Gifts of Sporting Tickets

Mark Stone's excellent e-mail newsletter alerted us to an article concerning a government official accepting tickets to sporting events. Mark also notes a February 9, 2007 OGE opinion entitled Valuation of Gifts of Admission to an Event in a Skybox or Private Suite. The opinion provides in part: 

The Office of Government Ethics consistently has advised that [the market value of] a gift of attendance in a skybox or private suite is determined by adding the market value of the most expensive publicly available ticket to the event to the market value of the food, parking and other tangible benefits provided in connection with the gift of attendance. Assume, for example, that an employee is offered free admission for two to a private suite at an arena to view a music concert. The most expensive ticket available to the public at retail for that event is $150. However, in addition to the value of entrance to the event, attendance in the private suite comes with food and beverages provided during the concert valued at $50 per person and a parking pass with a market value of $25. Thus, the total value of the gift to the employee is $425: $300 for the admission for two, plus $100 for the food and beverages for two, plus $25 for the parking pass.