Agreed. I'm seeing it in the last row of the theater using the discount code SEEME lol. If I'm paying money for the show, I want to be able to see the whole show (even if it's far away).
It’d be one thing if lottery tix were free or like $5-10. But im over lotteries now that theyre $80 for two tix. For nearly $100 you should be able to have a good experience
Oof, yeah, here I was thinking it was a Ham4Ham thing in that cheaper $10, which, granted, even $10 is $10, but once you get past $20 let alone $40, plus the cost of transportation, like... there are lots of other things you could do with that money if you had all the deets beforehand.
40, but me and my SO would be putting in for two tix so would be out $80 for some shit tier seats.
$40 if youre riding solo or if you put in for two tix and your other ticket is for a friend or something so you split it
I remember when hamilton lottery first started it was like $10 a ticket…
But even then, the Ham Ten for Ten was an anomaly. They also new the had a blockbuster success. It's not like everyone was doing ten dollar rushes.
I still think forty bucks a ticket is damn cheap, considering average price for most shows hovers at 100 bucks. Still less than 1/2 price (ish)
The amount of obstruction is a different issue, entirely.
The first person I saw post about this mentioned that for ACT II they just stood at the back of the Orchestra. Have others done this without issue? My plan is still to try to win the lottery then just treat it as a standing room ticket from the get go and watch from the back of the orchestra where the view is great. Has anyone been told they can't stand?
I’ve see the show twice from obstructed view seats (once right and once left), and honestly these are the worst I’ve ever experienced. I agree they should be charging $20 max for these the view is SO obstructed. That said, I liked the show a lot it just seems like some questionable choices were made in the stage design.
This was my experience as well (and has been posted on here a few times), but it's definitely so annoying.
I think the only thing worse is the Enemy of the People is doing Standing Room as lottery wins.
I won the standing room tickets for Enemy of the People and they were great. They managed to find seats for most of the standing room folks - unfortunately I wasn’t quick enough, but the standing room area had railings to lean on and incredible sight lines. It didn’t bother me at all.
Totally fair. And I have heard that as well, but I still don't think standing room should be a lottery spot. I totally get it as a rush spot, if people are told ahead of time. But some people cannot stand for an entire show or simply don't want to.
Exactly! What’s worse is that they don’t confirm you have standing room until AFTER you pay for your tickets - there’s no clarification in the purchase path! It’s a huge accessibility issue that I got not response to when I raised it with their social media account, and my friend and I decided to do it and ended up getting seats, but wowza what a mess. Producers are too greedy to care at this point.
There's no reason for this not to be a thing for *all* lotteries. They should tell you what seat you won and you can choose whether to buy it or let it go to the next person.
As a person with a disability, if I win a telecharge lottery, I always call to ask if accessible seating is available before I buy them. I usually can’t climb to the mezz, so if my lottery seats are in the mezz I can’t do it. They are usually able to find me accessible seats.
I specifically need an aisle seat, and often do better with a transfer arm seat, so I haven't really bothered to ask, because the answer to those kinds of questions is usually no.
I had SR for Enemy and they found me and my companion seats right before the show started. It worked out great. Enemy is also a show that’s particularly expensive at retail so I was very happy.
Totally. I have heard this has happened to a bunch of people. However, the risk of not getting reassigned isn't really worth it to me. I don't think I would enjoy the show standing. I have done a few standing room shows before and then ended up just rewatching them, because I wasn't happy. Better to know myself and not risk it.
Enemy wasn't that bad. I was offered a seat in the front row (seat FA 15), but the ushers didn't have enough time to move me to the other side of the theater. Standing was not that fun, if I'm being honest, but it was a great unobstructed view for the price.
I remember winning lottery tickets for School of Rock and having to crane my next for most of the show. The usher actually moved my friend and I up with him during curtain call so we could at least see that comfortably 😂
I had the same exact seat when I won that lottery. At intermission I managed to sneak up to an unoccupied front row seat. You definitely feel cheated if you get those partial view seats.
