By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Nightlife Blogger
Spending New Year’s Eve in Times Square – the most recognized NYE celebration in the world – is on a lot of people’s do-to bucket list.
But would you pay these prices for the experience? The two Applebee’s locations are charge $729 and up perseat. From there, you do get a view of the ball drop and, an open bar at least. Olive Garden is $799, the Broadway Lounge at the Marriott Marquis starts at $1,250. Bar 54 at Hyatt Centric begins at $1,399. Bar CIMA Rooftop is $549.
Chicken Guy, the closest venue to the ball drop, is a relative bargain at $349.
Of course, you can crowd into the street for free but you’re out in the elements (temperatures are generally in the 30s and sometimes it rains), there’s no cozy seat with a waiter or waitress and you don’t have to get to Times Square hours ahead of time. Out in the open, tt’s first come, first serve and no tickets are required. Convience has its price. That is certainly in Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
New Year’s Eve is one of those overpriced holidays – Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and weddings also come to mind here – in which bars, restaurants, party promoters and others rub their hands together in anticipation of charging 10X (or more) as much for something they do on a normal night. It’s simple economics: suppy and demand. As long as people pay it, the places will keep chargina a premium for it.
“Who are these crazy people?,” estaurant consultant Donny Evans told the New York Post when asked about NYE Times Sqauare prices. “They must be out of their minds.
“They are obviously out-of-towners. I don’t care who you are. I just think New Year’s Eve is such a rip-off in terms of prices. I wouldn’t go to Times Square on New Year’s Eve. I’d rather have a good meal on the East Side or downtown for a third of the price.”
This bah humbug attitude certainly exists for some on New Year’s Eve. Me, I have no problem with it; after all, that’s when a lot of the bars and restaurants, the employees, party promoters, DJs, lighting and sound people and such make a huge chunk of their annual money. Me, tho, I would rather cram in with the “ordinary” folks, have a large concealed cocktail with me and take in the moment for free.
It is a strategy friends and I have used many times in New Orleans and on the Las Vegas Strip.
For those who want to do it, tho, go for it. Maybe I’ll see you in the bar later when it’s free.
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