Forsyth Barr Stadium, November 18, 2015

[michelej1]

[yeah, no! Babies do not get in for free]

Ticketmaster told parents they'd need to pay extra $200 to take baby to Fleetwood Mac concert

5:00 AM Wednesday Nov 11, 2015 New Zealand Herald, by Chris Morris

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainm...ectid=11543219

Fleetwood Mac may have just won their youngest fan. Four-month-old Noah and his parents will be taking in the band's sell-out show next week from the comfort of a corporate box at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

It was a big change from earlier yesterday, when Noah's mother, Katie Cleaver, feared she and her son would have to miss out completely.

Mrs Cleaver and husband Nigel, of Invercargill, had already paid $400 for two tickets to see one of her favourite bands.

But she contacted the Otago Daily Times yesterday morning after being told she would have to pay an extra $200 for a third ticket if she wanted Noah to sit on her lap during the concert.

She had assumed her baby could come in for free, but was told by Ticketmaster everyone attending the show - even babies who didn't need a seat - still needed a ticket. "I was like 'wow'. He's 4 months old. He can't even sit. It's just absurd that a 4-month-old baby should have to pay $200 for a ticket to a concert they don't benefit from," she said.

Mrs Cleaver said Noah would not bother anyone, and wouldn't watch the show, but she wanted to be able to breastfeed him.

It was increasingly common for parents to take babies and young children to concerts and major sporting events, using earmuffs to protect their hearing, she said.

Air New Zealand and other carriers also allowed children under 2 to fly for free, while sitting on their parents' laps, she said. She had done both with older son Finn, 5, in the past, including attending a Taylor Swift concert at Auckland's Vector Arena, and she said the approach in Dunedin seemed "archaic".

"A baby really is an extension of the mother at this age." She said it was really important society didn't impinge on the rights of a baby and a mother to breastfeed.

Dunedin Venues Management chief executive Terry Davies declined to comment, while the firm's marketing and communications manager, Kim Barnes, would say only that the policy was set by the band's promoter, Live Nation.

"It's their show. We abide by their conditions," she said.

Live Nation relented yesterday and offered both parents, and Noah, a spot in a corporate box.

The company's "blanket policy" was everyone should have a ticket, and parents were "generally" discouraged from bringing infants to noisy concerts, said Live Nation vice-president of promotions Luke Hede.

But if the couple still wanted to attend, and had appropriate hearing protection for their baby, they would be welcome, he said.

"We would actually be happy to welcome them into a heated corporate area behind glass if they think they'd be more comfortable there."

Mrs Cleaver said the company's response was "so awesome".

"I'm really stoked. Fleetwood Mac is one of my all-time favourite bands and I really didn't want to miss out."