Super Bowl XLIV tickets selling well on the secondary market

via ticketnews.com

This year's Super Bowl match up between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints is yielding good ticket sales on the secondary market, reportedly better than last year's Cardinals-Steelers game. Peyton Manning and the Colts won the chance to play in Miami on February 6, after defeating the New York Jets 30-17, and nearly 58 million television viewers watched Drew Brees and the Saints upset Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings, 31-28 in overtime. Now that the big game has been decided, fans are turning to the secondary market for a chance to watch it live.

According to statistics released by FanSnap, an online secondary ticket search engine, Super Bowl XLIV ticket searches are up 40 percent over last year. FanSnap has over 7,000 Super Bowl tickets listed, with the average ticket price of $2,847. The lowest-priced ticket, as of January 26, is $1,500.

Louisiana residents are the top-searching fans on the secondary market as of yesterday, and are out-searching Indiana fans 3:1. California, New York, and Florida are the other ticket hot zones, and those residents are also out-searching Indiana residents.

In terms of sales, statistics released this morning by secondary ticket giant StubHub show that dollar volume sales for this year's Super Bowl are up 40 percent year-over-year. StubHub's average ticket price is $2,728, up from last year's average ticket price of $2,594. StubHub's top buyer states match those released by FanSnap.

Jeff Greenberg, owner of Marilyn-based ASC Ticket, told TicketNews that a Colts-Saints match-up was seen as the "worst of all the possibilities," for brokers, given that the Colts won a Super Bowl in 2007, and because of the economic devastation seen in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. A Super Bowl with the Jets or Vikings might have commanded more movement and higher prices on the secondary market because of the historically deep pockets of New York sports fans and the mass appeal of Brett Favre.

Despite this, Greenberg noted that "ticket sales have been good to moderate so far. As long as the tickets stay where they're at now, things are fine."

Good news for the secondary ticket market all around. The Super Bowl is always one of the biggest events in terms of ticket selling in the secondary ticket market every year. These stats prove the value of today's secondary ticket market.

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Oracle CEO confirms plans to buy NBA's Warriors - MarketWatch

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By John Letzing, MarketWatch

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Oracle Corp. Chief Executive Larry Ellison confirmed speculation on Wednesday that he's attempting to buy struggling National Basketball Association franchise the Golden State Warriors.

At a public event held at Oracle's /quotes/comstock/15*!orcl/quotes/nls/orcl (ORCL 23.87, +0.01, +0.04%) Redwood Shores, Calif., headquarters, Ellison responded to a plea from an audience member that he buy the Warriors by responding: "I'm trying, I'm trying."

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"Unfortunately, you can't have a hostile takeover of a basketball team," Ellison quipped.

As CEO at corporate software giant Oracle, Ellison has pursued a strategy of launching a series of takeovers of various rivals over the years. On Wednesday, Ellison was officially discussing the company's recent $5.6 billion purchase of Sun Microsystems Inc.

The Warriors have played poorly in recent years under current owner Chris Cohan. The NBA franchise, based in Oakland, Calif. -- a roughly half-hour drive from Oracle's headquarters -- has logged a record this season of 13 wins and 30 losses, and is in last place in the league's Pacific Division.

The team has been forced to rely on a core of talented if relatively inexperienced guards, while also suffering a series of injuries.

Oracle currently owns the naming rights to the Warriors' home, Oracle Arena.

Ellison has long been rumored to have an interest in buying the Warriors. News of the CEO's negotiations for the team was first reported in the San Jose Mercury News.

An Oracle spokeswoman declined to comment.

John Letzing is a MarketWatch reporter based in San Francisco.

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After taking over Sun Microsystems, Larry Ellison is now trying to ink his way into the sports world. Oracle already has the naming rights to the Golden State Warriors' home arena. Now, the CEO of Oracle, Larry Ellison has remarked that he is indeed trying to buy the Warriors. This is not the first time we have heard of these rumors from Ellison. Last year there were rumblings about Mr. Ellison buying out the Warriors as well. We will see if he will put his money where his mouth is this time. Although, he has plenty of money to go around.

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Madison Square Garden is nation's top venue again due to strong Knicks and Rangers ticket sales | TicketNews

via ticketnews.com

Madison Square Garden (MSG) has retained the title of number one venue for the fourth consecutive week, according to TicketNews’s exclusive venues rankings for the week ending Sunday, January 17.

MSG continues to benefit from solid ticket sales for its two popular sports teams, the New York Rangers and New York Knicks, which made it to number eight in TicketNews’s Top Sports Events rankings this week. Also boosting MSG’s numbers are scheduled performances by the Black Eyed Peas (at number six in TicketNews’s Top Concert Events rankings this week) and John Mayer (at number eight) in February, as well as Jay-Z (number four) in March. MSG power scored an impressive 3.86 this week.

The Gershwin Theatre in New York City moved up two to take the number two spot this week. Power scoring a 2.76, the theater is home to the award-winning musical Wicked, which topped TicketNews’s Top Broadway Events, Top Theater Events, Top Combined Events and even Top Vegas Events rankings this week.

