Billy Joel Tickets For Final Nassau Coliseum Show Could Reach MSG Residency Prices on Secondary Market

The Old Barn, the Mausoleum, Fort Neverlose– all nicknames that attest to the 43 years of history Nassau Coliseum has given Long Island. A dilapidated fixture and Uniondale’s most notable resident, Nassau will officially close its doors for good this summer, pushing its beloved Islanders west to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn as it undergoes a much-needed facelift through December of 2016. Before that happens, however, Long Island’s own Billy Joel will wave one last goodbye to his native arena with a show on August 4.

It’s no surprise that Joel has been given the coveted honor of shutting the lights out at Nassau. The Piano Man played a record-setting nine sold-out shows there on his “Greatest Hits, Vol. 3” Tour in 1998. Situated across from the Islanders’ four Stanley Cup banners is his own, commemorating one of the venue’s most outstanding accomplishments.

Flash forward 17 years, countless underperforming Islander teams and a lackadaisical majority owner later, Nassau Coliseum is now outdated, a weathered sign of mismanagement and lack of fan interest. The Islanders, albeit a playoff contender, may play their final game in Long Island Saturday afternoon as they face elimination at the hands of the Washington Capitals. And while Joel is known for his magical live show, his summer gig won’t be enough to rectify years of neglect in Uniondale.

If there’s one thing that Joel will carry with him into Long Island, it’s big ticket prices on the secondary market. The Hicksville native has been playing a monthly residency at Madison Square Garden since the beginning of 2014 and has seen two dozen sellouts in that timeframe. His upcoming Midtown shows through the end of the year see Billy Joel tickets on TicketIQ average at $278.95, and it’s likely that he’ll see a similar average for his August show at Nassau.

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Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark, who will also manage Nassau’s renovations, said Joel was the only artist that was considered for the swan song gig. Joel hasn’t played the venue since 2002 and will undoubtedly sell it out once tickets go on sale next. In a poll taken by Long Islanders regarding who should perform the final concert, the “Big Shot” singer was the clear favorite.

The Who will also play the arena on May 20 as part of their 50^th anniversary tour. The average secondary price for that show is currently $241.10 and the cheapest ticket available is listed for $68. Fans can expect Billy Joel tickets to either match that or see even more expensive prices once tickets begin to trickle into the secondary market.

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It remains a possibility that the Islanders will return to Uniondale in the future, but for now, Joel will be Nassau Coliseum's final act; a fitting ending for a venue rich with tradition and past greatness.