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Virtual screams of excitement and sighs of disappointment reverberated on Twitter as tickets for Justin Bieber's Calgary concert sold out in a matter of minutes Friday.
Ticketmaster could not verify how quickly tickets sold out for the Baby hitmaker's Oct. 12 concert at the Saddledome, but spokeswoman Jacqueline Peterson said the ducats "went very fast."
Fans who failed to get tickets to the concert took their rants to Twitter.
Cheyanne Beaudin expressed disappointment and contempt for scalpers.
"Today was the worst day of my life," she wrote.
"All Justin Bieber tickets sold out; my dad bought the wrong fan club when it was pre-sale.
"I hate scalpers."
When the sale was over after 10 a.m., tickets popped up at online marketplaces such as the StubHub, Vivid Seats and Tickets-Center ranging anywhere from US$139 to US$5,000.
Some of the pricey tickets claimed to include a meet-and-greet with Bieber and could be purchased between $2,430 and $2,733 a pop.
Jen Ruklic was jubilant she was able to get some tickets, but had to get in front of the line last week through a special pre-sale promo for American Express cards holders.
"I did not want to take the chance that my daughter was going to miss out," she wrote in an e-mail to the Sun.
"My issue with concert tickets nowadays is that it seems so unlikely to get to the top notch headliners.
"I miss the days of lining up the night before.
"At least then you stood a chance."
Ruklic, who bought four tickets at $106 apiece, said her daughter Cassie is getting a concert treat just days before her birthday.
"We are pretty excited, but I do feel sad for all the other little girls out there that have missed out and have been let down by Ticketmaster," said the mom, who hopes Bieber will add another concert.
Julie Korhonen, who also posted on Twitter, said her daughter will be excited.
"Got my 7-year-old daughter Justin Bieber tickets for Calgary concert in Oct.! She will freak!"
In April, a similar sale craze hit Calgary when country singer Garth Brooks July 12 concert tickets sold out within a matter of 58 seconds, crushing countless fans and sparking fury about scalpers.
renato.gandia@sunmedia.ca
