Palin's Valley ball set

Jan. 26, 2007

By Russell Stigall

Frontiersman

MAT-SU - The glitz and glam of Gov. Sarah Palin's first inaugural ball, in Juneau last week, whet the elbow-rubbing appetites of Mat-Su inaugural ticket-holders.

Glitz and glam do not come cheap, though. The cost of the ball is expected to be about $70,000, said Alaska Inaugural Committee treasurer Debbie Richter.

&#8220There is quite a bit of operating expense,” she said.

After tossing the Palin ball from venue to venue and finally turning down Nye Frontier Ford due to the expense of extra fire safety, the inaugural committee finally scored the massive chasm of Raven Hall on the grounds of the Alaska State Fair.

Venue, travel, food, entertainment, decorations and other costs will be paid for through private donations and ticket sales. No public money is being solicited or accepted, Richter said.

Mat-Su businesses have pitched in nearly half the ball's total revenue, with ticket sales to the 1,100 attendees making up the rest.

Ticket sales for the ball closed at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Why then?

&#8220We are running out of tickets,” Richter said. &#8220But we also need to create our lists of names and get them in order so we can organize this thing.”

A modest $35 gains entrance and open seating for the general populace. Those wanting to secure a place for their hors d'oeuvres could fork over $1,000 for a reserved table for eight. Richter said the grand tables were part of the event's fund-raising. Twelve tables were reserved by Wednesday afternoon.

Glacial Reflections Fine Catering, Alaskan Events and Catering and Indigo Desserts will provide edibles for the party's revelers.

Still without a ticket? Might as well put away the cummerbund and tails. There will be no scalped tickets sold in the shadows of Raven Hall.

&#8220We tried really hard to avoid scalpers by limiting the number of tickets sold to any one person to four,” Richter said. That was because a scalper's income couldn't be used to better the party.

&#8220That would just be rotten,” she said.

Any money left over from the Mat-Su inaugural would be used first to help throw other balls, &#8220to cover any other events in the state that may not have come up with funds to sponsor their event,” Richter said.

Any money left over after the last of Palin's balls will go to a charity of the governor's choosing.

The list of sponsors is very long, and sponsors' names will be displayed during Saturday's ball on large screens hung on both ends of Raven Hall.

&#8220The Valley has been very generous,” Richter said.

Contact Russell Stigall at 352-2267 or russell.stigall@frontiersman.com