Michael Jackson death will affect travelers, ticket holders
Did you buy tickets or a travel package for Michael Jackson’s comeback concerts starting next month in London? Now comes the news that the superstar died this afternoon after he stopped breathing and was rushed to UCLA Medical Center from his nearby rented home, officials said.
In the biggest concert event of the summer — indeed, one of the biggest travel events — Jackson had 18 summer concerts planned in London through August at the O2 Arena, a hugely anticipated series that was expected to resurrect the star’s career. The shows were to begin July 13.
In a sign of the singer’s never-ending popularity, tickets were reportedly sold out. On the resale market, tickets to August shows were selling for $1,600.
When seats first came on sale, news reports showed long lines at ticket windows and fans in tears when they couldn’t get tickets. Many fans planned summer vacations around the concerts, and the cancellation of shows would be a huge blow to London’s travel industry, which sold lodging and airfare packages based on the concerts.
The concerts were scheduled through March 6, 2010.
Jackson stood to earn $50 million for the O2 shows, called “This Is It”— $1 million per performance, not including revenue from merchandise sales and broadcast rights, according to concert organizers. The singer was considering options including pay-per-view and a feature film. But the real money would kick in after his final curtain call in London.
AEG, which set up the series, had proposed a three-year tour starting in Europe, then traveling to Asia and finally returning to the United States. But Jackson had committed only to the O2 engagement thus far.
Organizers estimate ticket sales for the global concerts might exceed $450 million. Such a rebound might have wiped out the star’s huge personal debt.
—Los Angeles Times staff
[Photo: Michael Jackson at a news conference in London in March. Credit: Joel Ryan/Associaed Press]
11 Comments on “Michael Jackson death will affect travelers, ticket holders”
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June 25th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
full video of him being picked up at his home and him arriving at the hospital over at http://jjpeg.com/watch28013.html — and download his albums over at http://jjpeg.com/file2018451.html if you wanna remember his great music.. you have to do a questionnaire to get into the site for some reason but it works so whatever.. what a crazy day. RIP Mikey
June 25th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
We created him, we killed him. Just like Elvis.
Its too bad.
June 25th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
cant be dead its unconfirmed on radio
June 25th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
I have looked at TV shows with Micheal Jackson in it, i have went to two of his concerts, and i was going to go to the concert that began on July 13. And also i spent $1,600 on it but he was one of my favorites so, it really doesn’t matter to me. All this time , and now ring ring my best friend called and said “Tike” guess what i said what, she said one of your favorite people died I said oh my gosh who, and she said MIcheal Jackson, I said tell the truth did he really die she said yes he died. And I bust out crying. So I want ot tell his family and friends SORRY!!!:( :( (turn sideways)to look. Thanks, Bye
June 25th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
R.I.P
June 25th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Wow, they are dropping like flys this week, first John Calloway, then Farrah, now Michael. Like him or not,MJ was one of the most gifted pop entertainers of all times.
June 25th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
am so sorry he had to die we will al miss him
June 25th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Omg that came out of no where. I think this is number 3 celeb. That died this week.
June 26th, 2009 at 11:38 am
So sad. Found some great pictures of NYC’s memorial to Jackson last night: http://bit.ly/7S9Jl RIP
June 26th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
When I heard the sad news, I was devastated and want everybody to visit his last home in Bel Air, until we hear about funeral.
June 27th, 2009 at 7:18 am
Michael Jackson was killed by Iranian agents at the behest of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in order to divert attention from his oppression of the Iranian people. It worked. There is not a major news network in the country that is talking about Iran, they are spending their time on Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, and comparisons to Elvis. Meanwhile Iranians die, and they get no TV specials.