Hi everyone,

I’m so pleased the issue of wheelchair users having to pay more than everyone else for U2 tickets has caught the attention of the mainstream media, sometimes there’s nothing more powerful than the voice of a reporter on your side when you’re trying to affect change! I just wanted to point out a couple of things:

• We’ve succeeded in changing the minds of the promoters! They’ve decided to make some of the wheelchair seats available in the cheaper price categories, so to my fellow wheelchair users, I hope you can make it to the show by taking up this offer!
• For what it’s worth, not once have I contacted the media myself, all coverage of this has been initiated by reporters calling me, and I’m so grateful for their support of this cause

An open letter to Ticketek and the promoters of the U2/Jay-Z concert being held at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland in November:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I recently rang Ticketek to purchase tickets to the U2 show in Auckland on November 25th, which I’m really excited about. I heard prices of $40 being advertised on the news which was great, and I would’ve happily stumped up $100 for a ticket. So imagine my disappointment when I was told that the minimum cost of a ticket, for a disabled person using a wheelchair, was $179!! Given that I have to bring a support person with me most places I go, and when you add on the booking fee, that brings the total cost of admission to almost $380.

Honestly, I find that borderline offensive. Having recently spent time in Europe, LiveNation and other promoters often subsidise a disabled person’s entry fee to concerts, or that of their support person’s, because they appreciate this exact quandry. I understand you can’t have designated disabled seating in every price bracket, but it’d be great if this was acknowledged by reduced admission like they consistently do overseas!

Why should regular able-bodied folk be able to choose to buy cheap tickets, but people with disabilities are asked to pay through the nose?

I’d appreciate your thoughts on this, as I’m sure the media would, and any changes to this pricing structure would be gratefully received.

Kind regards,

Red Nicholson