But this year, according to the Las Vegas Advisor's annual survey, a $2.78-per-ticket increase scratches out last year's $2.50 decrease. That means the average ticket price for a show - $76.46 - is the highest in the 20-year history of the survey, Advisor chief Anthony Curtis says.
Helping up the ante: big-name artists. Elton John is hot. Celine Dion has returned. And a just-opened carnival/burlesque spectacle called Absinthe is getting great buzz (The Las Vegas-Review Journal's Norm Clarke, who writes a much-read celeb/nightlife column, told me he saw it, loved it so much he went back to see it again the next night). It's "an amazing show,' Curtis concurs.
But Curtis' press release says what's pushing the average up is "smaller price hikes everywhere. A total of 29 shows that were here last year (out of 95) sustained price increases, while only nine saw a ticket-price decrease."
Temporary headliners were not included in the survey. The highest average price for regular performers was Barry Manilow's $190.96, followed by Donny & Marie's $171.11, and Celine Dion's $164.65. This year's least expensive ticket was $17.45 for the "Afternoon Comedy Magic Show" at the Four Queens casino resort. The survey found 28 shows with at least one ticket option above $100 (compared to 23 last year). Cirque du Soleil's offerings were among them. Cirque averages from the survey (with Viva Elvis! besting the Beatles-themed LOVE):
Mystere: $110.40
Zumanity :$112.55
Believe: $123.44
KA: $130.70
O: $137.44
LOVE: $137.44
Viva Elvis!: $158.48
Curtis reminds visitors that save for hot tickets like those to Celine (which tend not to be discounted), you can get lower prices via coupons such as the Advisor gives out (you have to pay to be a member, though), half-price-booths around the city or other promotions such as players' club deals.
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