Some things you just know.
Like when the folks at the Walmart AMP announced the performer at the opening concert will be Blake Shelton and tickets are only $5 and $10. You just know that the computerized ticket system will blow up. "Glitch," the AMP staff called it.
Nope, that was no glitch. There's a term for it, but we can't use it in a family newspaper.
Here's what happened to me, and it reflects what a lot of people said happened to them.
I logged in. I was listed at 5,000-something in the virtual queue -- that the's computer waiting line for those who don't speak computerese -- even though it was not yet 9 a.m. when tickets were to go on sale.
I waited. And waited. Then I waited some more.
And what should happen? My place in line jumped to 12,000-plus. What?
Virtual line cutters. Who knew?
At least one friend got in line after me -- and she got tickets. I did not. I guess this virtual line cutting is the real thing. In her case, it wasn't intentional.
The AMP's official statement was that their computer system was overwhelmed.
Well, what in the heck did they expect? You are bringing a big ol' country music star to Rogers, Ark., and the most expensive tickets is $10? Duh.
Since I didn't expect to get tickets, I was not terribly disappointed. I was mad because the computer system was overwhelmed. Then the AMP folks used overwhelmed computers as an excuse.
What would I like for them to have said? How about this: "We can't believe we were so dumb we did not think that 25,000 of you would want to see Blake Shelton. We should have thought this out and made plans on the front end to expand our ticketing system so these problems would have been less likely to happen."
That, at least, would be honest.
I still plan on making it out to the AMP this year. There are so many concerts, however, I could go bankrupt. Mrs. Shelton -- aka Miranda Lambert -- will be here. Then there is Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Steely Dan, Steve Martin, etc.
There is grumping on the AMP's Facebook page about "only" country musicians and old rockers being featured at the new venue. I am not sure what they want. Kanye West?
I am a great lover of most music, but the reality is the AMP-- any venue, really -- is going to bring in the performers their demographic studies say will do well. Those people might as well quit their belly achin'.
Besides, in a few weeks they will have something else to complain about, like traffic -- it will be a major pain -- a lack of parking and, in all likelihood, the noise.
I am just darned excited that the AMP is in Rogers. I can't wait for the Walton Arts Center to open in Bentonville. To have all of this in our backyard is amazing.
I said something similar on Facebook after my recent visit to Crystal Bridges where I viewed the work of Picasso, Rodin and Cezanne, among other modern masters. Never in a million years would I have thought I would have gotten to see this work, let alone a mere 8 miles down the road.
Ironically, a dear friend was visiting last week. She moved 12 years ago to be closer to family and to get away from growth. I told her all about the changes her hometown has undergone, and how excited I am by most: the concerts, the art exhibits, the eating, the shopping.
She smiled and commented. "you always loved those things." She is happier with a book and her garden, she said.
I like those things, too, but I don't quite understand how anyone couldn't enjoy the opportunities we have now. Yes, they come with a price, like traffic, but it is darned exciting not to have to drive two or five hours to enjoy a new experience.
I suppose too many people prefer not getting outside their comfort zones. That's a shame.
Think of the things they will never experience -- like virtual line cutting.
It was quite a trip.
LEEANNA WALKER IS LOCAL EDITOR OF THE ROGERS MORNING NEWS AND SPRINGDALE MORNING NEWS. FOLLOW HER ON TWITTER AT WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWALEEANNA.
Commentary on 05/15/2014