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Las Vegas show ticket prices hit highest level recorded in survey
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Donny and Marie Osmond perform their 500 show at the Flamingo Wednesday, March 23, 2011.
Tuesday
12 April 2011
3:53 p.m.
Updated
12 April 2011 4:44 p.m.
The number of tourists traveling to Las Vegas is approaching pre-recession levels, but the average cost of a Strip show ticket has already surpassed that mark.
Las Vegas show prices are at the highest levels recorded in the 20-year history of an annual survey conducted by Las Vegas Advisor.
The average price for a Las Vegas show was $76.46 in March, up from $73.46 in April 2010 and almost flat with April 2009. That compares to an average price of $27.05 for a show in July 1992, according to the survey.
The annual Las Vegas Advisor show ticket survey indicates ticket prices have increased almost every year for the past 20 years, except for between 2000 and 2002, and from 2009 to 2010, when ticket prices dropped $2.72.
Anthony Curtis, who sends out the monthly newsletter, said the survey included all ongoing shows, including new shows like “Celine” and “Absinthe” at Caesars Palace, but excludes temporary shows.
The survey uses the lowest possible ticket price available, without coupons, half-priced booth prices and other discounts, Curtis said. The prices include all taxes and fees.
This year’s survey included 95 shows, an increase of four shows from last year.
Although not included in the calculation of the survey, one of the priciest show tickets this year was a VIP ticket for “Donny & Marie” at the Flamingo for $295.13 with tax. The ticket includes front-of-stage seating and a meet-and-greet after the show. Curtis said the “Celine” Diamond Experience was priced at $1,375.
Barry Manilow’s show had the highest average price, at $190.96 for a non-VIP package, with “Donny & Marie” in second at $171.11 and “Celine” in third at $164.65.
Curtis’ report said 28 shows on the list had a price of $100 of higher.
“The culprit is that one-third of all the shows here raised their price this year," Curtis said. "Last year we saw the opposite. We saw a lot of cutbacks in shows that had lasted through the year. Also, we had the addition of a few high-priced shows."
The lowest-priced ticket on the list was $17.45 for the “Afternoon Comedy Magic Show” at the Four Queens.
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Ah....., but the important question is "what percentage of the available tickets are being sold for full price vs some discounted price".......
i dont know how many times ive turned the channel on these 'headliners' when seeing them on tv. if someone wants to spend good money on them, be my guest.
""Curtis said the "Celine" Diamond Experience was priced at $1,375.""
Not that i care,but I think you don't even get to meet her , either.
...this is validation vegas doesn't need all the strutting on the strip by many patrons who, btw, don't even carry a pocketbook! The market for the strip is adults who've been vacationing yearly for at least ten years. Parse this data further and find it correlates with gamblers that this city can still attract. Then, compare it to coverage of what's really important in the local publications, dj's out of jail, individuals who don't wear underwear, and/or people without all their body parts authentic...maybe the problem with Vegas is what's passing for leadership? Visitors B and Convention A get all over this! Bump the strip up a notch is the oldest trick in the book, when buyers believe they have control over the market, let em show and meet them with greater value! While the party set will like sheeple get redirected to a critical mass for volume purchases, of great value, that can then surprise. This is how the true players have that much more time to buy...before they say by to this city, for good!!! (go ahead and steal this idea to RJ,Greenspun; I know you're reading my posts. But, it will also become known you continue to NOT talk about money already in this city gotten by paying employees more, thanks!)