Have been looking around at some scalper's sites- they are not 'brokers,' they are sleazy thieves!- for tomorrow's show here (am local, already got my $250 seat. See 'Ticketmaster giving upgrades' thread for my happy story.) The scalper's sites have less rhyme or reason than the official ones.
Just came across this listing at 'ticketnetwork.com:'

FLOOR: B Row: E 2 left $908.00
Note: VIP Area/Club/Lounge access included. Padded Seat. VIP access included. Includes commemorative event merchandise valued at over $100. Fifth row. Pre-event party with food and alcoholic beverages included.

These are those $2,000 'super VIP' tickets! Someone is losing serious coin with this. There is a possibility these might be promo or comp'd tix. The MGMGrand does comp tix to high rollers, but I would think this type of heavy duty comp would be tracked closely.
Weirdly, looking for the pricey packages via the Stones iPad app, I can't find any working purchase links for any upcoming shows, save for the D.C. pre-sale link. Is there really a chance that they have sold them all out? Maybe they've pulled them for lack of interest. A poorly attended $2000 party would be a drag: 'Good seats, yeah, but what a boring party!'



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-05-12 01:59 by FirstTimeSeattle81.

On this same topic: what DOES happen to all those 'secondary market' tickets when they don't sell? It seems like there might be hundreds of tix left right up till showtime on the scalper's websites, often asking way more than face value. Is there really a big enough market for them to just shill them outside the venue? With the tix prices this tour, I can't imagine anyone willing to cough up $650 or more to some shady dude or dudette on the street (lt alone actually carrying around that much money for an impulse buy.)
I guess what I'm asking is for this tour so far, are people scoring $650+ tix for like $50 or $100? I actually never deal w/scalper's at all, so I guess I'm just kinda dumb on this whole subject.

That's a good question, I don't remember reading any stories here of people buying tickets outside the venues...guess there are enough available at the Box Office. Maybe the venues prevent these deals like they do at the O2? I remember getting some good tickets on the cheap in San Jose in 1999...

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gotdablouse
That's a good question, I don't remember reading any stories here of people buying tickets outside the venues...guess there are enough available at the Box Office. Maybe the venues prevent these deals like they do at the O2? I remember getting some good tickets on the cheap in San Jose in 1999...

I should have titled this thread bit more broadly, I think. Would really like to hear from others about their experiences on this one!

Plenty of tours, No Security and Licks especially, I bought my tickets for half price or less outside the venues. It's exhausting, but you meet some interesting people. You have to be careful of cops in places like Houston.

In Oakland last week, though, I was on the losing end. My plus-one went MIA so I sold my spare $85 lottery ticket to a kid for $40. It's OK. He was stoked to see the Stones for the first time.

Vegas is a tough market because of casino demand and the lack of an outdoor area to trade tickets, and I won't be there this time. I don't get the sense on this tour that trading is as rampant. There were no sellers at Brooklyn, and plenty of buyers. Anecdotal reports indicate scarce activity outside Staples, but I was in the $85 line, so wasn't looking to buy.

You are very right about Las Vegas (the MGMGrand Graden) being an unusual venue for 'trading.' They own and watch all the turf surrounding it. It's still a mystery to me how a block of say, 6 seats, 4th row, floor, show as not sold right up to showtime, yet there always seems to be a packed house down front...

you can get insurance on tickets through ticketmaster. I did it for Newark in December. Splurged on the $800, got cold feet and listed it on stubhub and craigslist, got no offers, so I claimed the insurance and got my money back. Then went and bought an $800 outside off a scalper for $140.

The pro brokers get insurance so they don't take a loss, it is worth it for $7 per ticket.

But a show that falls on a weekday, I'd say you can get in for $150, and probably sit in a really good seat like it did in Newark. (Lorne Michaels and Jason Sudeikas and Fred Armisen were in my section)

How do you clai insurance? Don't you need a flight delay or doctors letter?

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FirstTimeSeattle81
You are very right about Las Vegas (the MGMGrand Graden) being an unusual venue for 'trading.' They own and watch all the turf surrounding it. It's still a mystery to me how a block of say, 6 seats, 4th row, floor, show as not sold right up to showtime, yet there always seems to be a packed house down front...

A lot of people who travel with the band or are guests will just take an empty seat out in the audience. They have passes so they can move through sections. Saw this happening at the show I was at as we were on the side of the stage - people coming out from back, then going up to a seat.

Las Vegas: Scalper's taking a big money hit ?

Good !! Always a pleasure to see scalpers on a losing streak, only wish we saw it more often !!

[ I want to shout, but I can hardly speak ]

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FirstTimeSeattle81
I should have titled this thread bit more broadly, I think. Would really like to hear from others about their experiences on this one!

To change your thread title, just go back to your first post, click the "edit" button under it,
change the title and then save changes. Et voila.

Thank you for your help! I am a slow one, yes...