Ticket prices jump for Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks has joined "Viva Elvis," Elton, Cher and Celine in the $200-a-ticket club, after one of the largest percentage jumps recorded in Las Vegas.

Citing "overwhelming" demand, hotel operator Steve Wynn announced that tickets for Brooks' shows were increasing from $125 to $225, for a total of $253 including taxes.

Wynn's ticket announcement came a month shy of Brooks' one-year anniversary at Wynn's Encore Theater.

When Wynn lured Brooks out of retirement with a five-year deal that included a $15 million jet, they confirmed during a news conference that ticket pricing was a stumbling block.

The fan-conscious Brooks let it be known he wasn't comfortable with $125 tickets ($143 after taxes).

In his news release Tuesday, Wynn said that even with the increase, he considered Brooks' tickets "underpriced."

"The demand for Garth was so overwhelming that it caught us by surprise," he said. "We could fill a theater many times the size of this, twice a night."

Brooks' comments bordered on apologetic. "I am flattered Steve Wynn believes in me as an entertainer, and my deal with him is not affected by ticket price. My only concern is the audience.

"Right now, the Vegas audiences are some of the best I have ever played for, and I'd hate to see that change for whatever reason."

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Among the 4,500 stranded on the cruise ship Carnival Splendor is a magicians convention, including several from Las Vegas. An engine room fire left the ship without power, electricity or hot water about 200 miles south of San Diego. Flamingo headliner Nathan Burton said a couple of hundred magicians from all over the world are aboard. ...

Mirage headliner Terry Fator and his wife, Taylor, got married again Sunday, this time Hawaiian-style. She grew up in Hawaii. They were engaged in Hawaii on Oct. 17 and were married Nov. 3 in Las Vegas. ...

Correction: Competitive eating star Joey Chestnut defeated Rich "The Locust" LeFevre on Sunday in the second annual Martorano's Masters Meatball Eating Championship at the Rio. Chestnut downed 43 2-ounce meatballs in 10 minutes to LeFevre's 37.

SIGHTINGS

Six-time 20-game winner Roger Clemens, telling a Planet Hollywood V.I.P. gathering that he could sympathize with Zenyatta in her unsuccessful attempt to go 20-0 with a win in the Breeders Cup on Saturday. Clemens said he knew from experience how difficult it was to get that 20th win. Also at Planet Hollywood over the weekend: California Lt. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and his wife, Jennifer, dining at Koi and Strip House before heading to "Love" (Mirage). ... San Francisco 49ers' linebacker Patrick Willis, dining at Cabo Wabo cantina (Planet Hollywood) on Saturday. ... Lionel Richie, with Randy Phillips, CEO of AEG, and Rod Stewart's manager on Monday.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Police in San Diego have uncovered a huge smuggling tunnel under the border with Mexico containing 25 tons of marijuana -- and a couple of very stoned Chilean miners." -- Craig Ferguson

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.