Alienating Season-Ticket Holders

[tarheelhockey]

Erm. No.

No, what?

 

[Buck Aki Berg]

I don't know about every organization, but you usually get a LOT more than just a seat at the game as an STH.

Perks vary from team to team, and are much less in more established markets because people will line up around the block for tickets regardless of the perks. Playoff priority seems to be a common one, but in the northern markets that often the only one. I remember a few seasons ago, Eugene Melnyk booked the Eagles for a private concert for Senators' STHs, but that's more the exception than the rule in such markets.

However, with more people being undercut by special promos (or at least feeling that way), I think extras will become the norm.

 

[La Grosse Tendresse]

Perks vary from team to team, and are much less in more established markets because people will line up around the block for tickets regardless of the perks. Playoff priority seems to be a common one, but in the northern markets that often the only one. I remember a few seasons ago, Eugene Melnyk booked the Eagles for a private concert for Senators' STHs, but that's more the exception than the rule in such markets.

However, with more people being undercut by special promos (or at least feeling that way), I think extras will become the norm.

Yeah, when I was a season ticket holder for the Habs, I got first dibs at playoff dates (but had to buy tickets for all 16 possible games and had no priority for additional seats), plus I got a free guided tour of the Bell Centre. That's all, nothing else.

 

[KevFist]

You can do what you like, but honestly that is a very silly reason to drop your tickets.

For reals! that's like saying "I'm not driving a car anymore because gas is 29 cents per gallon in Venezuela."

 

[Section337]

One benefit of season tickets, as opposed to just seeking the lowest price available when you want to go, is the the relationship built with fellow season ticket holders around you. I enjoy, and am more likely to, celebrating and commiserating with these people. Besides, when you show up with people sitting in your seats, neighbours will let them know, even before you get there.

Another personal benefit, is that it gets me out to the games. I mostly enjoy it, but know that if I don't make the commitment, there will not be the same drive to go.

 

[TaketheCannoli]

Yes and as expensive as that can be season tickets cost more.

The huge value to teams is the commitment to less attractive games. Even in Toronto or Montreal.

And yes I'm well aware of the Oilers Cups. They were a generation ago.

I don't know how they cost more?
In many markets you get a reduced price on season tickets and includes parking and other misc.

Sometimes, yes. I think what leek was trying to saying was that most STH's don't attend all 41 games. Let's say they attend only 20 games per year. They have paid the team for 41, minus any money they can get for selling the tickets they don't use.

If you only plan on only attending 15-20 games, bought at the going market rate (some higher, others lower than what you pay for the full pack), your net spending will be far less.

Good questions. Here's what I mean:

March 1st, Nashville is in Edmonton. The least expensive ticket available from the Oil is $43.25. I can buy tickets on Stubhub for $9.00! I can buy Gold Club seats from the Oilers for $215.25, but in the secondary market I can buy the same Gold Club seats for $114.00! That's half as much.


From the article linked by the original poster:

On this night, Lazar, 35, and a friend sat in his familiar Section 103, but with two tickets bought on eBay for a combined $89 - about half their face value.

I found similar deals in Detroit as well.

In Cleveland, the beers that Cavaliers fans quaff to soothe sorrows inside Quicken Loans Arena are more costly than some tickets to games on Razorgator, another online broker. Two bucks allows a fan, in some cases, to see the team LeBron James left behind.

Season ticketholders not only make a bigger commitment, unless they are in a few, very few markets, they actually pay more for many games than those buying them on the secondary market.

It's hard to stress the importance of season tickets enough. How many tickets would be sold to walk up buyers in any market for weekday games, especially unattractive games? Season tickets guarantee a base attendance for those games.

 

[Fugu]

Yeah, when I was a season ticket holder for the Habs, I got first dibs at playoff dates (but had to buy tickets for all 16 possible games and had no priority for additional seats), plus I got a free guided tour of the Bell Centre. That's all, nothing else.

