UPDATEDx4: Prince concert relocated; organizers mum on artist’s pay-out

The event -- called "theEvent" -- has been moved to the Hotel InterContinental.

"One mill-i-on dollars."

DALLAS — The Prince concert on February 4 has moved. It's no longer at the site formerly known as Reunion Arena; it's now at the Hotel InterContinental in Dallas, which just underwent a renovation. Organizers say the location will be better for production and sound, plus it might alleviate traffic concerns.

“I couldn't be more ecstatic to have four walls and built-in bathrooms,” said Sabrina Dee, principal for Black Book Ink and ~~one of the event organizers~~ publicist. (UPDATE: A source says Dee is not organizing the event.)

Amen.

We're considering the event to be one of the most exciting of the many Super Bowl events happening in DFW this weekend. It's also one of the priciest: A general admission ticket goes for $1,500. A VIP “nest” for six goes for $12,000 (that's $2,000 per person); and a 10-person table goes for $25,000 (or $2,500 per person). Termed “theEvent,” it benefits The Goss-Michael Foundation.

So how many of those pricey tickets have sold? Dee didn't give an official number, but said the VIP tables are “almost completely sold out.”

We'd also been hearing murmurings that Prince's pay-out was as much as $1 million. While Dee wouldn't confirm that, she did say that Prince is making three times more than he does for a standard event. A standard event for Prince, according to Glenn Richardson, president of Celebrity Talent International, is probably $500,000 on the low end, he guesses. UPDATE: A source close to the event says we were told incorrectly during a Monday morning interview; they believe Prince would make three times more at another event, not this one. Because no one will give dollar figures, we cannot confirm.

UPDATE x4: WFAA reported on Wednesday that Prince wanted a $1.5 million payout. That means the information I broke above is true, it seems. Read more here.

Whether or not the $1 million price tag is accurate, the word “expensive” is.

This event is over
See upcoming events for Super Bowl XLV »

Prince / Erykah Badu

Fri
Feb
4^th
8^PM

Hotel InterContinental
15201 Dallas Parkway
Addison, TX
$1500 - $25000

“Prince is coming from across the world with a ton of gear. That's really really expensive,” Dee said.

Erykah Badu will perform a full set with her 10-piece band before Prince performs. There will also be a live auction, silent auction, open bar, and food served by Hotel Intercontinental.

UPDATE x2: The event was canceled but is now back on. Tickets are half price.

UPDATE x 3: After more than 100 people showed up to the event on Friday night, Prince didn't show and event organizer Chris Arnold had to tell people in person that it was canceled. We investigate what he and his company, River Alexander Group, had to do with the flopped event.

destroy418, anonymous:

If you can't confirm Prince's payout, why even speculate and make it the focus of the story? Nobody expects him to appear for cheap, and he deserves whatever he's paid. Instead of "murmurings" and "guesses", perhaps a better and more positive angle would be the fact that many local students and art enthusiasts will benefit from the overall proceeds of the event.