Panic spreads as Friday’s concert is approaching with 3,100 tickets sold, not including complimentary admission for Eastern guests, promotional giveaways, artist’s guest tickets and concert personnel working the event.

The concert will be 8 p.m. in Lantz Arena, and doors open at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the Panic! At The Disco sold fast, with sales starting February 17 for students and March 2 for the general public, selling out on April 9.

Ceci Brinker, director of student life, said parking will be free and on a first come, first serve basis and will be available after 5 p.m. in the venue parking lots surrounding the Lantz Arena, on Grant Street and the O’Brien Field lot.

“The Panic At The Disco concert is officially sold out at this time. To my knowledge, through the years EIU has experienced 2-3  “sold-out” concert events that I have been involved with,” Brinker said. “As far as student-focused concert artists this is the third sold out UB Spring Concert and the first sold out showing being hip hop artist “Twista” with an attendance of 2,500 in McAfee Gym and the artist Drake in Lantz Arena.”

The cost for Panic! At The Disco to perform at Eastern is $75,500, and Brinker said, compared to previous concerts, the price was reasonable and she thought it was unusual for Eastern since the U.B. would not typically have a $25,000 to $40,000 budget to work with for a spring concert.

“Through our on-going contract, negotiations with the artist’s agency and EIU’s Concert Middle Agent UB Concerts got a great deal on Panic At The Disco that was inclusive of the artists fees, travel, lodging, opening artists, artists meals buy-out and artists backline equipment,” Brinker said. “In addition, the artist’s entertainment fees alone was a substantial reduction which put Panic At The Disco in our price range and ,given the popularity and musical appeal of PATD, the timing of their new album this spring, CD sales, made PATD the front-runner as this year’s spring concert.”

Brinker said the U.B. Concerts does not look to make profit from any major concert and wants to provide an enjoyable and affordable concert experience for the campus and community.

“Because of the cancellation of the fall and winter 2016 major concert event and the savings we were able to gain and the great deal,” Brinker said. “We were able to negotiate for a major concert artist for the Spring Concert, and we anticipate only using 60% or less of the concert fees we have available in student fees with an anticipated surplus for future major concert events.”

Britany Bell, a junior management major and Thomas desk assistant, will be attending Friday’s concert.

“I love the band and I’ve always wanted to see them. My brother has seen them and said they’re great live,” Bell said. “They play the style of music I like and I love going to concerts.”

Bell said her favorite song by Panic is “Nine In The Afternoon” and she first heard the band when she was in middle school.

“UB Concerts is very excited about the sold-out spring concert and positive response from old and young alike in the EIU and Charleston communities to the Panic At The Disco spring concert event,” Brinker said. “The spring concert event could not come at a better time, given the current EIU budget crisis. The spring concert is certainly a morale booster for many and gives the EIU community a reason to be proud and celebrate being at EIU.”

 Abbey Whittington can be reached at 581-2812 or anwhittington@eiu.edu