Iron Maiden are Successfully Thwarting Ticket Scalpers

Iron Maiden have launched an initiative to combat ticket scalping, and so far it’s been a resounding success.

Using a variety of different methods — multiple ID verifications, promotion of “paperless ticketing,” printing purchaser names on physical tickets, and more — the band has been able to sell well over 100,000 tickets for the UK leg of their upcoming tour at their intended price during just the first day of sales! Recently released reports show a 95% decline in secondhand sales and counterfeit tickets over the band’s 2011 UK tour.

I bet there are a few people out there complaining about the added security measures hindering their purchasing experience, but if that means Iron Maiden are pioneering a future where fans don’t have to pay inflated prices to attend concerts because scalpers bought up thousands of seats in the first 30 minutes, I’m all for it.

The band’s manager, Rod Smallwood, released this statement about the campaign:

“We are delighted that the paperless ticketing system and other measures we instigated here in the UK have proved a massive deterrent to touts and counterfeiters. We want to thank our fans for their enduring support and patience. We appreciate that our stringent policy has meant fans having to jump over one more hurdle in the ticket-buying process but the results speak for themselves and I think everyone can agree this was well worth it.”

Of course, only the future will show whether or not these kinds of restrictions can make any sort of lasting impact, but right now it looks like Iron Maiden are winning. If only they could do away with those exorbitant extra ticket fees that get lumped in with every purchase….

If you bought a ticket to Iron Maiden’s upcoming UK run tell us how the experience was. Full list of dates below:

APR 22                  BELGIUM                             ANTWERP SPORTPALEIS
APR 24                  GERMANY                           OBERHAUSEN KÖNIG-PILSENER-ARENA
APR 28                  GERMANY                           FRANKFURT FESTHALLE
MAY 02                 GERMANY                           HAMBURG BARCLAYCARD ARENA
MAY 04                 ENGLAND                            NOTTINGHAM MOTORPOINT ARENA
MAY 06                 IRELAND                              DUBLIN 3ARENA
MAY 08                 ENGLAND                            MANCHESTER ARENA
MAY 10                 ENGLAND                            SHEFFIELD ARENA
MAY 11                 ENGLAND                            LEEDS FIRST DIRECT ARENA
MAY 14                 ENGLAND                            NEWCASTLE METRO RADIO ARENA
MAY 16                 SCOTLAND                          GLASGOW SSE HYDRO ARENA
MAY 17                 SCOTLAND                          ABERDEEN AECC GE OIL & GAS ARENA
MAY 20                 ENGLAND                            LIVERPOOL ECHO ARENA
MAY 21                 ENGLAND                            BIRMINGHAM BARCLAYCARD ARENA
MAY 24                 WALES                                  CARDIFF MOTORPOINT ARENA
MAY 27                 ENGLAND                            LONDON O2 ARENA