March 16, 2007
Very VIP Empire State Building: $120 per couple
Amid much fanfare, the Empire State Building announced last month that it will permanently keep its observation decks every night until 2 a.m.
With much less fanfare, it recently raised its prices to reach the highest perch in New York City.
In January, prices went up for all ESB admissions, including the lesser-known express pass, which whisks you to the front of the lines, and the 102nd floor ticket, which gets you 174 feet higher than everyone else.
Each year more than 3.5 million people visit the main 86th-floor observation deck (at 1,050 feet high,) but in 2006 only about 600 per day paid extra to reach the 102nd floor, according to data supplied to NewYorkology by building officials. Opened to the public in November 2005, it now costs $15 extra to reach the higher observatory deck - up from $14 last year.
Since May 2005, visitors to the ESB have been able to buy an Express Pass, guaranteeing the ticketholder will reach the top within 20 minutes. The fast pass now costs $45, up from $40 in 2006 when about 1,000 were sold each week.
If you're going to buy the faster pass, you do not need to shell out cash for the regular tickets now priced at $18 for adults; $12 for children ages 6 through 11; $16 for seniors 62 and over; $16 for youth ages 12 through 17 years; and $16 for military with id $16. (That's a $2 rise from 2006 for all categories.)
So for a pair of adults going for a full, fast VIP trip to the very top, you're looking at $120.
As for the 2 a.m. closing, the building brought it in to stay after a trial run on date-nights (Thursday, Friday and Saturday) from June 22, 2006 to February 28, 2007. Just over 1,000 people showed up each night after the normal midnight closing, leading building offcials to make every night a 2 a.m. date night at the Empire State Building as of March 1, 2007. At no extra charge.
Correction: This item, including the headline, has been corrected to state that visitors do not need to buy a regular admission ticket in addition to the Express Pass. The fast pass includes the price of admission to the 86th floor.
March 16, 2007 12:13 PM in Architecture, Kids, Midtown, Romance, Sightsology
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