(This story was published in 2002).
By: David Mills
Reprinted by permission from the Sydney Star Observer
(Editor’s Note: All costs mentioned are U.S. dollars. $1 Australian dollar = 56 US cents))
Despite the fact that most Gay Games events are free, tickets to the events you’ll most likely want to go to come with a hefty price tag.
The closing ceremony is free to all, but tickets to the opening ceremony are $101 for A reserve and $70 for B reserve. (Concession tickets for B reserve will cost $48. There is no C reserve.)
Tickets to the five official Gay Games parties will also set you back. The opening and closing night parties, both of which will have ticket caps of 30,000, will cost $56 full price or $44 concession. The 5,000 tickets to the Sunset party on Sunday, November 3, are expected to sell quickly and cost $56 full price or $44 concession.
The women’s-only event, Butch!, to be held at the Dome on Wednesday, November 6, has a ticket cap of 2,000 and costs $31 full price or $24 concession. The men’s-only party, Black, will take place in the Dome and Hordern on the following night and has a capacity of 8,500. Tickets to Black are $49 full price or $39 concession.
Party organizers are offering discounts for multiple party bookings. A “women’s 3-way” ticket, which will get you into the opening and closing night parties and Butch!, will cost $129, or $121 if you book before July 31. A “men’s 3-way” ticket, which gives you access to the opening and closing night parties and Black, will cost $145, or $137 if you book before July 31.
The discount “3-way” tickets do not include tickets to the Sunset party, which will occupy the same territory as the Mardi Gras harbor party.
Tickets to the sporting events are much cheaper. Day passes for swimming, basketball, figure skating, ice hockey, track and field, volleyball and wrestling all cost $8, while the aerobics finals are priced at $14.
The cultural festival highlights range in price from $107 for a premium ticket to the world premiere of Opera Australia’s Lindy to $14 for a concession ticket to Dean Walsh’s new dance piece Flesh: Memo.
As this edition of Sydney Star Observer was going to press, a Sydney 2002 spokesperson reported that 761 tickets had already been sold for Gay Games events – with the Sunset and Black parties already proving popular. Ticket sales are expected to pick up further during the day in America.
The message for ticket buyers is very simple: get in quick.
THE GAY GAMES SHOPPING LIST
Option 1: Parties and arts
Tuesday October 29
And Then There’s Bea (starring Bea Arthur)
$42
Wednesday October 30
Foreign AIDS (starring South African satirist Pieter Dirk Uys)
$22
Thursday October 31
Lindy (Opera Australia)
C Reserve $49
Saturday November 2
Opening ceremony, Aussie Stadium
B reserve $70
Sunday November 3
Sunset party
$56
Tuesday November 5
Aerobics finals
$14
Thursday November 7
Sing Out To The World (choral event)
C reserve $16
Saturday November 9
Closing ceremony
Free
Farewell party
$56
Total $327
Option 2: Parties and sports
3-way party ticket bought before July 31
$129 women/$145 men
Saturday November 2
Opening ceremony, Aussie Stadium
B reserve $70
Welcome party
Bought with 3-way party ticket before 31 July
Sunday November 3
Physique show
$33
Monday November 4
Dance spectacular finals
$22
Tuesday November 5
Figure skating day pass
$8
Wednesday November 6 / Thursday November 7
Butch!/Black
Bought with 3-way party ticket before 31 July
Friday November 8
Track and field day pass
$8
Saturday November 9
Closing ceremony
Free
Farewell party
Bought with 3-way party ticket before July 31
Total $274 for women/$290 for men
