A&O Productions has sold more than 2,000 tickets as of 5 p.m. Thursday for R&B musician John Legend’s performance Oct. 9, according to A&O Chairman Adam Pumm.Pumm said about 1,500 tickets were sold in the first half-hour. The total amount purchased so far for President Morton O. Schapiro’s inauguration is more than A&O’s highest-selling event last year, the Death Cab for Cutie concert at Chicago’s Riviera Theatre, which sold about 2,000 tickets.Tickets will go on sale Oct. 1 for Northwestern graduate students, faculty and staff for $17. Two tickets can be purchased per person, which are not limited to people affiliated with the university, unlike the ticket plan for undergraduates.

“Once that happens, we think ticket sales will speed up because John Legend is really popular among those groups,” said Pumm, a Weinberg senior.A&O is not withholding tickets for this second group, but Pumm said he recommends that undergraduates unsure about attending should purchase tickets before Oct. 1.

The seating arrangement for Welsh-Ryan Arena has yet to be determined, but Pumm said A&O has set a “safe limit” of tickets to sell. Welsh-Ryan seats 8,117, and more than 3,500 watched musician Kanye West’s performance in the arena in 2005.

Helen Wood, associate director for the Center of Student Involvement, told the DAILY that the goal is to accommodate 5,000 for the concert.Pumm added that Legend’s opening act will be announced soon, but he could not comment due to contractual obligations.