The Michael Jackson ticket saga took another twist today when concert promoter AEG said that ticketholders could either choose to have a refund or still receive their tickets, which they say could become collectors items.
Promoter AEG Live said the tickets feature graphics “inspired and designed” by the music legend, who died at the age of 50 on Thursday. It adds that the originals will become collectors’ items, and feature special images which give them a 3D moving effect.
It’s an interesting choice. Cold, hard cash in your back pocket, or the gamble that your souvenir Jacko hologrammed ticket might one day be worth more than the amount you forked out in the first place. Of course, it’s worth remembering that 799,999 other people will be thinking the same, and about half of those who do take up the offer of souvenir tickets will be thinking about putting them on eBay the minute they drop through the post box.
I should imagine that for some of Jackson’s most ardent fans (and admittedly, there are lots of them), it will be a no-brainer to keep the tickets as (expensive and disappointing) souvenirs. For the rest of the ticketholders, I would have thought that the refund would be the way to go, rather than having to find somewhere to keep a piece of shiny paper as a constant reminder of a day out you shelled out for that never came.
Fans have until 14th August to decide.