Kiwis' frenzy over Ed Sheeran tickets

Ed Sheeran's New Zealand tour has "all but sold out" - meaning it will be the biggest music event ever staged in the country.

More than 200,000 tickets to the UK pop star's five shows in Auckland and Dunedin next March went on sale yesterday afternoon.

Early this morning, promoters said around 200 tickets remained on sale, some with restricted views or seated at the back of the stadium.

Sheeran will perform at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium on March 24, 25 and 26, and at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium on March 29 and 31.

Last week's pre-sale demand saw the pop star add two extra Auckland shows and an extra Dunedin show to his original itinerary.

Some fans reported they struggled to get tickets just two minutes after they went on sale.

The five shows will play to up to 200,000 people, breaking records as the biggest tour in New Zealand. 

It tops Adele's recent three-night stand at Mt Smart Stadium in March.

Tickets were being re-sold online within 30 minutes of the general sale starting.

Four tickets were advertised on resale website Viagogo for $2782.28 less than two hours after general sales opened.

Fans took to Twitter to share their ticket buying stories.

Some celebrated, while others despaired.

During last week's pre-sale, tickets for Sheeran's shows soon appeared on resale sites, often for inflated prices.

In a statement, Sheeran said he couldn't believe how in demand tickets to his shows were.

"I'm overwhelmed with the response, to match that record is very humbling. I really can't wait to get down there."

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission.