Blizzcon Raises Ticket Prices For Third Straight Year

The price of a ticket to this year's edition of Blizzard's annual Blizzcon fan festival has risen to $175, the third such increase in as many years. Tickets to the first three Blizzcons, held between 2005 and 2008, ran $100, but that price increased to $125 as attendance at the 2009 show reached a new high of 20,000. Approximately 28,000 people purchased tickets to the 2010 show for $150, according to media reports. Tickets for this year's event, taking place October 21 and 22 at the Anaheim Convention Center, will be sold in two batches, starting a 10 a.m. Pacific on Wednesday, May 25 and 7 p.m. Pacific on Saturday, May 28 through the Blizzcon website, Blizzard announced today. Roughly 200 special event tickets will also include entrance to an exclusive benefit dinner, with proceeds from the $500 purchase price going to the Children's Hospital of Orange County. Those unable to secure tickets will once again be able to purchase a $40 Virtual Ticket, which allows access to live video of the event online or through DirecTV, though certain video coverage will be available online for free. At an Austin GDC keynote in 2009, Blizzard's Frank Pearce noted the convention operates "at a substantial loss for Blizzard." Last year's Blizzcon featured a closing ceremony performance by Tenacious D, following on a 2009 Blizzcon performance by Ozzy Osbourne.