Why Are Tickets for Las Vegas Entertainment Events Still on Sale Now?

With Vegas shows all currently being closed indefinitely, why do I continue to see many of the hotels and ticket resellers like Vegas.com still selling tickets for performances that are virtually guaranteed not to happen? Also, I’m wondering what’s currently going on with ticket resellers like Tix4Tonight that seemingly make their money off fees collected from show tickets sales?

With regard to Vegas.com and other ticket sellers, one longtime Las Vegas insider who wished to remain anonymous speculates that they’re trying to generate cash flow.

“Commissions on show tickets and show advertising make up a huge percentage of Vegas.com’s revenue. It all dried up, pretty much overnight, with no relief in sight.”

He further reports, “Such businesses are still selling tickets because they need the cash. I don’t think it’s necessarily shady, as they’re on the hook for refunds eventually, but a number of these businesses are holding onto the money as long as possible before canceling and refunding. Garth Brooks was a good example. Nobody thought it was happening, but canceling sets a lot of things in motion, including the issuance of refunds.”

Veteran entertainment reporter Mike Weatherford addressed the Tix4Tonight question. “They have those little ticket counters around town. I assume they made enough money over the years that they can still pay their rent on those shuttered locations at the Fashion Show, Town Square, etc., and will be able to until all this blows over. But in a familiar refrain, the hourly employees are likely screwed.”

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Comments

Patricia Sep-05-2020

Great Question

I have wondered myself I have purchased, exchanged several
Times I wish at least a  small show such as
A comedy  could open

Kevin Rough Sep-05-2020

No refunds in bankruptcy

If the reseller from whom you've purchased your ticket files for bankruptcy, it could make getting a refund very difficult.  Many years ago I got a gift certificate for Christmas.  The store filed for bankruptcy on December 26.  I got nothing.  Personally I wouldn't buy show tickets until I knew that the show had restarted.

Gtojohnr Sep-05-2020

Show tickets

Kevin, Agree with you fully 👍 Why should we finance them just because they need some cash flow

Jeff Sep-05-2020

@Gtojohnr

Some people are saying they are going to go to Las Vegas --  a city that leads the nation in several unenviable Covid statistics  --  during the pandemic in order to "show support for" or to "help out" the struggling casino industry. I guess some people are a lot more altruistic than you or me.

rokgpsman Sep-08-2020

Tough times

Most or all of those ads for show tickets still being sold are from businesses other than the actual resort's theater box office. Having a vast amount of entertainment in one city allowed the creation of businesses that only dealt with selling or reselling show tickets. Although it's just a single kind of business service it worked great in Las Vegas for many years (Tix4Tonight began in 2002) because of the millions of visitors each month and the huge number of shows performing. There was a continual need for show tickets every day, and lots of people bought tickets at the many handy ticket places around town. With this many visitors and available shows there was plenty of ticket business for them and the theater's own box office too. And the ticket resellers often had discount tickets for same-day shows that weren't sold out. But close down all the entertainment and that suddenly stops, with very little the ticket selling business can do to earn money. Now they're waiting, hoping.

Question of the Day - 05 September 2020

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