If Garth Brooks could have it his way, he’d improve on the concert going and ticket buying experience by making scalping illegal. Hee actually doesn’t understand why it isn’t already.
The country music star is currently gearing up to go back out on the road. After teasing a new album and new music earlier this year, the “Friends In Low Places” singer finally made the announcement officially earlier this month. Through a release on his website, and in a couple of different social media posts, the country superstar told everyone that the “wait is over,” and happily shared that his Blame It All On My Roots Tour will get kicked off in August:
“Going back into the arenas is about putting the stadium show in a box. The excitement gets multiplied by the intimacy. Every seat is a great seat. This is personal.”
The 64-year-old country star last brought his music to the masses with his Stadium Tour, which played its final show in the fall of 2022. Garth’s Las Vegas residency – Garth Brooks/Plus ONE – followed after that, but even that wrapped in July of 2024. All that to say, there certainly has been a wait for fans to see him live, and now we’re just a month or so from that wait being over.
Besides the return of Brooks in general, there’s a lot about this tour to look forward to. The “Friends In Low Places” singer has been building the hype by announcing things like:
–All tickets will be the exact same price, from the front row up to the nosebleeds
-Says he’ll be recording a live album titled Killer Live throughout the Blame It On My Roots Tour
-Promised new, state-of-the-art technology with this tour, including a revamped “Drum Pod” and a video screen he’s calling “The Halo’
And if he could, Brooks would add “getting rid of ticket scalping” to that list.
In a release on garthbrooks.com (that’s the sole place where Garth breaks news now), Brooks let his position on ticket scalpers be known. The country icon strongly believes that scalping should be illegal, and says he’s entertained the thought of walking up to the “powers that be” and telling them he only wants to tour in a world where scalping is outlawed:
“I’ve never understood why scalping is legal. I don’t think I am making it too simple by saying if we just make scalping illegal, a bunch of the problems of today’s ticketing procedures would be gone…
I’ve always wanted to go to the ‘powers that be’ and tell them I would be happy to do a tour without scalping if they want to see if we all miss it or not.”
Hey, if there’s anything with the power to face the “powers that be,” it’d be Garth.
While we wait and see how Garth vs. Ticket Scalpers plays out, we’re also still waiting to hear more from Garth on additional tour dates. As of right now, the only announced dates are the first two nights – August 21 and 22 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tickets for those back-to-back shows go on sale Friday, July 17.
Certainly seems like Garth Brooks would rather you get your tickets the non-scalper-route.