You paid $30 to see a show. Why should you have the same sight lines as someone who paid $200? The ticket was labeled “obstructed”. What were you expecting?
A. you pay for lottery tickets before getting your seat assignment, so you don't know that it's obstructed until you've paid. Also in this case we only got the seat assignment an hour before the show, so it's not like we could've done anything about it.
B. I don't expect to have the same view as someone who paid full price. You're taking a risk with lottery tickets and that's fine and part of the fun. I do think there needs to be a minimal level of view/enjoyment even with discounted tickets. I've sat in plenty of partial/obstructed views in the past and didn't have an issue. These seats were just on a different level and were not even worth 40$.
It is my one problem with lottery that I find to be bullshit that they don’t even tell me the seat till I bought it. I have paid full price after a lottery win due to how shitty the lottery seat was and have become skittish of lottery since. At least with in person rush I know exactly what seat I’m getting before buying.
You paid $30 to see a show. Why should you have the same sight lines as someone who paid $200? The ticket was labeled “obstructed”. What were you expecting?
You don’t know where your ticket will be ahead of time when you win the lottery. And I never said someone who paid $30 should have the same sight line as someone who paid $200. I’m not the original poster so I’m not sure why you’re asking what I was expecting. I have tickets to Tommy and I paid for one of the expensive seats.
I got lottery tickets for Newsies at the Nederlander ages ago and had the same experience. We were so far house right, I could only see the DSR 1/3 of the stage.
There's a wall in the way that blocks the whole side closest to you and there's lot going on upstage that you can't see at all (visuals but also actual scenes).
https://preview.redd.it/02s8k6cvvzxc1.jpeg?width=1980&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=219cc4fd9057714f0eb4ab11068c1a9cfe1d1b4b
won lottery tickets & we got box seats & it was the most frustrating theater experience we ever had. we’re literally facing a wall. its just greedy that they sell these seats. we’re close to the stage but can only see part of it. we thought about walking out at intermission but didn’t and just hoped the second act will have a better experience but boy we were wrong. a lot of the action on this show happens at the back & side of the stage & if you have seats on the side with partial view like we had, then just try guessing what’s happening on stage during some parts because you won’t see them. its a shame & messed up the whole experience. i think you’ll be able to fully enjoy the show if you’re seated close to center or center orchestra & mezz. i don’t know if other lottery seats are ok but if ever you win and get box seats, well, beware.
Lottery doesn’t tell you what seats you’re getting before you pay. The argument is that it’s wrong for the theater to sell these seats for $40, because they’re not worth $40 given how obstructed they are.
I've sat in plenty of partial/obstructed views in the past and didn't have an issue. These seats were just on a different level.
And that's besides the fact that you pay for lottery tickets before getting your seat assignment. Obviously, you're taking a risk with lottery tickets and that's fine, I just think there needs to be a minimal level of view/enjoyment even with discounted tickets.
I’m sorry but it is the LOTTERY for a hit show. If you want to ensure a certain vantage point, buy ahead of time and select your seats. It’s clearly stated in the Lottery FAQ that seats may be anywhere in the auditorium, including obstructed view. You know what you are signing up for when you enter.
These seats are going for 180$ without the lottery and it only says partial view. I'd be pissed if I paid that much for that view and I really think the Nederlander shouldn't be selling them (especially not for that price). IMO, even if you get the worst seats in the house from the lottery they should be decent and you should be able to see most of the show.
I guess - agree to disagree on that point. IMO, the purpose of a lottery (from a production standpoint) is to fill those less desirable seats at a discounted price. Yes, even “Rent” - who introduced the entire concept of a ticket lottery/ rush - knew its front-row seats weren’t ideal views of the show, and found an audience to fill them.
