REDZONE TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE

[joaocosta4]

Hi!
 

I bought 2 RED zone tickets for the Sep. 16 show in the official released date last January. The price was 325€ each ticket.
When i bought then on January they where de most expensive tickets the show had to offer. On the description there was promised several benefits like:
 

- "VIP entry on the building" (the information we received Friday before the show was that the check in was at 17.30h and we will enter the building at 18.15h. On the venue we entered the building at 19.00h. We waited 90 minutes standing up in line in the sun under 30 degrees temperature. This is not VIP treatment). There were no seats in the RED Zone so we had to wait another 2 hours standing up for the beginning of the show.
- "Access to RED stand for refreshments" (The "RED STAND" was a lady with a backpack selling water)
- "Extremely limited capacity" (The Red Zone area was completely crowded).
- "Reserved area next to the stage" - The reserved area was completely on the side of the stage. The blueprints of the building shown when i bought de tickets (image on the right) don't match the actual delimitations we found on the venue (image on the left) has you can see in the attachment i send. The general public on the ground that payed 3 times less actually had a much better view of the stage and blocked our view. They entered the building ahead of us.
 - The security officers in the Red Zone where very concern making sure the people on the RED Zone did not block the view of the general public in the rear that payed 3 times less. 

I am a person with 85% disability and for me it is very hard to wait standing up. I am also a short person so when on a flat crowded space it is very hard for me to see the stage  That´s why i bought this expensive tickets. The experience i got in return was no way near what i was expecting and i payed for and was promised on the benefits description . It is sad that U2 treat their fans like that.

I talked to a reporter that was on the RED Zone and she could not believe the conditions we where in and how much we payed for our tickets.

I have complained with U2.com and with REDZONE U2 Tour. From REDZONE they told me i will get an answer  soon. It has been 6 months an no answer so far.

I hope you can do something about this. I would like a refund from the price i payed 325€ each ticket to the price the general public next to me payed, 90€ each ticket.

I have already complain with the venue organisation "Ritmos & Blues" and with the ticket seller "BlueTicket". They both refer to REDZONE as responsable party.  

 

Best Regards

[Max Tsukino]

We are sorry you did not have the experience you had hoped for. RedZone had coordinators for all shows and the advisable action would be to contact them at the first sight of trouble. This situation is outside our responsibility in Zootopia and we do not have access to those people. However, we know that tickets were nonrefundable, so a refund is not likely.

There's one thing that we can answer: there have never been seats on any (RED) Zone... it always has been standing, just like GA. Also, remember that the money you spend on those tickets went to the (RED) organization.

[joaocosta4]

Hi Max!

Thanks for your reply.

Has you can see from my post, my complain refers to the description of the tickets at the time of the purchase and the conditions met at the venue. For instance you refer that REDZONE tickets are always standing positions. Why wasn´t that refer at the ticket description at the time of the purchase? For 325€ each ticket you would expect to have a seat, don´t you agree? People who payed 100€ a ticket had a seat. Why were not met at the venue the ticket conditions mentioned at the time of the purchase as i refer in my post? I talk to a REDZONE coordinator at the venue and she said there was nothing she could do.

REDZONE is associated with U2. The venue was an U2 concert. I don´t accept that U2 claims this has nothing to do with them. This has everything to do with U2.

I thing i am entitled to some compensation. My next step is to present my case to some members of the media: journals, magazines and TV. Perhaps someone finds interesting how U2 treats their funs. Specially a handicap one who was deceived when buying U2 concert tickets.

 

Best Regards

 

[Manohlive]

I face health challenges. I understand your frustration.  If you read between the lines of what was sold-you are paying for a ticket on a general admission floor. That means you are probably going to have to stand.  I'm sorry you had a bad time because of your health.  I've been there and it sucks. If your ticket does not work for you at another concert-ask for the floor manager or go to the box office.. Tell them you need an accessibility relocate.  I once paid a lot for a show and it was awful due to health challenges. Someone told me to tell the box office next time. I learned to ask.  I don't like doing it but they always give me the best seat they can and they seem happy to do it. They help me and everyone wins because they know more for the next person who has needs.   . 

I wrote all of this because I know how frustrating it is to have health challenges at rock concerts. It can be very difficult to traverse the crowd.  Some people act like jerks.  It takes a lot of extra energy just to get to one's seat/section in GA.   It sucks when something diminishes the actual show..I can only imagine how frustrating it must have been for that to happen at U2.   I"m sorry you thought Red Zone meant it would be easier and more enjoyable for you/.  It's never been the best view/easiest place to be. It's a cause. People who don't have health concerns have complained of it not being what they thought.  In your case, the venue would have relocated you for accessibility.  At least the money you paid went to saving lives and not the promoter?  I'd find comfort in that.  May you get awesome seats if you go to see U2 again.  I hope whatever challenge you face goes away or gets better soon. .  

[spongebob]

I have gave up on Red Zone for good,  done it 4 times now and unless you get in fairly early you are not going to have a great view. As it turns out our last effort at the RZ in Manchester ended with my wife and I getting escorted of the premises because she was deemed as intoxicated. (which she was not) With the thought of missing our first concert in 30 years we eventually had to buy more tickets from a tout ( the security stole hers and mine even though I was not stopped) we went in another door spoke to 4 lots of security (none of whom accused us of being inebriated) we had our RZ bands on so we made our way to the RZ and met up with our friends. I dont mind paying a lot more for a decent view.... but to be stopped (because of i suspect our Scottish accents) on a whim by a badly trained security woman has sickened me of the RZ 

And despite emailing the Manchester Arena to complain for 6 months now , their customer service woman is shockingly bad, no looking into it, just brushing it under the carpet and ignoring me, wont give me her bosses email either. I have seriously considered getting a lawyer onto this but cant afford it and thats what they are counting on.........we have not yet had an apology nor got our tickets we paid £700 for and which i collect back.

