Gallo center has problem with Bennett tickets; concert over-sold | Modesto Bee

The Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto oversold Tony Bennett's Sept. 29 performance by about a dozen orders, Executive Director Dave Pier said Friday.

Each order, which may include several tickets, will be refunded and the buyer will be allowed to attend any other event during the grand opening festivities or later in the season at no charge, Pier said.

Also, some people who ordered tickets were told there were no more at the price they wanted and that they would have to pay for higher-priced seats. Others learned they couldn't sit together.

The problems came to light this week when seat assignments finally were made for the show. When the tickets went on sale in August, customers were allowed only to place orders, not to pick up tickets.

Pier said the mistakes occurred because the box office staff wasn't prepared for the huge interest in the show.

"It was the overwhelming response to Tony Bennett combined with that we weren't on our computer system," he said.

Pier added that the several hundred people on the waiting list definitely will not get tickets.

Bennett tickets cost $50 to $200 and sold out within days after they went on sale in August. The show will be in the 1,252-seat Mary Stuart Rogers Theater.