Only an estimated 1,000 tickets have been sold for tonight's concert with The Strokes.
Dropping the prices on tickets from $29.50 to $15 on Friday only sold about 200 tickets.
Per student request, Emens Auditorium brought in a rock group, and fewer than half of the available tickets have been sold. This endangers the future of rock concerts at Ball State University.
Low ticket sales cannot be blamed on a lack of advertising. Emens used traditional methods of advertising, as well as Facebook advertisements and passing out flyers at the Scramble light.
This isn't the first time a non-country artist or group hasn't sold well. Matchbox 20, Ben Harper, Tori Amos and the Muse have all played on campus and none of them sold well, according to Bob Meyers, director of Emens Auditorium.
This is the heart of the Midwest where country music reigns with area residents. During their respective visits, Gretchen Wilson sold 2,300 tickets and Keith Urban sold out. Emens has learned how well country music resonates not only with students, but Muncie residents as well. The shows make money, if not at least break even.
The lack of rock fans outside the Ball State community places that much more pressure on students to make rock shows a financial success.
If rock is what's important to students, they need to support rock artists who come to Emens with their attendance and their wallets.
Maybe The Strokes aren't the most popular group, but if students do not attend these non-country shows, the future of concerts at Ball State will be anything but rock solid.
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