The Daily Tar Heel
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893.
Thursday, March 28, 2024 Newsletters Latest print issue

We keep you informed.

Help us keep going. Donate Today.
The Daily Tar Heel

Passion Pit tickets sell fast

Student Union couldn’t physically sell all

More than 2,000 tickets were sold Thursday when sales opened for the Homecoming concert, in a sharp contrast to last year’s sparsely attended show.

Carolina Union Activities Board sales for the Oct. 29 concert — featuring indie-electronic rock band Passion Pit in Carmichael Auditorium — prompted hundreds of students to line the Student Union’s Great Hall for hours.

CUAB officals said that all 1,500 of the $15 premium floor level tickets were sold by early afternoon, and that at least 500 additional riser seats were sold before the box office closed at 6 p.m.

“We will sell out,” said CUAB president Adele Ricciardi. “But just not today.”

At least 2,000 tickets remained for sale as of 5 p.m. Thursday.

Despite the high demand for tickets, CUAB and Union officials said the box office staff would not be able to physically process all 4,500 tickets in the six-hour span of sale.

Sophomore Cat Hoffman was the first student in the ticket line.

“I’m a transfer student, so when I heard Passion Pit was playing here, I completely freaked out,” Hoffman said.

Although the Union Box Office policy does not allow students to camp out for tickets, Hoffman was in the Union gallery by 7:40 a.m. on Thursday.

By 8 a.m., when the Great Hall was opened for would-be ticket buyers, more than 50 students filed through a maze of roped-off dividers.

By 11 a.m., the hall was full — and more students arrived as noon drew closer.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited,” freshman Alec Mercolino said. He first heard about the homecoming concert when moving into his dorm a month ago. CUAB hung posters in residence halls for publicity.

“I haven’t stopped being excited since then,” Mercolino said.

Orange wrist bands allowed students to come and go as dictated by class schedules.

Freshmen Katelyn Costa and Natalie Dunlop divided time in line among their suite mates.

“I loved this band forever, since before they became a fad,” Dunlop said. “We totally would have camped out for tickets if we could have.”

Most students in the morning lines said they were looking to purchase as many of the $15 floor seats as they could.

Senior Colin Keil was the last student to purchase the coveted seats.

“I would have just been content to have any tickets,” Keil said.

“We were standing in line for so damn long.”

The obvious enthusiasm for this year’s Homecoming concert is in contrast to that of 2009, which saw fewer than 720 students at hip-hop artist Fabolous’ headlining show.

To get the day's news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.

Concert organizers in 2009 had difficulty deciding on an artist, selecting Fabolous and UNC alumnus and “American Idol” finalist Anoop Desai as last-minute alternatives.

“This is just so much better than some … rapper,” said senior Susannah Long.

“I had heard all about the great shows in the past, so this feels like a real return to form.”

Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.