Miss604 Poll: Vancouver 2010 Tickets On Sale Soon

Comments 18 by Rebecca Bollwitt

It has been announced that a first wave of tickets to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games will go on sale in less than a month.

Thirty per cent of tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games will be made available to the public, a spokesman for the organizing committee said Tuesday.

The Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee aims to reduce the number of empty seats at all events with its new plan for ticket allocation and sales, which will begin Oct. 3, said Dave Cobb, VANOC’s executive vice-president. [CBC]

From October 3rd until November 7th you’ll be able to grab your share of the 1.6 million tickets that will be going on sale during “Phase 1”. However, this is a far more complex process than heading over to your neighbourhood Ticketmaster outlet.


Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

“Phase 1 of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games ticket program will move through four stages: Application Period, Lotteries, Notification and Exclusive Add-On Period.”

“Phase 2 Early 2009: Remaining unsold tickets will be available for public sale. Canadian residents who missed the initial application period can purchase these unsold tickets at this time.”

“Phase 2 Mid to Late 2009: All tickets purchased up to this point will be assigned specific seat locations – determined once venue configurations have been finalized.”

“Phase 3: Once the seat assignment period is complete, any remaining unsold tickets will be available for purchase. Tickets purchased at this time will be sold directly into available seat locations.”

Tickets will start at $25 for some events and will jump to four-figures for things like the opening and closing ceremonies (currently set at $1,100, $750, $550, and $175 price ranges). A complete price guide is available on the website.

With the region being turned on its head, worries about facilities and highways, and the amazing spectacle in Beijing (yet still not without controversy) – how are locals feeling about the Games right about now?

[poll=13]

If you would like to answer anything other than the choices below, please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

18 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

  1. PhaedraWednesday, September 10th, 2008 — 8:48am PDT

    I will not, and am fully against the Olympics. I will be far, far away when this shit show starts.

  2. Tyler IngramWednesday, September 10th, 2008 — 9:00am PDT

    So how fast are these tickets going to sell out? Will there be any tickets for us who don’t own multi-million dollar corporations?

    I want to see the Freestyle Snowboarding up on Cypress! Hockey would be awesome but I doubt I’ll be able to afford those tickets, as goes for Figure Skating.

    Perhaps I should apply as a volunteer! I have friends who work up at Cypress perhaps they can get me in 😉 lol

    I mean it’s cool that they are happening here in the Vancouver area but the chances of _me_ being able to see them live are umm slim! Why am I paying higher taxes etc for various things to not be able to go to this once-in-a-lifetime event?

    Oh and I have a rant about the prices of Whistler/Blackcomb etc I think will go up during/after 2010 as well because they ‘hosted’ part of it too!

  3. Robert FinlaysonWednesday, September 10th, 2008 — 9:18am PDT

    Tyler has the right idea – volunteering is a great way to experience the Games and is very rewarding.

    Go to the online application, fill it out and if everything is ok you’ll get a call back for the phone screen and then the next stage, an interview and training.

    http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/Participation/VolunteerOpportunities

    VANOC requires 25,000 volunteers and will be hiring 32,000 to account for volunteer cancellations in 2010.

  4. TawcanWednesday, September 10th, 2008 — 9:22am PDT

    I’d love to go and see hockey, speed skating, or curling live but I doubt I’ll be able to afford the tickets.

  5. RaulWednesday, September 10th, 2008 — 9:22am PDT

    Unless I get involved in the sustainability office of the Olympics (in which case I am hoping I can exact some important changes!), I seriously doubt I’ll be anywhere near the Olympics. Being a vocal advocate for all thigns social change and equity, I am not 100% sure I could live with myself and attend the 2010 Olympics without being involved in some way or another (and obviously assuming that I could change anything!).

  6. ColleenWednesday, September 10th, 2008 — 10:20am PDT

    Hoping to go to Curling. I think the pricing seems resonable. As for people against the games cause the money could be spent better elsewhere. Do you really think that all this money would go to the social programs you rally behind, if we didn’t have the games? I think the oylmpics will be good for BC/Canada in the big picture.

