Half of Cable Guy tickets already sold

Available for less than a week, officials are saying that ticket sales for one of the first events scheduled to take place at a 5,000-seat arena currently under construction in south Corbin are encouraging and brisk.

Southeastern Kentucky Agriculture and Exposition Center General Manager Cliff Clinger said Tuesday that tickets for “redneck comedian” Larry the Cable Guy, who will perform at the center April 24, 2009, are already half sold.

“For not having any history or track record to go by, that is strong,” Clinger said. “We are happy with it. Ideally, with an event, whatever you get with ticket presales, if you double that, that is probably how many tickets you will sell. If that is the case, then we are looking at a sellout.”

Last Friday through Monday, the promoter of the event, Outback Concerts, offered an “Economic Recovery Package” which allowed those that wanted to see the show on the cheap to purchase two tickets for the price of one – just $22 each, excluding fees. Clinger said that promotion is obviously playing well with those looking for a little entertainment and he expects that promoters of other events will follow suit in the future.

“Most of the promoters, especially the ones with family shows, will definitely offer special deals and incentives … family packs and opening night specials, things like that,” Clinger said. “Most promoters know what is going on in the real world.”

Currently, Clinger said he is not able to determine how many of the tickets were sold to local residents planning to attend the show as opposed to those from outside the area. Officials are banking on the venue being able to entice people from all over the region to buy tickets. He said he would have more detailed information on ticket sales once a special reporting system is in place.

“Eventually, we will be able to do that. We will be able to tell where people are buying tickets by zip code,” Clinger said. “That will help us be able to do a little further investigation and will allow us to help promoters with marketing and targeted advertising.”

Currently, Larry the Cable tickets are the only ones on sale for the expo center, but Clinger said he expects a flurry of shows to be available for presale after the first of the year. By then, he said an onsite box office should be open to the public, allowing ticket buyers to avoid some online fees.

“We are thrilled with the way things are going so far and if people are thinking about show tickets as a holiday gift, it’s always good to give Larry the Cable Guy for Christmas.”

Tickets for Larry the Cable Guy can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or by telephone, 1-800-745-3000.