The drama surrounding Eurovision 2019 doesn’t seem to end.
With less than six days until the first semi final, Israel Hayom has earlier today published that the Israeli police has ordered the producers to downscale the size of the golden circle at the Expo Arena. The reason for that according to Israel Hayom is to strengthen security measures.
As a result, Broadcaster KAN issued the following notice:
“Due to changes at the security plan of the Eurovision song contest shows, we were ordered by the Israeli Police to reduce the number of purchased tickets at the golden ring. This means that a few viewers will be transferred to the standing area which is adjacent to the stage from its other side.”
To remedy the situation, KAN made an interesting offer. The first 30 buyers who offer to waive their tickets will be entitled to two free tickets to the jury final and too one of the semi finals. In addition, they will also receive the whole official merchandise package of Eurovision 2019.
Green room tickets to be cancelled?
In the meantime, Ha’aretz newspaper is reporting that due to low sales, the green room tickets for both semi finals will be cancelled and their buyers will be reimbursed. This does not include the grand final, to which green room tickets are still available.
The newspaper claims that only 5,000 tourists will arrive in Israel for the Eurovision– a very modest number compared to previous years. This interpretation may suggest fewer tourists has meant lower ticket sales, resulting in cancellation of the green room tickets.
The Le’an official ticketing company currently only has one option available at their website regarding green room tickets and it is only linked to the grand final. The withdrawal of green room tickets for semi-finals could suggest they are about to be cancelled.
What do you think about the low sales? Will you still be attending Eurovision this year? Do you think green room tickets will be cancelled? Let us know in the comments’ section below.
this is a debacle….there’s barely any seats and they can’t even sell them…and they are expecting 5,000 tourists for this? that seems soooo small…how many did Lisbon get…hopefully everyone is finally happy that they are getting LEDs this year along with fewer seats, fewer fans on the ground, higher prices…this has nothing to do with people thinking they are in danger…Israel is probably one of the safest countries in Europe given that there’s military everywhere…this was just a poorly organized contest not thinking about the fans…it seems like yesterday they couldn’t even get the last 2 delegations what the changes… Read more »
I planned to go, but it has become so ridiculouly expensive that I decided to wait for Amsterdam or Rotterdam 2020, go go Duncan!
This isn’t surprising. People’s lives are in danger there. I wouldn’t have gone even if it was free.
Danger??? Ask all the participants what they think about Tel Aviv, and how safe it is. For fact, Tel Aviv is more safe than any other European city.
I got a ticket from the golden circle and ill fly to tel Aviv just for the grand final. I really dont want this to ruin my travel. I spent a lot just wanna see the grand final with the best position. Tho i didnt receive the offer now (that is useless for me).
just hope there wont be more dramas.
I mean, aside of the reduced green room tickets, I don’t want any contestans to get slaughtered/killed on stage or being attacked with protest posters in front of their cameras. At its best this is another security measures they have to add regarding Israel’s bunch of enemies.
High ticket prices were the main reason why I didn’t bother this year.I have been in the audience 10 times and been there every year since 2011. I will really miss being there.Oh well next year I’ll see you all in Amsterdam!
5000 tourists? Tell me this is a joke. I supposed there would be less people but this is really bad. Maybe it’s for the better, if I believe the media it’s not that safe in Tel Aviv recently…
The ticket prices in general were a disgrace i paid 240 pounds plus for the jury final which is just a rehearsal tbh (not live on tv)
I think next year whichever country hosts there should be a cap on prices enforced by the EBU especially with the rehearsals.
If i had known the prices of the tickets prior to booking my hotel and flights I definitely would have boycotted this year without dout.
Is this FYRE FESTIVAL in the making???? Cringe.
NO.
This is OUTRAGEOUS!!! I´ve sent several emails to Leaan in order to ask for a refund as I have canceled my tickets and they just don´t answer! Such a huge mess with this ( lack of) organization!
Message them on facebook messenger
I have messaged them on messenger, but they replied very short messages after hours. It would be better to call them maybe…
I did…they told me to send an email…which already did 3x. I tried to call them several times since Monday, each time half an hour waiting for someone to pick it up and then the phone
goes down. This is getting really disrespectful .
and have you tried to send e-mail EBU or KAN? Just to try… They have always replied me on my e-mails… I don’t know how to help you …
Thank you Martin…Already tried EBU…My bank is taking action now.
I hope your issue will be solved in the right way.
Hello I am from Slovakia I will come to Tel Aviv next week, I have tickets for Green Room for Grand Final, I do not want them to be cancelled. I really want to attend Eurovision this year.
They are not cancelling green rooms tickets for the final, only for the semis 🙂
Thank you ! I really hope so…
Green room tickets for the semifinals were already canceled beginning of this week. I wanted to go to green room for semi1 to get also this experience, free beverage+food and give aways. On Monday I was called by laan and was informed that the tickets will be canceled and offered me tickets for the main hall in 1250 shekel category
What a debacle!!! 😀 So much for ‘this year is going to be so much better than last year’!…
How exactly does ticket sales have anything to do with the quality of Eurovision?
What a question…. But if you really want an answer: It is an integral part and an important part of the shoe and organization, as you can see from the reactions. And besides the production has made lots of problems to some acts, which is even worse.
that’s a disgrace about reducing the number of Golden Circle tickets. I go to Eurovision by myself every year, I always try to get Golden Circle tickets too. I paid €1200 for tickets to each of the live shows. If I end up in a standing area with people who paid a lot less than me, I’ll be seriously pissed off. I think I’d have every right to be too.
I would rather not get blown up than have a few extra Golden Circle tickets, but you do you.
Well, I’m hoping to enjoy the show with the tickets which I paid for and I was hoping that any security issues would have been resolved by now. Surely, they should have had this sorted months ago.
What’s the issue? You can stay in the Golden Circle if you want to, and someone else who takes the very attractive package they’re offering instead can have standing room. No one’s forcing you to give up anything.
They are following the orders of Israeli police. I don’t think they can be criticised for that.
There is no way people are going to get blown up. Israelis are extremely serious and good about security. It’s a 24/7, default issue for them. Unfortunately.
I don’t think they worry so much about someone being blown up, but that there will be people in the Golden Circle trying to disturb the broadcast. I am quite sure that some of the people there, will be Israeli security personnel, dressed up as party goers.
Let’s see how obvious they are…
They’re offering compensation for those who are willing to move from the golden tickets, and not forcing anyone to do so.
Let’s see what’s going to happen
#chesaràsarà
Dare to Mess
I would like to point out that I had questioned the viability of green room ticket sales in a comment on a previous post here. So in case someone did indeed read that feedback and acted on it: thank you. 🙂
Hopefully the contest will proceed nicely next week, and everyone will be talking about the fantastic music and show.
Bring it on!
I hope that too, but I also worry that haters will be haters.
It was a reasonable worry, considering the security breaches in both 2017 and 2018 – green room tickets were like they had not learned any lesson, and inviting trouble – especially in such a controversial year.
I, like many other people, cancelled plans to travel to Tel Aviv as soon as the ticket prices were announced. Whoever is responsible for the pricing decisions is completely incompetent. Israel could have have hosted a great contest and any money lost by reducing the ticket prices from the start to affordable levels (especially for the rehearsals where the prices were obscene) would have been easily recouped by the taxes and income from the tens of thousands who would have visited. Both Semi final live shows are still nowhere near sold out and the rehearsal shows will be even emptier… Read more »
100%.
The EBU really needs to rethink the way they run Eurovision. The fans make the event what it is (otherwise do it in a closed set) and yes its made for television but the fans make it enjoyable to watch on TV also. 1st easy step – centralise the ticketing agency or create your own (same every year). 2nd step – ensure fair and reasonable pricing based on the city its held in – do not rip off your fan base. 3rd step – support the fans that support you – you have guaranteed ticket sales through the fan clubs,… Read more »
Very good suggestions John. Hopefully they will reach the right people.
It’s not an EBU responsability but KAN’s. So the incompetence is on Israel
Thank you boycott israel! #SODADREAMMMM
#shalom, #boycottwontwork
Everyone would love to attend the shows but the prices are ridiculously high, 300 euro for semifinal? seriously? there’s no variety (low and high prices) just high prices.
Israel doesn’t need Eurovision for tourism but they desperately need a good image 🙂
Very good points Una.
