORDS=cocoa
Friday, March 16, 2012
"What's Behind Rising Gas Prices?" It's still the boogie monster.
Mr. Yergin in his WSJ opnion article wants us to believe that the boogie monster is the main reason we're paying $4.50/gallon gasoline. He's spent way too much time in Washington hanging around with his buddy Energy Secretary Chu. In his own article, he answers the question in one paragraph. The U.S. produces 20% more oil than in did in 2008, with huge new flows from friendly Canada, North Dakota and other states. However, these flows "are hobbled by an outdated pipeline system" and "there's not much Washington can do in the short term to reduce prices at the pump." Really? They've been saying that for years, so what was the long-term is now the short-term.
If Washington really had a clue and wanted to reduce the price of oil, and wanted to influence the price at the pump, in the short term, just say something to that effect. The markets will react and quickly. They're not expecting this President to say anything like that, so it will be a surprise. It's an election year, so anything is possible.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Pinterest didn't launch at SXSW, but the Valley still loves it anyway.
Article from the NYT. Pinterest may not have started in Silicon Valley, and many of its users may be Midwest moms, but it knows where to put its HQ if wants to be close to the action, and to VCs wanting to invest.
Monday, March 5, 2012
WSJ: Natural gas in trucks. T. Boone is smiling.
Good article in today's WSJ about using natural gas in trucks and other vehicles. If the current administration doesn't help this along very much, like it does for electric cars, this might actually work.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
"Oil Glut" in U.S. still means we need a loan to fill-up.
I've spent some time in the commodities markets, but when I see articles like this one in today's WSJ, everyone should wonder about the reasons we're given for the high costs at the gas pump. Here in the U.S. we have too much oil sitting in one place, so refiners need to go out and buy oil somewhere else at a "scary world, over-speculated" price??? Then they pass that on to consumers here ??? I've heard some "doozies" before, but come on.
I know Mr. T.Boone Pickens will make a lot of money, but it's time for us to have another way of filling-up. Natural gas, electricity. Bring it on.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204653604577249382206200386.html?KEYWORDS=pipeline
Monday, February 27, 2012
Old School- It might be a digital revolution, but still need to keep customer happy.
Here's the final paragraph that sums up the McKinsey paper, copy and pasted directly here, because I'm very customer focused:
"The digital revolution has upended business as usual in almost all industries, and travel is no exception. Consumers are empowered by information: they have near-instant access to their flight, hotel, and car-rental options; virtual price transparency; and the ability to play suppliers off against one another. The game is now about delivering a superior customer experience. If players can do that, the investment returns will follow."
Industry still trying to make sense of all the data that's already being collected, and now new mobile technologies gives them a chance to have very personalized information. The trick for all of us is to understand what the data is telling us, with the focus on how to better serve our customers.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
VC Li : "Mobile Phones -best data-capture device, ever."
VC Ping Li of Accel Partners' has $100m to spend through his Big Data fund. Goes with the theme of many of the posts here and a main driver behind my event ticket start-up, Fricket. (I recently acquired the Fricket.com domain and will be using this for my "concumer focused data driven app.") Companies and customers need to see the numbers to make better decisions. Data collection continues to become more personal, and people seem to be getting used to it, as long as they see the value in sharing.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/21/us-venture-bigdata-idUSTRE81G1HO20120221
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Branding : Being fresh and relevant is better than overly polished.
Good article by Dan Gershenson in Crain's about how important it is for your company's social media content to not just be high quality, but also "regular and consistent." The old days of polishing the brand till it's ready, takes too long and "the story" risks becoming irrelavant shortly after release. We want it all fresh! Like we want our tickets, fresh tickets from Fricket!
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120215/BLOGS06/120219879/abb-always-be-in-beta
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Crunchie winner Pinterest is posterizing some of the big boys.
Another good article from Techcrunch on the quick growth of Pinterest and possible ways for businesses to add it to their marketing channel. My college senior daughter loves it, and I love it how she found some great dessert recipes there. It's probably me, but am I the only one that has trouble spelling/saying it correctly? 12million unique monthly visitors is hard to ignore. We look for the unique and unusual places to advertise. Get on board early!
http://techcrunch.com/2012/02/12/five-ways-brands-can-leverage-pinterest/
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Neil Young Still Sounds Good Even in High Resolution.
Nothing beats live entertainment, but we should be able to listen to better audio when we can't be there.
Need a "rich guy" according to Neil.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204652904577195252709906484.html
And PCMag in a follow-up article breaks it down a bit:
Friday, January 27, 2012
WSJ-16 Scientists figure out there's no need to panic about global warming.
I'm not a scientist. Maybe that helps when people want to know what I think about global warming. So, when somebody finally asks, other than my kids, who went to public schools, and wondered why their teachers were using Al Gore to scare them, I tell them, first, it really is ok for humans to be here, just like every other living thing, and,second, that change is nature's way of keeping care of itself. It has been at it for a long time now, especially when compared to how long humans have been around, so let us respect nature by being careful, but let us respect nature's ability to take care of itself.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
I'm sure there were some good things in the ''70's, but stagflation wasn't one of them.
Good opinion article in WSJ by Henry Nau. I had more hair growing up in the '70's, but really remember it as a reall tough time for a lot of folks. Gas lines and my older brother telling me that we'll run out by the time I turn 16. A time of transition after an unpopular war. Labor vs management. Government was not really setting any good examples, so we got Jimmy Carter to make the changes. The comparisons to the present administration have been made before. They are only doing exactly what they told you they were going to do. They told you they knew better than the free markets and, if only you just give a little more, they'll tell you what you want, what you need, and how to get it.
Brother, can you spare an extra $1.5B for Marc Andreessen?
I think he'll get it. Then, hopefully, Marc will give me some of it.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Las Vegas is making the SWITCH to tech- The Economist
There's more than just business as usual in LV. I hope to relocate there myself and add to the growing tech start-up community there.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Finding perfect airline ticket is tough. Bing's on our idea.
Great article about the difficulty finding the best/cheapest airfare, despite all the websites offering this kind of information. Travelers still have a very tough time. Airline tickets are difficult to compare. From Kayak, "the can be over a billion possibilities," for a single flight. Time of day/week, fees, and extra "savings" if you don't mind extra stops and a 12hour layover in the Middle of Nowhere, etc.. Just show me the flights I want, what's available, how much it costs, and, if you're a good website, show me some historical analysis. I plan to offer all these on my website for event tickets, perhaps a less "complicated" market, but one with its own inherent pricing issues. Contact me if you would like to hear more.
I
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Big hotel chains team-up to find Roomkey. Aggregation works!
Some of the big hotel chains, including Hyattt, team-up to create their own aggregating website, RoomKey. Expect some glitches, but suppliers teaming up? Are the big travel sites worried? Will RoomKey offer special deals to customers, not available anywhere else?
Friday, January 6, 2012
A call for a new bank business model - Mckinsey & Co.
In general, better than expected earnings, yet low stock prices, means the multiplier has changed! All those new regs...new multiplier!
I disagree with deleveraging part, while there has been quite a bit, by choice and forced, the US, and other capital creating countries will return to borrowing to invest in growth opportunities. We'll just borrow and transfer funds differently
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
New Yahoo CEO wants to leverage firm's data, brilliant!
New CEO sounds like he's on the right track, but as any start-up founder will tell you, it's all in the execution. Hey, Scott, send me an email, so we can discuss!
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