MUCH of the ticket expense is to pay off the "authorities" who won't grant the permits (that they keep raising the prices of) unless they get their cut and tax the citizens a second time. The police are not even wanted there. The Black Rock Desert is at the corner of 3 sheriff counties, on federal BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land, and also attended by Nevada State police, the DEA, fire departments, ambulance, etc. Plus port-a-potties and the turd burglars who maintain them raise their rates (something I'm actually sympathetic to).

For years they've been considering buying a permanent large region of land to host their private event on, rather than pay off these "authorities". Now I suspect that they've got this cash cow I doubt they would let them find an alternative venue.