Give me a break. This drama happens EVERY year. Venue asks to change number of seats, few tourists, etc. We at the press center seriously couldnt dream of a better host- espacially after Lisbon and Ukraine. Israel haters won’t ever change their mind- but at least get the facts right. Happy Eurovision Month!
Portugal was a great host, so was Sweden and Denmark. They didn’;t change seats, this is a big mess and needs to be told as it is. Cancelling tickets in golden circle?? cancelling all the green room tickets for SFs?? one week before the shows and semifinals are half empty. it’s not about hating on Israel but calling out the bad organisation.
I am sure Israel is doing a great job hosting parties and events in the city, this is probably a fact. But the rest… I am sure the show will be amazing though.
What do you expect KAN to do? Do they need to fix the whole middle east crisis and magically make all the safety precausions go away? Because that’s what matters the most in the end: that certain types of people won’t be able to do the contestants any harm and off course safety is one of their top priorities. It’s not the fault of their “bad organisation” that people want to do stupid protest actions during the live shows.
@Frisian esc: Bravo for posting one of my favourite comments this season, as you wrote: “What do you expect KAN to do? Do they need to fix the whole middle east crisis and magically make all the safety precautions go away?“ Brilliant. 🙂
Having said that, if it were SBS Australia, they probably would try to fix the Middle East crisis! 😀
I don’t know what you meant with that last part but thanks I guess 🙂
I would expect KAN to have consulted with the local authorities when the arena designs were first submitted months ago to determine safe numbers in any part of the arena. There is no excuse for changes at this late stage other than utter incompetence, poor planning and bad management of the project
Agree – Tel aviv seems to have done an amazing job in preparing for the visitors that will never arrive due to the terrible decisions made regarding the venue and tickets.
What’s the tea about Lisbon and Ukraine? Please spill! And Happy Eurovision Month to you too!
The press center in Lisbon was so much more better. You have to put aside your hate of Portugal as face it that the organization was much better than this year’s debacle
Omg how i wish Cyprus had won last year! This is a big mess. The city is very expensive for fans and all the accommodation options were booked. Plus, landlords were increasing prices intentionally so don’t blame it on modest number of fans visiting Israel. Where are the locals purchasing tickets? In every contest, it’s mostly the locals attending the shows, not tourists. They should blame it on themselves for hosting the show in a tiny venue and as a result selling expensive tickets that no one can afford. Now that they cancelled the green room tickets, who’s gonna attend… Read more »
Right, because Sweden is cheap. I bet you good money there were no complaints if Sweden hosted the contest with the same exact policies.
the 2016 competition was more than affordable for the majority of people, and Stockholm has plenty of affordable options in terms of airbnb/hostels/etc (trust me, I went). Then they even added the Eurovision Party for the final, which opened up another 10/20,000 tickets for the eurovision fans in town to party together. That’s a host country doing its duty for fans.
Just to remind you that Israel had offered Jerusalem as host. The venue there is twice the size of the expo. This offer was rejected by the EBU due to political concerns. What was KAN supposed to do under such circumstances? Israel is the smallest country to have hosted the contest in the 21st century (and the second smallest after Luxembourg in the history of the contest). It’s also a very hot country. As such it only has one big arena – the Pais in Jerusalem. You’re basically blaming the messenger.
How not to host Eurovision
lets talk on may 19th..
What a mess :S
We all expected that this year we will have a mediocre eurovision….Remember the previous eurovision competitions that have taken place in Israel they ALL sucked…(and not to mention the political and general situation which is always bad there)….I hope EBU will learn their lesson and never ever let Israel win again….
in order to ensure a country doesn’t win, they first have to be stopped from entering. Is this your suggestion GrecoFan? That Israel should be prevented from entering the contest?
Sounds like another ELLLEEENNNII SHOOUUDLLL HAVVEE WOOOONNN fan.. eyeroll
Oh really? I didn’t expect a mediocre Eurovision and I am sure it won’t be mediocre. I have my doubts about how the “winner wins”, every single year it looks like it’s the “right” winner.
Maybe eurovision 1999 is debateable, but eurovision 1979 is one of the most beloved and remembered of all times. And to be honest, I highly doubt you watched it, you just write your bs.