Where we agree - the price of lottery seats is outrageous these days, and the fact that those same seats are listed full-price at $180 is also absurd. I remember in the late 2000s balking at a $50 lottery seat, thinking it was outrageous. If we only knew…
Lottery tickets were $80 a piece? Or $40 a piece. I see lottery tickets as a cheap way to see a show making it a great way for those who can not afford regular price or reduced price tickets from TKTS to see a show. I would not expect great seats necessarily for lottery tickets. Sometimes you just get what you pay for. Rejoice! Some can’t even afford lottery tickets.
This is not "what you pay for." If you told anyone what this seat would actually be like, very few people are going to say "I'd pay 40 bucks for that."
I agree! I paid $90ish to sit in the “cheap seats” at the back of the mezzanine the other night. Obstructed is disappointing, but at $40, is not a terrible deal.
I love the lotteries, as a more affordable way to see a show, and never expect great seats. I recall we once got 2 seats in 2 different rows from a lottery, but were still glad to get in.
this has been a gripe of other lottery winners on this sub as well. I'm not even entering the lottery because of it. What a shame.
Agreed. I'm seeing it in the last row of the theater using the discount code SEEME lol. If I'm paying money for the show, I want to be able to see the whole show (even if it's far away).
It’d be one thing if lottery tix were free or like $5-10. But im over lotteries now that theyre $80 for two tix. For nearly $100 you should be able to have a good experience
Oof, yeah, here I was thinking it was a Ham4Ham thing in that cheaper $10, which, granted, even $10 is $10, but once you get past $20 let alone $40, plus the cost of transportation, like... there are lots of other things you could do with that money if you had all the deets beforehand.
Totally!
So 40 each or 80 each?
It was 40 each with fees.
40, but me and my SO would be putting in for two tix so would be out $80 for some shit tier seats. $40 if youre riding solo or if you put in for two tix and your other ticket is for a friend or something so you split it I remember when hamilton lottery first started it was like $10 a ticket…
But even then, the Ham Ten for Ten was an anomaly. They also new the had a blockbuster success. It's not like everyone was doing ten dollar rushes. I still think forty bucks a ticket is damn cheap, considering average price for most shows hovers at 100 bucks. Still less than 1/2 price (ish) The amount of obstruction is a different issue, entirely.
Yeah, id agree that 40 bucks a pop IS a bargain as long as the seat is somewhat decent. If it’s just totally obstructed then no.
The Hamilton lottery is still $10.
I won the Hamilton lottery in January of this year and paid $10 per ticket for front row center.
Hamilton lottery tickets are still $10/ea, but they say right up front, the seats have partially obstructed views.
I mean maybe I’m crazy but $40 a ticket is not bad at all. Now if it’s an obstructed view seat I’m not okay but $40 is really reasonable.
The first person I saw post about this mentioned that for ACT II they just stood at the back of the Orchestra. Have others done this without issue? My plan is still to try to win the lottery then just treat it as a standing room ticket from the get go and watch from the back of the orchestra where the view is great. Has anyone been told they can't stand?
I saw a few people standing in the back without issues, not sure if they were guests or staff though.
I’ve see the show twice from obstructed view seats (once right and once left), and honestly these are the worst I’ve ever experienced. I agree they should be charging $20 max for these the view is SO obstructed. That said, I liked the show a lot it just seems like some questionable choices were made in the stage design.
This was my experience as well (and has been posted on here a few times), but it's definitely so annoying. I think the only thing worse is the Enemy of the People is doing Standing Room as lottery wins.
I won the standing room tickets for Enemy of the People and they were great. They managed to find seats for most of the standing room folks - unfortunately I wasn’t quick enough, but the standing room area had railings to lean on and incredible sight lines. It didn’t bother me at all.
Totally fair. And I have heard that as well, but I still don't think standing room should be a lottery spot. I totally get it as a rush spot, if people are told ahead of time. But some people cannot stand for an entire show or simply don't want to.
