general admission

Alot of fans in the US aren't fond of GA, simply because it takes too much time. Having to line up and spend 12 to 24 hours of your time waiting to get in just so you can be in the front half of an arena or stdium is a waste of time. To be honest we'd rather pay for it. By that I mean , we will except higher ticket prices for the front areas if it means we can walk in 20 minutes before a show and just go to our seats and not have to fight for our personal space.
Also there is a safety issue. The liability is alot more if you have an open GA. We in the US aren't as civilized about sharing our personal space as people are in Europe.
In my twenties, I never minded being packed like a sardine at a show but in my forties, I much prefer to walk in, showered and comfortable, not exhausted from standing in line all night/day, not having to push and shove just to keep my little space, and enjoy the show I paid good money to see.

It's easier to sell out stadiums when there are seats. With GA they had to sell more tickets to sell out.

I could definitely see it being a safety issue, but I don't know if thats truly the reason why they don't do no seats at gigs. No seats at a gig have their pro and cons. While I experienced no seats at a few shows already, it really became an issue at a Korn gig which if you don't know they're moshing band. I'am not into the moshing thing it's not for me and I know it's all in good spirit sort of, I did see when someone fell down people will help them get so they wont get stomped, but the fact is that it's dangerous. I'm sorry but if people push me the wrong way I'am going to push back harder. Another big issue for me at the U2 show a couple of months ago was PERSONAL SPACE, you just could not move anywhere, while I had one of the best nights of my life, there was just no getting out of there. So even though there were no seats it was kind of like having seats there because you really couldn't move around. This lady in front of me kept turning around and looking at me while I was trying to enjoy myself. Also the next thing is speaking on the person you go to the show with, I was with a couple of girls at the Korn gig and we had drinks and every 15 mins she had to go to the bathroom, there is no guarentee that you will have that same spot when you get back. At least when there are seats your seat is not going anywhere, so if your in the front row and you have a seat and have to go to the bathroom you can go with no worries.

I have seen some seated shows and I would prefer a GA show anytime. I love to have the chance to get closer to the stage if I want to. And I don't have to pay a lot more to get closer to the stage. If it's a moshing band I would stay a little more in the back.

What I don't like about the seated shows is that the stadium is not half filled when the support act is on stage. The whole atmosphere is different. People are coming in last minute and even during the show it's a come and go. People sit down when they don't know the songs or go to get some drinks. Nobody seems to be concentrated on the show.
It's a much more intense experience when I stand in a GA crowd for the audience and I'm pretty sure for a band as well.

Aloha !

It's only like that for the first 5 rows at a gig because that's where the idiotic Backstage morons from Europe are. Apart from that no one fights for their spot and we all watch the show in peace. I've been to a seats only show as well and it's a hugh atmosphere killer. It's good for symphonic rock and music like that, but for a rock show it doesn't work.

Another reason why it's seats only in America is so that they can have their piss break or beer break whenever they hear something they don't recognize. And more beer breaks means more people consuming, means more money for the caterers. It's all done to get you lot fat.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

Yeah, you definitely know what real heavy music is

even bruce springsteen has GA ..................................

LOL you are probably right Seb!! The last GA I did in the US was on HAND and it was an all day event. Had FC tickets so we got early entrance which was nice but honestly, I find GA distracting. Too much pushing for the front, too much having to be stand your ground ready...... Americans are not so nice to each other when packed in like sardines.
Seats do have ttheir downfalls, I think it makes the experience more of an individual one, rather than the group one you get with a GA show. I'm kind of singular that way, I go to watch, hear and see the band, not to hang with my friends. Friends are for before and after a show but during I want to be left alone to take it all in, and that is easier to do at a seated show. Plus got to say, I love being able to walk in half hour before and if I paid for a fifth row ticket, that's where I am, if I paid for 20th that's where I am.