Wicked price changes

W.O.W.

That is really all I can say. Just when I thought it couldn't get any more ridiculous. And for what it's worth, the quality at this point probably doesn't even match the price.

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"And for what it's worth, the quality at this point probably doesn't even match the price."

Fully agree.

We paid 111$ per ticket to see Jersey Boys in August. Uh.

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thank goodness for tdf! (not for WICKED of course...but could you imagine paying $121.25 for IN MY LIFE???)

I shouldn't ever bitch because I am fortunate enough to have the theaters take pity on students and have gotten fantastic deals when they really never needed to give "us" anything. So for that I am grateful.

Also, it DOES allow them to afford staying profitable and encourage more theatrical endeavors (good or bad).

BUT, COME ON! I understand the demand and willingness to buy at whatever cost, but there comes a point where it just hits robbery!

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Updated On: 4/12/07 at 03:30 PM

I find it very frustrating as an avid theater goer. It won't be long before TKTS prices will be what full price tickets were when I first came to NYC 13 yrs ago. I believe they were $70 or so. This also means that come holiday season, the tickets will be up in the $130's range. Terrible.

So what's the problem? Have you bought tickets to ANYTHING lately?

Christina Aguilera is playing the United Center (A basketball areana) in Chicago. There are no good seats and the sound is horrible. Tickets are $95.

Roger Waters is also playing there. THE CHEAPEST Tickets (way, way up in the rafters) are $89.

The Bulls Playoffs tickets (if you could purchase one legitimately) are $800 for courstside and $225 for main floor.

The Police are playing at Wrigley field. The Cheapest seats were (I think) $120 but you can't find them anywhere- the two shows are sold out and scalpers are getting $1600 a ticket.

And you are upset that a fully staged Broadway show with great sightlines and sound and a huge cast is going to set you back $120-- unless you go for cheaper seats. Or the Lottery--which is only $25 for FRONT ROW. And of course every single seat has been sold out for months and months and months. Somebody thinks it's worth it.

Man, I thought you people LIKED theater.

Updated On: 4/12/07 at 03:38 PM

i'm seeing it for the 11th time next wednesday evening...$55 partial view...the best way to see this show.

We do, but we like cheap theater better. Especially when I don't have to spend a weeks salary just to sit in a nice seat for Sweeney Todd that cost $110 like I had done.

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Updated On: 4/12/07 at 03:48 PM

But Albert, how many times have you paid 55?
It adds up. And you're obviously not really concerned about ticket prices anyways, since you have been a big supporter of this show. Im just saying, my way to protest is not seeing them again. I won't spend my money to see Wicked 8 times like you or many BWW users do. Even if it's the lottery 7 times. I won't spend 25 bucks to see it. I prefer seeing other shows that charge reasonable ticket prices.

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Restoration fees were the invention of not for profit museums and performing arts centers that needed a revenue stream to bank for ongoing maintenance and improvements to their facilities.

For instance, the Academy of Music in Philadelphia was built in 1863, and has had a ticket fee for many years. BUT, these are not for profit venues, where ticket sales and attendance cover only a portion of cost of running the business. All non profit facilities have yearly fundraising campaigns that raise as much money as ticket sales. Endowment campaigns also provide income.

The point is that for profit companies to use a restoration fee is bogus. It's nickel and diming of the consumer. Producers and theater owners are more than covering operating expenses with their rental fees. And let's look at the shape a lot of these theaters are in. I think theater owners should disclose their plans for physical improvements if we're going to get hit for a fee every time we buy a ticket.

Then there is Wicked's ticket pricing. The five productions currently playing in the US and London are grossing a collective $6,500,000 per week. After expenses that leaves a weekly operating profit of at least $3,000,000.

Add it all up, and Wicked is making a yearly profit of 144 MILLION DOLLARS. There is no question that there are at least 4 years of capacity business left for the show.

So yes, to raise the top ticket price is a matter of pure greed. But it will also benefit the show when it starts selling discounted seats. And isn't that what top ticket prices are all about? They subsidize the per ticket cost of shows with high discounting margins.

This is starting to get ridiculous. As if they weren't making enough money at Wicked.

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The reason I think as to why ticketmaster has this service charge is this. Ticketmaster acts as a broker between the venue and the person that wants to buy tickets. It is like a tax, the amount that you spend is what goes to the show. The service charge is the bit of the price that goes towards ticketmaster. It is their way of making a profit.


And the difference between a rock concert being so high in prices at times and a broadway show always being so high in prices is this. When a rock band plays Madison Square Garden and they sell out here is how they get thier money. the money per seat is divided half goes to the venue the other half goes to the band. They do this for every indvidual seat in the venue. That is why rock bands make more money touring then they can in the studio.

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