  7. sis604Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 — 10:20am PDT

    Can’t wait. What a great way to invite the world to our province and celebrate the hardwork of the athletes. It will be very motivating for our youngsters. I plan on taking my kids to whatever events we can.

  8. buzzWednesday, September 10th, 2008 — 10:20am PDT

    This is going to be a pain in the ass. Preferential treatment will be given to those willing to buy multi days for events, or tickets across many venues. You’ll also be required to purchase tickets to the medal ceremony at BC Place.

    In other words, you have to buy the tickets in bulk (scalpers) to have a good shot at getting tickets. Meaning many people (scalpers) will be forced to buy tickets to events they dont want to get tickets to events they do want.

    Wonder what will happen with the tickets that people dont want but are forced to buy (scalpers)?

  9. buzzWednesday, September 10th, 2008 — 10:22am PDT

    @Robert in regards to volunteers: my mom is one of those scanning the applications. preferential treatment is being given to those with experience and open availability across many days and venues.

    Sooooo .. unless you’re a volun-pro, or have a lot of spare time .. don’t expect to get a call to one-off watch the stands during the gold medal hockey game.

  10. Robert FinlaysonWednesday, September 10th, 2008 — 11:14am PDT

    @buzz Yes, understand the criteria (my wife was at VANOC in HR).

    But, given that B.C. government workers will be paid to “volunteer” at the Olympics (See: CBC) confirms the real fear within VANOC that they will not reach their volunteer targets in the given time-frame.

  11. Urban DwellerWednesday, September 10th, 2008 — 11:15am PDT

    I’m willing to pay a few grand for tickets to the gold medal game for Mens Hockey. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The olympics are coming so you may choose to stay away or do as I will and embrace them.

  12. Miss604Wednesday, September 10th, 2008 — 11:23am PDT

    Update: Tickets can only be purchased with VISA (starting Oct 3) since they’re the “official card” of the Games (source: News1130)

  13. Mort-yWednesday, September 10th, 2008 — 12:38pm PDT

    It will be an exciting time when the Olympics get here…and they are coming, so stop all the whining and belly-aching already. Let us support our athletes and show the world what a great place this is! If I can afford tickets to anything, I will be there.

  14. Kulpreet SinghWednesday, September 10th, 2008 — 2:10pm PDT

    I do not support the Olympics in BC as they are not improving, and possibly further damaging, the quality of life of the homeless or impoverished in BC and they are not helping to protect or sustain, and possibly further damaging, the natural environment of BC.

  15. PatZWednesday, September 10th, 2008 — 11:43pm PDT

    so you buy a ticket without knowing where your seat is? That seems kind of stupid.
    I’m more interested in seeing how the bars and pubs around town change their prices during the Games seeing as how a huge number of people are never going to be able to afford to buy tickets and will go somewhere else to watch them instead.
    Like really, who expects to see something exciting or 25$? cross country skiing and 8th place hockey games? come on.

  16. CoreyFriday, September 12th, 2008 — 2:16pm PDT

    My new logos for 2010.

    http://adhack.com/ads/vancouver-2010-beautiful-british-columbia

    http://adhack.com/ads/health-care-before-olympics

  17. gusgreeperFriday, September 12th, 2008 — 3:32pm PDT

    WOW could they make it any more confusing to get tickets?

    i was going to go to Bali i was telling everyone i was NOT going to be in the city i voted no blah blah and blah… but then when i saw the triathlon live and balled my eyes out and had one of the best times of my life i was just like nope can’t do it can’t leave the city. i get really really torn on my feelings in regards to the olympics i love and hate so much about them it turns my head upside down.

    i won’t pay to see any sports but i’ve already sold out and own two stuffed mascots (well one is adams) and have bought mascot dolls for kids that are cool.

  18. LiT MekongFriday, November 7th, 2008 — 8:24am PST

    If iI have 4 tickets to Men’s Gold Medal Ice hockey can I re-sell them for profit? How will they know if I do?

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