I've received partial refunds on several occasions. Sometimes for items not as described, and sometimes for items that were damaged in transit. If you still want these tickets, I would inquire about a partial refund... with a dollar figure in mind.
That rip would bug me to no end, but everyone has a different level of OCD.
Was it well protected? Can you tell if it happened in transit, or do you think someone at the AH damaged it prior to packing/shipping? Given what you paid, I would think that an $800 - $1,000 refund is a very fair number to request. Then you can see where it goes from there.
Hope this helps, and best of luck!