 

Edited April 15, 2019 by spongebob

[Manohlive]

16 hours ago, spongebob said:

I dont mind paying a lot more for a decent view

You don't have to pay a lot more to have a decent view in GA.  All you have to do is stand in line all day, like everyone else.  If the venue kicked you out for intoxication (true or not) it's the venue and not U2.  If you can buy RZ four times and then pay scalped prices to get tickets the night of a show-life can't be that rough.  (I'm not trying to be harsh.) You need to address the intoxication issue and possible discrimination the night of the show. It's sad that they (the venue) can"t believe you unless you confront the issue at hand, when it happens. Seeking legal counsel because you had to buy touted tickets doesn't sound like a case any lawyer I know would take.  You could afford to buy RZ four times. (Good for you! 😊) That money saves lives.  Perhaps you can find comfort/resolution in knowing you helped people who most needed it.  Either way-you can always buy GA and stand in line to get a great view. If you don"t mind paying a lot more, and are able to do so-it might be a good idea to get platinum seats next time.  This is just me-I'd be thanking the universe that I still had my RZ wristband on when I got back into the venue, and let go of the anger/resentment..  Either way-it's not the fault of U2.  

Edited April 16, 2019 by Manohlive

[spongebob]

I agree it was in no way anything to do with U2, purely down to Manchester Arena and one security womans bad training or racism?

There was no doubt my wife was not intoxicated as the head of security at that door told us to come back later which we did, and he was happy to let us in but when we went to hand him our tickets out of our envelope they were gone,  we never realized in all the panic that the first security woman had taken them when we initially got stopped. So this guy spent 15 minutes checking the RZ desk and trying to find our tickets, we had the bands but that wasnt enough.

While doing this we did see the same woman coming back from the station /public area and she just smirked at us . Part of me thinks she was handing our tickets to someone to try and resale?

Between the security boss, 4 security guys at other points and the policeman that led us off the premises ( yes we had to be led off by the police, wife can be stubborn and she refused to move 🤣) all agreed she wasn't inebriated , even the policeman said we should complain!

What made it worse was, I bought these tickets around the time my wifes Mum died and looking forward to this concert was something that got her through the next 9 hard months as she was now also left to look after a sick Aunt with Alzheimers.

We have done 4 Red Zones but that was over the last 4 tours, we were lucky in the fact the scalper saw us and saw we were upset, he gave us two tickets for seats at the back  (think they were £110 face value) for £100 for both

It's just the point that one person can cause so much hurt/cost on a whim that riles me. Maybe you are right, I should take solace in the fact I donated to help the charity and that we got in in the end and just let go of the anger.

 

[CorkVegan]

1 hour ago, spongebob said:

While doing this we did see the same woman coming back from the station /public area and she just smirked at us . Part of me thinks she was handing our tickets to someone to try and resale?

The sad fact is that there are people out there that take joy in flexing whatever little bit of authority they have. Some weird power trip that I can't stomach. Probably because their personal life is so pitiful that they get kicks from stepping on anyone they can.

I used to think that bullies actions are based on power but as I grew older I realized that they act out of weakness. Nobody who is happy and content would need to get pleasure from inflicting pain when they can.

I'm really sorry @spongebob that you had your night ruined, it stinks. Unless the lady in question remarked on you being Scottish I doubt you prove racism. Of course you can still make a complaint.

[Manohlive]

21 hours ago, spongebob said:

There was no doubt my wife was not intoxicated as the head of security at that door told us to come back later which we did, and he was happy to let us in but when we went to hand him our tickets out of our envelope they were gone,  we never realized in all the panic that the first security woman had taken them when we initially got stopped. So this guy spent 15 minutes checking the RZ desk and trying to find our tickets, we had the bands but that wasnt enough.

I regret how I worded my response to you post.  It was never my intent to make you feel defensive.  I don't know if you did.  I just read anew what I wrote last night.  I might easily feel defensive, were I you, in reaction to my comments.  It's not my place to say life can't be that bad.  I'm not you.  I'm truly sorry.  I would be traumatized if that happened to me at any concert-leave alone U2.  I came off harsh when I was trying for the opposite. I was wrong.  Please pardon me.  

[spongebob]

Hey not at all, You made a good point...It's been 6 months now I should maybe let it go and move on. I should have moved on after I got back home after the trip to Manchester to be honest, but It seriously effected me. I'm embarrassed to admit I was sitting in Manchester train station (where the RZ entry was) with tears running down my face like a little kid and Im 56 🤣

I think Cork Vegan is right it was a form of bullying by someone with a tiny bit of power, that let it go to her head and I have to admit that the bullies have won this time and there is no more I can do about it. We got in in the end, things could have been worse. But don't worry Manohlive you didn't come across as harsh. It has been good to vent about it and get feedback on how others would have felt and delt with the situation.

Oh and sorry joaocosta4 for highjacking your thread 😕