This summer, Riverbend Music Center will providing yet another great season of country music.  The lineup for the 2017 country megaticket includes returning artists from last year along with new ones.

The Country Megaticket opens on May 20th with Dierks Bentley, Cole Swindell, and Jon Pardi.  The time for this concert has not yet been set in stone.

The next line of performances include:

June 1: Luke Bryan and Brett Eldredge

June 25: Lady Antebellum, Kelsea Ballerini, and Brett Young

July 22: Jason Aldean, Chris Young, and Kane Brown

The Country Megaticket will wrap up with a bang on August 10th, with Brad Paisley, Dustin Lynch, Chase Bryant, and Lindsay Ell.

Though the Megaticket offers a single expense for all of these events, most will purchase a single ticket for each of the events individually.

Is it a better deal to buy a ticket individually or just to go ahead and purchase the Megaticket?

Senior Cole Carle, who has serious intentions of making the larger purchase, says, “I just want to guarantee that I can get a ticket to each show… It would be nice to pay less, but I really just want to make sure I have a spot.”

Clearly, the major perk of making the purchase of a Megaticket isn’t for the shot at a better deal; rather, it’s simply a spot check for each event that comes to Riverbend.

Though the idea of a proverbial spot check seems a bit nonsensical, it is something that should be considered.  Almost every concert that occurs at Riverbend as a part of the B105 Country Megaticket sells out.  Subsequently, it may be a good idea to think about the larger purchase.

Riverbend employee Charlie Selhorst says he loves that time of year when all the country artists come to town.

“It means money.  Yeah, it’s a lot of work, but getting to hear the music when we’re doing stuff is pretty cool.”

Selhorst has been employed with Riverbend Music Center for nearly three years.

Elder Alumni Josh Antone also works for Riverbend.

He states, “I mean working there can get frustrating just trying to keep people tame, especially when Kieth Urban runs off the stage and everyone wants to go hug him it becomes an issue. It can be an enjoyable job too though and it’s kinda cool to have all these big name guys coming to Cincinnati.”

Antone adds that contrary to the popular belief, the employees are not necessarily permitted to simply stand around and enjoy the concert as if they have purchased a ticket.  So, if you were looking for a loophole around paying for a ticket, you can cross off getting a job at Riverbend.

“It hasn’t been a problem for me because I’m lucky enough to work the VIP area, and I’m able to watch.  But the people working the lawn area aren’t even allowed to turn around,” says Selhorst.

As it is every year, the country artists that tour through Cincinnati draw a grand crowd and provide an evening full of excitement.  This year should be no different than the past.