The school year is ending, but that doesn't mean there's nothing left to do. In fact, two of the biggest concerts of the semester are happening at the end of finals week.
Classic rock demigod Bruce Springsteen is bringing the E Street Band to the Bryce Jordan Center (BJC) at 7:30 p.m. May 8. Country music star Keith Urban plays at 7:30 p.m. May 9. Urban will be joined by opening act Sugarland.
The Springsteen concert sold out shortly after the tickets went on sale in early February. Urban tickets are still available for $81, with about 1,000 tickets left, said Bernie Punt, director of sales and marketing for the BJC. As of Tuesday, there were less than 50 tickets available that have been discounted to $10 for University Park students, Punt said, adding these tickets are only available at the Bryce Jordan Ticket Center and are very limited.
Punt said the discounted ticket price was enacted late because the University Park Allocation Committee came to BJC officials with the ability for the discount.
Punt said he was surprised by the large amount of students who turned up to purchase tickets, adding he saw "three generations" of people waiting in line.
Keith Urban came to the BJC April of last year. Returning now after performing so recently is highly unusual, Punt said.
Considering the speed at which tickets for the Springsteen concert sold out, fan Mark O'Reilly (freshman-music) said he was lucky to get tickets for the show.
"I have no idea how, because I heard they sold out pretty quickly," O'Reilly said. "But by the grace of God, my brother somehow got me a ticket."
O'Reilly said despite his age, his love for Springsteen's music extends far back.
"Every single member of my family is tirelessly devoted to the works of Bruce," O'Reilly said. "I've listened to all of his music ever since I was a little kid."
Nick DeAngelis (sophomore-biochemistry and molecular biology) said he's a fan of both Springsteen and Urban, though he's more excited for The Boss.
"I only really like Keith's more upbeat songs," DeAngelis said. "For me, songs like 'Romeo's Tune' and 'You're My Better Half' are good to listen to all summer long. But The Boss is one of my absolute favorites, and 'Thunder Road' is probably my favorite song in the world - outstanding lyrics and great melody."
Both O'Reilly and DeAngelis said the booking of two major artists at the end of the semester is significant for the Penn State music scene.
"The fact that they are coming to the BJC is awesome," DeAngelis said. "Both are really big-name guys with large audiences."
In fact, getting two big acts so close together is making Punt a little nervous for fear they would "saturate the market."
DeAngelis added the placement of the shows at the end of finals week could make it tough for students still taking finals or planning to return home.
"It'd be much cooler to have these events during the school year rather than as it is ending," he said.
However, O'Reilly sees the concerts' scheduling as a benefit rather than a drawback because he can use the show as a time to unwind after a long school year.
"I couldn't think of a better way to end my semester and begin the summer," O'Reilly said.
The BJC will also have a "very special concert announcement" for the fall during Urban's show, Punt said -- an added treat for those staying for the Urban concert.
Venues Chief Alexa Santoro contributed to this article.
