A few weeks back, I paid $150 each for Ole Miss tickets. As the money left my fingers, I thought, "What the hell am I doing? $150 for ONE tickets. I've never paid that much money in my life for a ticket to ANYTHING." We wound up having "sweet" seats (endzone, 3 rows up), but paying $150 for a ticket with a face value of $16 still got to me. But, when the Sugar Bowl ticket prices were announced at $150, I didn't blink an eye. I was just hoping that all of my family's accounts would win (we got 2 of 4). Paying $150 for Sugar Bowl tix didn't even faze me. I saw on another board where someone said that they (meaning the Sugar Bowl committee and LSU) should just charge the "fair market value" for the tickets and that would take care of the scalpers. That got me to thinking - WOULD IT? If the face value for Terrace tix was $500-750 (whatever they determined FMV to be), would there be ANY fewer buyers? And, would the "fair market value" stay at $500-750 for those tickets. I think it's most psychological. I see people offering $400-500 for these tickets on ticket boards and saying that's the most they could pay. I'm thinking that's the most they WANT to pay given the $150 face value. Like most people, they want to get a "deal". If the face were $500, I'm betting these same people would be here offering $750-900, saying that's the most they can afford. Let's face it - THIS IS THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. People are going to pay what they have to to get in. If they see that the Ebay price (which can be said to be the "FMV") is $700, then they will want to get the bargain price of $400-500. But, if the face was $500, and they were selling for $1,000 on Ebay, then the MOST they could pay would be $750-850. This would make for an interesting Economics paper.
And then, there are those of us who can just stay at home, watch the game on ABC, and not pay one red cent. It's all about priorities. I was offered a ticket last week from what I thought was a "connection"...for the bargain rate of $650. Could I AFFORD to pay that price? Sure I could. Could I JUSTIFY to myself paying that price? Not on your life. There are things out there that cost $650 that I'd like to have, that would last a lot longer than the 3 hrs. it takes to play the Sugar Bowl...but I don't pull the trigger on THOSE things either. Why? Because although I can afford them, it would squeeze me...therefore, forME, buying them would be irresponsible.
I know this is almost an impossible question to answer given what everyone has already built up in their minds, BUT -- If the face were $50, would you pay $350 per ticket???
Wow! I bought a ticket to the LSU Ole Miss game in Jackson in 1975 for $2.00! Notice the decimal point - that's 200 cents! Times have changed! I got the ticket outside the stadium right before kickoff. I had already turned down several offers of face value, which was probably around $10, but I don't recall exactly.
I do not think that the Sugar Bowl should charge market value. Charging $150 gives people at least a chance (slim one) of getting an affordable ticket. I am not a rich man. I cannot spend $1000 for a ticket. Does this make me LESS OF A FAN than the person who can spend the $1000 with no problem? Does this mean I am less DESERVING to attend? I am as big an LSU fan as there is, and I deserve to be there as much as anybody. With the ticket lottery, at least I had a CHANCE to get in for $150. (And for the record, I did NOT get picked in the lottery. I will be sitting outside the dome crying my eyes out because the one year in my lifetime the Tigers are playing for the NC, IN MY OWN FREAKING HOME CITY, and I will be stuck outside.)
Its all relative to everyone. Life is about Life experiences. For example my wedding, I wont tell you how much our wedding was but it was over 10 grand. To me I found it stupid and silly so much was spent on 5 hours.... I found the whole thing silly. Not my marriage, I love my wife, but the wedding process. I told my wife what time do I need to show up. To my wife it was the day she had been waiting for all her life. It was her time in the spotlight, you know the score with Women and a wedding. To us its 5 hours we need to fight through... My point is, the question is what are life experiences worth to you. For me I would not sell my ticket for 3000 grand, never. I have waited my entire life to experience this. LSU sports are more to me then just a game, its community, its heritage, it represents who we are as Louisianaians. But that is another post... So yeh I would not pay 1000 bucks for a ticket either, but the only reason is I could not afford it. But I have had several offers for my two, and declined. I want to remember this experience, this is a life experience. Life experiences have a tangible value. Its up to you to put a value on that. To me, this moment is priceless.. This is much more then a football game.... Just my 2 cents.
The face is $150, and I STILL wouldn't pay $350. To me, that's an irresponsible amount of money to pay for a 3 hour event. Heck, I balk at the notion of a football game having a $150 ticket face value . But that's just ME. Like I said, it's all about priorities, and what you can justify to yourself.
Hey Texas...you must have married a Texas girl...I spent that much too for my wedding, and my wife is from Carrollton. I was willing to spend up to $500-$600 for a ticket, absorb the cost to get down there, and stay with my family in Reserve. When I saw what they wanted for tickets, my heart sank. I would go to New Orleans anyways, but it would not be the same as being at the game, so I will watch it in Dallas. I have the money to pay for an expensive ticket, but it would make no sense to do so in the long run, so I have become resigned to my fate. I also, Ellis, would not sell my ticket for THE WORLD if I had one....no f'n way!
