It could have been a line of fans waiting for Kanye West tickets to go on sale, or for the premiere a new Lord of the Rings flick. But the hundreds of well-dressed folks cuing at the Washington Convention Center today were no rag tag bunch of fans. They were there for tickets to a different kind of blockbuster: Tuesday night’s Official Presidential Inaugural Balls.
Volunteers say that ball-goers have been lining up since before 9 a.m. this morning to get their hands on some of the hottest tickets around. DC resident Michael Jones was thrilled to receive tickets to the Mid-Atlantic States Ball after making an online contribution to the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Jones waited in line for over 45 minutes to pick up tickets for himself and his wife. (She’ll be scouring stores for the perfect gown this weekend.) Many more like Jones will be standing in long lines for their tickets throughout the next few days.
There are ten official inaugural balls this year, including the first ever Neighborhood Ball, a free but invitation only event designed to allow DC residents their very own celebration. Six balls will be held at the Washington Convention Center, while the others will take place at Union Station, the Washington Hilton, the National Building Museum and the National Guard Armory. Between 5000 and 10,000 people are expected at each ball, with organizers anticipating that the Western ball (for residents of the Western states) will be the largest.
No Obama event is complete without a merchandising table, and the ticket collection site is no exception. Those mavens of political branding over at Camp Obama have released a wide array of inauguration swag (proceeds go to the presidential inaugural committee). At the convention center you can purchase an Obama onesie for your baby, fleece blankets, hats, paperweights or an autographed frame for your inaugural invitation. For fashion conscious political junkies, the Obama folks have released the “Runway to Change” line, which includes designer tote bags from Diane Von Fustenburg and Tory Burch ($70 a pop), and 9 different t-shirts from designers like Zac Posen and Donna Karan. Most shirts sell for $45, but for those wanting to help kick start the economy, a bedazzled Gerald Matthews inauguration tee will set you back $150.
Staffers at the Convention Center say that the most popular item has been the iconic Shepard Fairey t-shirt. The most expensive item, a $159 woven blanket featuring the Obama-Biden inauguration seal, has been a hit with those looking for some extra warmth at the swearing in ceremony. And the slowest mover? An $89 teacup and saucer. Look out for bargain basement deals on that after Tuesday.
