NJ Transit Bon Jovi Contest (and a ramble)

Want to win tickets?

NJ Transit wants customers to check out their summer services, so they're offering a drawing to see Bon Jovi in concert a week from Saturday at the new Meadowlands Stadium.

If you visit njtransit.com now through Tuesday, you can enter. The random drawing will be held before the first show on Wednesday, May 26, in the rotunda of the Frank Lautenberg Train Station at Secaucus Junction.

The grand prize winner will receive 10 tickets for the May 29 show...and of course, train transportation to get there! Ten second-place winners will get four tickets and transportation.

The summer services they are promoting include rides to the shore, Great Adventure, Monmouth Park, and the Meadowlands.

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Fifty tickets set aside for (what seems to be) a last-minute promotion makes me wonder: does this mean that Bon Jovi has *gasp* failed to sell out Giants' Stadium? (ducks from the bricks being thrown). Don't hate, I'm just askin'.

It wouldn't be a surprise to some (that BJ couldn't sell out a stadium). According to the forums at VelvetRope, where members were talking about Gillette Stadium:

Apparently even with Keith Urban and the return of the Dixie Chicks as support acts, the Eagles' date at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA is tanking in a big way. It could be an embarrassing wake-up call for a few egos.

Bon Jovi - who used to do great business there, is also having trouble selling tickets, even with Kid Rock as an opener. They're adding Nickelback as a second "special guest" which is, I'm assuming, to keep Richie and Jon from having to stare at a half-empty stadium for two hours.

Taylor Swift on the other hand, was a near-instant sellout.

Anyone know how the Eagles/Bon Jovi tours are selling elsewhere?

Some responders mentioned being "bombarded with discount and 2-for-1 offers" prior to the HP Pavillion show.

Some other comments:

Fans of Bon Jovi and the Eagles are older and they know what a huge hassle it is to go to stadium shows. The Taylor Swift fans haven't experienced lousy sound, too hot, too cold or rain, two hours of tracffic to get in and out of the parking lots- esp at Gillette. Most Bon Jovi and Eagles fans have already seen them in much smaller venues and can take a pass much easier on this show. Then, throw all that in with "are you serious?!?!?!" ticket prices, and you have yourself a half empty stadium

I've never understood how Bon Jovi has been able to tour like they do. It's pretty impressive that they can still play stadiums and can out-draw bands who have much better catalogs than they do. I'm not hatin', I admire their make the most out of what they have.

Would add that latest bon jovi album is an underperformer that seems like it didn't connect with base or radio like other recent records. Time to rewrite living on a prayer again.

All around, an interesting topic. And I'm jazzed to see Nickleback as another opener.

For me, I think nothing quite compares to an outside show. The open air (maybe even some rain -- isolated thunderstorms are on the forecast for night 2 at Giants'), the ginormous screens, the energy of all those screaming fans.... I don't know. It's just DIFFERENT outside.

But what do you think? Why are the stadium sell-outs [apparently] so difficult? Is it the ridiculous prices? Is it that we (those who grew up with this band and have done a stadium show or two) don't want the hassle, and would rather see them in a "more intimate" setting?

Inquiring minds want to know...

~ Hath