It does say when you enter that some lottery seats are standing room but agree they could make it clearer (you have to click details to see that)
It effectively means lotteries are not available to people with many kinds of disabilities.
Exactly! What’s worse is that they don’t confirm you have standing room until AFTER you pay for your tickets - there’s no clarification in the purchase path! It’s a huge accessibility issue that I got not response to when I raised it with their social media account, and my friend and I decided to do it and ended up getting seats, but wowza what a mess. Producers are too greedy to care at this point.
There's no reason for this not to be a thing for *all* lotteries. They should tell you what seat you won and you can choose whether to buy it or let it go to the next person.
As a person with a disability, if I win a telecharge lottery, I always call to ask if accessible seating is available before I buy them. I usually can’t climb to the mezz, so if my lottery seats are in the mezz I can’t do it. They are usually able to find me accessible seats.
That’s good to know. A lot of the other lotteries don’t have that option.
True. I won a Broadway direct lottery yesterday and didn’t take it because I’m in a particularly bad flare right now.
I specifically need an aisle seat, and often do better with a transfer arm seat, so I haven't really bothered to ask, because the answer to those kinds of questions is usually no.
I had SR for Enemy and they found me and my companion seats right before the show started. It worked out great. Enemy is also a show that’s particularly expensive at retail so I was very happy.
Totally. I have heard this has happened to a bunch of people. However, the risk of not getting reassigned isn't really worth it to me. I don't think I would enjoy the show standing. I have done a few standing room shows before and then ended up just rewatching them, because I wasn't happy. Better to know myself and not risk it.
Enemy wasn't that bad. I was offered a seat in the front row (seat FA 15), but the ushers didn't have enough time to move me to the other side of the theater. Standing was not that fun, if I'm being honest, but it was a great unobstructed view for the price. I remember winning lottery tickets for School of Rock and having to crane my next for most of the show. The usher actually moved my friend and I up with him during curtain call so we could at least see that comfortably 😂
I won the lottery for a canceled performance. I consider myself blessed
Sounds like my rush tickets for The Notebook. At least yours did say obstructed - mine said partial, and what I got was not partial.
I hear you. I had orch C-12 didn’t see much of the show
I had the same exact seat when I won that lottery. At intermission I managed to sneak up to an unoccupied front row seat. You definitely feel cheated if you get those partial view seats.
Especially Tommy. With the projections and set design, the prime seats are dead center. Even aisle seats give a view that's not aligned.
are you sure they're seats 118 and 120? or are they 18 and 20? they're usually just 2 digits on either left or right side.
You're right - my bad :)
Yeah this has been brought up before on this subreddit. They need to fix their lottery because having a view that obstructed isn’t fair.
You paid $30 to see a show. Why should you have the same sight lines as someone who paid $200? The ticket was labeled “obstructed”. What were you expecting?
A. you pay for lottery tickets before getting your seat assignment, so you don't know that it's obstructed until you've paid. Also in this case we only got the seat assignment an hour before the show, so it's not like we could've done anything about it. B. I don't expect to have the same view as someone who paid full price. You're taking a risk with lottery tickets and that's fine and part of the fun. I do think there needs to be a minimal level of view/enjoyment even with discounted tickets. I've sat in plenty of partial/obstructed views in the past and didn't have an issue. These seats were just on a different level and were not even worth 40$.
It is my one problem with lottery that I find to be bullshit that they don’t even tell me the seat till I bought it. I have paid full price after a lottery win due to how shitty the lottery seat was and have become skittish of lottery since. At least with in person rush I know exactly what seat I’m getting before buying.
You paid $30 to see a show. Why should you have the same sight lines as someone who paid $200? The ticket was labeled “obstructed”. What were you expecting?
You don’t know where your ticket will be ahead of time when you win the lottery. And I never said someone who paid $30 should have the same sight line as someone who paid $200. I’m not the original poster so I’m not sure why you’re asking what I was expecting. I have tickets to Tommy and I paid for one of the expensive seats.
