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| Ticketmaster accepts blame for Obama inauguration blunder | Ticketmaster accepts blame for Obama inauguration blunder |
| (3 months later) | |
| The process for admitting the public into the re-inauguration of President Barack Obama has been thrown into confusion after the agency handling the sale released tickets a day early, angering hopefuls who missed out. | The process for admitting the public into the re-inauguration of President Barack Obama has been thrown into confusion after the agency handling the sale released tickets a day early, angering hopefuls who missed out. |
| Ticketmaster, on behalf of the organising committee, sent an email late on Sunday night to people who had signed up for updates on the inauguration ball, parade and other events, and declared the sale open. | Ticketmaster, on behalf of the organising committee, sent an email late on Sunday night to people who had signed up for updates on the inauguration ball, parade and other events, and declared the sale open. |
| Subscribers had previously been told that tickets would not go on sale until Monday morning, angering many who did not see the unexpected message that tickets had been released early. | Subscribers had previously been told that tickets would not go on sale until Monday morning, angering many who did not see the unexpected message that tickets had been released early. |
| The email on Sunday night, signed by David Cusack, the executive director of the inauguration committee, read: "We urge you to accept your tickets and complete your order via the ticketing website as soon as possible." It seems many took the advice and the inauguration events quickly sold out, leading to expressions of outrage online. | The email on Sunday night, signed by David Cusack, the executive director of the inauguration committee, read: "We urge you to accept your tickets and complete your order via the ticketing website as soon as possible." It seems many took the advice and the inauguration events quickly sold out, leading to expressions of outrage online. |
| After numerous complaints were posted to social networking websites on Sunday, Ticketmaster sent an email shortly after midnight saying that the invitation to purchase tickets had been sent "inadvertently". | After numerous complaints were posted to social networking websites on Sunday, Ticketmaster sent an email shortly after midnight saying that the invitation to purchase tickets had been sent "inadvertently". |
| The second email read: "During testing of our email system tonight, you may have inadvertently received an invitation to purchase tickets for 2013 inauguration events, including the Inaugural Ball or the Inaugural Parade. | The second email read: "During testing of our email system tonight, you may have inadvertently received an invitation to purchase tickets for 2013 inauguration events, including the Inaugural Ball or the Inaugural Parade. |
| "Public tickets to these events were originally scheduled to go on sale tomorrow morning – you received the email tonight in error, and Ticketmaster takes responsibility for this mistake. | "Public tickets to these events were originally scheduled to go on sale tomorrow morning – you received the email tonight in error, and Ticketmaster takes responsibility for this mistake. |
| "However, a significant number of public tickets were purchased this evening, despite the early email. Ticketmaster will be in touch with any additional information. | "However, a significant number of public tickets were purchased this evening, despite the early email. Ticketmaster will be in touch with any additional information. |
| "All public tickets are first-come, first-served, including those sold tonight. There is no guarantee that you will be able to purchase a ticket at any time. Thank you for your understanding." | "All public tickets are first-come, first-served, including those sold tonight. There is no guarantee that you will be able to purchase a ticket at any time. Thank you for your understanding." |
| The Guardian understands that ticket sales made on Sunday evening will be honoured, and that the sale will not be re-staged. Those logging in on Monday to attempt to buy tickets were met with a message stating that tickets were no longer available. | The Guardian understands that ticket sales made on Sunday evening will be honoured, and that the sale will not be re-staged. Those logging in on Monday to attempt to buy tickets were met with a message stating that tickets were no longer available. |
| In a statement on Monday, the inauguration committee appeared to acknowledge that the sale would not be re-staged. It said: "A significant number of public tickets to both the Inaugural Ball and the Inaugural Parade were purchased yesterday evening, despite the early email. This is consistent with the Presidential Inaugural Committee's announcement that a limited number of public tickets would be available on a first come, first-served basis." | In a statement on Monday, the inauguration committee appeared to acknowledge that the sale would not be re-staged. It said: "A significant number of public tickets to both the Inaugural Ball and the Inaugural Parade were purchased yesterday evening, despite the early email. This is consistent with the Presidential Inaugural Committee's announcement that a limited number of public tickets would be available on a first come, first-served basis." |
| About 2 million people gathered in Washington on Tuesday 20 January 2009 to see Obama sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. Given the historic nature of that occasion, a drop in numbers is anticipated for the president's re-inauguration on 21 January: Reuters reported that city officials are anticipating 800,000 attendees. | About 2 million people gathered in Washington on Tuesday 20 January 2009 to see Obama sworn in as the 44th president of the United States. Given the historic nature of that occasion, a drop in numbers is anticipated for the president's re-inauguration on 21 January: Reuters reported that city officials are anticipating 800,000 attendees. |
| Obama's second inauguration will feature two official balls, rather than the 10 that were held in 2009. One ball is for members of the public – the ball was one of the events that saw tickets released early – and the other is primarily for military families and veterans. | Obama's second inauguration will feature two official balls, rather than the 10 that were held in 2009. One ball is for members of the public – the ball was one of the events that saw tickets released early – and the other is primarily for military families and veterans. |
| The relatively modest celebration is said to be a deliberate decision by Obama and his team at a time when many Americans are struggling financially. The two official balls is the lowest number since Dwight Eisenhower's inauguration in 1953. | The relatively modest celebration is said to be a deliberate decision by Obama and his team at a time when many Americans are struggling financially. The two official balls is the lowest number since Dwight Eisenhower's inauguration in 1953. |
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