Same for me in Detroit. I had to buy all 41 home dates, and 5 pre-season games. You had to pay for the playoff games upfront (about a month before they started). There were no other priorities, freebies, incentives. I think there was one Skate at the Joe you could attend. Parking was extra for most STH's, although some of the premium seats came with free parking. All the suite owners had complimentary parking, of course.

Only in the last year did Detroit introduce mini-packs. It was all or nothing before that. I gave mine up because it was hard to actually attend more than a quarter to one-third of the games. Detroit has the fewest Sat/Sun home dates of any team in the NHL, and no, there are no competing items at the Joe that would force this. It's the NHL forcing them into someone else's barn on weekends since they're a huge road draw. We also get offered tickets frequently by corporate contacts, and someone in the family works for a company that owns seats in the fourth row.

 

[Guardian17]

You can do what you like, but honestly that is a very silly reason to drop your tickets.

I respectfully disagree.

My season tickets hsave gone up in price every season since the lockout.

The Flames want a new building and its not a stretch to think that I'll be paying for it.

I also see how expensive seats are in a hockey market like Pittsburgh and I can assume that the Flames will be charging similar prices in the new building.

The Flames, through revenue sharing, are propping up Atlanta & Phoenix and I have no interest in paying more money to help these cities.

 

[SniperHF]

I am giving up my Flames season tickets at the end of the season.

I came to this decision because I'm sick of seeing discounted tickets and concessions in Phoenix & Atlanta.

I'm sick of watching the same teams over and over. Why was it okay for Gretzky And the Oilers to travel to all the eastern conference every season but Crosby and the Penguins can only come every other season.

The NHL is a front for billionaire owners to make money through real estate and they use season ticket holders money to make the deals.

Good for them, I've got better things to do with my money.

I'd never tell you what you should do with your tickets /money. If you want out by all means. But I'm not really sure what discounted concessions in other markets has to do with your experience. And I really don't see how concessions are discounted here in Phoenix.

Outside of the promotion nights, of which there are not many, the prices are on par or higher than other sporting events in the valley. If the prices are lower than they are in other markets it is probably largely because the cost of living and salaries here are lower than many places in the US.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Perks vary from team to team, and are much less in more established markets because people will line up around the block for tickets regardless of the perks. Playoff priority seems to be a common one, but in the northern markets that often the only one. I remember a few seasons ago, Eugene Melnyk booked the Eagles for a private concert for Senators' STHs, but that's more the exception than the rule in such markets.

It's tough to find documentation of perks, since the sold-out teams don't advertise for season tickets, but here are a few examples of what northern teams do for their STH:

Red Wings: http://redwings.nhl.com/club/page.htm?bcid=23058
Sens: http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/images/renewal/SENS_Benefits_E.pdf
Flyers: http://flyers.nhl.com/club/page.htm?bcid=tic_283
Sabres: http://sabres.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=62512
Flames waiting list: http://flames.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=40757
Minnesota Wild: http://wild.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=51752
Blackhawks (a couple years old): http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?bcid=tic_SeasonTickets

It varies a lot, the most common things being playoff priority and merch discounts. But some teams, like the Sens and Wings, have pretty nice perks.

However, with more people being undercut by special promos (or at least feeling that way), I think extras will become the norm.

I agree, and frankly it's a little foolish that teams aren't already doing it. Successful sales-oriented businesses treat their top clients to all kinds of little sweeteners.

I respectfully disagree.

My season tickets hsave gone up in price every season since the lockout.

The Flames want a new building and its not a stretch to think that I'll be paying for it.

I also see how expensive seats are in a hockey market like Pittsburgh and I can assume that the Flames will be charging similar prices in the new building.

The Flames, through revenue sharing, are propping up Atlanta & Phoenix and I have no interest in paying more money to help these cities.

That is completely different than what you originally said, that you are just tired of seeing discounted tickets in other cities.

