Price spike as John Farnham tribute tickets go on sale
Premium tickets to a blockbuster John Farnham charity concert were selling for as much as $1650, with fans voicing their disappointment.
Tickets for the star-studded gig went on sale on Tuesday, with the cheapest available seats priced at $179 by that night and many more on sale for about $1000.
“Please be aware the price of a ticket for this event may increase or decrease at any time,” a pop-up warning to consumers on the website said.
By Wednesday morning the Ticketek website was showing “allocation exhausted” across all seat types.
Farnham fans trying to buy tickets online complained on social media about long virtual queues and having to pay more for expensive seats.
“Wow, who can afford that?” wrote one Farnham fan online, while another said the cost was an absolute joke.
“Looks like dynamic pricing will be happening, which is awful considering it is a charity event,” said another.
The event will feature 120 artists on stage including Keith Urban, Tina Arena, Jimmy Barnes, Mahalia Barnes, Kate Ceberano, Diesel, Hans, Human Nature, Jack Jones, Jessica Mauboy, Ruby Rodgers, Jon Stevens, Mitch Tambo, Mark Vincent and Ross Wilson, and Richard Marx.
Special satellite appearances will include Celine Dion from Paris and Hugh Jackman from Los Angeles — with more artists to be announced.
“This night isn’t about me — it’s about giving something back and supporting a cause that means a great deal to me,” he said when the concert was announced on Friday.
Head and Neck Cancer Australia has supported the star, who retired from public life after a 12-hour operation to remove a cancerous tumour from his mouth in 2022.
He has since been given the all-clear by his medical team.
The use of dynamic pricing for big-name international touring acts such as Green Day has previously disappointed Australian fans. Other bands such as Oasis have declined to use the pricing mechanism.
Ticket sales for the Farnham tribute show are being run by Ticketek Australia, which told customers to be aware that prices could increase or decrease at any time.
The concert is being staged at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on September 20 with the support of the Victorian government.
The state’s Sport and Major Events Minister, Steve Dimopoulos, has predicted an economic boost from the one-night-only performance.
-with AAP
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