The Price is Right is one of the longest running and most popular game shows on television. It first premiered in 1972 and has aired continuously since then. The show involves contestants competing to win prizes by guessing the prices of various merchandise. Getting tickets to see a live taping of The Price is Right is a dream for many fans of the show. But how much do Price is Right tickets actually cost? Here is a quick overview of ticket prices and how to get seats to a taping of The Price is Right.
Ticket Prices
The good news is that tickets to attend The Price is Right are free. That’s right, attending a taping of the show will not cost you anything. However, you do need to obtain tickets in advance in order to gain entry to the studio. Tickets are highly coveted and given out on a first come, first served basis. There is no cost associated with the ticket itself though. The Price is Right does not charge for admission to be part of the studio audience.
This makes attending a taping of The Price is Right an extremely affordable option for entertainment, especially compared to many other television shows. Most late night talk shows and sitcoms charge for admission to be part of the live audience. But you can enjoy The Price is Right live without having to pay anything for tickets. The only limitation is how early you are willing to arrive to get in line for the free tickets.
How to Get Tickets
Since the tickets are free, they are handed out on the day of the taping on a first come, first served basis. Interested attendees will need to come to the studio on the morning of the taping to wait in line and receive a ticket. Tickets are limited and the line begins forming early in the morning.
The exact process works like this:
- Arrive early – Some enthusiastic fans begin lining up at midnight for a taping the next morning. But most people start arriving around 3-4am. The earlier you get in line, the better your chances.
- Wait in line – The line can wrap around the CBS Television City building where The Price is Right films. You may need to stand or sit on the ground for hours as the line slowly moves forward.
- Receive ticket – Around 7-8am, staff will work their way through the line handing out numbered tickets. If you’re towards the front, you’ll likely make the cut. The tickets are handed out sequentially until the studio’s capacity is reached.
- Enter the studio – Once you have a ticket, you can leave the line and come back later in the morning, around 9:30am, to enter the studio. The ticket numbers are called in groups for attendees to enter and be seated.
So the key is arriving very early in the morning to secure your spot in line. The good news is tickets are free. The downside is you may be waiting outside the studio entrance for 5+ hours to actually receive one. This means camping out overnight or waking up extremely early to get in line. But for Price is Right fans, it’s worth the effort and minimal discomfort to see the show live.
Number of Tickets
The number of ticket numbers distributed each taping day varies. The Price is Right studio seats around 300 members of the audience. Sometimes full capacity is reached if the demand is very high. Other days, fewer numbers may be handed out, especially during slower seasons.
The staff meticulously counts the line and reassess throughout the morning. Ultimately it depends on the number of people that show up. There is some natural attrition as some folks leave the line before making it to the front. This can allow those further back to still snag a seat. But at most, 300 tickets are handed out.
Each person can only obtain one ticket. You cannot claim multiple seats. This ensures the tickets are distributed fairly and everyone gets a chance. It also prevents issues with no shows inside the studio. If you want to attend with a group, you’ll need to each wait in line separately.
Standby Tickets
A limited number of standby tickets are sometimes given out on the day of taping as well. These are for people who did not want to wait in the main ticket line overnight. Often less than 10 standby tickets are available, so the odds of getting one are slim. But it’s possible if you get lucky.
To try for a standby ticket, show up at the studio entrance later in the morning, around 8:30-9am. Ask the staff members about standby ticket availability. If they have any left, you’ll be given one right then and there. Your chances greatly improve on days when the main line is shorter than usual or they overestimated the number of tickets to hand out.
Either way, standby tickets are not guaranteed. The majority of the audience will be people from the main line who camped out for hours. But it’s worth inquiring on the off chance they have open seats left. Arriving early for standby tickets also increases the odds in your favor vs. showing up right when taping begins.
Buying Tickets from Resellers
Since demand for Price is Right tickets is so high, you may be wondering if people resell them. The short answer is no. The numbered tickets handed out are not transferable. Ticket holders are unable to leave the line once they receive one. Plus, there are no guarantees on actually getting into the taping even with a ticket.
The numbers are called in order, but some people further back in line with tickets never make it inside. Only the first few groups of numbers called are guaranteed seats. So there is high risk buying a reseller ticket outside the studio since it’s not transferable and doesn’t guarantee admission anyway.
It’s possible some people might try selling their spots in line instead. However, this goes against the rules as well. Saving spaces is not allowed and you must be present the whole time. Given how early people need to arrive and long the wait can be, selling spots would also be extremely difficult to coordinate and execute.
The bottom line is Price is Right does not allow reselling or transfers of tickets. Don’t get scammed trying to purchase tickets from someone. The legitimate way to get seats is by waiting in the ticket line on the day of taping.
Ticket Tips and Strategies
Here are some top tips for trying to get Price is Right tickets based on strategies that have worked well for others:
- Arrive by midnight – This almost guarantees you’ll make the ticket cutoff. Hardcore fans begin camping as early as 8pm the prior night.
- Take shifts with friends – Having two people wait makes it easier. One person can hold your spot while the other rests in a car or hotel. Switch off throughout the night.
- Bring entertainment – Playing cards, books, a tablet, snacks, and drinks help pass the long wait time.
- Use blankets, pillows, chairs – Make your wait more comfortable by bringing sleeping gear and portable seats.
- Make friends in line – Bonding with your line neighbors helps the time go quicker and is part of the fun.
- Know the schedule – Confirm the taping date and time so you wait on the correct day. Fridays often have the longest lines.
- Review the rules – Be familiar with line policies so you don’t get removed for violations.
- Have backup plans – Be prepared to come another day if you don’t make the cutoff. Follow the show’s social media for the latest updates.
- Arrive early for standby – Ask about standby tickets no later than 8:30am for the best shot.
Securing Price is Right tickets takes effort and patience. But fans say it’s well worth it for the experience of seeing the show live and having a chance to “Come On Down” yourself as a contestant.
Ticket Costs for Other Game Shows
While The Price is Right does not charge for tickets, attending other popular game shows often comes with a fee. Here is a comparison of what tickets cost for some other leading game shows:
Game Show | Ticket Price |
---|---|
Jeopardy | $0 |
Wheel of Fortune | $0 |
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire | $30-50 |
Family Feud | $20-35 |
The $100,000 Pyramid | $0 |
Like The Price is Right, attending the tapings of Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune are also free. For other popular shows like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and Family Feud, you can expect to pay between $20-50 depending on the location and demand. The newer reboot of The $100,000 Pyramid with Michael Strahan also offers free tickets like the original version decades ago.
So if you want to see multiple game shows live, The Price is Right and others that offer complimentary tickets are great budget-friendly options. The trade-off is you may need to wait in long lines and sacrifice sleep. But for passionate game show fans, the opportunity to see these shows live makes it well worth it.
Conclusion
Attending a taping of The Price is Right is a memorable experience for game show fans. While you can’t purchase tickets, you can obtain them for free by lining up early morning the day of the show. Arriving hours before ticket distribution is critical to secure your place inside the studio. It requires dedication, planning and patience. But the payoff is getting to see classic pricing games like Plinko and Cliffhangers live in action while hopefully hearing the announcer call your name to “Come On Down!”