Even though the Winter Olympics are right around the corner, it seems to me that the Summer Olympics always bring along a lot more hype and storylines than the Winter Olympics. The other night, I believe I stumbled across the Olympic trials for both ski jumping and curling at which point it took me all of about eight seconds to promptly change the channel. Although the men’s USA Hockey win is indelibly etched in our minds from the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, most of us only pay attention to a few of the events like figure skating and men’s hockey.
Thinking about taking the family to Sochi for the Winter Olympics? Think again. According to NPR, Russia is spending $51 billion on the Sochi Winter Olympics, the most expensive Olympic Games ever by a wide margin. The preparations have not gone smoothly. Construction has been delayed repeatedly and marred by accusations of political corruption. The outlandish price tag for the games has turned into an embarrassment for Russian officials. Most of these types of products generally run over budget, but this one has risen to epic proportions and it will probably look good on television. What it will look like in person, still remains to be seen as the final touches are being put on some of the main venues.
Tickets are divided into “A,” “B,” and “C” levels. Offering prime seating, “A” tickets are the priciest. For the Feb. 8, women’s hockey preliminary between Canada and Switzerland, C seats cost $21, B seats, $41 and A seats, $83. As the competition advances, ticket fees rise. Top tier seats for the Feb. 19 men’s quarter final ice hockey game cost $580. (source: usatoday)
Tip: Some popular tickets, unavailable individually, can be purchased as part of a package. For example, individual tickets to the Feb. 20 women’s ice hockey bronze medal game are sold out, but you can get a category A seat to this event as well as to the men’s ice hockey quarter finals by purchasing the T2-Ice Hockey 19 hospitality package for $2,282. (source:usatoday)
Beyond the tremendous cost to fly internationally which is extremely expensive right now, you’ve got to consider lodging and hospitality right now. If you are going to see the men’s quarterfinal for a family of four, you are talking over $2,200 for just ONE event alone. Needless to say that not only have the Olympic venue costs risen to all-time highs, but so have the ticket prices to attend these events. Just wait until you see the cost to watch Usain Bolt run in the 2014 Summer Olympics in Brazil!
Most of us would relish the experience to be at a historical event where someone breaks a world record or see a game that becomes an ESPN 30 for 30 episode down the road. If you were even remotely thinking about Sochi (or even the Brazil 2014) Olympics as a family vacation, you’d better be prepared to make it your special one for the next decade because the rising costs have now officially gone off the chart!
Written by:
Ted Jenkin
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