Fans who purchased tickets to Michael Jackson’s 50-show London residency at the O2 arena will be able to get full refunds – including ticket fees – with an option to be sent the actual tickets in lieu of refunds, AEG Live and the O2 announced June 29.
Ticket holders should go to the “This Is It!’ tour Web site beginning July 1. Refunds will be processed by the authorized agencies through which tickets were purchased, including Ticketmaster, viagogo, See or Ticketline.
Fans will have the option to be sent the actual tickets they would have received to shows, which were to begin July 13, if they prefer to have them as souvenirs.
Jackson’s unexpected death June 25 at age 50 left as many as an estimated 800,000 fans holding $85 million worth of tickets for a concert residency that wasn’t to be. After Jackson’s death, it was expected that many of those ticketholders, however, would hold on to their ducats as collectors items.
The tickets were “inspired and designed by Michael Jackson for the fans attending the shows,” according to an AEG press release. The offer to receive the actual tickets will remain valid through Aug. 14.
Doubtless some fans will attempt to recoup their ticket price by auctioning the tickets as memorabilia on eBay. But each ticket that does not need to be refunded potentially lowers the financial hit AEG and its insurers.
But AEG Live President/CEO Randy Phllips made a point to address Jackson fans in the company’s statement.
“The world has lost a kind soul who just happened to be the greatest entertainer the world has ever know,” Phillips said. “Since he loved his fans in life, it is incumbent upon us to treat them with the same reverence and respect after his death.”
Please click here for the "THis Is It!" Michael Jackson Tour Web site.