OKLAHOMA CITY -- One of the most popular people on TV is coming to Oklahoma City, but Hannah Montana's December concert has thus far been a sore spot for some parents.
Many parents have e-mailed KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City, asking why they cannot get tickets, why ticket brokers are the only ones with tickets and why they are charging into the thousands of dollars for tickets.
However, the general manager of the Ford Center, where the Dec. 2 concert will take place, said the situation is the result of capitalism -- at its best or worst, depending on perspective.
That doesn't do much to cheer up 7-year-old Willow Spivey. She won't get to see her favorite performer when she comes to Oklahoma City.
"I'm saving the change," she said.
However, there is nowhere near enough money in Willow's bank account for even a nosebleed seat.
"I thought surely there would be some tickets online, and I never thought they would cost $140 to $3,000," said Tami Spivey, Willow's mother.
That's the going rate for tickets, some of which have face values of less than $60.
Brokers with oklahomatickets.com said the demand for Hannah Montana is truly unique. Montana, who is actually Miley Cyrus, daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, is a hit character on the Disney Channel. Miley Cyrus will perform one set as herself and another as her alter-ego on the tour.
Because of the popularity of everything Hannah Montana these days, they said, the price the company has to pay to get tickets doesn't leave much room for marking them up.
They said they work at a minimal profit.
"I'm going to be very sad if I don't go," Willow said.
Experts said there are several factors that make it difficult to get tickets at face value. Because of the Internet, hot tickets can be sold by the thousands in literally an instant.
Concert officials said there were less than 12,000 seats available for this show, and there were 300 people in line waiting for the box office to open the first day of the sale.
Authorities said selling tickets for more than face value is illegal in Oklahoma City but not in the rest of the state. People who have tickets can do what they please with them outside of the Oklahoma City limits.
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