leonardcohenforum.com

Lizzy. Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful reply. I just spoke to Ticketmaster regarding my seats. You made a good point that I might have a better view from my seats in section 124 than if I got stuck on the back of the floor. I did speak to someone at ticketmaster that agreed i was not given a fair exhange of tickets. She is going to speak to her supervisor and see if they can once again move my tickets. I should hear back from them by Wednesday and I will let everyone know where I end up. If it is the last row on the floor I may have to consider sticking with what I have. I know this is my once and only chance to see him and I am so nervous something may happen and the show may get cancelled or who knows what. I will feel better once i have the tickets in my hand. Thanks again. I am enjoying this Leonard Cohen community. Jennifer

Hi Jennifer ~

When I went to see Barack Obama at the same venue, I called ahead and spoke with someone in one of the executive offices. It was a godsend for me. The woman I spoke with was very hospitable and when I found out that we'd be standing the whole time if we wanted to be in the roped-off floor area [I didn't mind] and then when she found out how committed I was to seeing him up close [but didn't know the layout, to know how to get to the closest spot], she became unbelievably helpful to me... told me which gate to come through, which door to enter through, which steps to run up, which opening to go through, to run down the stairs, at which point, all I would have to do is walk as fast as I possibly could to where they would let me onto the floor and then to make a beeline for the cordoned-off area.

I had such a great mental picture of what I was doing, and had it all written down for reference, just in case... I followed her instructions to a tee, and ended up dead-center, leaning against the cordons, 15 feet from him, and the area between us was where the media would come and crouch/kneel to take their photos.

Now, if you can call during the daytime and speak with someone and describe what's happened with you, and ask if they could advise you as to which seat really would be better, I would think they could assist you in making an informed decision. You can reference me and my story regarding how helpful a very kind woman in one of their executive offices was to me when I came there to see Barack Obama.

It may have been Tampa where I called ahead and talked with a younger guy regarding the seating chart. When I gently persisted, he ended up putting me on hold until he found an old seating chart that was much more specific than what he [and I] had been referencing. If there's any way you can find out just how many rows will be on the floor and how far back that really is, and what the distance is between the last row on the floor and the first row of the risers, that might give you some clues, too.

I hope we'll get to meet you, after you get all that sorted.

WoW, Brysburg. Thank you for all that information!!! Personally, I'm inclined toward the quiet area of the nearby sports bar. At that late hour, I'd rather stay closer in... because, yes, it will go until about 11 PM, then getting-out time and the merchandise-table time, etc. I know exactly what you mean about the work thing, though. I'm taking off Tuesday, too, for obvious reasons. But, come Wednesday, you know where I'll be . Hopefully, we will at least be able to meet you and your wife in person at the venue, though... at least say hi.


~ Lizzy

Lizzy: At the Toronto concert, all of the merchandise sold out before the concert and nothing was left by the time I got there... I'm going to play it safe this time and try to get to the merchandise table before the show! I'm hoping for a Unified Heart keyring or coffee mug.
By the way, I noticed an error in my post about possible places to go: the Channelside complex is within walking distance to the east, not west, of the SPT Forum. Another post-concert option may be the Cold Stone Creamery (Ice Cream shop) at Channelside. Channelside has a courtyard with tables and benches that is a pleasant place to sit, chat and munch on ice cream.

I was notified by ticket bastard that my seats that were on the floor section 2 row 12 were moved and now I am in Section 124 Row G---needless to say I was not happy and contacted them as soon as I got the message to find out what happened. I saw the new layout, but since my section and row was still there I was not sure what they did to determine how to move people around. After talking with a nice young man in the customer service unit who tried in vain to find me floor seats again and had no clue how they did this, he got with his supervisor who basically told him they determine what is an "equivalent" seat when the management decides to change the layout. So, we are stuck with what they give out. I had also hoped for the concert to be at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center or Ruth Eckerd Hall, but this is what we get. The set up will be better than having the whole arena only partly filled. All I can say is, Leonard, please come back to one of our nicer venues soon.

OK well I am going absolutely crazy here. I got the email saying my tickets had been exchanged for new ones because the layout configuration had changed, and that if they didn't hear back from me, they would just ship the new ones by standard mail. So today I call TM to update the ship-to address because I moved recently, and they basically told me that my account is showing it's unbalanced because the tickets they moved me to are worth $160 more (I paid 145.60 total for two tickets - the $46.75 level rate, and was charged for that. Now they say the 2 tickets they moved me to are worth $300 and want me to pay the balance). I spoke to a manager, and he did say that I shouldn't be expected to pay more, and that he is going to find out what is going on. Then I get a call-back message to my cell-phone basically saying they are still in the process of changing the venue and I should get another email when it is finalized. I wasn't satisfied with this, so I called back customer service, and now they say I can either cancel or pay the balance. What the heck is going on here? This is unbelievable. I'm trying to talk to another manager as I type..

Hi Somnambulant ~

That's bizarre. Just keep talking to supervisors and "your supervisor" and "YOUR Supervisor," until you get satisfaction. You're right to deal only with the managers. I don't believe that Ticketmaster has any right to extort. On Monday, try calling the Attorney's General office for the State of Florida... and find out from them which agency is the one you need to speak with to get satisfaction.


~ Lizzy

Has anyone heard if their will be an early entrance allowance for fan members into the Tampa Show?
donalagata

Please see separate thtread about the change of the venue in Tampa: the concert will be at the more intimate Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (TBPAC)!!