The Irish boy band Westlife is scheduled to perform at Wembley Stadium in London on August 22, 2020 as part of their Stadiums in the Summer Tour. With a capacity of 90,000, Wembley Stadium is one of the largest venues in the UK and a prestigious location for any artist to play. Fans are eager to get tickets to see Westlife perform their numerous chart-topping hits live at the iconic stadium. However, with high demand comes the question: is the concert at Wembley already sold out?
Background on Westlife
Westlife is one of the most successful boy bands of all time. The group formed in 1998 and consists of members Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne. Westlife has sold over 55 million records worldwide and scored 14 number one singles in the UK, including hits like “Swear It Again,” “Flying Without Wings,” and “You Raise Me Up.” After going on hiatus in 2012, Westlife reunited in 2018 and announced their Stadiums in the Summer Tour, scheduled for 2020. The tour marks the first time the band will perform in stadiums in over 10 years.
Demand for Westlife Tickets
As one of the biggest boy bands from the late 90s/early 2000s still actively touring, Westlife has retained a sizable fanbase enthusiastic to see them perform their classic songs and new material. Their 2019 reunion tour, The Twenty Tour, sold over 600,000 tickets across 27 shows. With the Stadiums in the Summer Tour announced shortly after this successful reunion run, hype quickly built for Westlife to perform at large-scale venues.
Wembley Stadium stands out as a particularly prestigious location given its status as one of the world’s most famous stadiums. It has hosted iconic performances from artists like Queen, Oasis, and Spice Girls. Westlife has the popularity and repertoire to create an incredible concert experience there. As a result, demand for tickets was expected to be extremely high right from the start.
Ticket Sales and Availability for Westlife at Wembley
General ticket sales for Westlife at Wembley Stadium began on November 1, 2019. Tickets could be purchased through Ticketmaster. Prices ranged from £65 for general admission to £169 for VIP packages.
The concert sold exceptionally well right from the beginning. Within three days, over 80,000 tickets were reported to have already been sold. On November 11, 2019, Westlife’s official social media accounts announced that the show had completely sold out.
Date | Ticket Sales Milestone |
---|---|
November 1, 2019 | General ticket sales begin on Ticketmaster |
November 4, 2019 | Over 80,000 tickets sold in the first 3 days |
November 11, 2019 | Show announced as completely sold out |
Given the incredible speed with which tickets were purchased, it is clear that demand far exceeded the available number of tickets. Wembley Stadium’s capacity of 90,000 seats was simply not enough to meet the desires of all of Westlife’s fans who wanted to see the historic stadium show.
Reasons for Rapid Sell Out
There are a few key reasons why Westlife at Wembley Stadium sold out so quickly:
Popularity of Westlife
With 14 #1 hits, Westlife is one of the most popular boy bands of all time in their native UK and Ireland. Their fans were eager for the chance to see them perform again after their hiatus. Stadium concerts provide more opportunities for fans to attend compared to smaller arena shows and theaters.
Reunion Excitement
After being on hiatus for several years, Westlife’s reunion in 2018 built fresh excitement and momentum around the group. Fans who may not have seen them in concert before wanted the chance to now that they were actively touring again. Their 2019 tour selling 600,000+ tickets demonstrated this reunion excitement.
Prestige of Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium is a bucket list venue for both music fans and performers. Westlife joining the ranks of major pop acts like Spice Girls who have played sold out shows there made the concert even more of a hot ticket. The prestige and history of the stadium contributed to the rapid sell out.
Strategic Ticket Pricing
While certainly not cheap, tickets to see Westlife at Wembley were priced reasonably given the stature of the event. Had tickets been priced exorbitantly higher, it may have been more difficult to sell out. The pricing strategy helped ensure high demand right out of the gate.
Only London Area Concert
The show at Wembley Stadium is Westlife’s only scheduled concert in the London metropolitan area on the Stadiums in the Summer Tour. Other cities like Manchester and Dublin have two tour dates each. The scarcity of London area shows further drove demand.
Aftermath of the Sell Out
The incredible ticket sales and rapid sell out for Westlife at Wembley Stadium had several effects:
Additional Dates Added
Due to the high demand, two additional Westlife tour dates at Wembley Stadium were added on August 19 and 20, 2020. These concerts also went on to sell out shortly after tickets were released. The addition of the new shows helped satisfy further fan demand.
Boost to Westlife’s Profile
The swift sell out elevated Westlife’s public profile and demonstrated that two decades into their career, their popularity remains sky high. It built momentum going into their Stadiums in the Summer Tour and showed they are still capable of headlining major venues.
Disappointment for Fans Shut Out
While many fans successfully obtained tickets before the initial show sold out, there were certainly others who wanted to attend but missed out. This may have caused disappointment and frustration. However, the new added dates gave some of these fans a second chance at getting tickets.
Increase in Resale Prices
Given the show’s immediate sell out, tickets being resold by third parties such as on StubHub saw significant price markups compared to original face value costs. Desperate fans may have been willing to pay inflated resale prices given the concert’s high demand.
Is There Still Any Way To Get Tickets?
Since the concert is completely sold out, getting tickets directly from the venue or Ticketmaster is no longer possible. However, there are still a few ways determined fans may be able to acquire tickets:
Check Resale Sites
Tickets are still available on resale sites like StubHub and VividSeats, but generally at 2-4X the original price. Still, going the resale route may be the only way left to get into the show.
Contest Giveaways
Radio stations and media outlets will sometimes do ticket giveaways for highly coveted events like this. Entering contests could yield a free pair if luck strikes.
Wait for Potential New Releases
Venues sometimes free up additional production holds or release contingencies leading up to shows. Checking Ticketmaster periodically could pay off if a small number of tickets get freed up.
In-Person Outside Venue
Fans often sell extra tickets in person outside venues leading right up to show time. Being present with cash in hand could yield a last minute deal.
Conclusion
The Westlife concert scheduled for August 22, 2020 at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium sold out rapidly, demonstrating the Irish pop group’s massive popularity and draw. A stadium show adds prestige and historical significance. Swift sales erased virtually all 90,000+ seats, disappointing fans who missed out but cementing it as a hot ticket event. While the concert is sold out, persistent fans still have a few options to score tickets through resale sites, giveaways, and in-person sales. For those lucky enough to have tickets in hand, the Wembley show promises to be a once in a lifetime musical experience.