Long Beach Grand Prix ticket prices

[Zeke]

I used to go on Fridays with a free coupon that you could find anywhere. No more. $38 to go Friday now. That's a lot for nothing. You would think that the exhibitors would want the bodies, the concessions always do well, and it still cost 10 bucks more to go into the Indy Car paddock.

Unless you like sitting across from pit lane and seeing that action, there aren't many good seats anywhere unless one turn is your happiness. I've never bought a seat, just wandered around. I've seen the race from a nearby high rise and that isn't too good either.

So not only would I never pay Sunday's GA price. I wouldn't even think about Friday now.

TV is great and it's on in 15 minutes. Better make some nachos.

[herr_oberst]

TV is great, but if you go watch it live you don't have to listen to Leigh Diffy. But I'll watch. It's free. I'm not in SoCal right now.

[Scott Douglas]

I used to go on free fridays too. Even take off from work to go.
Not any more. I'm sure they've priced out a lot of folks who used to go.
I'll be watching too but I have to go buy some cutting tools.

[Zeke]

At this time of day I can grab a beer and sit in the back yard and watch the Penske, Ganassi and Andretti jets leave. Amongst many others. Those guys have some nice hardware that we don't see that much. It's mostly Southwest, Alaskan and 2-3 others that have one or 2 slots in the schedule. When the shiny private jets come out, I see them and hear them as they are different than the normal 200 flights over my house daily.

Those guys don't waste any time. Limo to a private FBO and they're off. Before 9/11 I used to drive over to the airport and walk in any given FBO just to lookysee. I was standing at the urinal next to Ganassi once. Man did he give me the stink eye. He must have had a bad day race wise. F him.

I don't bother celebs. I don't seek autographs. Nothing special about his urinal.

[Por_sha911]

I have been an Indycar fan going back to when Porsche ran in the late 80's.
My first live race was the inaugural Indy Grand Prix of Alabama. Had the Friday through Sunday ticket and it was a blast. Barber Motorsports is a great track for a lot of reasons. Everyone who is a fan should try to get to one race in person so they can feel the energy of it.



The Indy 500 is on my bucket list

[herr_oberst]

Beautiful track. I'd love to see a race at Barbur.

[latunabernie]

I was given free tickets to the L.B.G.P. and it ended up costing me 10 grand.
We knew parking was going to be a hassle and decided to ride the motorcycle to the event.
My bike had a bad leaking fork seal with the oil leaking onto the brake caliper and rotor.
I didn't have time to work on it, so I took it to the dealer.
The dealer offered me more for my bike than I purchased it for.
They also offered me a good discount on a new bike.
My wife said that a pretty color, buy it if you want it.
So, I bought it.
At the track, I knew some of the corner workers and the let me into the Pits and other great viewing areas.
The L.B.G.P. is not a great place to see a race.
It is more of a Happening. People watching and having fun.
I have always had a good time going but I never bought a ticket.

Bernie

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

TV is great, but if you go watch it live you don't have to listen to Leigh Diffy.

If you have a MUTE button on your remote, you don't have to listen to Leigh Diffy, either.

Try it sometime. I use mute when watching a lot of races. It's relaxing.

Someday maybe there will be a button for muting just the jibba jabbah and still hear the engines, but until then, I'm good.

[jcwade]

I live about a mile from the LBGP. Th whole weekend all I hear is the sound of angry bees.
Went once and it was hot, crowded and all you could see was a bunch of cars going past real fast in one place. Much like football and golf, it is better to watch on TV, if that is your thing.

[look 171]

I haven't been since the early 90s. I remember tickets for Friday was free at Chief Auto Parts and the event on Sunday was something like 20 bucks. I love getting my ear drums blown out when the cars go through the building as we watch them from up top without ear plugs. Stupid youth. Fun times. I bet it is all different now?

[Bill Douglas]

I'd like to go as a oncer. Just to have been there, done that.

Especially at Long Beach.

[red 928]

Originally Posted by Zeke

At this time of day I can grab a beer and sit in the back yard and watch the Penske, Ganassi and Andretti jets leave.

Yeah, but it's not a $14 beer like you can get at the race.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I used to go on Fridays with a free coupon that you could find anywhere. No more. $38 to go Friday now. That's a lot for nothing. You would think that the exhibitors would want the bodies, the concessions always do well, and it still cost 10 bucks more to go into the Indy Car paddock.

Unless you like sitting across from pit lane and seeing that action, there aren't many good seats anywhere unless one turn is your happiness. I've never bought a seat, just wandered around. I've seen the race from a nearby high rise and that isn't too good either.

So not only would I never pay Sunday's GA price. I wouldn't even think about Friday now.

TV is great and it's on in 15 minutes. Better make some nachos.

So how much was a ticket? I know ticket prices are just stupid expensive for everything now that Ticketmaster has taken over somehow. I remember going to a all day outdoor 20 bands rock concert back in the 1970s at the fairgrounds and it was something like 25 bucks per person. I spent way more on that buying beer.

[Scott Douglas]

GA on Friday was $38 according to this site:
https://www.gplb.com/tickets

Parking would probably set you back a minimum of $20, and that would include a good walk I'm sure.

[Scott Douglas]

If you watched closely on TV, you'll see that most of the track is surrounded by billboards that effectively cut off the view from a lot of locations, forcing you to resort to buying a seat just so you can see something.

[Zeke]

Sunday only GA = $87. An upper row seat is 107. All days are 30 for the paddock. Parking on Sunday is 50. You can go Saturday only and they give you an open seat (first come, first served) for 84. Sat parking is 20.

There are, of course many packages you can buy, parking, photo pass, suites, 3-day tickets all for a price. About the most you need to spend to have it all is $1500+ drinks and food.

There is parking in the dirt for 20 bucks each day. And there are tickets you can't buy, you just have to know the mayor or some sponsor.

I realized that the auxiliary races included F1 cars from the '70's both Sat and Sun. Patrick Long won in a Williams. They also had IMSA and Stadium Trucks.

Be sure to tune in to the AL race at Barber. There is going to be some serious payback from Scott Dixon. They might as well put a snow blade on the front of his car as he is going to use it on Pato O'Ward.

Castroneves needs to go home.

[Rtrorkt]

Went to LBGP for years. Friend ran medical. Best deal, parking the Westin garage, have a nice breakfast in their lobby restaurant, stroll over the gate and find your way in. I was spoiled as my pass got me on the track for all sessions. If I had to pick a spot I would be the stands outside of 9/10 that allows a look at the hairpin.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Rtrorkt

Went to LBGP for years. Friend ran medical. Best deal, parking the Westin garage, have a nice breakfast in their lobby restaurant, stroll over the gate and find your way in. I was spoiled as my pass got me on the track for all sessions. If I had to pick a spot I would be the stands outside of 9/10 that allows a look at the hairpin.

Up in the right side top row and you can see more than anyplace on the track other than the blimp. I think those seats have been reserved indefinitely. I was up there once on a Friday and there were people glued to their seats as there were no reservations for Friday. Actually standing on the seats on the top row leaning on the handrail you can see halfway down the straight as well as 3 turns.

But if you want quiet and lots of action you sit at the end of the long straight. If you want loud you go to the parking structure on the back straight where they go under the overpasses. As look mentioned, it will alter your hearing for life. I've been there with custom made ear plugs AND headphones too and it was loud.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I've been there with custom made ear plugs AND headphones too and it was loud.

That was what my friend in Melbourne said. He said not just the loudness but the high pitch of it too. Sound bouncing off buildings in the Melbourne race.

[Scott Douglas]

My tinnitus is screaming in my ears just reading this stuff.