What you’ll pay to play
Despite the fact that most Gay Games events are free, tickets to the events you’ll most likely want to go to come with a hefty price tag.
The closing ceremony is free to all, but tickets to the opening ceremony are $179 for A reserve and $125 for B reserve. (Concession tickets for B reserve will cost $86. There is no C reserve.)
Tickets to the five official Gay Games parties will also set you back. The opening and closing night parties, both of which will have ticket caps of 30,000, will cost $99 full price or $79 concession. The 5,000 tickets to the Sunset party on Sunday 3 November are expected to sell quickly and cost $99 full price or $79 concession.
The women’s-only event, Butch!, to be held at the Dome on Wednesday 6 November, has a ticket cap of 2,000 and costs $55 full price or $44 concession. The men’s-only party, Black, will take place in the Dome and Hordern on the following night and has a capacity of 8,500. Tickets to Black are $88 full price or $70 concession.
Party organisers are offering discounts for multiple party bookings. A women’s 3-way ticket, which will get you into the opening and closing night parties and Butch!, will cost $228, or $215 if you book before 31 July. A men’s 3-way ticket, which gives you access to the opening and closing night parties and Black, will cost $257, or $243 if you book before 31 July.
The discount 3-way tickets do not include tickets to the Sunset party, which will occupy the same territory as the Mardi Gras harbour party.
Tickets to the sporting events are much cheaper. Day passes for swimming, basketball, figure skating, ice hockey, track and field, volleyball and wrestling all cost $15, while the aerobics finals are priced at $25.
The cultural festival highlights range in price from $189 for a premium ticket to the world premiere of Opera Australia’s Lindy to $25 for a concession ticket to Dean Walsh’s new dance piece Flesh: Memo.
As this edition of Sydney Star Observer was going to press, a Sydney 2002 spokesperson reported that 761 tickets had already been sold for Gay Games events -“ with the Sunset and Black parties already proving popular. Ticket sales are expected to pick up further during the day in America.
The message for ticket buyers is very simple: get in quick.
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THE GAY GAMES SHOPPING LIST
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Option 1: Parties and arts
Tuesday 29 October And Then There’s Bea (starring Bea Arthur), $75.
Wednesday 30 October Foreign AIDS (starring South African satirist Pieter Dirk Uys) $39.
Thursday 31 October
Lindy (Opera Australia), C Reserve $87.
Saturday 2 November Opening ceremony, Aussie Stadium, B reserve $125.
Sunday 3 November Sunset party $99.
Tuesday 5 November Aerobics finals $25.
Thursday 7 November Sing Out To The World (choral event), C reserve $30.
Saturday 9 November Closing ceremony, Free.
Farewell party $99.
Total $579
Option 2: Parties and sports
3-way party ticket bought before 31 July $228 women/$257 men.
Saturday 2 November Opening ceremony, Aussie Stadium, B reserve $125.
Welcome party (Bought with 3-way party ticket before 31 July).
Sunday 3 November Physique show $60.
Monday 4 November Dance spectacular finals, $40.
Tuesday 5 November Figure skating day pass, $15.
Wednesday 6 November/ Thursday 7 November
Butch!/Black (Bought with 3-way party ticket deal).
Friday 8 November Track and field day pass, $15.
Saturday 9 November Closing ceremony, Free.
Farewell party (Bought with 3-way party ticket before 31 July).
Total $483 for women/$512 for men
