Most Masters ticket scalpers on Washington Road have generic signs that say “tickets needed” or “buy/sell tickets.”
But Jimmy Dizoglio’s proudly decalres “Jimmy D’s Tickets” with an arrow pointing to his tent in front of Augusta Best Inn, which lets him rent out the roadside and a couple of rooms.
“I’ve been coming here for about 30 years, so everyone knows who we are,” he said.
Dizoglio, whose home base is in Miami, travels to sporting events throughout the year for his business, including the Super Bowl and The Daytona 500, but he says the Masters is the best for business.
“This is the top event in the world in my opinion,” he said.
While the Augusta National is the only authorized seller of Masters tickets, brokering tickets is legal as long as the buyers and sellers have their correct paperwork and are not within the 2,700 feet of the tournament.
“I don’t know how [the Augusta National] feels,” Dizoglio said. “It’s a sensitive topic, but they understand commerce more than anyone.”
This year, ticket prices are higher than usual for the brokers, but business is still good, Dizoglio said. Single-day entry tickets can run in price from $800 to $1,600 this year, depending on factors like whether its a weekday or weekend ticket.
“There’s no such thing as a bad Masters,” he said about business this year.
Buyers that come by his tent come from all over the world for the chance to claim a ticket to enter the Masters grounds, he said.
“I’ve had people from Siberia, Senegal, everywhere,” Dizoglio said.
Some visitors want a ticket for entry at the end of the day just for the chance to purchase Masters merchandise, he said.
“It’s a very scarce ticket,” Dizoglio said. “It’s a lot of people’s dream to go even for just an hour.”
