Intrust Bank Arena's Taylor Swift concert is sold out

Posted by DAREDEVIL Friday, December 4, 2009


WICHITA - About 15 minutes after tickets went on sale at Intrust Bank Arena, officials announced that the Taylor Swift concert is sold out. Twelve box office windows at the arena opened at 10 a.m.

Marvin Osman was at the ticket window when concert tickets sold out.

"They went quickly, and I knew they would," he said.

Sunny Schmidt got the first six tickets for her 8-year-old daughter Riley and friends.

Tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. Because of a lottery system used for in-person ticket purchases at the arena box office, Deb Shirkey, the holder of raffle ticket No. 140, was the first in line.

She was trying to get tickets for her 14- and 19-year-old daughters.

"I'm excited," Shirkey said. "I tried to get tickets online yesterday and couldn't."

People started arriving at 5 a.m. today, with about 40 people in line for raffle tickets at about 8:30 a.m.

Shirkey arrived this morning at 8:40 a.m.

The goal of the lottery system was to eliminate the possibility of overnight lines and camping.

No line was allowed to form until 7 a.m. Anyone age 12 or older who was in the line by 9:30 a.m. received one raffle ticket. At 9:30 a.m., the tickets were shuffled, and one ticket was drawn. The person who had the matching ticket number become the first person in line. Everyone else stayed in numerical order, and those with lower ticket numbers went to the end of the line. People who arrived after the lottery also went to the end of the line.

Regarding the lottery, Scott Neal, assistant general manager for SMG, said, "It's pretty standard for arenas across the country and across the world. We just want to make sure there's a fair opportunity for everyone that comes."

As people received their raffle tickets, they headed back to their cars to warm up.

Most people wanted tickets for daughters, sisters or nieces.

Crystal Branaugh has 7-year-old daughter Hailey.

"This is all she wants for Christmas," Branaugh said. "Nothing else."

Jennifer Hughes wanted tickets for 10-year-old daughter Savannah.

"I figure I probably won't get them, but I had to try," Hughes said.

Azure Winter said her 7-year-old daughter, Sydnie, was excited at the thought of seeing Taylor Swift "in real life." If they get tickets it would be her first concert.

Krispy Kreme donated dozens of donuts and coffee.

Arena officials allowed people in (briefly, with an escort) to use bathrooms.

Tickets also went on sale at 10 a.m. at Select-A-Seat outlets, www.selectaseat.com and phone sales at 316-755-SEAT.

Tickets were $61.50, $51.50 and $27.

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