Bruce Springsteen Fans Are Furious Over $3,800 Tickets—And The Boss Ought To Know Better
So, Bruce Springsteen is hitting the road again with the E Street Band, and you'd think after all these years, The Boss would know how to take care of his people. But if you've been eyeing tickets for his reunion tour, brace yourselves—because the prices are enough to make you choke on your morning coffee.
Word started trickling in this week that some tickets for the upcoming Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Reunion Tour have hit astronomical numbers. We're talking $3,800 a pop. For a single night. For that kind of money, you'd honestly expect Bruce to swing by your place afterward for a backyard barbecue and a few songs.
From 'Dancing in the Dark' to Crying in Your Beer
Fans have taken to social media to vent their frustration, and let's just say, it's not pretty. The general sentiment seems to be that the man who once sang about being "Dancing in the Dark" has left his faithful followers fumbling for their wallets—and their dignity. Here's a taste of what's going around:
- "$3,800 for Bruce Springsteen tickets? For that price, he better come over and mow my lawn for a year."
- "The Boss just turned into the Banker. This is a disgrace."
- "I remember seeing Bruce and the E Street Band for twenty bucks. Now that feels like a fairy tale."
It's a far cry from the raw, hungry artist winning over crowds with nothing but heart and a Telecaster. Back then, it was about the music. Now, it feels like it's about the bottom line. American fans who waited for hours in the cold outside the Stone Pony or made the pilgrimage to Asbury Park know that feeling all too well.
Bowing to Inflation? Even the Cartoonists Are Having a Field Day
The backlash has even caught the eye of political cartoonists. Over in New Jersey, the great Drew Sheneman summed it up perfectly with a cartoon titled "Bruce bows to inflation," showing The Boss at a ticket booth with prices through the roof. It's a brutal but fair point: in an era where everything from your morning coffee to your monthly rent has gone up, Springsteen tickets have decided to launch themselves into outer space.
And wouldn't you know it, the whole fiasco has even dragged in the name of a certain former US president. With The Boss having been vocal about his political views over the years—famously clashing with Donald Trump over the use of his music—there's a certain irony in fans now feeling like they're being gouged just to see him. You really couldn't make this stuff up.
What About the American Fans Who Made Him?
For Springsteen's massive American following, the news is a bitter pill. We've always claimed him as the voice of the working class, haven't we? From the Jersey shore to the heartland, he captured the spirit of the everyday guy. But at these prices, the everyday guy is being left out in the cold. The memory of his From My Home To Yours lockdown broadcasts, where he brought comfort from his own living room, feels like a lifetime ago—and certainly a more affordable one.
Maybe the solution is to dig out the old vinyl, crank up Bruce Springsteen: Dancing in the Dark on the stereo, and remember when the biggest investment was the cost of the album. Or, as one wag put it: "For the price of one ticket, I could fly to New Jersey, stand outside his house, and heckle him for free." And honestly, isn't that the American way?