Nightglow at Balloons over Waikato sells out
The sold out sign has gone up for the Balloons over Waikato’s popular Zuru Nightglow event.
The free tickets went live on Ticketek at 9am on Monday and by around 9.20am the 30,000 tickets had all been allocated, Balloons over Waikato general manager Michele Connell said.
The event’s Facebook post compared the super fast allocation to Taylor Swift Australian tour tickets.
“Wow, that was Taylor Swift fast!
“All Zuru Nightglow tickets are now allocated!” Connell said tickets went fast last year, too. It just shows how many people love the event and want to come. So based on last year probably not surprising. I did think with the extra tickets it may have taken a bit longer.”
People who missed out were quick to vent their frustration on social media. They’ve also questioned the allowed allocation of 10 tickets per person.
Connell said it’s a family event, it’s not a couples event or a corporate event.
“There is a lot of people with larger families, they want to take grandparents, cousins, that is our demographic so we want it accessible for family and friends to come.”
Connell said Ticketek has created a waitlist, so if people have missed out then they shouldn’t despair.
“It happened last year that people’s plans change, so we have this ability to return the tickets if you don’t think you are going to be going and they will be released back into the pool, they will be made available to those on this list.”
People can join the waitlist here.
She also warned people shouldn’t pay for tickets as the tickets are free.
Connell said they won’t be increasing the attendance from 30,000 as that is a safe amount of people they can accommodate, having increased it by 5000 from last year. The Balloons over Waikato grand finale is being held at Claudelands Oval on March 23, which will see the gates open from 4pm. People will have the chance to walk inside a hot air balloon for a gold coin donation for charity True Colours.
There will also be a variety of carnival rides and a selection of food vendors. From 5pm the main stage entertainment gets underway with a number of bands.