patrick.net

You couldnt pay me to suffer through an entire NBA game

Between the corrupt refs and the dont give a shit attitude of the over paid players, ill pass

Enjoy that crap from your couch at home if youre into that "sport"

concerts are the same way these days.

The majority of fans at games probably have rich relatives or income in the top 5% or less. ( 6 figures )
The wonderment you show below is probably indicative of the wealth disparity between the top 5% and the rest of working america.

ohomen171 says

Where do he fans find the money for the tickets?

That's why we give them tax breaks to build stadiums! So the corporation can make even more money, the local gov gets shafted, and the loyal fans can't afford to see the teams. God bless American capitalism!

That said, I went to a regular season game and didn't mind the price (I was just above the lower bowl). They had some tickets behind a column for much cheaper.

Wanting to go to the game teaches the poors character. What's wrong with them having to work, scrimp and save to achieve such noble aims? But always remind the poors that they have children (because they all do). They're gonna need $500 worth of shitty seat character.

The gods demand sacrifice. Are you not worthy to receive their gifts?

ohomen171 says

Where do he fans find the money for the tickets?

Dealing drugs, theft, fraud, welfare. I mean if they can afford $200 shoes, they can afford to go to a basketball game.

Season passes are a prestige point and sales pitch of any big law firm or corporation. Being able to dole out tickets to good clients or have your salesmen take them to a playoff game is how corporate America says they are a company of winners. LA is a big area with lots and lots of corporations and law firms, so not a lot of tickets left for private consumption. Once you sell the season passes to the local interested wealthy, there's only scraps left over.
I went to a Lakers game once, playoffs, and it was on a corporate dime. No way I could justify the money otherwise, even if I could get tickets.

concerts are the same way these days.

What kills me is you go to a concert these days. And it's full of people who don't even know the music.
People in the upper middle class in this country are shallow lot. And will pay for $2500 for a concert ticket, without even knowing one single song from the artist.
It's all about being able to post a selfie of your self in a seat you paid $2500 for.

I heard the other day, attendance at venues from arenas to Museums and other attractions, is down, since they banned the selfie stick.

Unless you're paralyzed from the chin down playing is much more fun than watching somebody else play. You like basketball? Go to the fucking court and throw the fucking ball into the fucking basket for an hour or two.

concerts are the same way these days.

Businesses figured out a way to price up tickets, wasn't like this before. There was always scalping, but it wasn't so widespread.

FortWayne says

There was always scalping, but it wasn't so widespread.

But it was underground and very illegal, and only accounted for a small percent of the tickets being sold.
Now 98% of all ticket for any given event are sold to Event brokers(legal scalpers) who then are free to mark up the tickets as they see fit. Supply and demand.
Then the the Box offices see what those agencies get, then fall in step with them, since they don't have any problem finding elites to pay top dollar.

Of course all of this extra money the monoply Ticket Master and the Scalpers who control the supply, make do not go to the people/organization that organized the event.
They have to pay the venue the same money, and the money they make is only on the face value of the ticket not the premium that created from the ticket agencies.
That's the most unfair part of all. Artists managers, government protection agencies hate it when you and I profit off the artists that these corporations profit from.

I think most of you don't know how to play the game. OP is correct that tickets to a finals/championship/world series will be pricey, but starting at $150-200 a seat is hardly beyond th bounds of affordibility.

Concerts...if it's a hot ticket at a venue that the promoters have control of lots of the tickets(in Los Angeles that's staples, nokia, and Hollywood bowl) you are sol. It's either overpriced cheap seats or pay up to the scalpers. OTOH with the Live Nation venues, things have never been so transparent for the buyer including often being able to select your own actual seats. Through this function I've pulled tickets for multiple concerts in the past 5 years in the first 5-6 rows with the highlights being that I was able to shake hands and sing the chorus to a Poison song(opening for Def Leppard) and also with Sebastian Bach(opening for a Cinderella), and seeing Tom Petty at a 1100 capacity theatre in Hollywood as well as the Killers at the same venue, 15 ft from the stage. None of those tickets were even $100.

It's just a matter of constantly searching and using phone apps to place the order.

And occasionally a band revolts. Actually have halfway decent tix to see Kid Rock In August. Every ticket is 29...$20+ $9 service fees and free parking. And just like his last tour, beers start at $4.

dodgerfanjohn says

I was able to shake hands and sing the chorus to a Poison song(opening for Def Leppard) and also with Sebastian Bach(opening for a Cinderella), and seeing Tom Petty at a 1100 capacity theatre in Hollywood as well as the Killers at the same venue, 15 ft from the stage. None of those tickets were even $100.

Sausage fest tickets are always cheap.

Dead the Phish shows were always under $30 bucks, but there are also at least 20 guys for every 1 girl.
I think it's the wimmens that create the premium.

A friend of mine and myself went to a venue in Boca called "Misner Park" to see Chick Corea, the show was sold out.
The tickets were going for about $35 on line, we were expecting to pay about $50 tops. There was one guy there with a pair of tickets he was scalping asking $120 each for them. There were about 50 guys waiting for him to lower the price. Jake and I decided that $120 each was too much and left. Even though we traveled 40 miles we weren't about to pay $120 each. Now had one of us been a chick and our date, we would have bought the tickets at almost any price. That is why concerts that attracts more males than females will have cheap tickets. Guys are cheap bastards when it comes to a night out on the town. Unless its a date with a female.

Obviously you're not going to get cheap tickets to the finals, but for other events, I will say, stubhub.com is (or can be) your friend. It starts to get interesting about half an hour before the event. Flexibility is the key. The business model these days, seems to be to offload risk to the season ticket holders.

That's very true about Stub Hub.

For the Dodgers games, I almost always buy via stub hub. Season ticket holders pay less per ticket and unload extras below box office costs. Works for most games other than vs Yankees, Giants, and bobble head nights where demand runs things.

Oh and capt, Def Leppard and The Killers are hardly sausage feats. Def Leepard was about 60-40 female to male both times I saw them and The Killers were about 50-50(and $300+ on the aftermarket).

anyone within walking distance of a 48oz slurpee should qualify.

Straw Man says

Unless you're paralyzed from the chin

The cheapest Game 6 (NBA Finals) Viewing party tickets (face value $15) at O.Co just went from $65 to $55 in the last hour...

Edit: Most still at $80. Someone just broke ranks and is offering one at $45.