A Royal plan for $18 opera tickets

London’s Royal Opera House thought it was doing people a favor last spring when it announced that it would sell 100 of the best seats available every Monday for $18, rather than the usual $300 or more. But there were complaints that it wouldn’t accomplish its goal of attracting new patrons because the tickets didn’t go on sale until 90 minutes before the performance, making it difficult to plan an evening around the show.

Now, the Guardian newspaper of London reports, the Royal Opera has come up with a new plan. Customers can apply online or in writing for the $18 tickets for next season; winners will be selected in a drawing and will be notified two weeks before the performance.