Though built in the middle of the Charles River Campus with Boston University dollars, Agganis Arena is almost completely out of the university’s control when it comes to ticket prices and programming decisions, officials say, under an arrangement different than those at other collegiate venues around Boston.
With performers including the Black Eyed Peas and Death Cab for Cutie, Agganis has drawn large crowds and produced revenue to match, grossing $3 million between November 2005 and May 2006. It has been ranked the No. 8 mid-sized arena in the world by Venues Today.
But with big-name performers come big-name ticket prices and, aside from a pre-sale for students, Agganis has no policy on student discounts.
The relationship between Agganis and BU is somewhat unique. Other Boston-area universities, including Tufts University and Boston College, offer students reduced ticket prices and allow them to play a role in deciding who performs in their venues.
By limiting attendance to Tufts students only, Tufts University can keep ticket prices at $7 or $8. Guest tickets cost $20, but they can only by bought by Tufts students, ensuring “the event is just for the Tufts community and those associated with it,” Tufts Concert Board Co-Chair Sarah Fleischmann said.
“At the beginning of every year, we try to find a balance between booking great acts while keeping ticket prices low,” she said.
The Concert Board at Tufts also gauges a performer’s popularity on the Tufts campus using email and Facebook.
“The music industry is very fickle, but we do our best to book the bands that will satisfy the majority of students,” Fleischmann said.
One of the reasons Tufts is able to keep ticket prices low for their events is the size of their venue. According to Fleischmann, “shows are held in a hall that has a limited capacity, and it is only fair that the shows benefit the students whose student activities fees make up our budget.”
BC holds events in a larger venue, but still limits the price of student tickets. According to Chris Darcy, an administrator in the BC Dean for Student Development Office, the Undergraduate Government Programming Department usually charges $10 to $15 for concerts, with the exception of larger shows, which cost $20. Kanye West performed in BC’s Conte Forum for an audience of 6,000 last spring.
Like at Tufts, concerts at BC are closed to the public and are for the BC community only. For concerts like the Kanye West show, the university sets up special ticket sales so each class has two days to purchase tickets, starting with the seniors. Tickets left over are put on sale as general admission for any class, graduate students, faculty and staff, Darcy said.
When it comes to choosing performers, BC’s programming department works with a company to negotiate and look into what artists are available and when they are touring.
“The only issue would be whether or not the university felt like the artist’s material may be in conflict with the Catholic/Jesuit nature of the institution,” Darcy said.
Programming works different differently at BU. Agganis is open to the general public and is a multipurpose sports and entertainment center, housing hockey and basketball events, concerts, conventions and family shows. When it comes to ticket prices and presales to students, the artists’ promoters have the last word.
“Agganis Arena is in a great location, and because of its success, artists are now aware of the arena,” BU spokesman Colin Riley said. “As a result, promoters who want an artist to perform at Agganis call the arena, ask about availability and possible performance dates and then negotiations begin.
“We’ve had Sting, Alicia Keys and countless other performers, and when it comes to ticket discounts, it is always up to the artist and their promoters,” he continued, “although we usually have presales available for the students.”
While the university does not seek out student discounts, Riley said students still have options on campus.
“There are performances for everyone,” he said. “I believe there is no shortage of opportunities, and since we also have a great number and variety of concerts and performers going on in BU Central, often at no cost to the students, the opportunities are greater.”