So the “exciting” news today is that The Police, who recently reformed for the Grammys, are touring the UK this autumn. I have no real desire to either see them or not see them, but I am very interested in their ticket prices.
First of all, I understand that tickets at Twickenham will cost £107 each. I can’t confirm that price at the moment, since Ticketmaster doesn’t have London ticket details up yet on their website. (See update below).
They do have Manchester ticket details up where the range is from £40-£85. Cheaper, but not exactly standardly priced. As a comparison, seating at Muse at Wembley Stadium is between £37.50 and £42.50. Not quite the same as The Police admittedly, but a big stadium concert nonetheless.
Anyway, back to Messrs Sting, Copeland and Summer. Tickets to their concerts go on sale on Friday, but members of the The Police Tour Fan Club can buy their tickets tomorrow. What do you mean you’re not a member? Very helpfully, Ticketmaster lets you pay for your membership to the club at the same time as you buy your tickets for a further £53.
What do you get for your cash, apart from the opportunity to empty your bank account even earlier, and ensure a good five month’s interest for the tour’s promoters? Well, assuming it’s the same as the US version of the club you get the following:

• Priority ticketing before the general public
  
• Access to Message Boards including the Members-only sections (Oooh)
  
• Exclusive Police photos and videos (They mean online don’t they?)
  
• Members-only discount to Police Online store (More opportunities to hand over cash)
  
• Membership Premium: Commemorative Lithograph with band replica signatures* (*Lithographs with band’s actual signatures will be randomly given out to new members) (This seems to be the only physical benefits of membership – no magazines, no fan club shows, etc)
  

No wonder touring is more profitable than releasing actual records.
It’s only right that I should point out that “a portion of the proceeds from this tour will be donated to WaterAid.” We don’t know what proportion this is, which is a shame because we could make it more cash by completing a Gift Aid form to enable the charity to claim back our tax. Maybe you get that option when you book your tickets through Ticketmaster? Maybe not…
[UPDATE] Looking at Ticketmaster for the Twickenham gig, tickets range in price from £45-£90. Although the £45 tickets are in either the upper tier or the back of the middle tier. Anything half decent is between £70 and £90. Add a £9 service charge and a £2.75 postage charge and you’re there. Well not quite £107, but very close for the best price tickets.