One Direction sells out VIP tickets as organizers push for second show

Even as hundreds of fans camped out at the MOA Arena one day before tickets went on sale for the much anticipated One Direction concert scheduled for March 21 next year, not all of those who preferred to get the limited VIP/Hot Ticket Package priced at P17,950 were able to score one.

The coveted VIP tickets, which include a 1D wristwatch with pouch, a laminate card, and a lanyard, were sold out in less than three hours after it officially went on sale. By noontime, the Diamond tickets priced at P14,800 were also sold out while limited slots remained for the rest of the lower-priced tickets.

Those who were able to get tickets were tearfully overjoyed while those who were not able to buy were shedding tears of dismay.

“Ang alam namin 1,800 ang VIP tickets na available, paano mauubos agad-agad yun?” a visibly upset teenager named Reyna told InterAksyon. “Pinilahan po namin ng napakatagal yung VIP tapos yung mga late na pumila, yung mga ngayon ngayon lang dumating, sila pa ang nakakuha ng tickets.”

Others who were still waiting in line for their turn suspected that sponsors were able to hoard tickets while certain celebrities and other VIPs were also allowed to buy tickets without falling in line.

“That’s not true. We did not give preferential treatment to anyone,” said Celina Pe de Guia, wife and business partner of Ovation’s head, Renen de Guia. “Even my friends who were bugging me for tickets were asked to line up just like everybody else.”

The good news, according to de Guia, is that organizers have already requested One Direction’s management in the UK for a second concert to be scheduled the following day, March 22, also at the MOA Arena and with the same ticket prices.

“Yes, there is a possibility for a second show so we asked fans to sign up and reserve in the event that the second show happens,” de Guia revealed. “We will announce if this is confirmed in the weeks to come.”

Asked why Ovation and MMI Live decided to sell tickets almost a year before the actual event, de Guia said they were just following the instructions of One Direction’s management in the UK.

“They want it announced early so we announced it early. This was also how it’s done even in other countries so we just followed,” she pointed out.

Even the fans who already got their tickets understand the risks of investing in this show and realize that a lot of things could still happen between now and March of next year—the boy band’s popularity may dim, a member may leave, they could ultimately disband or the concert could be cancelled for whatever reason.

Such circumstances may be beyond their control. But there is at least one fortuitous event they can prepare for — the possibility of losing their precious tickets. As a matter of fact, many of those interviewed have contingency measures in mind just in case.

“I’ll put my ticket in a vault,” said one fan named Debbie who bought a VIP ticket.

“I’ll always take it with me wherever I go,” said another who identified herself as Angeline.

“To make sure I don’t ever lose my ticket, I’ll open a safe deposit box account in a bank and put it there,” said a girl named Joan.

source: interaksyon.com

One Direction to fly in worldwide fans to Madison Square Garden concert

Yes, One Direction has been announced as the newest international endorsers of fashion retail brand Penshoppe. And no, there’s no word yet as to whether the phenomenal boy band will soon come to Manila and hold their own fan conference just like Zac Efron before them.

But at least some lucky local fans won’t have to wait for an official announcement to that effect.

That’s because Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson have already taken it upon themselves to fly in fans from all over the world to watch them in concert at the Madison Square Garden in New York City in December.

The boys said that this can only be possible through the “Bring Me To 1D,” a global “Go1Den’ Ticket” competition that they recently launched.

Go1Den tickets to the concert have been distributed worldwide and can be won in several ways. Tickets can be won in a variety of different ways in each country. They vary from completing challenges, creating content, answering questions to just plain pot luck.

In order to get their hands on a go1Den ticket should start paying close attention to One Direction’s official Facebook, Twitter and You Tube accounts, as there will be frequent special challenges in the next two months, some that will be region-specific.

Go1Den ticket winners will be announced on the band’s official website as they win, so that fans can follow the story wherever it’s happening in the world.

In the Philippines, the contest is officially dubbed as “Bring Me To 1D: Race To Win The Golden Ticket” and will be supervised by Ivory Music & Video. The record label announced that they will be posting the final mechanics on Monday, October 22 on their website and official Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Formed by Simon Cowell on the 2010 series of “The X Factor”, One Direction made pop music history when they became the first British group to enter the Billboard 200 chart at number one with their sensational debut release, “Up All Night” only last March. The record-breaking album went on to sell over 2.3 million copies worldwide and is a certified number one release in 16 countries.

Following the release of their debut single “What Makes You Beautiful” late last year, One Direction have since become a ubiquitous presence on the music charts. With over 12 million records sold worldwide in a little over a year, One Direction have reached No.1 in 27 different countries.

Their new album “Take Me Home” will be released November 12th in the UK, while their single “Live While We’re Young” became the fastest selling pre-order in history when it was announced in September.

source: interaksyon.com