Indy 500 Ticket Pricing For 2016
 

Got and e-mail today from Indianapolis Motor Speedway and was astonished to find that our tickets for the 2016 Indy 500 are going up in price a whopping $34.00 apiece.


This incredible increase comes just 1 year after a state mandated increase of $9.00 per ticket and 2 years removed from a sizable increase from The Speedway.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the pricing for 2016.

I doubt we can have that much fun.

Re: Indy 500 Ticket Pricing For 2016
 

Looks like it really depends where your seats are. I see some seats jumped up $44 dollars. I'm on the backstretch and mine haven't changed much at all luckily. next years ticket will only be $5 more than I paid in 2009. Looks like all the Deck seats, penthouse and box seats saw the biggest price increases.

A $34 dollar jump like yours in one year is not right. People will stop renewing at jumps like that. that should not be what they want.
they must be betting on enough people willing to pay the price.

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They can give'em away free for all I care but those that regularly attend have to remember that they're seeing the "greatest spectacle in racing." Or has that motto gotten a bit stale over the years?

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I got lucky... seats went up $3. I still might not reorder. I don't understand how they can raise prices when the demand is about half of what it was and decreasing each year...

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Agree!! $34 is a huge increase to simply switch from a metal folding chair to a plastic stadium seat.... I would tell them to "shove it"

It might have something to do with the renovations that r Spose to be in the works for next year.... Just a thought... Dunno but Qualifying morning saw on TV news talking to track rep about.....don't agree with price hike but that's probly how they'll pay for it... Spose to b a better "experience" as I remember him stating?????

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Mine are going up $6 each. I plan on renewing for next year (the 100th running) but $109 for Little League field quality BLEACHER seating is bullpucky. I doubt I'll go in 2017, I think I'll spend my money on the other races I haven't gotten to yet, Knoxville Nat'ls, Chili Bowl, etc.

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A "better experience" would be a few, or more, American circle trackers getting a legitimate shot and enough entries for a decent and interesting "bump" day..... That would be a start for me.. next year will be my 53rd in a row and probably my last...

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The tickets for the 500 have been over priced for years and its no surprise they keep going up! I mean they raised the price of qualifications to $20 and that meant your HARF membership went from giving you a ticket to qualifications to just a practice day ticket! Now you wanna talk bull crap that's BS! Its sad to see this happening but not a surprise in this day and age. For the average race fan its just to much money for what you get in return to even go anymore.

Re: Indy 500 Ticket Pricing For 2016
 

Still a pretty good deal compared to the other top tier sporting events in the world.

Re: Indy 500 Ticket Pricing For 2016
 

Since 1911 one constant remains year after year,1 man 1 machine contesting the track.Of all the faults we find[me included] its still a thrill to see them run.As for pricing my .5 cent candy bar cost a$1.25 now

How's that overpricing tickets working out for nascar now! ( I know you can't compare the racing )

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I get so many e-mails that I had overlooked the one from IMS. I was looking at IOW on my phone when I saw the thread about the ticket prices. I checked and it looks like mine went up about $18 each. I still consider this a bargain in comparison to other major league sports. Can't believe all the nattering nabobs of negativism concerning the 500. Sure, it has changed, but what hasn't? I absolutely love all the pomp and ceremony, and the last two 500's have been the best of the fifty I have seen. The size of the crowd is back to nearly what it was before the split, and I predict the 100th running will be totally sold out. Looking forward to my 51st consecutive event this coming Sunday, and then I will change modes and stop at TSS on the way home and get a little dirt in my hair. Two totally different events, but I enjoy both.

Re: Indy 500 Ticket Pricing For 2016
 

thought I would check the Klipsch Music center to see the going rate for some of the major concert's, INDY 500 is a bargain!

http://www.klipschmusiccenter.org/kl...enter-tickets/

or you can go watch a BORING Reds baseball game (MLB has so many "furiners" that it makes Indy car look like the all American Sport, BTW, aren't there some American players at the local Softball fields that deserve a shot at the Majors instead of all those Cuban's!) for $90 and under.
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/16..._Tickets-na-x0

Re: Indy 500 Ticket Pricing For 2016
 

I'm lucky, my tickets only went up $3.00 - but what in life hasn't increased in price? Like Ron, I will be attending my 51st Indianapolis 500 this year and I cherish each and every one of them. Here's hoping that our own Bryan Clauson has a great showing on Sunday!

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Correction,

My tickets only went up $11 each, from $109 to $120 each. Have had these tickets since 1968, when they were $20 each.

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Well, prices have to go up when the state of Indiana only gives you $100 Million in taxpayer money over 10 years to make improvements. Of course, you hear about how much money the race brings into the state but 98% of that money has to go to Marion Co. alone. I don't see any economic benefit in Evansville due to the 500 but we're a step-child down here anyway. They'll spend our money on the track, though.

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What about the taxpayer money spent on the stick and ball stadiums in Indianapolis and the money spent to keep teams around every time they threaten to leave? That is sure not helping us down here in Evansville.

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Still the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Still the #1 attended sporting event. In the World. I still get choked up (just like Eddie Sachs, and possibly partly because I'm thinking of him) when they play "Taps".
Sure, it has it's faults; what doesn't? I'm with Ron, the last 2 have been Classics. And think about this: how many of the hits this year would have been fatal in the 50's, 60's or even up to the 90's? All of the improvements to the cars and the facility cost money, and many of those improvements "enhance the experience" by allowing guys like Hinch to come back next year, and hopefully for many years to come. That's worth a bump in the ticket prices to me.

