HOME ALL THAT CHAT ATC WEST COAST SHOPPIN' RUSH BOARD FAQS

LOGIN REGISTER SEARCH THREADED MODE

not logged in

Threaded Order | Chronological Order

THE LION KING's pricing algorithm

Posted by: TheHarveyBoy 06:28 am EDT 03/17/14

In today's NY Times, Patrick Healy writes about how THE LION KING's pricing algorithm keeps it the highest grossing show after 16 years.

Link NY Times on THE LION KING

reply to this message |
I was shocked how many seats are 225 even for a wed night

Posted by: dramedy 10:34 am EDT 03/17/14
In reply to: THE LION KING's pricing algorithm - TheHarveyBoy 06:28 am EDT 03/17/14

In April. Extreme side seats are 137. Almost the entire center section and aisle seats are premium and sold already. Interesting that the ticketmaster active seating chart helps sell more premium seats since people can see the better seats and pick them instead of tho old way of getting best available at regular price.


reply to this message |
re: I was shocked how many seats are 225 even for a wed night

Posted by: Ann 10:47 am EDT 03/17/14
In reply to: I was shocked how many seats are 225 even for a wed night - dramedy 10:34 am EDT 03/17/14

Isn't April a pretty big tourist month, though? Spring breaks include weekdays.

[and is The Lion King the best example of theatre dynamic pricing?]


reply to this message | reply to first message
It is one of the busy periods

Posted by: dramedy 12:23 pm EDT 03/17/14
In reply to: re: I was shocked how many seats are 225 even for a wed night - Ann 10:47 am EDT 03/17/14

But it was wed night for a kiddy show, somiwasnt expecting so much of the orch to be premium. Especially when I got Aladdin for 105 for row n center orch.


reply to this message | reply to first message
re: It is one of the busy periods

Posted by: Zelgo 12:32 pm EDT 03/17/14
In reply to: It is one of the busy periods - dramedy 12:23 pm EDT 03/17/14

Honestly, the center Orchestra is premium for many hit shows. As you get closer to a performance, however, the prices come down.

Also, just because it shows as "sold" now doesn't mean they are actually sold. I've seen entire sections open and close and re-open, who knows why, as the days progress.

When I went to CHICAGO the last time (a few years back) the online ticketing website showed most of the orchestra was sold out. When I got to the show, half the orchestra was empty. Who knows why the box office was showing the spaces sold (unless they wanted to push people to buy the more expensive seats).

The main take home from this is never trust the seating chart as set in stone. It changes moment to moment and day to day--as do the prices for the exact same open seats.

Most tourists will only look at it once and buy right then. Those of us in NYC have the luxury to watch it over many days to see if the seats we want open up--it's likely they will.


reply to this message | reply to first message
re: It is one of the busy periods

Posted by: AverageBwayNut 02:08 pm EDT 03/17/14
In reply to: re: It is one of the busy periods - Zelgo 12:32 pm EDT 03/17/14

You're 100% right -- that is, a seat shown as unavailable could mean "sold" or ir could mean "off sale". The latter designation would apply to all of the company and theatreowner house seats that only get released (if unsold) at 4 days prior to the performance.

Nowadays, if it's a hit show, most released house seats then get moved into premium. But if a show doesn't have the premium seat demand, those house seats get released for general sale and that's why those good seats often end up available at full regular price at the last minute. Very rare that you can ever get them at a discount, though.


reply to this message | reply to first message
Some is Amex and others is group sales

Posted by: dramedy 12:42 pm EDT 03/17/14
In reply to: re: It is one of the busy periods - Zelgo 12:32 pm EDT 03/17/14

I think a lot is held for group sales and slowly released based on demand. The old days of getting up at crack of dawn to buy tickets is a thing of the past. Very few shows do I pay full price first day of sales. Maybe the Hugh jackman the river might be one in the future. I waited for steady rain to get better seats, but it never happened, finally bought a rear mezz seat that was cheaper and fine for the show.


reply to this message | reply to first message


All That Chat is intended for the discussion of theatre news and opinion
subject to the terms and conditions of the Terms of Service. (Please take all off-topic discussion to private email.)

Please direct technical questions/comments to webmaster@talkinbroadway.com and policy questions to TBAdmin@talkinbroadway.com.

[ Home | On the Rialto | The Siegel Column | Cabaret | Tony Awards | Book Reviews | Great White Wayback Machine ]
[ Broadway Reviews | Barbara and Scott: The Two of Clubs | Sound Advice | Restaurant Revue | Off Broadway | Funding Talkin' Broadway ]
[ Broadway 101 | Spotlight On | Talkin' Broadway | On the Boards | Regional | Talk to Us! | Search Talkin' Broadway ]

Terms of Service
[ © 1997 - 2014 www.TalkinBroadway.com, Inc. ]

Time to render: 0.238395 seconds.