 

[kdb209]

It's tough to find documentation of perks, since the sold-out teams don't advertise for season tickets, but here are a few examples of what northern teams do for their STH:

Red Wings: http://redwings.nhl.com/club/page.htm?bcid=23058
Sens: http://senators.nhl.com/v2/ext/images/renewal/SENS_Benefits_E.pdf
Flyers: http://flyers.nhl.com/club/page.htm?bcid=tic_283
Sabres: http://sabres.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=62512
Flames waiting list: http://flames.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=40757
Minnesota Wild: http://wild.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=51752
Blackhawks (a couple years old): http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?bcid=tic_SeasonTickets

It varies a lot, the most common things being playoff priority and merch discounts. But some teams, like the Sens and Wings, have pretty nice perks.

Sharks: http://sharks.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=46588

Plus STH prices are discounted ~13-18% from regular face - plus no TicketBastard charges.

The only real downside is having to buy the 3 pre-season games (at regular season prices) - I just look at this as being a STH tax.

 

[Section337]

For the Oilers, the benefit is more for early renewal of season tickets, rather than the season tickets themselves. In the last number of years if you renew (with down payment) in March timeframe you will receive a discount (thinking <=5%) and you also receive $100 Oiler bucks to spend at Rexall.


Beyond that; there is a 15% discount on Oilers' merchandise, a chance to upgrade seats each year, and the rarely invoked right to pay for your seats to go to playoff games.

 

[Jamin]

I am giving up my Flames season tickets at the end of the season.

I came to this decision because I'm sick of seeing discounted tickets and concessions in Phoenix & Atlanta.

I'm sick of watching the same teams over and over. Why was it okay for Gretzky And the Oilers to travel to all the eastern conference every season but Crosby and the Penguins can only come every other season.

The NHL is a front for billionaire owners to make money through real estate and they use season ticket holders money to make the deals.

Good for them, I've got better things to do with my money.

This post could be used for another thread topic. The nhl scheduale is dreadfully boring. Someone decided divisional games were good for rivalry but then forgot about moderation. I like ice cream but if i eat it six times day it loses its luster. Im sick of playing teams like minny 6 times and teams like nashville 4 times.

Every team should have home and away with 29 other teams and then divide up the rest with divisonal games. At least every half a decade I can see Ovechkin play live

 

[ColdSteel2]

Hawks STH and there aren't really any perks. There should be though. An idea I had (only to find out later the Bulls actually do this) is for the team to send you a box of the seasons giveaways at the start of the season.

 

[leoleo3535]

For the Oilers, the benefit is more for early renewal of season tickets, rather than the season tickets themselves. In the last number of years if you renew (with down payment) in March timeframe you will receive a discount (thinking <=5%) and you also receive $100 Oiler bucks to spend at Rexall.


Beyond that; there is a 15% discount on Oilers' merchandise, a chance to upgrade seats each year, and the rarely invoked right to pay for your seats to go to playoff games.

Depending on the seat it is far more than that.
I got my renewal today and it is as follows:

I have 2 seats x 45 games (41 reg. 4 ex) @ $251.50 per seat = $22,635.00

The season ticket price is $164.00 per seat = $14,760.00

A savings of $7875.00

Can you sometimes get these seats cheaper thru a broker? yes
Often these seats are brokered for $200 - $250 and people feel they got a deal. Well they did and they didn't because the "deal" is the season ticket price of $164 not the face value price of $251.50
Often tickets are sold out, or your selection is limited , or you cannot get seats where you want, or in 2's etc.

 

[Kate08]

If you were to purchase my seats at the box office for face value, they would run you $50 - $55 per ticket, depending on whether or not it's a premium game. We pay $28 per seat.