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Speaking of Eddie Sachs, if you haven't read "Black Noon", you should get a copy!

Re: Indy 500 Ticket Pricing For 2016
 

That is the reason that after 51 years in my family the seats are dropped!

Re: Indy 500 Ticket Pricing For 2016
 

Since 2013 our 500 seats have increased SEVENTY dollars per ticket.

That figures out to just shy of a 47% increase per ticket in just THREE YEARS.

I know, I know, there is no one holding a razor to my throat to buy the dammed tickets, and we probably won't continue to. But, when you get beyond all the conjured up rhetoric about the tradition, history and ambiance you're still just watching a bunch of spec race cars driven by mostly foreigners who we don't care a thing about the other 11 months of the year at a track where even if you're setting in the very best seats in the place you can see less than half the track. However, I've been told by a Speedway representative that I can bring a cooler to my seat and most other sports venues don't allow that. I have only one thing to say to that............. BIG F'N DEAL!!

And given all that, some would call a 47% increase in just 3 years A BARGAIN!! If that's the case I'd sure like to know what ya'll consider gouging.

Sorry for the rant, guys.

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The 2014 increase was the first in a decade. The most expensive seats in the house are $186.00 this year. OK, heck with it, let's spend our Memorial Day at another iconic sports venue, Fenway Park, and watch the Sox and the Angels; let's see, best seats in the house, right behind home plate....$620.00.
Stop whining.

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got to agree with you. I just enjoy it. Crowds are definitely way up and have been increasing every year. unfortunately that's maybe put some upward pressure on the prices. Angell park the night before and Kokomo after for me.

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I don't think it's considered a "Top" tier sporting event anymore. Almost zero news coverage here in Cincinnati (we're less than 2 hrs away). The recent TV ratings for the race have been less than stellar. Also, they have removed 1000's of lower level seats to condense the crowd for camera shots and there are still 1000's of empty seats on race day...I'd bet there are less than 175,000 spectators on race day....it really saddens me.

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I disagree about the crowds growing in recent years. You realize, they removed thousands of seats in the last few years...We sit in the northern part of the Tower Terrace, and the last several years it has been "nearly" half empty.. there is no one in the lower seats. I'd bet the deed to my house they're not getting close to 200,000 anymore...

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Have been to one MLB baseball game since the strike of the early 90's. We got the tickets for recycling some old electronic equipment. Thank god the wife was ready to leave in the 3rd inning! I was ready to scream with boredom!!

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According to the Indianapolis Star permanent seats at Indy peaked out several years back at 257,000. After the seat and grandstand section removals of the last few years seating is now down to around 230,000. And as you state there are many seats on the inside of the front straight that have been empty for years as well as some closed sections in the south end of the track. I don't know what the actual numbers are but with all of the empty seats your 200,000 people in the stands today when the race starts is probably pretty close. Of course there are people in the infield but that's way down from where it was years ago.

What's really killed the 500 is the lack of attendance during the rest of the "month". Practice and Qualifying crowds this year were as low as they ever been. Not all that many years ago Pole Day attracted as large a crowd as the race does now. Overall May attendance is no more than 50% of what it was 25 years ago at best.

The Speedway itself stated that actual 500 attendance for the full month in 2013 was 275,000 and for 2014 was 360,000. The numbers for 2014 reflected an additional 75,000 people that attended both the new Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the Jason Aldean concert the night before the 500.

Pack your cooler with your sandwiches, water and beer. Go try to get into any football or baseball game, let me know how it works out for you.

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Why are we comparing Indy to Football and Baseball? I believe the discussion is: media and fan interest now vs. what it once was... and there's no denying the event is a mere shell of what it once was...

All that I can say is that I will be going to my 29th indy 500 and its a great family tradition to go to the 500 and have a great weekend with family and friends and the great memories that have happened in them years and will last for a life time. That is priceless. Hope to see you guys at kokomo after indy 500. Go clauson

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Yes I do know they removed some seats. A section was completely removed by me on the backstretch . I believe it had the least fans and they were relocated maybe as some say to make it look fuller. Of course real attendance likely will never come public.
I look down in turn three infield which used to be completely empty and is now packed full . now thousands of those are there for that dance DJ party and it would certainly be debatable if they even know there is a race going on.
Also I look at parking. I park out in the free parking out in the huge open lot NW of the track. In the early 2000's that was maybe a third full. it has been getting fuller every year and last year it filled and they closed it off.
I can not judge from the good old days as I have only been going post split but I still think attendance has risen since then. I think they are also maybe attracting some non race fans with the other promotions going on like the concerts the day before.
I do however see it as a one day event now qualifying and other lead up events that where heavily attended in the past do not have the excitement they once had.

Bottom line like previous post says its a fun day. I get the kids and friends together and we enjoy the day supporting racing.
And I guess if the crowds are down that will help me get to Kokomo sooner.

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I wonder if it being the 100th running has anything to do with the price increase. I know if I am home from work I will be getting tickets. I have been to every day except race day. I think you will see an increase in attendance next year just due to the fact it is the 100th running.

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Go try this at Kokomo or Gas City and let me know how it works for you.

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If you remember, the speedway asked for and got a 100 million dollar, interest free loan, either last year or the year before. They have to pay it back at 10 million a year for 10 years starting next year. Ticket prices going up next year, and if you park in a speedway owned lot, the price went up on that also. Coincidence??? Don't think so. They are gonna get most of that 10 million from the fans in the stands. Don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that one out.:17: