First Avenue Dumps Ticketmaster

First Avenue in Minneapolis has announced that they will no longer be using Ticketmaster for their online and phone (anyone still do that?) ticket sales.

Starting April 1st, they will use e Tix.

Frankly, I can't recall the last time I attended a show at First Ave - The Cult or Lenny Kravitz seem to stand out - but the fact that with this new online system, you could end up shaving 20 to 40% off the fees.

Between rock festivals and station events, I pretty much limit myself to maybe one paid for, personal concert per year.

If Kid Rock or Springsteen are out, I'm always there.

Same for The Scorpions and John Hiatt.

This year it will be Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band .

And I'll be paying the T-Master fees.

But if I'm doing the e Tix math correctly, let's say an average seat for Springsteen is $80. With Ticketmaster add-ons, probably another 20 to $25.

Take 40% off that, and you end up paying in the $90 range.

Other smaller club venues in the twin cities have also elected to abandon Ticketmaster in favor of other alternate online resources.

Small steps to be sure but are they the first steps towards erasing Ticketmaster's stranglehold on the concert-going public? If these alternate online resources continue to gain more and more clientele, could it lead to larger and larger venues enlisting their services?

At the very least, I'd be happy with someone applying some pressure to the Ticketmaster empire. I know many have tried and failed, and I'm not calling for their total disinegration, but it'd be nice for once to get excited about a show and then not seconds later wonder what the final bill is gonna be.

Oh well. Good for you First Avenue.

As for you Ticketmaster, Seger is coming, so you win this round.