Broadway Ticket Sales Soar; Record Concert Demand Predicted For 2005

Broadway Ticket Sales Soar; Record Concert Demand Predicted For 2005 News from the TicketsNow Entertainment Index CHICAGO, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The results are in: event tickets were top holiday gifts this December, according to the TicketsNow Entertainment Index. The world's largest and most secure online marketplace for secondary event tickets, TicketsNow.com witnessed a 105 percent leap in sales compared to December 2003. Leading the trend were Broadway sensations The Lion King and Wicked followed closely by a surprising demand to sit courtside with the beleaguered Los Angeles Lakers. "The enthusiasm and dedication of entertainment fans continue to impress us," said Mike Domek, president of TicketsNow. "Looking ahead in 2005, we expect even greater success with premier events such as the highly anticipated U2 world tour in support of 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb' as well as the inexhaustible Cher, who has extended her farewell tour and will continue to attract audiences wherever she plays." From Disney to Motley Crue, December's top sellers were varied and in large part due to the continual appeal of all things nostalgic. Following are the category leaders: The Lion, The Witch, and The Lakers: Top December Events Overall 1. The Lion King 2. Wicked 3. Los Angeles Lakers 4. Josh Groban 5. Boston Red Sox 6. Miami Heat 7. Elton John 8. Radio City Christmas Spectacular 9. THQ Supercross 10. Cleveland Cavaliers Shaq, Who?: Top December Sports Ticket Sales 1. Los Angeles Lakers 2. Boston Red Sox 3. Miami Heat 4. Cleveland Cavaliers 5. THQ Supercross A Motley Crue Indeed: Top December Concert Ticket Sales 1. Josh Groban 2. Elton John 3. The Eagles 4. Motley Crue 5. George Strait Family Friendly: Top December Theater Ticket Sales 1. The Lion King 2. Wicked 3. Radio City Christmas Spectacular 4. 700 Sundays 5. Disney on Ice About The TicketsNow Entertainment Index The TicketsNow Entertainment Index tracks proprietary secondary ticket sales on a monthly basis to provide a snapshot of entertainment trends for sports, concerts, and theater events nationwide. About TicketsNow.com Established in 1999, TicketsNow.com is the world's largest and most secure marketplace for premium event seating and tickets. More than 90% of all professional ticket agencies that list, buy, and sell secondary event tickets online license and utilize software developed by TicketsNow -- creating the most comprehensive database of secondary event tickets in the world. Named to the Inc. 500 index of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S., TicketsNow is the Official Premium Ticket Partner of USA TODAY and CBS SportsLine.com, a member of the Better Business Bureau, and a founding member of the NATB, which was organized to promote the highest level of ethics in the secondary ticketing marketplace. For more information, visit http://www.ticketsnow.com/ . Contact: Christine Weil Zeno Group for TicketsNow.com 312.396.9778 christine.weil@ZenoGroup.com Jennifer Swanson TicketsNow.com 815.444.4923 jswanson@TicketsNow.com Source: TicketsNow.com CONTACT: Christine Weil of Zeno Group for TicketsNow.com, +1-312-396-9778, christine.weil@ZenoGroup.com , or Jennifer Swanson of TicketsNow.com, +1-815-444-4923, jswanson@TicketsNow.com Web site: http://www.ticketsnow.com/ ------- Profile: International Entertainment