In addition to that, we have :
- coupons that guarantee us one of each giveaway that the Bruins do over the course of the season
- 10% or 15% discount at the Pro Shop
- Holiday card and holiday "gift" (this year it was a Bruins desk calendar)
- Access to State of the Bruins event at the start of each season (Q&A town hall type meeting with ownership, management, players)
- Discounts to various events over the course of the year
- Choose your package "type". For example, we have the Fanatic package, which gives us tickets to the Providence Bruins (AHL), pre-season skate on the Garden ice, etc. There are other packages for corporate folks, etc.
- "Pay as you play" playoff strips (this is HUGE)

I'm sure there are things that I'm forgetting, but it makes sense for us. Plus, as others have said, that added camaraderie of having fellow STH's around you.

Also -- there is something to be said about the familiarity of your "own" seats. You learn the sight lines and it makes it easier to follow the action.

 

[Section337]

Depending on the seat it is far more than that.
I got my renewal today and it is as follows:

I have 2 seats x 45 games (41 reg. 4 ex) @ $251.50 per seat = $22,635.00

The season ticket price is $164.00 per seat = $14,760.00

A savings of $7875.00

Can you sometimes get these seats cheaper thru a broker? yes
Often these seats are brokered for $200 - $250 and people feel they got a deal. Well they did and they didn't because the "deal" is the season ticket price of $164 not the face value price of $251.50
Often tickets are sold out, or your selection is limited , or you cannot get seats where you want, or in 2's etc.

I was not talking about the face price discount, in years past, you had a discount against the season ticket price for re-upping early.

 

[Fugu]

It varies a lot, the most common things being playoff priority and merch discounts. But some teams, like the Sens and Wings, have pretty nice perks.

What nice perks did you see for the Wings? I saw some t-shirts, and mainly a chance to spend more money, e.g., Olympia Club requires a separate membership that must be purchased, after you buy the ST's. One free skate.

The 20% off merchandise purchased at the Joe is new, and something people might actually use once in a while. Better pricing vs box office pricing is advertised, but not sure how it differs as I don't see the prices.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Hawks STH and there aren't really any perks.

Do they still do the party and gift that were listed in the link above? If not, it's kinda lame for them to cut back.

What nice perks did you see for the Wings?

NEW! Season Ticket Holder Renewal Gift
We would like to thank you for the part you played in the 2007-08 Stanley Cup Championship season. As a special gift for renewing, you will receive a 16" x 20" print from a piece of original art commemorating the 2008 Stanley Cup Championship.

NEW! Membership Card
You will receive a Season Ticket Holder membership card that will provide you with a 20% discount on merchandise items at Joe Louis Arena merchandise stands and Hockeytown Authentics.

Exclusive Season Ticket Holder Skating Party
The Skating Party is a private opportunity for Season Ticket Holders to skate on the same ice as the pros at Joe Louis Arena, interact with Red Wings Alumni, take locker room tours and enjoy other unique experiences.

NEW! Special Events
Receive exclusive invitations to special Red Wings events including autograph signings, parties, and special shopping days at Hockeytown Authentics with additional discounts on Detroit Red Wings merchandise.

NEW! College Hockey at "The Joe" tickets
You will receive two complimentary general admission tickets to each day of the Great Lakes Invitational and the CCHA Championship.

NEW! Special In-Game Greeting
Your chance to put a special welcome up on the Sony Jumbotron. You will receive one complimentary birthday wish or anniversary greeting per season during a home game intermission.

NEW! Detroit Red Wings Lanyard and Ticket Holder per seat on account

NEW! Featured Season Ticket Holder
Throughout the season, we will be honoring Season Ticket Holders at home Red Wings games as the "Season Ticket Holder of the Game." You can also appear as the "Season Ticket Holder of the Month" in the Inside Hockeytown Magazine or on DetroitRedWings.com.

NEW! Press Clippings Emailed to you each game day

Complimentary Subscription to Inside Hockeytown Magazine

Two additional complimentary tickets to a pre-selected Detroit Red Wings pre-season game

Invitation for you and one guest to attend an away game viewing experience on the Joe Louis Arena ice with Red Wings Alumni

One Detroit Red Wings Adult T-Shirt

One Detroit Red Wings Media Guide

Exclusive clinic with a Detroit Red Wings or Grand Rapids coach or player for one child

One membership to the Detroit Red Wings Kids Club

What else do you want, strippers?