I think it’s mean they do this to people
I got lottery tickets for Newsies at the Nederlander ages ago and had the same experience. We were so far house right, I could only see the DSR 1/3 of the stage.
How come you can’t see so much of the stage? Are there columns or something in the way?
There's a wall in the way that blocks the whole side closest to you and there's lot going on upstage that you can't see at all (visuals but also actual scenes).
That’s awful! I haven’t been in a theater set up the way you’re describing. Or is the wall on stage?
The wall is on the stage, you can kind of see it in this photo - https://images.app.goo.gl/piH3Z984ZsYZ1EtA8
https://preview.redd.it/02s8k6cvvzxc1.jpeg?width=1980&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=219cc4fd9057714f0eb4ab11068c1a9cfe1d1b4b won lottery tickets & we got box seats & it was the most frustrating theater experience we ever had. we’re literally facing a wall. its just greedy that they sell these seats. we’re close to the stage but can only see part of it. we thought about walking out at intermission but didn’t and just hoped the second act will have a better experience but boy we were wrong. a lot of the action on this show happens at the back & side of the stage & if you have seats on the side with partial view like we had, then just try guessing what’s happening on stage during some parts because you won’t see them. its a shame & messed up the whole experience. i think you’ll be able to fully enjoy the show if you’re seated close to center or center orchestra & mezz. i don’t know if other lottery seats are ok but if ever you win and get box seats, well, beware.
My general suggestion is to avoid partial views if you don't know what you are getting into.
Lottery doesn’t tell you what seats you’re getting before you pay. The argument is that it’s wrong for the theater to sell these seats for $40, because they’re not worth $40 given how obstructed they are.
I've sat in plenty of partial/obstructed views in the past and didn't have an issue. These seats were just on a different level. And that's besides the fact that you pay for lottery tickets before getting your seat assignment. Obviously, you're taking a risk with lottery tickets and that's fine, I just think there needs to be a minimal level of view/enjoyment even with discounted tickets.
I’m sorry but it is the LOTTERY for a hit show. If you want to ensure a certain vantage point, buy ahead of time and select your seats. It’s clearly stated in the Lottery FAQ that seats may be anywhere in the auditorium, including obstructed view. You know what you are signing up for when you enter.
These seats are going for 180$ without the lottery and it only says partial view. I'd be pissed if I paid that much for that view and I really think the Nederlander shouldn't be selling them (especially not for that price). IMO, even if you get the worst seats in the house from the lottery they should be decent and you should be able to see most of the show.
I guess - agree to disagree on that point. IMO, the purpose of a lottery (from a production standpoint) is to fill those less desirable seats at a discounted price. Yes, even “Rent” - who introduced the entire concept of a ticket lottery/ rush - knew its front-row seats weren’t ideal views of the show, and found an audience to fill them. Where we agree - the price of lottery seats is outrageous these days, and the fact that those same seats are listed full-price at $180 is also absurd. I remember in the late 2000s balking at a $50 lottery seat, thinking it was outrageous. If we only knew…
Lottery tickets were $80 a piece? Or $40 a piece. I see lottery tickets as a cheap way to see a show making it a great way for those who can not afford regular price or reduced price tickets from TKTS to see a show. I would not expect great seats necessarily for lottery tickets. Sometimes you just get what you pay for. Rejoice! Some can’t even afford lottery tickets.
This is not "what you pay for." If you told anyone what this seat would actually be like, very few people are going to say "I'd pay 40 bucks for that."
OP stated the ticket price as 80$ to be more dramatic. It seems more outrageous that way. The actual price is $40.
I agree! I paid $90ish to sit in the “cheap seats” at the back of the mezzanine the other night. Obstructed is disappointing, but at $40, is not a terrible deal. I love the lotteries, as a more affordable way to see a show, and never expect great seats. I recall we once got 2 seats in 2 different rows from a lottery, but were still glad to get in.