Stones Concert Cheaper in Israel Than Europe

Many Rolling Stones fans are complaining about what they say is the high price for tickets for the band’s upcoming Tel Aviv concert on June 4.

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It turns out, however, that the tickets, which range in price between 695 shekels and 2,850 shekels, are actually substantially cheaper that what is being charged in Europe on the band’s current concert tour. Based on the current official representative rate of the dollar, the price for a ticket in Israel works out to between $199 and $816.

Admittedly it’s a little difficult to compare ticket prices without taking into account relative purchasing power from country to country. In dollar terms, the privilege of hearing Mick Jagger sing will set the Israeli concertgoer back by $190 for the cheapest ticket, when purchasing power parity based on data from the International Monetary Fund is factored in. That compares to $60 a ticket in Oslo and $62 in neighboring Stockholm. But it’s much cheaper on a PPP basis than the $343 Berliners will have to pay.

Last year the Stones took a beating of sorts when the high prices for their American tour put off potential concertgoers, forcing the band to slash prices to avoid performing to half-empty venues. And what prices was the legendary band demanding? They were asking $170 for the cheap seats, $635 for better ones and $2,000 for VIP placement. Even after cutting ticket prices, the band members are thought to have earned millions of dollars apiece on the tour.

Although some of the concerts scheduled earlier this month in Australia and New Zealand on the current tour were cancelled following the death in New York of Jagger’s girlfriend, L’Wren Scott, the tickets at most of the remaining venues are even higher than the U.S. prices.

Meanwhile, Knesset Finance Committee chairman Nissan Slomiansky has approached the concert’s promoter Shuki Weiss asking that the date for the event be changed because June 4 falls on the Shavuot festival.

Slomiansky said he has received a number of complaints from religious fans of the band who said the timing will prevent them from attending the show. Although it begins after sundown, and therefore after the holiday ends, the timing will not allow them enough time to make it to the concert, they said. Slomiansky also noted that municipal employees will be forced to work during the afternoon of the holiday in preparation for the concert.