Legislators offered bargain tickets to Super Bowl

Associated Press photo by Mark Humphrey -- Workers build a structure outside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Monday. The San Francisco 49ers are scheduled to face the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game Sunday.

Saints owner Tom Benson offered legislators a bargain on tickets to Super Bowl XLVII.

The New Orleans Saints sent legislators an email this month offering them the opportunity to buy two tickets each in the Mercedez-Benz Superdome for the National Football League matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens.

“Thank you for your support in securing Super Bowl XLVII,” the email read before spelling out details and deadlines for ordering tickets.

It is unclear how many legislators bought tickets through the Saints ticket office.

Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said Monday that he did not immediately know how many legislators bought tickets to the Super Bowl. The team would have to run a tally, which would take time, Bensel said.

However, at $850 per ticket, legislators’ entry into the Super Bowl is far cheaper than the $3,195.14 average ticket price cited Monday by Tiq IQ, which tracks ticket prices.

The Saints allowed legislators to buy the tickets at face value, which ranges from $850 to $1,250. Stubhub demanded $1,800 a ticket for similar seats.

State Rep. Walt Leger III, D-New Orleans, said he took advantage of the Saints’ offer. He plans to root for the Ravens on Sunday. “We paid face value for the ticket, and I was happy to be able to buy them,” he said.

Senate President John Alario, R-Westwego, did not respond to a request for comment.

Through a spokesman, House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles, said he purchased tickets from the Saints ticket office.

Other legislators said they passed on the offer because they thought the price was too steep for tickets in the terrace level sideline, which is the upper portion of the Superdome.

“I’m definitely not going for $850 a piece. I didn’t go when the Saints were in it,” said state Rep. Cameron Henry, R-New Orleans.

State Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge, said he is not flush enough to go to the Super Bowl. “I’m not going. It’s exorbitantly expensive,” he said.

State Sen. Francis Thompson, D-Delhi, said he looked at the seating chart and decided to watch from home. “They’re in the nosebleed section,” he said.

Thompson said he allowed a constituent to purchase his tickets.

State Sen. Robert Adley, R-Benton, and state Rep. Brett Geymann, R-Lake Charles, said they also gave other people access to their tickets.

“I remember one year I bought those tickets and they were for the third row from the top. They looked like ants down there,” Adley said.

Geymann said he lacks the money and the desire to go to the game.

Eleven years ago, when New Orleans hosted the Super Bowl, Benson gave then-Gov. Mike Foster and state legislators the chance to buy tickets.

At the time, the Legislature was considering a $186 million bailout of the New Orleans Saints.

Gov. Bobby Jindal later signed a long-term deal to keep the NFL franchise in New Orleans. The agreement included $85 million in taxpayer-funded improvements to the dome and the state’s lease of space in an office building owned by the Benson family.

As governor, Jindal gets a suite in the Superdome as one of the perks of his job. His spokesman, Sean Lansing, said the NFL dictates sales and distribution of Super Bowl tickets, including the stadium’s suites.

“There was a standing invitation for the governor to attend by Tom Benson, but he will be watching the game at home with his family,” Lansing said.

Comments

1) Comment by Warp7 - 29/01/2013

I suspect this is for future votes. Louisiana politics as usual, bargain tickets to Legislators!

2) Comment by foldgers - 29/01/2013

justice, maybe I came across the wrong way here, but I am in complete agreement with you. I used to always HATE how for big concerts, so many tickets went right to the radio stations to give away for contests or for their employees. Main reason why I do not and will not ever buy from a company that is legally allowed to sell for more than face value. They can use supply and demand, but not us, the fans that WANT to see these games and events and not just use the tickets as a way to make more money.

3) Comment by Cousin Dave - 29/01/2013

Since when is the face value of the tickets (in this case $850 each) considered a bargain? Sure, it is cheaper than what scalpers are charging, and this is the Super Bowl. If they were giving the tickets away for free to legislators, I might have a problem with it, but they aren't.

4) Comment by justicematters - 29/01/2013

Foldgers, I certainly don't have an issue with you selling your tickets at whatever price somebody wants, I was talking about a corporation being allowed buy massive blocks of thousands of tix and then jacking the price and then REselling them for commercial profit. Look at the difference in the way LSU football tickets are sold and this situation. I think its sad if anybody was arrested for scalping, carrying it on their records, and now its just big business. So it was not ok for a guy trying to make some money on the sidewalk, but it IS ok for a multimillion dollar online reseller. That is the point I was trying to make. And Ducky, amen - Id just buy a nice bigscreen and watch it in HD for 800$!

5) Comment by NewsReader - 29/01/2013

Now if only people would quit suing the state/local authorities/PD's etc we could ALL have our money back. Ready to return your motorcycle MEM?

6) Comment by markedwardmarchiafava - 29/01/2013

Not at all making excuses for Bobby "jump ship" Jindal. I AM glad to see Kirby is finally catching on. Abolish a LOT of state agencies, give EVERYONE their money back.

7) Comment by kirbysmith - 29/01/2013

****Comment Removed for Violation of Terms of Use****

8) Comment by markedwardmarchiafava - 29/01/2013

It's not the duty of government to bring industry to the state.

