Obama inauguration ball tickets sell for $50,000

Washington: The inauguration committee of President-elect Barack Obama, who ran on a platform to change the way business is done in Washington, is selling four-day packages of four tickets to his historic swearing-in ceremony and parade plus some extras in exchange for $50,000 (Dh183,655).

The deal does represent a change. President George W. Bush charged $250,000, selling his supporters a much bigger menu of inaugural goodies that featured candlelight dinners.

On Friday, members of the Obama National Finance Committee were spreading the word about their package to friends and associates around the United States. The money the inaugural committee raises will help pay for the festivities.

The five-figure deals were being peddled at the same time a congressional proposal, that would have banned the resale of inaugural tickets, died in the Senate.

Donors

Late Friday, Obama's inaugural committee disclosed the names of 243 donors who together contributed at least $9.7 million to the committee.

They included Hollywood personalities Robert Zemeckis, Sharon Stone and Jamie Foxx, each of whom gave Obama's committee $50,000. In addition, financier George Soros and four family members gave a combined total of $250,000.

Of the donors identified, 169 contributed the maximum $50,000 each and 43 of them gave $25,000. Obama's inaugural committee provided the names, employers and amounts for anyone who gave more than $200.

The committee has said it will not accept contributions from corporations, political action committees, labour unions, current federally registered lobbyists, non-US citizens or registered foreign agents.

The package includes a nightclub performance on January 17 and brunch the next morning, plus nighttime VIP seating at a concert that probably will take place at the Lincoln Memorial.

The fun on January 19 includes candlelight dinners around town with members of Congress and drop-ins by the Obamas.

The Inauguration Day agenda includes four tickets to one of the 10 official balls in addition to tickets for the swearing-in and parade seating.

The Bush inaugural package four years ago featured a $250,000 package of 10 VIP seats at the inaugural parade, 20 seats to candlelight dinners and two tickets to an "underwriters" luncheon featuring the president and the vice president.