Feel Like a Rock Star with VIP Seating at the PNC Bank Arts Center

Anyone who buys tickets for a concert knows that one of the first and most important questions tends to be “Where are you sitting?” The quest for good seats is what propels concert fans to stand in line – or to log onto the internet and wait online – for the best tickets available the moment box office sales begin. 

What if concert tickets – just like season tickets for sporting events such as football or hockey, for instance – were available on a subscription or package basis? Gone are the headaches of racing for tickets for each show, waiting on line, searching for seat locations…and sometimes, being disappointed with availability or even missing out entirely. With the Live Nation Premium Seating plans offered at the PNC Bank Arts Center, at Exit 116 of the Garden State Parkway in Holmdel, NJ, patrons can go right to the head of the line, so to speak, with a streamlined and stress-free ticket-buying process and feel like a rock star at each and every show they choose. 

A terrific option for both individuals and businesses or groups alike, the Premium Seating program allows purchasers to select and lock in their seats for the number of shows of their choice. Packages are available at different price points, depending on the quantity of shows included. And, when you break down the cost on a per-ticket basis and add in the value of the package add-ons that are included – not to mention the invaluable convenience – going with a subscription package is truly a deal, and only gets better the more shows you select. There’s also no requirement to choose your specific dates at the outset, just the number of dates. Late-breaking news of a show you’d be dying to see? Make the call and make that one of your shows of choice, to be included in your plan.

For businesses, explains David Beck, director of sales, the Premium Seating program is ideal, offering an outstanding opportunity to hang out with employees and colleagues, entertain clients, or network, saying, “It’s great for business owners. Employees love it, and so do clients. We’ve got every kind of show, from kids to rock to ‘80s to country and more.” Fellow director of sales Victor DeMarco agrees, stating, “We offer the full spectrum that spans generations.” With the variety of genres offered throughout the season, there is sure to be something that will appeal to every musical taste – your own, or someone you know. As Brian Brucker, senior director of sales, points out, “Even if you don’t like a particular kind of music, you know someone who does. There is never a question of being able to use all of them.” Invite family members and friends, give tickets as gifts, or perhaps plan some special summertime celebrations. The possibilities are endless.

The bonuses that are included with a VIP package are impressive, and undeniably enhance the total experience of attending a performance. Premium seat amenities include:

•              Reserved seats in prime locations

•              Premium parking

•              Private VIP entrance

•              In-seat food and beverage service

•              Your company name displayed on your seats

•              Ability to order additional tickets

•              Personal service from the VIP staff

•              VIP Club access, featuring a private, covered seating area, cocktail wait service, flat screen televisions with live show feed, a premium full-service cash bar, light fare menu, and air-conditioned private restrooms

Many enhancements have been made over the course of 14 years that the program has been in place. This year, the venue will boast an improved setup at the VIP Club, with new furniture, additional restrooms, an enhanced food menu, new wait staff, and an upgraded sound system and televisions. VIP guests also enjoy special events such as pig roasts, face painting, and make-your-own-sundae celebrations. Brand new for 2013 will be a unique seating option, with “VIP suites” – similar to the private suites found in other arenas.

As we head into the first summer following the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, fans of the Jersey Shore will undoubtedly be seeking out entertainment venues and events that shine the spotlight on the best that summer has to offer. Here at the PNC Bank Arts Center, the nights will still be rockin’ and rollin’ in a jubilant celebration of the collective “Restore the Shore” spirit. More than just a concert venue, it is a destination not only for locals, but for visitors, tourists, and seasonal residents, as well. And situated directly off the Garden State Parkway in the heart of Monmouth County, the location can’t be beat.

The summer series of sensational shows begins this month, with country superstar Brad Paisley taking the stage on Thursday, May 16, with opening acts by Chris Young and Lee Brice. The lineup this year is, perhaps arguably, one of the best in years and continues into September. Special concert announcements are ongoing, but as this article went to press, additional shows that had already been announced included:

•              May 31                  Pitbull and Ke$ha

•              June 2                    Rascal Flatts with The Band Perry

•              June 6                    Dave Matthews Band with The Head & The Heart

•              June 21                  Toby Keith with Kip Moore

•              June 30                  Tim McGraw with Brantley Grant and Love and Theft

•              July 2                     Heart with Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience

•              July 7                     Vans Warped Tour

•              July 9                     311

•              July 10                   Phish

•              July 12                   Furthur

•              July 13                   Victoria Justice

•              July 19                   Zac Brown Band

•              July 20                   Barenaked Ladies with Ben Folds Five, Guster & Boothby Graffoe

•              July 23                   Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival

•              July 24                   Lil Wayne

•              July 25                   Jonas Brothers

•              July 27                   Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley with Kix Brooks

•              July 28                   Train with The Script & Gavin DeGraw

•              August 3                The Sounds of Summer Tour starring O.A.R.

•              August 9                The Black Crowes

•              August 10              Maroon 5 and Kelly Clarkson

•              August 16              Matchbox Twenty and The Goo Goo Dolls

•              August 21              John Mayer with Phillip Phillips

•              August 24              Luke Bryan with Thompson Square and Florida Georgia Line

•              September 5         Blake Shelton with Easton Corbin and Jana Kramer

The concert season may be starting soon, but it’s not too late to be part of the show! If you’d like a firsthand, close-up look for yourself or your business, there will be a VIP Open House at the PNC Bank Arts Center on Thursday, May 9. Premium seating packages are still available in great locations and the sooner you contact the VIP sales team, the better the selection – and the sooner you can start marking the calendar for nights of great musical entertainment, so don’t miss out! For availability and information, contact the PNC Bank Arts Center Premium Seat Sales Department at (732) 203-2500, ext. 3VIP or email to VIPQuestions@LiveNation.com. It’s worth noting that the VIP sales team at the PNC Bank Arts Center offer “one-stop shopping” for all Live Nation events; ask them for ticket plan info for other New Jersey venues, as well, such as the Izod Center, Prudential Center, and the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden.