Re: Audience for the Bake Off
Rachel -- I'm sure Cate or Emily will have a response for you - but, to my knowledge, tickets have never been available and the only guests are when a finalist brings a family member or friend (and they pay their fee to attend events, meals, etc. etc.). Also, the sponsors have many guests there -- executives etc. from the sponsoring brands; media from magazines, newspapers, tv, etc.
Guests (with name tags that they need to enter) are only permitted outside a roped off area. The media and sponsor guests are allowed inside and can walk around and ask questions, chat, etc. (sometimes sample foods if they are out and with that 'eat' sign) and such.
I know at my final PBO .. the security guards were very very careful about who entered the cooking area. And if a finalist left his/her range and went over to the ropes to talk to a friend/spouse, etc... they were often asked by security to not do that.
It IS a large group - with 100 finalists - and their ranges, and prep area ... plus other necessary things on the sides .. and then the TV and other media .. and the viewing area. Even though the cook off is in a very large ball room .. when you start thinking about logistics ....!
However, there will probably be some local clips/items on many of your local area TV shows ... and you might get a peek at some of those. Sorry, but you'll just have to enter the next one and then have the fun experience yourself if you are picked as one o fthe lucky ones!
There is a possibility that if you were in one of the hotel/resort areas you might see someone walking around, or sitting and lounging wearing a PBO tag. In the past they have always had some type of designations on the tags so that one could often tell from a distance whether it was a finalist; a guest, a sponsor, media, etc.