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It's like Batman and Superman

got together to chat on some church steps. Two very popular Paris vloggers Jay Swanson and Antoine from Les Frenchies are discussing what the Olympics are going to be like. Antoine is a little naïve in not realizing that corporations buy up most of the seats at all such events (Super Bowl, World Cup, etc.) for their customers which freezes out the little guy, but also realistic about how hard it's going to be to get around. Jay is a little more optimistic. Then if you dive into the comments, a lot of "civilians" surprisingly have said they don't care, they want to experience the Olympics in Paris and are doing whatever they have to do.

Jay has all kinds of information for travelers you can find on his assorted websites. He loves his dog but he really, really loves coffee.

https://youtu.be/m7QzIF5mKgg

Posted by
723 posts

Gee, I wonder how I got to go to the Olympics when I went because I did not get any tickets from the corporations or companies.

I’m a little guy and I went to a number of events

Posted by
4853 posts

if it wasn't recently, that's because it's a fairly new phenom. I also went to some Olympic events here in LA in 84 and it was possible, but when the Super Bowl was in town recently (or even Taylor Swift), fuggedit

Posted by
7161 posts

I’m a little guy and I went to a number of events

Carol, when did you go? The whole thing with corporations buying up tickets to big events and venues has gone crazy in the last 10-15 years. It's so much worse now than it was in the past. And when it comes to the Olympics the individual events can determine how hard it is for the 'little guy' to get tickets - less popular events are easy, extremely popular and 'big' events are very difficult.

Posted by
319 posts

I have tickets to the Olympics this year. Was pretty easy and a lot cheaper than I had anticipated. I also could've bought tickets to both opening and closing ceremonies. Friends of our also did the same. We are not big corporations, we are the little guys...

Posted by
795 posts

There are SO many chances to get tickets, I agree Kimberly! Obviously the most expensive like the hospitality suites and such are more accessible to those companies (and/or people who have THAT kind of money haha), but the word "plethora" comes to mind for options.

I know that the Committee was touting the large amount of cheap(er) tickets that were available, but with the demand, those went QUICK. But we have some great events, I literally had to restrain myself from buying women's gymnastics and swimming this last ticket release (wasn't it like something like 3-4 weeks ago? I can't remember) and I settled for men's gymnastics as I wanted to save money :) We started out with a 3 pack of tickets, then quickly went up to a second 3 pack to make 6, then jumped to 7 last May, and just recently went up to 8 events.....we need to stop HAHA

Posted by
2790 posts

I know several "ordinary people" in Paris. The all seem to have at least one ticket to one event and in some cases they have LOTS of tickets. Sorry phread but "ordinary people" can get tickets to Olympic events. (Heck a neighbor of mine in Atlanta has tickets to an equestrian event and trust me she's not "well connected" just a crazy horse lady)

Katherine one of my Parisian friends has splurged big time on Women's Gymnastics.. If Simone Biles isn't there I fear for her sanity :)

I am sorry that facts seem to be that ordinary people can go to the games. Looking at the website today I see events I could buy. Apparent corporations did not buy up all the tickets for some events. And it has dates when more tickets will be released.

Posted by
1340 posts

phred,
Please3 don't conflate Olympics event tickets with all the profit-making events like concerts and sports games. The Olympics are not run by or controlled by big corporations scalping tickets. That is not to say some people may not try to do some scalping, but this is nowhere near the "big buys" you find with for-profit events.

Posted by
1588 posts

I’m a very ordinary person and I managed to buy tickets to several events of this year’s Olympics. Ranging from tickets to field hockey and athletics to beachvolleybal and rowing. All bought on the official website of the Paris Olympics at regular prices.

Posted by
795 posts

for those who care, I just got another email announcing more tickets will be released on the 4th!

I have a theory of why/how. In the last release, inside Paris/Sant Denis/Nanterre, they had a LOT from the Stade de France (for Athletics and Rugby) and a LOT from South Paris Arena 6 (? I think?) and it was MAINLY those (with some Aquatics Centre and Bercy Arena haha as well).....I bet they had estimated plans for seating and now they are coming to fruition and they know now how many ACTUAL tickets they have available to sell.....since the South Paris Arena is technically a convention center, it will probably be mostly temporary seating, so they ended up finalizing their plans....

Posted by
723 posts

The other reason tickets often get released late at these events is the networks and broadcast partners have figured out whether they’re placing the cameras and so once that is determined that will open up seats quite often