Come on down! ‘Price is Right’ a win for GTP, Weidner

Organizers of “The Price is Right Live” said the event was even better than they could have imagined.

The sold-out show at the Weidner Center on Oct. 10 was a nice win for the Weidner Center and its co-promoter, the UW-Green Bay student organization Good Times Programming (GTP). With about one-quarter of the nearly 1,900 seats occupied by UW-Green Bay students, it was also a great night for campus life.

“GTP knew when they made the offer that it was a popular show but there was some hesitation that without a big-name host it might not have the draw,” said GTP Student Adviser Grant Winslow. “Boy, was I wrong. The students who I have talked to after the show really enjoyed themselves and it was a great bonus that the first contestant on stage was a UWGB student.”

There was no car given away, nor a trip, but diamond earrings, a side-by-side refrigerator/freezer, and other “consolation” prizes made for an eventful night.

“Audience turnout for this show exceeded my expectations,” said Weidner Center Director Kate Green. “I’m not sure I realized just how many ‘Price Is Right’ fans were out there!… With the show celebrating its 40th year, ‘Price Is Right’ has touched several generations, which was reflected in the audience dynamics Wednesday night. We had teenagers on up to great grandmothers in the crowd, all sharing in the same excitement.”

Both Good Times and The Price is Right are celebrating 40 years and the Weidner its 20th. “We actually went on sale to the students the first day of class, September 4, which was the exact 40th anniversary of The Price is Right,” Winslow said. “The stars just seemed to align on this one.”

Winslow said Good Times has some other great programs coming up including a ghost hunter the week prior to Halloween and the annual ladies-night-out comedienne. With the success of The Price is Right, GTP plans another “big show” for spring. They’re hoping for another Weidner Center sell-out.

“The Weidner collaboration with Good Times Programming was a true win for this event,” Green said. “The GTP students identified this tour as one they felt UWGB students would participate in, and they were right. From the Weidner’s perspective, we knew this show would have broad community appeal as well, making it a win-win. Additionally, the GTP students provided necessary event support day-of-show, registering contestants pre-show and assisting patrons as they arrived. I look forward to more opportunities to collaborate with the group in the future.”

Photos by Karli Peterson, Good Times Programming