9) Comment by kirbysmith - 29/01/2013

Got no problem with Benson offering them tickets at face value. He's selling them, not giving them away. What I do have a problem with is Piyush staying home and not attending the biggest networking event on the planet. If he thinks he will better serve the people of LA by sitting his narrow self in front of a TV, rather than being at this event and shaking hands with people who make the decisions as to where they will locate businesses - he is a fool. A stupid man. He should be in New Orleans most of this week, visiting with potential investors in our state. He has an economic development director that makes about a half million a year - could he maybe set up a few meeting for our "governor," to be with some serious movers and shakers in the business world? What a bunch of emptty suits. Or is it blue blazer, khaki and 'cowboy' boots. Give me a break. To our "governor" and his minions, GO EARN YOUR SALARIES!

10) Comment by mh1949 - 29/01/2013

Benson may need the votes of these politicians when needing more superdome money from the state.

11) Comment by mcBR - 29/01/2013

The seat numbers should be disclosed. If any legislators sell their tickets for a profit, they have undoubtedly violated ethic laws. Exclusive access to purchase a ticket whose market value is above the asking price amounts to a gift (read: bribe).

12) Comment by whyisthisnews - 29/01/2013

Michelle, why just limit your research (easy) to legislators and the Governor? Please investigate further and let us know EVERYONE who was offered tickets at face value. Was anyone from The Advocate (editor, board) offered tickets? Which mayors? You constantly slam the legislature with misleading titles because it is easy and requires a few phone calls. Imagine what will happen to your stories if John Georges buys The Advocate, then runs again for governor. Assuming he becomes governor, you will be attacking the legislature to promote Georges' agenda - while at the same time calling it journalism. Scary.

13) Comment by Duckyluve - 29/01/2013

Anybody that spends $800.00 or more per ticket is a fool. What a complete waste of money. I wonder how many are going to this game yet cant pay their light bill?

14) Comment by phil - 29/01/2013

Gee folks, after all this is Louisiana, and I think this sort of thing is unfortunately not even news any more. For example, how about actually posting the list of free tickets for the last Superfest that was held in BR? We all should be used to this by now, so what the heck is so special about this?!

15) Comment by foldgers - 29/01/2013

I forget why, but I did read somewhere why Stubhub could charge over face value for tickets, but it not being called scalping. I do not like the anti-"scalping: law. Scalping is a term invented by the government in my opinion to make it sound evil. If I have season tickets and I am unable to attend a game here with LSU playing Alabama, why couldn't I sell it for what people are willing to pay? Isn't that what this country was built on? Supply and demand? I can give them away for free, but I can't give milk away for free?? It is the NCAA and the NFL, making sure they get EVERY last penny they can.

16) Comment by justicematters - 29/01/2013

I agree with the Realist. Very misleading title. Purchasing at face value seems fair. What does not seem fair is that only a few years ago they were arresting people at tiger stadium for scalping, but now it seems completely ok with the reporter. Maybe scalping should be the next story written. Is it fair for the dome to sell blocks of a thousand tickets to online ticket vendors so they can triple the price? All it does is keep working people from being able to afford to go and enjoy these events. It has come to the point that only a select few can afford to attend a SuperBowl, ever. I say the same legislature that helped keep the Saints in Louisiana should be able to go enjoy a game, at face value. I only wish I could afford to take my children. Until the legal scalping is curtailed, it isnt likely.

17) Comment by The Realist - 29/01/2013

cool story, foldgers

18) Comment by foldgers - 29/01/2013

I find it insane. People from San Fran and Baltimore are spending hundreds to fly round trip, no telling how much on their hotels, $850 at LEAST, PER TICKET, dining out once here, shopping, i heard this morning the cheapest thing to eat at the game will be the small nachos for $8 each... all just to watch a GAME for 3-4 hours. I love football, I love the Saints, but I refuse to go to a game as I really do not like supporting the NFL all that much, except for the Saints jacket and shirt I have. Otherwise, that organization will never see a penny from me. And I would NEVER spend that much just to say I was there. But hey, let them come here and help out our state, I do not mind. But, like I say when I go to Vegas, "What recession?" That city never seems to have a lack of people spending money. And now the amount of people willing to go to this game and the amount of people that will be partying in Vegas for this game, the amount of money that will be wagered on this game, I ask again, what recession?

19) Comment by The Realist - 29/01/2013

Holy misleading article title, Advocate....."The Saints allowed legislators to buy the tickets at face value, which ranges from $850 to $1,250."..... I really wouldn't say allowing legislatures to purchase tickets a month ago at face value as a "bargain price". ....This would have been more of a story if they were trying to sell scalped tickets to them.

20) Comment by Marvin6 - 29/01/2013

Why discounts to the legislators, it is the tax payers, who pay for the super dome. Another example of corporate welfare to Mr. Benson

21) Comment by SuzanneMS - 29/01/2013

Can say, "bribe?" It absolutely violates the state's ethics codes.

22) Comment by crazycajun - 29/01/2013

Benson should be very appreciative. Hell, he ranks higher than the Charity System, higher education, the state employees, the retired state employees, public education, the teachers, all the programs starved by L'il booby so they could be privatized. All the while these clown legislators sat on their rear ends and gave booby their blessings. They should be ashamed of themselves accepting those perks while Rome (Louisana) is burning. But then again they've shown how shameful they are all along while this has been happening.

23) Comment by Bouncer - 29/01/2013

Someone needs to convene the Ethics Board to determine whether or not this violates state ethics codes.

24) Comment by lovemykids - 29/01/2013

Can I offer legislators $1000 discounts?

25) Comment by markedwardmarchiafava - 29/01/2013

If Louisiana had moral statesmen instead of politicians, this would be a non-issue.