Ballet Tickets

This is in response to the Kirov Ballet blaming their 50% shortfall in ticket sales on the Los Angeles riots (“Kirov Ballet Blames L.A. Riots for Drop in Shrine Ticket Sales,” June 3).

I was interested in buying tickets for “La Bayadere.” I watched the Kirov ads for weeks looking for a date for the box office to open. I never saw such an announcement.

Apparently, the only ticket outlet was Ticketmaster. I will not deal with ticket agencies, due to their high service fee and their refusal to give exact seat location at the time of purchase. At no time did I think of the location of the Shrine Auditorium being unsafe.

Instead of blaming the riots, perhaps the Kirov should look at its ticket distribution strategy.

RALPH B. ELLIS

Los Angeles