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Pavlik fans happy about 2nd round ticket sales
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Nia Simms of Youngstown shows off tickets she purchased Wednesday at the Chevy Centre for upcoming Pavlik fight.
By Jon Moffett
Few people left home to get the additional Pavlik fight tickets.
YOUNGSTOWN — Joe Farrow was surprised Wednesday morning when he arrived at the Chevrolet Centre.
The 24-year-old Youngstown resident was certain he’d have to wait in a long line for his Kelly Pavlik fight tickets. But to his surprise, the center box office was nearly empty.
“I got here, and there were about six people,” he said. “I expected a lot more.”
An additional 400 floor-level tickets were made available for the Feb. 21 fight between WBC and WBO middleweight champion Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik and Marco Antonio Rubio. Top Rank, the fight’s promoter, didn’t need them for the production and broadcast of the fight, said Eric Ryan, Chevy Centre executive director. The tickets are $150 each.
About a dozen people were at the box office of the center when tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. Wednesday, but not everyone bought Pavlik tickets. Some purchased tickets for other upcoming events, such as motocross and Cirque du Soleil.
Ryan said a minimal crowd was expected and the number of people who purchased tickets at the box office was more than anticipated.
“The majority of people learned from last time and bought online,” he said. “... The power of the Internet is incredible.”
He added that about 40 percent of the tickets had been sold by 10:20. Ryan didn’t have numbers available when asked the total sales at the end of the business day.
Though Ryan didn’t expect large crowds inside the center, he did expect the tickets to sell quickly. About 5,500 of the 7,000 tickets were sold 30 minutes after tickets originally went on sale last month. The $50 and $100 tickets were the first to go, leaving those waiting frustrated.
Nia Simms, of Youngstown was one of those left out when the tickets went on sale Jan. 10. She had to work and was unable to snag them but made sure to get a trio of tickets this time around.
“I expected a bigger crowd,” Simms said. “That’s why I was here at exactly 10.”
Ryan said seats are still available in the $150, $200 and $300 ranges. He added that the remaining tickets are not an indication of a low interest level.
“There is obviously a demand; the $500 seats are gone,” he said.
After people were left out in the cold — literally — last time the tickets went on sale, Ryan said people have realized the Internet is the way of the future for ticket sales.
“The days of 500 people standing in line for a concert are gone,” he said.
Ryan anticipates a sellout crowd for the event. About 6,500 tickets have been sold, which would make the largest crowd at the center since it opened in October 2005. The fight will put the spotlight on Youngstown and show a national audience what the city has to offer.
Simms said she is happy the fight will take place in her, and Pavlik’s, hometown.
“It’s good to see something positive come out of Youngstown. You always hear about the negatives, and it’s good to hear about some positives,” Simms said.
Farrow, who arrived at the Chevy Centre on Jan. 10 at 9 a.m. but went home empty-handed, was excited he got a second chance at tickets. This time, he snagged two tickets.
The thought of seeing a hometown hero defend his title downtown made the waiting worth it for Farrow.
“It’s gonna be a blast,” he said.
There are six matches on the undercard. The Chevy Centre will open its doors at 7 p.m. with the first bout beginning at 7:30. To purchase tickets, contact the center’s box office, Ticketmaster’s charge by phone at (800) 745-3000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
jmoffett@vindy.com