Event & Arena News

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Feb. 2, 2009 - Billy Joel and Elton John, the most successful and longest-running concert pairing in pop history, will reunite for their Face 2 Face tour July 14 in Columbus, OH. Billy and Elton open the concert with a series of duets, playing twin pianos and trading vocals. Each artist then performs a set with his own band. A grand finale brings the two superstars and their supporting musicians back together for a closing encore. This includes some of both Billy and Elton’s greatest hits along with an unpredictable selection of rock and roll classics.

Tickets for Tuesday, July 14, 7:30 p.m. performance at Nationwide Arena go on-sale Saturday, Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. and will be available at all Ticketmaster locations, www.ticketmaster.com, www.livenation.com, the Nationwide Arena ticket office and charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. There will be a limit of 6 (six) tickets per customer.

Concert dates announced for the March and May segment of the Face 2 Face tour immediately sold out and include Jacksonville, Tampa, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Tulsa, Houston, Phoenix, Anaheim, Detroit, Cleveland, Toronto, St. Paul, St. Louis and Indianapolis.

On Aug. 6, 1994, Billy Joel and Elton John played to over 60,000 energized fans at a sold out Ohio Stadium concert on The Ohio State University campus. This Columbus, OH show was part of the first co-headlining Face 2 Face Tour, which began a run of 21 sold-out concerts in 13 cities.

The pair hit Columbus, OH again on April 22, 2003 for a sold out event with over 18,000 fans in attendance at Nationwide Arena, the same venue where fans will eagerly await their return for one night only July 14, 2009. That 2003 Columbus, OH show was one of 24 sold out concerts for the Face 2 Face tour that year, prompting Billboard Magazine to name them “the most successful touring package of all time.”

"The great thing about performing with Elton is that he is such a good piano player and that makes me have to dig deep to keep up with him, not to mention I've got the best seat in the house-only one piano away from Elton John!” said Billy.

“I love touring with Billy. I have the greatest respect for him and we’re such good friends,” Elton said.

“Billy Joel and Elton John are known globally as outstanding performers and to have them together on one stage will certainly be an incredible experience,” said Columbus Blue Jackets President Mike Priest.

“We are extremely excited to welcome them back to Nationwide Arena. For any arena, the opportunity to host two music icons on the same stage is unique. We would like thank Live Nation and both artists’ management for bringing this show to Columbus and Nationwide Arena," said Nationwide Arena General Manager Eric Granger.

Tickets are $53.50, $99 and $179. Tickets may be purchased at the Nationwide Arena Ticket Office, at all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.livenation.com, www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000. Tickets are also available at the FOX Sports Ohio Blue Line store at The Mall at Tuttle Crossing and ticket outlets at The Chiller Ice Rinks. Tickets are subject to service charges.

For more information about upcoming events at Nationwide Arena, visit www.NationwideArena.com or call (614) 246-2000. Nationwide Arena, home of the Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL), is an SMG-managed facility. Headquartered in Philadelphia, SMG provides facility services to more than 210 venues controlling over 1.5 million entertainment seats worldwide.

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