The Koch brothers are saintly philanthropists so please stop attacking them

[nonperson]

The support ballet! That wonderful David Koch has a THEATER named in his honor. Where the common people are no longer welcome unless they can up the ante considerably.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/23/arts/dance/city-ballet-raises-prices-and-phases-out-low-cost-tickets.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha28

City Ballet Raises Ticket Cost and Ire

By DANIEL J. WAKIN
Published: June 22, 2011

The bleacher bums of the ballet are burning mad.

New York City Ballet fans accustomed to sitting in the lofty fourth ring of the David H. Koch Theater are a hardy band of passionate balletomanes, and they’re angry that the company has decided to stop selling most of the low-priced nosebleed tickets.

The move is part of a strategy of changing ticket prices and limiting access to certain parts of the theater to help consolidate its audience in the orchestra and lower rings for less-than-full performances. This move will eliminate scattered pockets of people and create a more “vibrant performance atmosphere,” the company said.

The changes will especially hit buyers of cheap seats.

“This is going to backfire on them, and it’s going to backfire big,” said Carley Broder, who has attended City Ballet since the mid-1970s and is a fourth-ring regular. “People who sit in the fourth ring do not like to sit in the orchestra.” She added, “I would hate to be priced out of something that’s been such a big part of my life for so many years.”

Read the rest at the link.

A 6 million dollar deficit is supposedly causing this. Pocket change to the saintly philanthropist Koch brothers. So I have to wonder if the money is the real reason behind the drastically increased ticket prices.

[Dreamer Tatum]

1. Ummmm...

...there is no Koch on the NYC Ballet board, advisory board, or management.

So what exactly is your point?

[nonperson]

3. Well, my point is

Since David Koch has become a member and contributor the ballet aficionados who can afford fourth tier seats are now being forced, through the beneficence of David Koch, to relinquish their seats in favor of seats they can't afford.

Sounds like David Koch is an elitist asshole who doesn't want any of the unwashed masses in his namesake theater.

[Dreamer Tatum]

4. Sorry, not seeing this as a Koch issue at all.

When prices go up at the ballpark, I don't blame Petco or Qualcomm.

[nonperson]

5. DAVID KOCH'S NAME IS ON THE THEATER

Perhaps the ballet isn't your cup of tea. But when David Koch donates enough money to demand your favorite ballpark changes its name to "David Koch Field" and the only seats you can afford, the bleacher seats, go from $20 to $150 meaning you can no longer afford to see your favorite team at your favorite park maybe then you'll get it.

Or maybe not.

[Dreamer Tatum]

6. So Koch is absolutely, doubtlessly behind this? nt

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

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[Dreamer Tatum]

11. Not sure Koch needs any "defense" here.

That is sort of the point. How much control do you think he has over ticket prices?

[Taverner]

12. Tsk, going off in tangents again

Trying to derail the conversation instead of actually arguing it

[Dreamer Tatum]

13. It's the only relevant question.

Great, his name is on the theater. Granted. Does that mean he controls prices? I have no idea.
He's not even on the board.

[Taverner]

15. He doesn't have to be on the board to affect decision making

You know that, don't play dumb

whether he did or not - who knows? but I wouldn't put it past him

The hoi polloi do not like the commons to attend their parties, its been that way since the invention of money

[Dreamer Tatum]

16. I guess the CEO of Qualcomm calls in plays for the Chargers, too

I mean, it IS called Qualcomm stadium.

He also picks the mustard in the concession area.

[Taverner]

17. Now you're making it silly season...

[libodem]

2. yuck

Gross.

[Initech]

8. Reminds me of Norm McDonald's movie "Dirty Work"

The evil billionaire character in the movie screwed everyone and everything in his path - but it was OK because he appeared to support the arts. :eyes:

[nonperson]

19. BINGO!

Considering my now non-existent posts above I hope saying "BINGO!" doesn't get this post deleted too.

I had no idea the Koch brothers had so much influence around here.

[TBF]

9. They need to be more creative -

which will be difficult for an idiot like Koch.

Here in Houston I've seen them sell "mystery" tickets on facebook to sell out a show. They'll charge a lower price - like $25 - and you get whatever seats they assign you (you find out at the "will call" box when you get there). My husband and I have taken advantage of these and it's great fun and can save you lots of $$$.

[JackRiddler]

14. "A 6 million dollar deficit is supposedly causing this."

And the management has discovered a brilliant way to turn that into a $6.5 or $7 million deficit.

That's the way to treat your long-term PAYING audience: Tell them they're fucking cheapskates for not affording the orchestra seats!

But hey, it's another example of class war in action, everywhere. If you don't like the audience you have, envision a set possessed of pricier fannies. Even if they're unlikely to show.

The same principle was applied with "Citi" Field (New Shea Stadium) and the new Yankee Stadium -- in that case, with $400 million in state and city subsidies for each new park, plus $20 million a year indirectly from the taxpayers to "Citi" Field thanks to the USG bailout of the Citi crime group.

Both stadiums eliminated about 10,000 seats that would have been upper deck and cheap. Fuck the fans. They want to sell out and raise prices (Fenway effect).

So far, it's screwed the Mets. Don't know how the Yankees have been doing.

[bluestate10]

18. The Kochs are douches, but I don't see their evil hands in this one.

Even with one of their names on the building. Time to get on with real fights like the fight against hunger or the fight against off-shoring of jobs. A fucking distraction where ultra privileged twits are shutting down seats for less ultra privileged twits or some deluded wannabes wastes precious time.