Method, apparatus and article-of-manufacture for the creation, issuance, valuation/pricing, trading and exercise of options for attendance rights, and derivative instruments thereon

Abstract

Computer-related methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture to permit/facilitate the creation, marketing, and/or distribution of options to purchase tickets to a particular future event, particularly an elimination format competition, when the chosen competitor's qualification for such a game is currently uncertain, but where the uncertainty will be resolved prior to the commencement of the particular future event.

1 - 38 . (canceled)  
     
     
         39 . A computer system for providing an attendance right option exchange, comprising: 
 a hub computer in communication with a computer network,    wherein said hub computer is operable to receive data over said computer network from a ticket seller computer connected to said computer network and operable to provide over said network electronic data sufficient to specify initial pricing for one or more attendance right options, wherein each of said attendance right options represents a binding agreement between a ticket seller and a holder of said option, and said agreement entitles said holder to purchase a right to attend a specified event under specified contingent conditions, and said contingent conditions relate to occurrence of a threshold event before said specified event; and    wherein said hub computer is further operable to transmit data corresponding to said electronic data sufficient to specify said initial pricing for said one or more attendance right options for said specified event over said computer network to a first customer computer operable to display said data to a first customer.    
     
     
         40 . A system as in  claim 39 , wherein said hub computer is further operable to receive a purchase request for at least one of said attendance right options via said computer network from said first customer computer, wherein said specified event is not yet scheduled when said purchase request is received.  
     
     
         41 . A system as in  claim 39 , wherein said attendance right option is freely transferable.  
     
     
         42 . A system as in  claim 39 , wherein said initial pricing is determined by a ticket seller and comprises a price below which said one or more attendance right options cannot be sold.  
     
     
         43 . A system as in  claim 40 , wherein said hub computer is further operable to transmit data to said first customer computer confirming that said purchase request has been accepted and said at least one option has been purchased by said first customer and to debit an account of said first customer an amount based on said purchase request.  
     
     
         44 . A system as in  claim 43 , wherein said first customer account is further debited an amount corresponding to a fee related to said purchase request and/or said account.  
     
     
         45 . A system as in  claim 39 , wherein said hub computer is further operable to receive an offer to sell said option from said first customer's computer, and wherein pricing for said offer to sell is specified by said first customer.  
     
     
         46 . A system as in  claim 45  wherein said hub computer is further operable to transmit over said computer network to a second customer computer data sufficient to create a display comprising said offer to sell.  
     
     
         47 . A system as in  claim 46 , wherein said hub computer is further operable to receive over said computer network data from said second customer computer indicating an intent by a second customer to accept said offer to sell.  
     
     
         48 . A system as in  claim 47 , wherein said hub computer is operable to deduct an amount from an account of said second customer an amount corresponding to said pricing for said offer to sell and a fee related to said offer to sell and/or said account of said second customer.  
     
     
         49 . A system as in  claim 39 , wherein attendance right option is an option to purchase a ticket to said specified event and said event is a sporting event.  
     
     
         50 . A system as in  claim 49 , wherein said attendance right option is an option to purchase said ticket during a time period between when said threshold event occurs and when said event occurs.  
     
     
         51 . A system as in  claim 49 , wherein said sporting event is a playoff game.  
     
     
         52 . A system as in  claim 39 , wherein said threshold event involves advancement of one or more specified competitors.  
     
     
         53 . A system as in  claim 39 , wherein said hub computer is in communication with a market clearing mechanism configured to match offers to sell attendance right options with offers to buy said options.  
     
     
         54 . A system as in  claim 39 , wherein said initial pricing is independent of said first customer's identity.  
     
     
         55 . A system as in  claim 39 , wherein said option is independent of said first customer's identity.  
     
     
         56 . A system as in  claim 39 , wherein said initial pricing is based on perceived market demand.  
     
     
         57 . A system as in  claim 39 , wherein said option is for one or more tickets for specified seat locations.  
     
     
         58 . A system as in  claim 57 , wherein said initial pricing is based on said specified seat locations.  
     
     
         59 . A computer system for providing an attendance right option exchange, comprising: 
 a ticket seller computer in communication with a computer network,    wherein said ticket seller computer is operable to transmit data over said computer network to a hub computer connected to said computer network, said hub computer operable to provide over said network electronic data sufficient to specify initial pricing for one or more attendance right options for attending a specified sporting event only under specified circumstances, wherein said circumstances have not yet occurred when said initial pricing is specified; and    wherein said hub computer is further operable to transmit data corresponding to said electronic data sufficient to specify said initial pricing for said one or more attendance right options for said specified sporting event over said computer network to a first customer computer operable to display said data to a first customer.