 

[BoltSTH]

The Lightnings new owner going all out to increase season ticket sales.

If you sign up by March 25:
- Next season frozen at this years price.
- ALL playoff games with cost your regular season $ per seat (season/42). That is
from 50% to 75% less from what it cost in the 2004 playoffs (escalated per round)
- Pay only after each round of the playoffs
- Free special STH only jersey with chip in it that gives 25% of food and 35% off merchandising.

http://lightning.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=553906

 

[Fugu]

Do they still do the party and gift that were listed in the link above? If not, it's kinda lame for them to cut back.

My gosh you guys are making me grumpy today. I can read the page too, by clicking on the link you provided. I wanted --> you <-- to tell me what was of value, and what's basically marketing fluff, you know, they call it 'valued added' when they're still giving you stuff they always have but now they have to convince you it has some intrinsic value you never noticed before.

To wit:

NEW! Season Ticket Holder Renewal Gift
We would like to thank you for the part you played in the 2007-08 Stanley Cup Championship season. As a special gift for renewing, you will receive a 16" x 20" print from a piece of original art commemorating the 2008 Stanley Cup Championship.

Woo hoo. The basement den is getting a facelift! I couldn't get one of those at one of the numerous moving and garage sales in Michigan.

I love the way people play up that a print is from an original, almost as if the print is somehow enhanced then. A print from another print perhaps?

NEW! Membership Card
You will receive a Season Ticket Holder membership card that will provide you with a 20% discount on merchandise items at Joe Louis Arena merchandise stands and Hockeytown Authentics.

Okay, maybe I'll buy another jersey or two at each game I attend.

Exclusive Season Ticket Holder Skating Party
The Skating Party is a private opportunity for Season Ticket Holders to skate on the same ice as the pros at Joe Louis Arena, interact with Red Wings Alumni, take locker room tours and enjoy other unique experiences.

You know, if it were the Wings players skating along, I "might" consider it. Still, I suppose some people could be convinced to pay $10-20K for tickets so they can have a one hour skate at the Joe.

NEW! Special Events
Receive exclusive invitations to special Red Wings events including autograph signings, parties, and special shopping days at Hockeytown Authentics with additional discounts on Detroit Red Wings merchandise.

More ways for me to spend money, but I'll feel better because of the "exclusive" tag.

NEW! College Hockey at "The Joe" tickets
You will receive two complimentary general admission tickets to each day of the Great Lakes Invitational and the CCHA Championship.

Or I can just go to the U of Mich games at Yost. Easier to get to from here. Fine. That's a decent little plug for college hockey. You get a for that one.

NEW! Special In-Game Greeting
Your chance to put a special welcome up on the Sony Jumbotron. You will receive one complimentary birthday wish or anniversary greeting per season during a home game intermission.

Like I really want 20,000 people to know I just turned another year on the calendar? Pffft.

NEW! Featured Season Ticket Holder
Throughout the season, we will be honoring Season Ticket Holders at home Red Wings games as the "Season Ticket Holder of the Game." You can also appear as the "Season Ticket Holder of the Month" in the Inside Hockeytown Magazine or on DetroitRedWings.com.

Hmmm. What if I'm a private person who values my preevacy?

NEW! Press Clippings Emailed to you each game day

I have Kukla's and HFB for that. Double Pffffffft.

Complimentary Subscription to Inside Hockeytown Magazine

Propaganda, probably mostly ads from sponsors who want more of my money.

Two additional complimentary tickets to a pre-selected Detroit Red Wings pre-season game

Lemme jump right on that one. Pre-season games? That's double value added!

Now, if it were a playoff game, my little ears would have perked up.

Invitation for you and one guest to attend an away game viewing experience on the Joe Louis Arena ice with Red Wings Alumni

I have to sit on the ice to watch an away game? My couch and 60" HDTV, with wifi so I can yell at you guys during games from my laptop, is more appealing.

