In Tarbes, Céline finally got the precious sesame. On September 25, she will be among those lucky enough to attend Céline Dion’s concert at the Defense Arena in Paris. The fan’s perseverance has paid off.
Ever since she saw Céline Dion live on France 2 and the Eiffel Tower light up, she had one idea in mind: to get tickets for the concert. Regardless of the seat or location, in Tarbes, Céline signed up as soon as the pre-sale opened. “I was in front of the TV for the announcement. I’ve been a fan since I was little. My parents gave me CDs, I listened to Ziggy and Le blues du businessman on repeat,” recounts the 32-year-old Bigourdane.
During adolescence, she set aside the CDs only to rediscover them in adulthood. “I also bought her vinyl records, I listen in the car, at home. Beyond the music, I’m interested in the person. She’s the cool aunt we all want to have!” explains the 32-year-old Céline fan from Tarbes, who has also watched documentaries and saw the opening performance of the Paris Olympics on TV.
In 2020, she bought tickets to see her in concert in Paris, but the event was canceled due to Covid. A missed opportunity that will be quickly compensated for. Because on Friday, September 25, Céline, her partner, and three friends will be among the lucky chosen ones in the crowd to attend the star’s concert at the Defense Arena in Paris. However, it was not an easy journey, as it started on Monday, March 30.
On the evening of the announcement, she applied for pre-sale on the official Céline Dion and Defense Arena websites. The next day, to increase her chances, she registered with other email addresses each time disclosing her banking details. A winning strategy: on Monday, April 6, she found out that she was selected twice via the Defense Arena website and received two codes for the next step. A decisive moment on Thursday, April 9.
She was 22,000th on the waiting list. “The ticket office was supposed to open at 10 a.m. But at 8:50 a.m., I was already in front of my screen. At 9 a.m., the Defense Arena website told me I was 22,000th on the waiting list. I didn’t lose hope, but I went through all the emotions. And then, at 11:40 a.m., suddenly things changed, I gained access to the sale and the choice of seats. I couldn’t believe it, I cried with joy in front of the computer,” said the lucky one. But there was a setback: the code received didn’t work and the website was bugging. Minutes passed, Céline feared losing the tickets.
Quickly, she tried with the second code received. This time, the password didn’t work to log into her account. Panic set in again. And then, a miracle. The ticket office finally appeared before her eyes. Céline rushed, put five tickets in her virtual basket at €199.50 each. “Many seats were already sold out. I had set a maximum budget of €300. Fortunately, there were still some within my budget,” said the fan still emotional. “It was a real rollercoaster of emotions, I can’t believe it. I’m even afraid of being scammed,” she continued.
She read and reread her electronic tickets to be sure. “After the cancellation of her last tour in 2024 due to her illness, everyone thought it was over,” she confides. The concert of the last chance? In any case, Céline has already started packing her suitcase for September. She plans to quickly get her plane tickets and accommodation, fearing that prices will soar. To ensure the joy of her prayer being answered is not spoiled.
