Obama inauguration tickets sold out in less than 60 seconds

Washington, January 10, 2009 : Faster than a rock star concert, as many as 5,000 tickets to bleacher seats for Obama's presidential inauguration parade on January 20 were sold out in less than a minute of being put on sale. Interestingly, within a few hours, these tickets were put on resale on websites like craigslist and e-bay at a much higher premium. Being sold on a first-cum-first-serve basis, as decided by Presidential Inauguration Committee, these tickets at USD 25 a piece were sold through Ticketmaster yesterday. Spokesman of Ticketmaster told the local media that all the 5,000 tickets were gone in a minute. Given the charisma associated with Obama and that for the first time a non-white is being sworn in as the President of the United States, the January 20th inauguration is expected to be the most attended presidential inauguration in recent history. More than 1.5 million people are expected to attend the historic occasion. Tickets were limited to four per person for purchase. Tickets are not required to view the parade, but the purchase of tickets will guarantee spectators a seated spot along the parade route. The Washington Times said a notice posted to the ticket announcement on the inaugural committees Web site said, "Update: All parade tickets sold out." "We are very pleased to make these tickets available to the public as part of our commitment to holding the most open and accessible inauguration in history," the executive director of the inaugural committee, Emmett S Beliveau, said in a statement. "The inaugural parade is a celebration of America, and we are making sure that as many citizens as possible can take part in this historic tradition," he said. Thousands of spectators will line the 1.7 mile parade route as the new President and Vice President are escorted from the Capitol to the White House by over 13,000 parade participants on January 20. Over 90 music, cultural and community groups will join representatives from our Armed Forces in the historic parade, which concludes at the presidential reviewing stand, where the President and Vice President will watch the processional with their families.