Top Rank head Bob Arum is accusing Al Haymon, chief adviser to Floyd Mayweather, of holding out the tickets for the May 2 megabuck matchup “so they can sell it in the secondary market.”
Less than three weeks before Mayweather risks his undefeated 47-0 slate against Manny Pacquiao, the lead promoter has yet to release a small number of tickets for public consumption.
“It’s Haymon,” said Arum when asked what’s taking it too long for the tickets to be released.
The MGM Grand Garden Arena can accommodate 16,200 but only a fraction will be sold and the premium floor seats priced at $10,000 are excluded from general selling, reserved for the filthy rich, powerful and the influential.
Only the $7,500, $5,000, $3,500, $2,500 and $1,500 will be sold but the public will end up scrambling for scraps as the choice seats have already been selected for the VIPs.
The demand for tickets is phenomenal that the cheapest ticket is being sold several times its retail price and the top-end sell for over $50,000 a pop on the Internet.
The management of the MGM Grand has issued a statement, warning the public that the official release of the tickets has yet to begin.
“Please be aware that tickets for the May 2, 2015, Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight are not yet available for purchase. Buyers should use extra caution when purchasing alleged tickets from unofficial sources, for fraudulent or counterfeit tickets will not be accepted. Check back to this site for further information.”
As lead promoter, Mayweather’s camp has control over tickets and while Arum’s company is likewise heavily involved in the event, it is Mayweather who calls the shots on a lot of things, including not only the allocation but the selling of the tickets.
Mayweather’s people said tickets would be sold starting this week.
In the past, the most expensive tickets in a major Pacquiao or Mayweather fight sold for $1,500.
But since both fighters are receiving unheard of purses – Mayweather is guaranteed $120 million and Pacquiao is assured of $80 million – the promoters have to find ways on how to recover the capital and make tons of money.
Even the pay-per-view will sell for $100 and the closed circuit will go for $150.