Rapid recovery and unprecedented sales of live music tickets after pandemic shuts down venues
Ticket sales are strong, boosted by big stadium tours by artists like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé, and live acts continue this year after the pandemic shuttered concert venues around the world for nearly two years. It looks like there will be a big crowd. Concert and event producer Live Nation confirmed this week that more than a year of data shows. With the effects of the coronavirus largely in the rearview mirror, millions of people are looking for entertainment away from home, and are willing to spend big bucks to do so. Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, said in a regulatory filing this week that 2023 saw record attendance and ticket sales.
Chiefs' Rice takes 'full responsibility' for his role in Dallas sports car crash that injured four people
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Lachie Rice says he takes “full responsibility” for his role in a crash involving a speeding sports car in Dallas. A chain reaction crash on a Dallas freeway on Saturday ultimately involved six vehicles and left four people with minor injuries. Rice, who was leasing a Lamborghini, was speeding with the Corvette on the North Central Expressway when the crash occurred, police said. Police have not said whether Rice was driving or provided any information about other people involved. The vehicle's occupants left the scene without providing any information or checking to see if anyone needed medical attention.
Playwright Christopher Duran, who won a Tony Award for “Vanya, Sonja, Masha, and Spike,'' has died at the age of 75.
NEW YORK (AP) — Tony Award-winning playwright Christopher Duran has died. He passed away at the age of 75. He died Tuesday at his home in Pipersville, Pennsylvania, of complications from a rare form of Alzheimer's disease, his representative said. The master of satire and black comedy won a Tony Award for Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for Miss Witherspoon. Durand's plays were infused with a smart, high-octane sense of absurdity. His comedy credits include “Sister Mary Ignatius Explains Everything for You,” “Baby with the Bathwater” and “The Marriage of Bette and Boo.”
9th largest $1.09 billion Powerball jackpot in U.S. history approaches
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The ninth-largest Powerball jackpot in U.S. lottery history, estimated at $1.09 billion, is at stake. The Powerball jackpot has increased for more than three months, reflecting his long odds of winning the top prize of 1 in 292.2 million. Since the last player won the jackpot on January 1st, there have been 39 consecutive drawings without anyone matching all six numbers and winning the big prize. The total prize pool of $1.09 billion at stake on Wednesday night will go to the only winner who chooses to be paid in 30 annual annuities. Winners almost always prefer the cash option, with an estimated $527.3 million in Wednesday's drawing.
LSU star Angel Reese declares WNBA draft pick in Vogue photoshoot, says, “I didn't want to be basic.''
Bayou Barbie is in the WNBA. LSU star Angel Reese officially made her selection for the WNBA draft less than two days after the Tigers' season ended with a loss to Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the Elite 8 round of the Women's NCAA Tournament. declared. She announced Reese through a Vogue photoshoot and said she was inspired by tennis great Serena Williams, who will retire in a similar fashion in 2022. Reese acknowledged that she made the decision to turn pro before March Madness even started. She says: “She didn't want anything to be basic,” she added.
On the resale market, women's Final Four tickets sell for an average of $2,300, twice as much as men's tickets.
This week, the average price paid for tickets on the resale market was twice as much for the NCAA women's Final Four as it was for the men's semifinals. This is clear according to technology company Logistics, which analyzes prices across multiple platforms. The average price of tickets sold leading up to the women's semifinals was $2,323. The average selling price for men's games was $1,001.21. Fanfare for Iowa State star Caitlin Clark has increased demand for women's tickets. The Hawkeyes have played in front of a sold-out house in all but two games this season.
Cruise ship carrying 1,500 passengers stranded in Spanish port due to visa issue with Bolivian passengers
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) – A cruise ship reportedly carrying 1,500 passengers is stranded due to visa issues for a group of Bolivian passengers who were scheduled to disembark at the port of Barcelona, Spain. Authorities said 69 Bolivians were not allowed to disembark because they lacked valid documents to enter Europe's borderless Schengen area. Spanish government officials said Wednesday they were in contact with Bolivian authorities and the cruise line to try to resolve the situation. The ship set sail from Brazil to cover the Mediterranean sea route. Spanish media reports said around 1,500 passengers wanted to continue the cruise to Croatia.
Man who used megaphone to lead attack on police during Capitol riot sentenced to more than seven years in prison
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Washington man who used a megaphone to orchestrate a mob attack on police officers guarding the Capitol has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth said Wednesday that Taylor James Jonatakis was captured on video in a leadership role during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack. The judge sentenced him to seven years and three months in prison. Jonatakis had his attorney on hand to represent him. He has repeatedly made statements that appear to be inspired by the anti-government “Sovereign People'' movement.
Korean bids emotional farewell to beloved panda as he leaves for China
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – Crowds of people gathered at an amusement park in South Korea to bid farewell to a giant panda that was leaving for China, some crying. Hubao was born at the Everland theme park near Seoul in 2020 between two pandas brought over from China on a lease program, and has since become a major attraction at the theme park. On Wednesday, many South Korean panda fans braved the rain to attend Fu Bao's farewell ceremony at Everland Park. Hubao was scheduled to be airlifted to China the same day.
Kansas City Chiefs' Laci Rice leases Lamborghini and was involved in Dallas crash, company attorney says
DALLAS (AP) — Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Lachie Rice was in one of two speeding sports cars that police say caused a chain-reaction crash on a busy Dallas freeway over the weekend. The lawyer revealed that it had been leased to the company. An attorney for the Dallas-based rental car company said Rice was leasing the Lamborghini sport utility vehicle involved in Saturday's accident. Police said the drivers of the Corvette and Lamborghini were speeding and lost control on the North Central Expressway. Police said the occupants of the Lamborghini and Corvette left without determining whether anyone needed medical attention or providing any information. Police said Tuesday they were still working to identify the suspect. Police have not said whether Rice is among the people being sought.
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