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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 21 august 2017
Broadway ticket-buying now easier for fans, not re-sellers

By DEEPTI HAJELA ward determining whether
Associated Press they’re more likely to be
NEW YORK (AP) — For long- event attendees. Those ac-
time Bruce Springsteen fan cepted get unique codes
Debbie Elster, there’s never that they can use when
been any doubt the com- they go to buy tickets on
petition to get tickets for the sale date.
his upcoming Broadway The premise is that by vet-
shows is going to be fierce. ting registrants, it’s more
But she’s feeling a little likely that actual fans would
more hopeful, thanks to be the ones getting the first
a new online verification crack at hot tickets, instead
system for ticket-buying of brokers and re-sellers.
that aims to keep more “That makes me feel bet-
tickets in the hands of fans ter,” said Elster, 66, a vid-
rather than re-sellers who eographer who lives in
seemingly snap them up Margate, Florida. “That
and put them on the mar- makes me feel like I have a
ket, often for several times chance maybe, more of a
the face value. Known as chance than usual.”
Verified Fan, the program Verified Fan has been used
from Ticketmaster requires for concert sales for art-
people to register for a spe- ists such as Ed Sheeran
cific sale in advance, with and Harry Styles, and is
information including their now showing up for Broad- People pass the Walter Kerr Theater, home to the Broadway show “Springsteen on Broadway,” in
New York’s Theater District, Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. The upcoming show will be the one of the latest
names, phone numbers way sales. “Springsteen on to offer up tickets for sale using new technology, called Verified Fan, to try to keep re-sellers and
and emails. Broadway,” running from brokers from snapping them all up.
The registrations are re- Oct. 3 to Nov. 26, is using (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
viewed, including past the system, as is another next spring. The producers of tickets for the show re-sale market, with tickets
ticket purchase history show expected to be a hot of the immensely popular would go on sale through going for hundreds of dol-
and even social media prospect, “Harry Potter and “Hamilton” announced Verified Fan. That show has lars if not more than the
accounts, with an eye to- the Cursed Child,” opening Tuesday that a new block been the subject of a huge face values.q