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Ricky Martin
moves show
to Blaisdell
from stadium

Poor ticket sales prompt
the promoter to stage two
shows at the smaller site

By Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin

Poor ticket sales have forced promoters of this month's Ricky Martin concert at Aloha Stadium to switch venues to Blaisdell Center Arena.

Instead of one performance, Martin will give two performances -- at 7:30 p.m. March 26 and March 27. But due to the difference in seating capacity between Aloha Stadium -- about 30,000 -- and Blaisdell arena -- about 8,000 -- all current ticket holders cannot attend the show on the originally scheduled evening of March 26.

A Honolulu spokesperson for promoter Marek Lieberberg said the original plan to play in the 30,000-plus seat stadium was based on an extensive Pacific tour that included Japan and Australia.

But due to its postponement, "it proved impossible to bring the complete stadium production to Honolulu."

However, spokeswoman Lisa Josephsohn said last month that the Asia and Australian concert cancellations were separate from the Hawaii event and would "have no effect whatsoever on this concert."

Several sources said the reason for moving the concert was minimal ticket sales. Only about 12,000 tickets have been sold despite being on sale for more than a month.

Martin, who reportedly is being paid about $750,000 and has refused to adjust his fee for Hawaii, would have to double current ticket sales to about 24,000 for promoter Lieberberg to break even, several sources said.

Neither Lieberberg, his staff in Hawaii, nor Aloha Stadium director Eddie Hayashi returned several calls.

Workers scheduled to assemble the staging for the Martin show learned last week that the event would be moved to the arena. But the final decision was made yesterday when stadium officials met with a Lieberberg representative to discuss the financial situation.

A decision had to be made because time was running out to arrange for ticket refunds, to construct the stage -- estimated to cost about $125,000 -- and set up the lighting and sound system.

Martin's diamond-shaped stage to be used at Blaisdell is 80-feet wide and accommodates a 12-piece band, 10 dancers and takes about five days to build.

In its current configuration, the stage could reduce the number of available seats at the arena from to about 5,500 from 8,000.

Several local promoters bid on presenting the concert here but dropped out when Martin's guaranteed fee hit about $450,000, leaving Lieberberg and a mainland promoter bidding against one another. Some local promoters from the outset suggested that Martin perform in the arena.

Switching venues will create a major headache for ticket seller Tickets Plus and ticket buyers.

Tickets can be exchanged beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Blaisdell box office only, and on Sunday. Holds will be in place for exchanges through 6 p.m. next Wednesday, after which time exchanges will be for best available.