Alienating Season-Ticket Holders

[Fugu]

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.

I am not being disingenuous. I want the perks RR is getting in Phoenix, or at least free parking where I can get out of the place quickly. Now, that's a perk! No one wants the tickets to pre-season games, that's why they can just throw those in.

If you live long enough tarheel, you learn that some things have value, while others, not so much. To me, value is something that I'd otherwise have to pay something for, more than an another $1-2 per game, and something I'd actually want-- but otherwise couldn't get. Like regular season prices for the playoffs. That's valuable.

 

[TaketheCannoli]

I am not being disingenuous. I want the perks RR is getting in Phoenix, or at least free parking where I can get out of the place quickly. Now, that's a perk! No one wants the tickets to pre-season games, that's why they can just throw those in.

If you live long enough tarheel, you learn that some things have value, while others, not so much. To me, value is something that I'd otherwise have to pay something for, more than an another $1-2 per game, and something I'd actually want-- but otherwise couldn't get. Like regular season prices for the playoffs. That's valuable.

I don't get free parking, but I have a spot where I get below market parking for only $8.00 per game and I am out really fast, home 14 miles away before the post-game show is over! Similar parking is $15.00. My parking isn't from the team, but from a private lot nearby.

I'm with you on perqs. I don't care about most of them that teams offer. I don't really want a "Limited Signed Team Lithograph" or a chance to see the dressing rooms.

The best perq is the Blues playoff guarantee. It would have no value whatsoever to the spoiled fans in Detroit though.

 

[TaketheCannoli]

I can't believe you outed yourself.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I am not being disingenuous. I want the perks RR is getting in Phoenix, or at least free parking where I can get out of the place quickly. Now, that's a perk! No one wants the tickets to pre-season games, that's why they can just throw those in.

If you live long enough tarheel, you learn that some things have value, while others, not so much. To me, value is something that I'd otherwise have to pay something for, more than an another $1-2 per game, and something I'd actually want-- but otherwise couldn't get. Like regular season prices for the playoffs. That's valuable.

But it's nuts to demand that kind of discount. The Red Wings are not a position where they desperately need to get warm bodies in the stands, nor are they in a position where they can gamble with whether their playoff tickets end up having massive value. We pretty much KNOW that the Joe will sell out, and there is a very high chance that they go at least a couple rounds and quite likely to the Finals. Marking those tickets down 50%-75% would all but guarantee losses in the millions.

The stark reality is that you are valuable as an STH, but not THAT valuable that they are going to spend thousands of dollars to keep your business when there's already a waiting list to replace you. It's simple economics.

Based on what others have said in this thread, a very large part of the "value" of being an STH is your enhanced relationship with the organization. It's more than fair to consider things like parties, skating sessions, exclusive-access events and alumni sessions to be "valuable" as compared to simply buying a ticket and getting none of those things.

 

[Fugu]

I don't get free parking, but I have a spot where I get below market parking for only $8.00 per game and I am out really fast, home 14 miles away before the post-game show is over! Similar parking is $15.00. My parking isn't from the team, but from a private lot nearby.

I'm with you on perqs. I don't care about most of them that teams offer. I don't really want a "Limited Signed Team Lithograph" or a chance to see the dressing rooms.

The best perq is the Blues playoff guarantee. It would have no value whatsoever to the spoiled fans in Detroit though.

Yes, we're spoiled, but we've also paid for it through the years. Playoff ticket pricing that starts off at 150% over regular season, then just keeps going up (to about 5x). A parking discount is good too.

Some of these things we're arguing about have only been introduced within the last two years. Mini-packs were unheard of here, and every STH had to buy all the pre-season tickets too. There were only 4 main price levels, so the nosebleed corner seat cost as much as halfway up and in the middle. The prime seats have been adjusted too, but those were about $76-80ish vs $45-56 for the upper bowl. It seemed to me like they were sticking it more to the average fan than the corporate seats on the first level.

Anyhoo, I think you understand my point. I'd like to feel like an STH should get the best prices, and then some "loyalty" in pricing for playoffs and price increases. Perhaps the discounts on parking. Regardless of what we actually think here, the market adjusts. Unless I can get my ideal seats at a reasonable rate, I'm more likely to speculate and spend only on the games I really wish to attend.

 

[cbcwpg]

Based on what others have said in this thread, a very large part of the "value" of being an STH is your enhanced relationship with the organization. It's more than fair to consider things like parties, skating sessions, exclusive-access events and alumni sessions to be "valuable" as compared to simply buying a ticket and getting none of those things.

The original article as posted was about the Blue Jackets and thier struggles to fill the building but at the risk of having less STHs in the process. There is definately a fine balance that each market needs to find.

Most perks given by teams in reality cost the team very little and sure they are good to have, but in most cases IMO Joe Fan looks at value in his pocket as being the biggest perk. Everything else is nice to get, but having more money in your pocket is better. So having said that, how far do teams go to convince someone to become a STH when in some markets it is cheaper to go to all the games buying tickets elsewhere. I don't have the solution, but I can see and understand the problem.

 

[TaketheCannoli]

Yes, we're spoiled, but we've also paid for it through the years. Playoff ticket pricing that starts off at 150% over regular season, then just keeps going up (to about 5x). A parking discount is good too.

