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Hannah Quickly Sells Out

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By SARAH HOYE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 13, 2007

Audio Slideshow Day 4 | More Tickets To Go On Sale | Photo Gallery

TAMPA - The Marine is gone. The mom who took personal leave from work also is gone. And so is the mother who claimed her daughter would choke her if she failed.

And, most importantly, the Hannah Montana concert tickets that became available Monday also are gone.

Just more than 2,000 tickets went on sale at noon Monday and sold out in four minutes, according to Holly Brown, St. Pete Times Forum spokeswoman.

"The fact that we were able to release seats surprised everybody. We didn't know this was going to happen," Brown said. "It's exciting; that's 2,000 more people who get to go."

Marcia Blount of Odessa attempted to get tickets for her 12-year-old daughter online. After the purchase, she realized she bought tickets to Monday's show in San Antonio, Texas.

"I was pretty bummed out about it, and I'm left without tickets," said Blount, 51, who later got her money back. "I can only tell you, I was so elated that I got through and to be let way down was very disheartening."

Back at the Clear Channel Communications parking lot, four people were still touching a 12-foot Hannah Montana statue in hopes of getting tickets to the Nov. 19 show. A person dropped out at 3 a.m. Monday (her foot left the base while she was stretching), leaving Jennifer Becker, Lara Padgett, Jody Powell and Rosana Ramirez.

"There are no signs of letting up," said Joey B., a Clear Channel spokesman. "Tonight will tell the tale, we'll see what happens."

Today could be interesting with radio show host Todd "MJ" Schnitt of the "MJ Morning Show" on WFLZ, 93.3 FM, possibly attempting to push contestants to their limit.

MJ is making the remaining competitors sit on stage and physically hold on to the statue instead of waiting it out on their sand "bunkers" at the statue's base. There's also the possibility of nonstop Hannah Montana music being blared at them, which is no concern for Padgett, of Tampa.

"It's fine by us moms because we know all her stuff," she said, laughing on Friday. "Who's enduring more, us out here or the dads at home? ... This is easy."

The contest, streamed live on the show's Web site, mjmorningshow.com, began Thursday and lasts until Sunday, the day before the concert. The contestants are required to keep one limb touching a 12-foot statue of Hannah Montana that cost $11,800 to make.

Participants receive 12-minute breaks every three hours. They are not allowed to entertain themselves while holding on, meaning no iPods, books or cell phones. Permission is needed to switch positions.

The contestant still holding on to the replica of the Disney Channel character will win four tickets to the Best of Both Worlds concert tour, which features 14-year-old singer-actress Miley Cyrus as herself and performing as pop sensation Hannah Montana. The winner also will receive backstage passes and $5,000.

Reporter Sarah Hoye can be reached at (813) 259-7832 or shoye@tampatrib.com.

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