If there was ever any doubt that Michael Jackson was still a hot ticket, it was answered yesterday after the superstar sold out 50 shows at London’s O2 Arena.
At 20,000 seats per concert, that is 1,000,000 tickets sold in 5 hours at £75, £65 or £50. The shows are estimated to have grossed around £65,000,000 ($US90 million, $AUD138 million).Jackson has billed the shows as “This Is It’, suggesting that they will be his last ever shows but the small print adds “in London”.
Jackson’s last tour was 12 years ago. His last album was ‘Invincible’ in 2001.
After that, Jackson fought his high profile child molestation legal battle and won but in the meantime he has been crippled with debt and lost his home, Neverland Ranch.
The first show at the O2 will be on July 8. Jackson will perform his 50th show on February 24th, 2010.
The significance of the 50 shows is to represent a one for every year of his age.
Tickets for the shows are now selling on eBay for as high as $US4,000 a pair.
