March 4, 2008
Nats Tickets Go Fast
Whether Radiohead or the Pope, tickets for some events in the Washington area just aren't easy to come by. The process usually looks the same — the sale day comes; thousands of expectant buyers suffer server mishaps or are shuttled into virtual waiting rooms as sellers try to deal with the online version of a stampede; tickets sell out in minutes; mere minutes later they show up on Craiglist or through ticket brokers for a substantial markup.
And so went this morning, as Nats fans rushed to scoop up tickets for the team's season opener — in a new, shiny stadium no less — against the Atlanta Braves on March 30. Yours truly spent 15 minutes in a virtual waiting room, only to be told that volume was too heavy once the doors into the purchase area's inner sanctum were opened. And then the tickets were gone.
As the morning has progressed, ticket sellers looking to score big and pleas for moderately marked-up sales alike have filtered onto Craigslist. There's a $225 single ticket in Section 417, or you can pick up a pair in Section 102 behind the left-field bullpen for $400. Or if you're not a shameless capitalist, you can sell to either of these guys, both looking for a good deal:
To the members of our community who have purchased additional tickets for the purpose of resale at inflated prices i would just like to say that:And:You are NOT bad people. Contrary to what most posts say about you i understand that to have foresight and beating people to purchase tickets should be rewarded.
I greatly desire 2 or 4 tickets in any cheaper section (I'd appreciate information on any section but may not be able to afford it). I'll even settle for 1 ticket for myself.
As an Australian who moved to this country it was at the old RFK that i finally felt at home in assimilating into my new nation of choice. I found peace and understanding in the notion that baseball is not a game but a way of life. Please help me to continue this idealistic dream...
I got to work early today to buy Nats tickets, but by the time I got through on the phone (never managed to get through on the website) tickets were completely gone.So who of you got tickets? And who is willing to part with them without making someone else take out that second mortgage?If you have extra tickets and would like to sell them at a reasonable price (face value, plus a little extra for your effort) I would love to buy them.
No, I will not pay hundreds of dollars for tickets you bought for twenty. People who buy tickets with the express intention of gouging others have a special circle of hell awaiting them and I won't be party to your eternal damnation (however well deserved it may be.)
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Can't I go one week without someone using Radiohead and the Pope in the same sentence?
I managed to get a pair of seats in section 105, row Y, after about 14 instances of the "volume is too high" message. I feel very lucky.
I also bought tickets for a Mets game at Shea Stadium today, and the difference in the capabilities of the two ticketing sites was night-and-day: while DC's was pokey and overloaded, the Mets' site was smooth as silk. Go fig.
And to those in search of tix, I'm not parting with 'em. Sorry.
@sogfta: the mets ticketing system is just as bad. when they did the onesale for opening day, the subway series, and the final game at shea they had the same maddening vitrtual waiting room. luckily enough i was able to snag tix for shea's regular season swan-song....
I got 4 tix in right field after about 10 minutes in the virtual waiting room (the lack of virtual magazines or receptionist was very annoying). If I had been able to get more tix (and I did try), I would have sold them for big bucks. Would that result in my eternal damnation? No. Idiots that make that argument need to take a course in Economics 101 and focus on that supply and demand concept.
Tried and failed. I was on line early, even registered an account, but no luck.
My friend got through earlier today and we got tickets.
Tickets were already "presold" to season ticket holders and corporate already. Today, you were only allowed a max of 4 tickets. So, we couldnt exactly get 15 tickets and then sell all but 1.
Regardless, a 41 game plan is as low as $656 (you may even have to spring for the $810) and I believe you can still get opening day with it.
Then, sell your tickets for face value that you dont want.
Screw the man!
I bought a 20-game ticket plan for $200, but I was only allowed 2 Opening Day tickets during the presale. Still, the presale went smoothly and I was happy with the seats I got. However, if something came up and I couldn't go to Opening Day, I would give the tickets to friends or sell them on craigslist at face value. Please make sure to flag craigslist ads selling tickets way above face value as "prohibited".
I bought a 20-game ticket plan for $200, but I was only allowed 2 Opening Day tickets during the presale. Still, the presale went smoothly and I was happy with the seats I got. However, if something came up and I couldn't go to Opening Day, I would give the tickets to friends or sell them on craigslist at face value. Please make sure to flag craigslist ads selling tickets way above face value as "prohibited".
Unfortunately, after consecutive years of going to openning day and even spring training for the innaugural season, I couldn't land opening day tickets. I refuse to pay scalpers. Those douchebag crooks even get amnesty from the po-po man outside the stadium. I was trying to sell my extra tickets one day below face value, and po-po took my tickets from me. Meanwhile, scalpers in his immediate vicinity & selling tickets above cost, were free to carry on their transactions at will. I did manage to get seats for a weekend game in April after spending about 45 mins in virtual hell.
Just go in the third inning and scalp the scalpers. Those who didn't sell will be desperate to make SOMEthing off the tix.
I also tried and failed. Blah. Had better luck when the Phillies opened their new park in '04.
Along the lines of what "OldPoster" says... I just wish that the ticket suppliers would improve their own use of economics.
In this example, or with popular bands, at the posted face value supply is much lower than demand... and that means that one way or another, the price is going to end up higher. Under the current fixed pricing system, the people who do that are the scalpers, which is fine.
However, what I would prefer is that the extra money that I am willing to pay for a ticket like opening day (or the Radiohead concert) that is above the face value went to the entertainers. The Radiohead tickets should have been twice as expensive to start or been placed on the market with a flexible pricing plan that adjusts to market pressures, and I'm sad that the scalpers get to keep the difference instead.