How much will a Broadway ticket cost one year from now?

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 8:36pm

I was shocked to see that Spiderman is currently closing in on the $170 mark, and this is not premium seating.

What is the breaking point for most people on here? What is the most you would pay on a regular basis for a Broadway ticket?

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 9:28pm

With more and more shows adopting the theme park ride mentality, I'm not surprised to see producers wanting to recoup as fast as possible by charging as much as they think the market will bear. The AmEx preferred seats demonstrate that folks will spend incredibly big bucks to see a show, and, as I noted in the reviews thread, I will happily bet that, based on what we've seen of them, the AmEx seats for MATILDA will probably jump in price this week.

It's all special effects, gang.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 9:35pm

More ridiculous than it is now.

Absent discounted tickets we are done.Many shows we would love to see but with my wife on unemployment and me about ready to retire Broadway has priced itself out of our lives. Sad but it is what it is.

[mikem]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 9:35pm

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the AmEx seats are more expensive than non-AmEx seats. I think some of the AmEx seats are premium seats, but they're priced the same as other premium seats. It's just that you can't buy them if you don't have an AmEx.

[wicked4l]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 11:39pm

In 5 years, lottery and student rush will be 50/60 dollars a seat. Some are already at 40.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 11:42pm

Once Lea Michele returns to Broadway in all of her fabulousness, the average ticket price will hit $250. Sadly, those of us who want to see a Funny Girl revival will be priced out.

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 11:53pm

I'll never forget my first trip to New York City in 2005. Top ticket prices were $100-110 dollars, and TKTS were priced at $50. Its saddening to think of where these prices will go in the coming years.

[ahhrealmonsters]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 12:03am

I also remember in 2005ish when ticket prices starting reaching the $100 mark. TDF seats are inching towards $50, as are rush/lottery seats. $100 is now a discounted ticket.

Off-Broadway ticket prices are rising, too. At CSC's Passion, if I recall correctly, full price seats are $85-110, and rush is $40.

My cutoff is generally $50, and that's a once-in-a-while thing. I used to be able to see shows more frequently and have dinner beforehand, but now it's a rush/TDF ticket once a month and dollar pizza.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 12:11am

sadly, i wouldn't be surprised to see orchestra/front mezz seats reach the $200 mark in under 10 years. TKTS discounts would make seats at $100. Not exactly a bargain.

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 12:23am

the bubbles going to have to burst at some point and it will level out.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 12:35am

I remember in 2006 I saw 4 shows on broadway. 3 of them I sat in the first 7 rows of the orch and didnt pay more than 100 a seat. It blows my mind what tickets have become and makes theatre going and vacation planning difficult. I can only hope the inflation doesnt continue to drive it up a wall. Imagine what 20 years will be like let alone 10.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 12:37am

>> the bubbles going to have to burst at some point and it will level out.

I"m sure they said much the same thing back in the 70s when the top price was around thirty bucks.

[bobs3]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 2:44am

When Phantom of the Opera opened with a top ticket price of $50.00, the naysayers were saying that $50.00 was the leveling off position -- people would never pay more than $50.00 to see a Broadway show. Boy, were they wrong.

Around 1982-83, 42nd Street raised its top ticket price to $30.00 (a record at the time) now non-premium seats are approaching $150.00. That's a 500% increase in 30 years. Whereas, AEA scale for performers has increased about 28% in the past 30 years.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 2:55am

Is there anything that hasn't gone up in price? I mean, nothing stays stagnat. Cars cost more, films cost more, housing costs more, stamps cost more, transportation costs more...Remember when meatloaf was a cheap meal? Now ground beef is practically 5 bucks a pound!

I realize that not everything increases at the same rate, but does anyone really think that ANY costs will not increase in the future?

[SweetLips]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 3:36am

Julie Andrews in Australia-$145-$235--all 'concerts' almost sold out.If the demand is there- producers will charge whatever they like and vary the price to the demand--the same way airlines price their seats.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 6:16am

From a nifty exchange rate site, I see your dollar is close to ours.

Yes, as long as people pay, you are right. Since, like many here, I know how/where to find discounts, I seldom pay full price. There are a handful of shows I've paid full price, (BOM early in the run is the only one recently) and a good number I've missed because I wouldn't. (Hugh Jackman's show comes to mind.)

No one ever said theater was a right.

[SweetLips]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 6:55am

I don't understand the lottery system[which we don't have] and the rush is only offered sometimes to students.The 1/2 tik booth used to exist but don't think it does anymore.Theatres here[Australia] seem to prefer an empty seat than offering last minute deals just to fill the place.Every bum on a seat is a mouth to advertise.

Updated On: 4/12/13 at 06:55 AM

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 7:56am

Several times I've seen on television the advertisements for the Metropolitan Opera's Wagner Ring Cycle. After seeing the visuals in the commercials my interest spiked enough to go to their website. Top ticket prices are $350 for orchestra, $450 Parterre (first mezz),the nose bleed ticket prices in the "Family Circle" (aka back of the FOURTH mezz) are $55 AND there are actually 4 shows. If you are still enthusiastic and want to see the entire production multiply your ticket price by 4.

If you are curious here is the website:
http://ringcycle.metoperafamily.org/tickets?utm_source=walkure&utm_medium=hpbuc&utm_campaign=mofh

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 9:19am

Remember when The Producers opened to rave reviews and prices were raised the day they came out? Brantley's rave review sealed it. Ironically, as time has gone on, I don't think The Producers is now perceived as an iconic masterpice -- an enteraining show, yes; a masterpiece, no.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 9:38am

>> No one ever said theater was a right.

Sure it is. But it's written on the back. No one reads the fine print on the back.

[billis2]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 6:43pm

House seats are not sold at premium price, but at regular price $101.50 sounds about right for regular price in 2004.

I'm not so much wondering about ticket prices a year from now as opposed to 2 months from now for Matilda after the Tonys. Although I don't think they are going to be as bad as Book of Mormon, whose cheapest seated ticket is now $149, which is apparently going up to $169 (that's the last row in the mezzanine).

[goldenboy]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 11:59pm

Top price for Follies in 1972 was $15
When the Act with Liza Minelli raised their top to $25.. all hell broke loose.
Now look at the prices.



I usually buy TDF tickets. I almost never pay top dollar unless I have no other choice.

I saw Book of Mormon on TDF two weeks before opening for $39. It was amazing.
I brought tickets for my sister and her husband a year later at full price. I had no other choice.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 4/13/13 at 12:34am

Back in the early 2000s, before "premium" seats, I always paid between 55-75 bucks for a show, always sat in the first ten rows of the orchestra. It was wonderful. Now its very hard to get good seats for any shows. Ticket buying has become awful.

Producers arent concerned about us diehards, they sell premium seats to "event" theatre goers. Then they release all the unsold seats a few days before for regular price. Those of us trying to save a few bucks and need to travel and plan ahead are screwed.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 4/13/13 at 8:04am

>> It's just that you can't buy them if you don't have an AmEx.

Well, that's kind of the point. This was a scam all cooked up by the producers in tandem with American Express to get big-bucks business for both, and it's paid off quite nicely for both.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 4/14/13 at 7:27am

They have already priced me out of the orchestra because I usually attend shows with my wife and two daughters. Paying around $600 for a show is crazy. If my memory is correct, Mel Brooks started this premium seat nonsense with "The Producres" and it continues to get worse. With the glowing reviews of "Matilda", I am sure it is going to be even crazier. Unfortunately, only the "rich" will be able to afford the really good seats to a "hit" like Matilda.