President Obama's Farewell Speech: No Tickets? No Problem for 2 Lucky Attendees (VIDEO)

CHICAGO, IL — The tickets for President Barack Obama's farewell address Tuesday in Chicago went quickly when they were given out by event organizers this past weekend, disappointing many people who were hoping for a chance to see the historic speech in person.

By Monday, tickets that had originally been free had become such a hot commodity that some people began selling them online at sites like Craigslist and eBay. Prices ranged from hundreds of dollars to as much as $5,000 (and in one unusual listing, simply being the ticket holder's "date" to the address).

But that scarcity and those secondary market prices didn't disuade some optimistic ticket-seekers from arriving at McCormick Place on Tuesday night with the hopes of scoring a seat to the speech, scheduled for 8 p.m. Chicago time.

RELATED: Watch President Barack Obama's Farewell Speech From Chicago

That optimism paid off for at least one person. Jeff Palmer of Kalamazoo, Michigan, traveled to Chicago on Saturday to get a ticket for his goddaughter, and with a cardboard sign that read "NEED One Ticket Please!!!" he was back at McCormick Place on Tuesday night for himself.

WATCH Patch Editor Patrick Martin's interview with Palmer to find out how he got a ticket to the address.

Unlike Palmer, Tracy, a mother from Bartlett, already had a ticket when she and her daughter arrived at McCormick Place. Or so she thought. Tracy realized the ticket was missing when she got to the downtown Chicago convention center.

Fortunately, a worker from Obama's 2012 re-election campaign was able to come to her rescue.

WATCH Patch Editor Patrick Martin's interviews with Tracy and the man who made sure she could see Obama's speech with her daughter.

Go to Chicago Patch's Facebook page to see more video interviews of the people attending Obama's address. And watch the speech live on Patch.

President Barack Obama's Farewell Address

• When: 8 p.m. (Central Time) Tuesday, Jan. 10
• Where: McCormick Place, Chicago
• TV: The speech will be carried on the five major networks — ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and PBS — as well as CNN, CSPAN, Fox News and MSNBC.

More Patch Coverage

• President Obama's Farewell Speech: What to Know Before Watching His Historic Address
• President Obama's Farewell Speech: How Much It Costs For A 'Free' Ticket'
• Obama Farewell Address Tickets Go Quickly
• Watch Michelle Obama's Final Speech As First Lady

Jeff Palmer, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, before President Barack Obama's farewell address Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, at McCormick Place in Chicago. (screen shot from video by Patrick Martin | image was flipped from video so sign could be read)

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