Some of these things we're arguing about have only been introduced within the last two years. Mini-packs were unheard of here, and every STH had to buy all the pre-season tickets too. There were only 4 main price levels, so the nosebleed corner seat cost as much as halfway up and in the middle. The prime seats have been adjusted too, but those were about $76-80ish vs $45-56 for the upper bowl. It seemed to me like they were sticking it more to the average fan than the corporate seats on the first level.

Anyhoo, I think you understand my point. I'd like to feel like an STH should get the best prices, and then some "loyalty" in pricing for playoffs and price increases. Perhaps the discounts on parking. Regardless of what we actually think here, the market adjusts. Unless I can get my ideal seats at a reasonable rate, I'm more likely to speculate and spend only on the games I really wish to attend.

meh- you know where I stand on paying for my pre-season games. I think they are a way to artificially boost revenues by forcing me to spend money on something I don't want.

Believe it or not, my ONE experience with playoff ticket pricing in Columbus, they also started at 150% of regular season pricing and as you posted they rise from there, and I was required to give a credit card that would be automatically charged for by the round after the second, for all of the tickets through the Cup Finals. My experience in Philly is pretty much the same.

As you and I discussed at the time, the Red Wings did offer some nice package deals to me as a Columbus season ticket buyer. Buy two tickets, get a free night in a Greektown casino hotel.

The best perq Columbus gives is pre-sale of extra playoff tickets at playoff face value to STH.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Most perks given by teams in reality cost the team very little and sure they are good to have, but in most cases IMO Joe Fan looks at value in his pocket as being the biggest perk. Everything else is nice to get, but having more money in your pocket is better. So having said that, how far do teams go to convince someone to become a STH when in some markets it is cheaper to go to all the games buying tickets elsewhere. I don't have the solution, but I can see and understand the problem.

As Fugu said, the market adjusts. If there is low demand for season tickets, the team likely needs to spend serious money to attract STH -- either with perks/giveaways, or outright discounts on ticket prices.

But once demand goes up, it no longer makes sense for the team to spend a bunch of money trying to retain STH. At that point it's their prerogative to reap the rewards associated with success. They should still do low-cost things to add experiential value, such as team events and whathaveyou, but it really doesn't help their bottom line in any way to give deep price discounts on tickets. If you're selling Porsches, you don't price them like Chevys.

 

[Fugu]

But it's nuts to demand that kind of discount. The Red Wings are not a position where they desperately need to get warm bodies in the stands, nor are they in a position where they can gamble with whether their playoff tickets end up having massive value. We pretty much KNOW that the Joe will sell out, and there is a very high chance that they go at least a couple rounds and quite likely to the Finals. Marking those tickets down 50%-75% would all but guarantee losses in the millions.

The stark reality is that you are valuable as an STH, but not THAT valuable that they are going to spend thousands of dollars to keep your business when there's already a waiting list to replace you. It's simple economics.

Based on what others have said in this thread, a very large part of the "value" of being an STH is your enhanced relationship with the organization. It's more than fair to consider things like parties, skating sessions, exclusive-access events and alumni sessions to be "valuable" as compared to simply buying a ticket and getting none of those things.

No, that's not the value. Value and price are somewhat interconnected here. The market will dictate if I can find tickets to enough of the games I'd attend for a reasonable price (from my perspective). As long as I can, there isn't enough incentive for me to buy an entire season's worth of tickets because I'm not really in a position to attend all the games regardless. The point at which I can easily sell off the tickets that I personally cannot use, while benefiting from having them for the rest of the year is really the point at which it makes sense for me to once again acquire the tickets. I don't want to be punished as an STH and be forced to buy pre-season tickets at the full regular season price. Or to not receive any type of break over the face value of tickets during the season or playoffs that's actually meaningful (and that won't be matched for spot sales).

I can't believe you outed yourself.

Worst part is in doing so, tarheel didn't appreciate the wit and humor in that post.

 

[tarheelhockey]

No, that's not the value. Value and price are somewhat interconnected here. The market will dictate if I can find tickets to enough of the games I'd attend for a reasonable price (from my perspective). As long as I can, there isn't enough incentive for me to buy an entire season's worth of tickets because I'm not really in a position to attend all the games regardless. The point at which I can easily sell off the tickets that I personally cannot use, while benefiting from having them for the rest of the year is really the point at which it makes sense for me to once again acquire the tickets. I don't want to be punished as an STH and be forced to buy pre-season tickets at the full regular season price. Or to not receive any type of break over the face value of tickets during the season or playoffs that's actually meaningful (and that won't be matched for spot sales).

Like I said, the way you value your tickets is entirely your business. I'm not here to say you should or shouldn't want to keep them. But it's incorrect to say you get "a seat for the game and that's it", when the team is giving you over a dozen distinct perks. Hell, I wish I got all that stuff as a Canes STH. Free college hockey tickets and an away-game viewing party would be 2 nights of fun for me.

As to the resale value, the flip-side of that dynamic is that you now DON'T have tickets to the bigger games (playoffs in particular) so you're buying them at inflated market prices. I can't imagine what a Game 7 ticket at the Joe must cost.

Worst part is in doing so, tarheel didn't appreciate the wit and humor in that post.

POSTED: I hereby appreciate Fugu's wit and humor.