Posted: 1/25/16 at 1:03pm
I guess the price increase is an attempt to cut down on the scalpers (for example, the cheapest rear mezz seats going for $500), or maybe to get in on the action (supply & demand) but I don't think it's going to make much difference. The scalpers are still going to buy up all the seats anyway and sell them for even higher prices.
Posted: 1/25/16 at 1:06pm
neonlightsxo said: "I guess the price increase is an attempt to cut down on the scalpers (for example, the cheapest rear mezz seats going for $500), or maybe to get in on the action (supply & demand) but I don't think it's going to make much difference. The scalpers are still going to buy up all the seats anyway and sell them for even higher prices."
Rear mezzanine was not $500, the premium price was $550, however.
Posted: 1/25/16 at 1:06pm
I said they were GOING FOR. As in on the resale market. I'm not an idiot, but thank you.
Posted: 1/25/16 at 1:08pm
I think the price increase is just because the can. And to get in on the action.
I should have clarified I meant the better but orchestra seats like the first several rows on the side and middle that aren't premium. I don't think Row S and back is very good.
Posted: 1/25/16 at 4:24pm
Are they holding back seats for the general public sale? Or did they release everything to the presale?
Posted: 1/25/16 at 4:29pm
If I can remember correctly, not all seats are available for presale. Would suck if they were.
Posted: 1/25/16 at 4:36pm
I've been looking at January 2017 and all Im being offered is $549 orchestra seats. And as far as premium, they are really stretching it. Row N is premium? Never before has getting a ticket at an affordable price been such an arduous task. I have Hamilton fatigue.
Posted: 1/25/16 at 4:37pm
I agree. There's not a lot left if everything was open for the presale. Hopefully they are holding back other seats for the general public sale. Otherwise, the nice message about "wait for it" from the producer advising people not to buy from scalpers is pointless. I'm pretty sure the scalpers are going to win regardless.
Posted: 1/25/16 at 5:43pm
Agreed! Arduous, exhausting, and frustrating! Between premium priced $549+fees seats going so far back in the orchestra, the number of scalpers buying, $179 + fees to sit in the back row rear Mezz, the site so busy that they disabled buying from the seat map. and holding tickets that were lost as I went through the process, I pretty much had it.
I haven't totally given up, though as good as the OBC is, I may just have to settle for waiting for the National Tour, whenever. Maybe see it in Chicago??? Besides, How much of the OBC will still be there a year from now? Certainly no guarantee that Lin-Manuel will still be doing it throughout 2017. The whole situation is disapointing. ;(
Posted: 1/25/16 at 5:55pm
I've been curious about this for a while. What happens if you show up to a handicapped accessible seat (particularly a wheelchair seat) and you stroll right to it with two working legs? I say this because I noticed that those were basically all gone so they must have been purchased by scalpers to resell. Perhaps some have been held back but clearly not all.
Posted: 1/25/16 at 6:03pm
I completely forgot about the presale but when I looked at around 4:30 I bought the accessible seats for my dad but I made sure to call the theater and make sure we wouldn't get in trouble since I know he can't fit comfortably in the regular chairs (he's over 6ft and has a cane). Looking at the last seats in the house that are now up to $139 is depressing but my tickets are for January cause December prices were too much for the same seats.
Posted: 1/25/16 at 6:16pm
The continued price increases are sure to cut the margins of scalpers, but may deter many from the SUPER premium seats (especially from scalpers). Hopefully, some scalpers get burned on these super pricey seats, but I have my doubts. The front mezz and rear seemed to disappear quickly. I feel lucky to have scored a couple tickets at last for "face" value! Good luck to all!!! I'm hoping the London and Chicago companies will someday bring ticket prices down to a reasonable level.
Posted: 1/25/16 at 6:22pm
I have tickets already, but seeing the new price increases, am beginning to regret not buying another pair at the $177 orchestra price when they popped up last week. (One random day when I was searching every fall date, there were several non-premium center orchestra and front mezzanine, front row tickets released for every Tuesday and some Thursdays in Oct.) Since I already had tickets, I hesitated, but now I wish I had snapped them up for family members! Of course, they were all gone by the time I checked again later that evening.
Posted: 1/25/16 at 6:44pm
I was looking just for the heck of it, and saw quite a few orchestra seats in September and October that were center and close for $477 plus fees. That was around two hours ago. Too rich for me. But not sure why some of you are looking at late 2016 or early 2017.
Posted: 1/25/16 at 6:56pm
Not sure if I understood the question but we are looking at late 2016 and early 2017 because they released another block of tickets for those dates today - starting with the Amex presale.
I'm curious about Ticketmaster's contract and wonder if it would be feasible for the Hamilton producers to demand that the resale feature be turned off. I guess they probably don't care though because the tickets are being sold and they are getting theirs. It doesn't really matter if it reflects poorly on the show. Hey, I answered my own question!
Posted: 1/25/16 at 6:58pm
I mean, it would be in the producers' interests to raise normal prices so that they take the wealth rather than the scalpers (indeed, I think this was the point of Premium Pricing in the first place). But turning off the feature - I don't know if that would help the situation. I think it would result in slightly less scalping volume, but higher average scalping prices on places like 'stubhub' and more dissatisfied patrons in terms of scamming, refunds etc.
Updated On: 1/25/16 at 06:58 PM
Posted: 1/25/16 at 7:17pm
I just picked up one side orch ticket for Jan 2017 for $199
Posted: 1/25/16 at 7:38pm
The side orchestra can be very good, depending on the row.
Posted: 1/25/16 at 7:40pm
I think the only way to have a shot at preventing scalping is to do what the Harry Potter play is doing in London. They aren't shipping or mailing the tickets to anyone, it's all will-call on the day of the performance only, with show of ID and I think card of purchase. Of course you can then still re-sell them day-off, but I think it's at least cutting down on the massive online-resales.
I don't know why Hamilton doesn't at least try something like that, if they truly want to limit scalping, instead of just raising prices into oblivion themselves...
That btw is also what Roundabout is doing with HipTix (except that they don't always check ID, but it's still day-off will-call only).
Posted: 1/25/16 at 7:43pm
At the end of the day the producers are selling every seat they put up for sale so they probably don't care who ultimately sits in the seat.
Posted: 1/25/16 at 9:02pm
I cannot believe face value for rear freaking mezzanine has gone up to $219 for December! Rear mezz!
Posted: 1/25/16 at 9:07pm
rjm516 said: "I cannot believe face value for rear freaking mezzanine has gone up to $219 for December! Rear mezz!"
Wow. I picked up two decent orchestra seats in November and they were only $199 each.
Posted: 1/25/16 at 10:14pm
I think I am going to surrender the fantasy of Hamilton on Broadway. If I book a year out I have no clue who will be in the show. I can wait for a tour at my subscription house where I will have a great seat for under $100.
Posted: 1/25/16 at 11:08pm
Book of Mormon tours had nothing under a hundred dollars til the third time through Boston.
Posted: 1/25/16 at 11:42pm
I'm honestly appalled by what this has become. I saw the show in October (and I bought tickets in June), and paid around $250 for two very nice center mezzanine seats. I also saw it at the Public last February and paid $25 for student seats about 8 months out. The scalping really seems to be out of control...last time I investigated buying tickets there were seats in the very last row for hundreds of dollars, and it seems to have gotten worse since then. I love this show but paying a whole month's rent for tickets is uh...not feasible.