One Detroit Red Wings Adult T-Shirt

Don't knock yourself out. A t-shirt? Wowzers.

One Detroit Red Wings Media Guide

I think these cost a buck at the games.

Exclusive clinic with a Detroit Red Wings or Grand Rapids coach or player for one child

My kids, alas, don't play hockey, and they're a bit beyond that stage.

One membership to the Detroit Red Wings Kids Club

Ditto.

What else do you want, strippers?

Now you're talking. If it's the guys on the team, sign me up!

 

[AllByDesign]

You know, if it were the Wings players skating along, I "might" consider it. Still, I suppose some people could be convinced to pay $10-20K for tickets so they can have a one hour skate at the Joe.

We have a skate with the Moose day... I have framed my Guillaume Desbiens and Alexander Bolduc autographs on the off chance something big happens to them..

Like I really want 20,000 people to know I just turned another year on the calendar? Pffft.

I'd get a kick if I read "Happy Birthday FUGU" on a Jumbotron.

I have to sit on the ice to watch an away game? My couch and 60" HDTV, with wifi so I can yell at you guys during games from my laptop, is more appealing.

Man... we never get a break.

Now you're talking. If it's the guys on the team, sign me up!
(For those of you who might be aghast by this, I am NOT a man

hehehe... suuuure... Keep the dream alive Fugu.

 

[ColdSteel2]

No, we had a party a couple years ago. We also got some cool gifts then too. Since the end of the 08-09 playoffs, there really hasn't been much. I guess they thought winning was enough and they didn't need to care about the STH anymore since a long list had grown. The arena workers treat STHs like crap too. If they run out of the giveaway at my gate and I walk to another to ask for it and mention I am a STH, it's always a verbal war where my chances are 60/40 of getting the item. We did, however, get to take pictures with the Cup and other trophies our team and players won last year. That should pretty much be expected though. Actually, I'm angry now and am going to write a letter to John McDonough outlining my complaints and all of the awesome perks other NHL STHs get. Thanks for the material, guys!

 

[tarheelhockey]

My gosh you guys are making me grumpy today. I can read the page too, by clicking on the link you provided. I wanted --> you <-- to tell me what was of value, and what's basically marketing fluff, you know, they call it 'valued added' when they're still giving you stuff they always have but now they have to convince you it has some intrinsic value you never noticed before.

Honestly, it seems to me you're going out of your way to be cynical about each item just to prove a point. They offer a party, you don't like parties. They offer free tickets to other games, you don't want to see them. They offer media access, you'd rather use your own sources. They offer recognition, you want your privacy. Come on.

At the end of the day, you can buy all your tickets on Stubhub, get a ticket ONLY and have zero customer service involved.

OR

You can buy season tickets, get customer service PLUS a whole bunch of complimentary events and merch that cost you nothing PLUS discounts on any other tickets or merch you might want PLUS the generally positive experience and memories of being an STH.

If the former is the experience you'd rather have, that's cool... but it's being disingenuous to say that the team isn't doing anything to enhance the STH experience considering the LONG list of perks they're offering you.

 

[tarheelhockey]

No, we had a party a couple years ago. We also got some cool gifts then too. Since the end of the 08-09 playoffs, there really hasn't been much. I guess they thought winning was enough and they didn't need to care about the STH anymore since a long list had grown. The arena workers treat STHs like crap too. If they run out of the giveaway at my gate and I walk to another to ask for it and mention I am a STH, it's always a verbal war where my chances are 60/40 of getting the item. We did, however, get to take pictures with the Cup and other trophies our team and players won last year. That should pretty much be expected though. Actually, I'm angry now and am going to write a letter to John McDonough outlining my complaints and all of the awesome perks other NHL STHs get. Thanks for the material, guys!

They deserve to get some pushback for that. I'm sure their revenues have increased exponentially, so there's no good reason for them to cut back on STH benefits. Talk about taking people for granted.