It looks like fans will have to act very fast to get their tickets for the Madonna concert when they go on sale on February 27.
The organisers Flash have already said they expect sales for the June 3 concert at Abu Dhabi's Yas Arena on Yas Island to break speed records – no hollow warning with tickets priced at Dh350, a third of a price they are selling out in record time elsewhere.
Although there has been no mention of adding a second show in Abu Dhabi, same-day sellouts to Madonna’s concert stops in cities like Los Angeles, San Jose, Toronto, Chicao and Vancouver prompted her to add a second show date. Near-instant sellouts in Berlin and Amsterdam meant second shows were added there as well.
Tickets to her show in New York’s 60,000-seat Yankee Stadium were reportedly sold out in 20 minutes on Monday; adding a second show date in the Big Apple was inevitable. The tickets are much more reasonable for the Yas Island show, selling for a third of the US$300 (Dh1,100) price fans are paying elsewhere.
The sell-outs follow Madonna's acclaimed performance at the Super Bowl half-time show, estimated to have reached more than 47 million homes. Due to pre-orders for her upcoming album MDNA, due out March 26 on Live Nation Entertainment/Interscope Records, it has already reached the number one spot out of 51 on iTunes.
In an interview with The Daily Beast in January, Madonna defended the high price of her concert tickets. “Start saving your pennies now,” she said. “People spend $300 on crazy things all the time, things like handbags. So work all year, scrape the money together, and come to my show."
Madge, as she is affectionately known in the UK, will make Abu Dhabi the second stop on her 2012 World Tour, which kicks off on May 29 in Tel Aviv. The 2012 World Tour, which includes stops in Europe, the Middle East, South and North America and Australia, will be the first for the megastar since her Sticky & Sweet Tour in 2008 and 2009.
W.E., a movie written and directed by Madonna will be released in UAE cinemas on Thursday.
Tickets to Madonna's concert in Abu Dhabi will go on sale midday UAE time on Monday, February 27, and start at Dh350. Buy your ticket online at www.thinkflash.ae or by calling 800 FLASH (800 35274)
hkhalaf@thenational.ae
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
The biog
Name: Fareed Lafta
Age: 40
From: Baghdad, Iraq
Mission: Promote world peace
Favourite poet: Al Mutanabbi
Role models: His parents
Meydan racecard:
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 (PA) Group 1 | US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) Listed | $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) Conditions | $100,000 (Turf) | 1,400m
8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) Group 3 | $200,000 (D) | 1,200m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (D) | 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,000m
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
Everton%20Fixtures
%3Cp%3EApril%2015%20-%20Chelsea%20(A)%3Cbr%3EApril%2021%20-%20N.%20Forest%20(H)%3Cbr%3EApril%2024%20-%20Liverpool%20(H)%3Cbr%3EApril%2027%20-%20Brentford%20(H)%3Cbr%3EMay%203%20-%20Luton%20Town%20(A)%3Cbr%3EMay%2011%20-%20Sheff%20Utd%20(H)%3Cbr%3EMay%2019%20-%20Arsenal%20(A)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
%3Cp%3EElena%20Rybakina%20(Kazakhstan)%3Cbr%3EOns%20Jabeur%20(Tunisia)%3Cbr%3EMaria%20Sakkari%20(Greece)%3Cbr%3EBarbora%20Krej%C4%8D%C3%ADkov%C3%A1%20(Czech%20Republic)%3Cbr%3EBeatriz%20Haddad%20Maia%20(Brazil)%3Cbr%3EJe%C4%BCena%20Ostapenko%20(Latvia)%3Cbr%3ELiudmila%20Samsonova%3Cbr%3EDaria%20Kasatkina%3Cbr%3EVeronika%20Kudermetova%3Cbr%3ECaroline%20Garcia%20(France)%3Cbr%3EMagda%20Linette%20(Poland)%3Cbr%3ESorana%20C%C3%AErstea%20(Romania)%3Cbr%3EAnastasia%20Potapova%3Cbr%3EAnhelina%20Kalinina%20(Ukraine)%3Cbr%3EJasmine%20Paolini%20(Italy)%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Navarro%20(USA)%3Cbr%3ELesia%20Tsurenko%20(Ukraine)%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Raducanu%20(Great%20Britain)%20%E2%80%93%20wildcard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A