ok, well I just got back from two shows with this GA lottery system in place. I was willing to take it on the first day as I knew we were the guinea pigs of the whole things, but I really have many questions and concerns, and things that seem very unfair about this whole process.
First of all if you are the lucky winner then the process is great, but really what are the odds of this. Last night I literally watched 10 people in front of me and the three people behind me all lose. My HUGE problem with this whole system is that you're waiting in line for a few hours, maybe even all day, and then the first thing that happens to you when they finally open the doors is you are faced with this horrible disappointment. It sucks guys, really!! No matter how much you tell yourself you are not going to win, as soon as you don't it's not a good feeling, and let me tell you a real buzz kill for the show to come. Plus the odds are so against you with about 1800 floor tickets sold and only about 200 elipse tickets given out.
During the second night in San Diego we got to the venue around 3:30 and we were about 30-35 people back in the u2.com line, so we were pretty excited thinking that hey, at least if we don't get in we'll get a spot on the rail and that's fine, since obviously this line moves faster, hence that's why it is for the fan club. Well, it's a hoax guys. Now maybe it was just a venue thing, or they still need to iron out stuff BUT there were 4 turnstyles for the two lines to go through, guess how many they were letting our group through. Yeah, 1 of them. So, out of the four turnstyles, each letting 5 people through at a time there were 15 non u2.com members flying up the stairs as compared to our 5. Once we got inside the entire rail was already 4 people deep, and looking into the elipse there was probably about 15 people. It really doesn't make you feel good.
My other concerns are these.....
1. ok, yes on a show to show basis it seems like a fair plan, but what about those fans who only get one shot at this. You know, you're such a huge fan and you fought so hard to get a ga ticket for this one show that you are able to go to and you don't win and by the time you get into the building you're 5 people deep and can't see a thing. That doesn't seem too fair to me.
2. Or you're a fan that has planed to go to we'll say 8 shows, and you line up every afternoon or however long you want, and every single time you lose, and never get the chance to see the show from inside the elipse. How is that fair?
3. You're with more than 1 friend! Seriously, I know there was a two ticket limit per person and that's what they're basing this on, but ususally why fans, casual and non-casual get floor tickets is because they all want to be with their buddies. Opening night was a great reunion for me and there were seriously about 12 people that I wanted to be around for that show, only two of our group were able to make it into the elipse. Of course my husbands brother and his wife. The very two people we arrived at the show with, spent all day with, and wanted to spend the time with. Wasn't fun, let me tell you. I made a huge effort to get many of my friends here in my home town all floor tickets for the upcoming denver show. There are six of us driving up together and two we are meeting there. There is no way we are all going to make it in, and maybe one or two of us do, I would never ask them not to go in there, knowing how awesome it is, thus the group is split up again.
Or even the worst ratio of all you have 3 people with you and only 1 of you wins, and is of course only able to bring one other person with you. The other person watches the show alone?! Or you just give up maybe your only shot at getting into the elipse the whole tour?
Ugh, I have become open to the idea of a lottery system, but it seems to me this system causes much more hassle and heartbreak than any kind of joy. I say if a lottery system is truly what they want, do it the old fashioned way where a number is drawn and everybody lines up in order behind that person, or some other clever way that doesn't split up your group or leave you heartbroken before an experience that is supposed to be one of the best in your life.
Just two cents from somebody that went through it all this week