TicketNews Exclusive Rankings and Power Scores are based on ticket sales for venues from the TicketNetwork Exchange™, the world's largest secondary market exchange. A Power Score illustrates a given venue's category-specific significance. Two factors are used to calculate a power score: total ticket sales for a venue, and total ticket sales within the category. As such, power scores should only be used to compare venues within a particular category.
Top Venues
Week Ending 1/17/2010
Venue Score
1 Madison Square Garden Tickets 3.86
2 Gershwin Theatre Tickets 2.76
3 Louisiana Superdome Tickets 2.72
4 Reliant Stadium Tickets 2.55
5 Metrodome Tickets 2.50
6 Lucas Oil Stadium Tickets 2.39
7 Staples Center Tickets 1.88
8 Dolphin Stadium Tickets 1.88
9 TD Garden (Fleet Center) Tickets 1.65
10 Qualcomm Stadium Tickets 1.54
11 Wachovia Center Tickets 1.54
12 INTRUST Bank Arena Tickets 1.39
13 Virginia/August Wilson Theatre - NY Tickets 1.37
14 Radio City Music Hall Tickets 1.35
15 Orpheum Theatre - San Francisco Tickets 1.27
16 Caesars Palace - Colosseum Tickets 1.18
17 Bank Atlantic Center Tickets 1.14
18 Verizon Center - DC Tickets 1.12
19 American Airlines Center Tickets 1.10
20 Dallas Cowboys Stadium Tickets 1.06

MSG has been a huge venue for concerts and hockey for years. With the Knicks struggling so much, very surprised to see MSG still do as well selling tickets. I guess it always helps to be in NYC. Glad to see the Orpheum Theatre making it in the top 15. Wicked has done extremely well for them.

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SF Giants Promo: Snuggle Blanket!

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Who wants one? I don't blame you either.

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Seatwave set to move into the black as ticket sales 'soar' - Telegraph

By Rupert Neate, City Reporter (Media and Technology)
Published: 7:37PM GMT 20 Jan 2010

Joe Cohen, chief executive, said sales of tickets for music and comedy events "soared" as more people turn to the so-called "secondary ticket market" to secure entry to see live events.

"Consumers are realising that nothing really sells out any more, they can still get tickets [from online ticket exchanges like Seatwave]," he said.

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Mr Cohen said the rise in sales, from which Seatwave takes a 25pc cut, will push the group into profit this year.
"We always thought it would take years," he said. "But as we approach our third anniversary next month, we expect to turn into profit soon."

He said ticket sales jumped 87pc compared to 2008 as demand for comedy gigs, rock concerts and tickets to last summer's cricket World Cup and the Ashes soared.

Mr Cohen said the sudden jump in popularity of comedy gigs showed "consumers depressed by the bad economy wanted something to laugh at".

Tickets for Peter Kay, the comic best known for TV show Phoenix Nights, was the most popular comedy act last year, followed by Billy Connolly and Michael McIntyre. Seatwave said it sold 40,000 tickets for U2's 360º tour to fans from more than 100 countries. Depeche Mode and Muse were also top draws, according to Mr Cohen. Sales of tickets for sport events increased by 95pc, with the Twenty20 World Cup and the Six Nations among the most popular events.

Mr Cohen defended the company against accusations that it and rivals such as Viagogo are encouraging the growth of "bedroom touts", who snap up tickets with the sole purpose of making a profit by selling them on.

He said the price of tickets on the secondary ticket market has not increased as much as the face value price.

via telegraph.co.uk

The secondary ticket market is booming right now. Seatwave has become the largest marketplace in Europe. Fans have turned to Seatwave for unlocking their unused season ticket value. The secondary ticket market is a great way to buy or sell tickets!

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25,000 Consumers Want to Block TicketMaster-Live Nation merger

Washington - A consumer advocacy group called TicketDisaster.org announced on Tuesday that nearly 25,000 consumers have directly contacted the U.S. Justice Departent, to urge the antitrust division to block the merger of Ticketmaster (NASD: TKTM) and concert promotion giant Live Nation (NYSE: LYV).

"Consumers can spot a raw deal when they see one, and this merger is exactly that -- a combination of two market behemoths that would result in higher prices, more outrageous fees, and less choice," said Sally Greenberg, executive director of the National Consumers League, a founding member of the coalition.

Other backers of the campaign include the "American Antitrust Institute, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, I.M.P. Productions Chairman Seth Hurwitz (representing independent venue owners), the National Association of Ticket Brokers and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (USPIRG)."

 

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/u4p18

http://www.ticketdisaster.org

Published in DMW Daily, January 19, 2010

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A merger between Ticketmaster and Live Nation could change the entire landscape of the primary and secondary ticket market. Do you think the merger will help you as a consumer?

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NHL's December Attendance Numbers

via nhl.fanhouse.com

The NHL has experienced some hard times, like any other league in this economy. With attendance numbers down as much as 30%, season ticket holders are looking for other ways to use their tickets. FASTBREAK was launched for this very reason: to give season ticket holders an easy and convenient way to get rid of their unused tickets.

The NBA and MLB, last year, also have seen their numbers slowly decline. All that FASTBREAK wants to do is help anyone get something back for their unwanted tickets, whether it is cash back or even used to spend on other events, like the Super Bowl or the NBA All-Star Game.

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Luck means a lot in football

“Sure, luck means a lot in football. Not having a good quarterback is bad luck.”

 ~ Don Shula

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"...it helps if you have some kind of football team"

"You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of football team, or some nuclear weapons, but in the very least you need a beer." 
— Frank Zappa

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Convert your season tickets into earthquake relief

FASTBREAK customers can donate a portion of their account balance to help victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti.

 

With the help of World Vision, FASTBREAK customers are converting their unused season tickets into lifesaving funds for those in need.

 

www.fastbreak.com

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Earthquake relief

FASTBREAK customers can donate a portion of their account balance to help victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti.

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