Senators welcome back perks for Season ticket holders announced

[Dr.Sens(e)]

One of the biggest complaints STH have (and has been adressed in conference calls and past emails from the team) is that STH DONT get a steep discount. Pretty much every single game I could have my seats for the same price or less, usually with a concession or sub included.

My tickets average $150-175 on a game day. I pay a little over $100, which includes taxes and parking. I'm sure there are deals at times to get in the same price range, but I don't see how someone can get a deal like that night in and night out.

 

[Milan the God*]

So there's 50% off merchandise? Does this include jerseys?

So to be clear: A customized jersey (I think usually $230?) would be $115 + tax?

 

[Bob Kudelski]

Does anyone know how a STH can buy additional tickets at 50% off?

Is there a promo code provided for this?

I am a STH, but I don't see this option available anywhere.

 

[Smash88]

Does anyone know how a STH can buy additional tickets at 50% off?

Is there a promo code provided for this?

I am a STH, but I don't see this option available anywhere.

If you login to your account and then select buy tickets, there is a spot where you enter the quantity that says "SSO's extras" or something like that. I figure that's it.

 

[Milan the God*]

If you login to your account and then select buy tickets, there is a spot where you enter the quantity that says "SSO's extras" or something like that. I figure that's it.

Or call Capital Tickets on the phone and tell them your a STH and you can order through the reps.

 

[SanderSen]

And man, do they suck.

A welcome back event this Wednesday. You get an autograph from one player (determined by a scratch card), your picture taken on the bench or with a zamboni, a voucher for 2 free concession items (hotdog, popcorn, pizza, or pop), and there are games to play. (This has been happening the last few years anyway)

Each account gets one pair of tickets to a game. (It makes up for those preseason games you didnt get to go to! This is also something that they have just done almost every year)

And uhhh...thats it. Glad I left all that money in their bank account!

Yes, they do suck.

Long post warning, and thanks to other STH who expressed some of these thoughts.

The reaction by the Senators to STH is below bare minimum. The Senators have had my funds since March. Straight forward commercial contract, in exchange for up front payment and early pre-payment they are to provide a package of benefits in return, the main one being Senators games as per schedule.

The NHL and the Senators did not live up to its end of the contract, plain and simple. The entire STH situation was managed to coerce STH to retain their tickets and give maximum control to the Sens who wanted to hold on to the STH base. If you think otherwise, I have for great swampland deals for you. There was no option for STH who had paid up front to be refunded what they had paid, after the goods could not be delivered. The Sens retained the funds, claiming they could not give a refund. Bollocks.

Would this be acceptable from Rogers, Bell, Silver City, any business? Thanks for the money, but sorry, we can't deliver your 7 months of pre-paid services and we don't know when we will be able to deliver, but we are keeping your money and the only options are to have refunds dribbled back 1 to 2 months after services are not delivered, or to keep all your money against the day when we get around to providing services. We would scream and the internet would be aflame with indignation. I can't understand why because a business is a hockey team, anyone thinks this is in any way reasonable. If someone took them to small claims court for not honouring the deal, I doubt they had a legal leg to stand on.

If the Sens had done the right thing and offered the option of a refund to STH, most would have likely opted to leave their funds in, but the offer would have generated terrific good will. For those who pulled their funds out, the goodwill would have been enough for most to re-up for the short season. Instead the Sens kept an iron fist on the pocketbook and have generated negative goodwill among their most important client base. I think they ran scared about refunds and that they would lose to many STH for this season. Instead of showing faith in the fanbase they ran to the lawyers, gave options that are legally questionable and held on to the cash until after the last possible moment.

One thing to realize in contract disputes is that in court, the deck is severely tilted against the party who unilaterally writes the contract, particularly if they are large and sophisticated. Even if there is small print somewhere that says the Sens can keep the money even if they can't deliver goods, no rep ever pointed that out and it would be very, very difficult to enforce in court. The lockout situation was also well anticipated, but was anyone advised by ticket reps or get sent a notice when buying a season or half season ticket what would happen in the event of a lockout or strike? Legally the Sens position for keeping funds is terrible. Their lawyers will have advised that they HAVE to pay interest, so they did, which was a legal requirement and not a goodwill offer from the team.

I'm lucky and can afford to leave my funds with the team. I don't think it was right, but the team has correctly guessed that I will not go to court over it. For others where funds are tight, and would have liked to use the STH funds to commit to something different for the winter, this was a raw deal and grossly unfair. Wanted to use the money for a vacation or a ski pass instead, to bad, you can't have your own money back.

Before the lockout, we bought 2 half season tickets, then were offered options for seat packages. Only one of those options were for the specific seats we paid for, but because of the dates took the one with different seats. After the lockout, there was no option of which ticket package you wanted, and the Sens assigned it, and that was that. Our package doesn't have the opener or closer, and we didn't have a choice. It wasn't even for our original seats. The season is also about 3 weeks longer this year as well, so that the owners and players can put more money into their pockets. But, we have your money, so tough, take what you are given and be grateful. I understand that the timing was tight, yadya, and they will likely say there wasn't time to get STH to choose a package, but it is just another aspect that wasn't delivered on by the team.

So after all this, the Sens look to rebuild goodwill. Their great ideas are:

- 50% off tickets for 9 of the first ten games!! YOOHOO, Give you more of my money. If you haven't noticed, I am a STH and have enough games.
- Drive across town, meet a player and get a coupon for 2 concession items. Yoohoo, a "free" pizza and pop. This is a joke, right?
- One free hockey game! Oh, another game, did you note that I have LOTS of tickets and this isn't really that interesting. YOOHOO again, maybe I can scalp the free ones. It will be interesting to see what games are made available. "Free" tickets to someone who wasn't going to buy them anyway.

What is being put forward for season ticket holders is in no way compensation for what was pulled on them. The team and league has blown millions of dollars with a lockout that had nothing to do with the fans, are extending the season out of greed, and they can't even make an outright gesture to STH that would actually cost them a couple of bucks. I'm not looking for "jaw dropping" incentives, just a reasonable goodwill gesture, like $50 in concessions for ½ season holders and a $100 for full season. Heck, even include the bloody coupon for 2 concession items with the ticket mailouts instead of needing to go to the rink. And how about some options, among thousands of STH there are varying interests.

Overall, the Sens efforts towards STH during and after the lockout has been manipulative and cheap. In a market without major corporate sponsorship, you need to step up to the plate. I was ticked off on how things were handled during the lockout and this isn't helping. The offerings are poor, and they are being spun to me as if was gold. The Sens spent more money and effort on media PR to spin this as if it was special. Mr. Leeder, I really don't want another PR e-mail written by your staff for your signature.

The Sens are counting on me not still being ticked off when it comes time to re-up, we will have to see.

 

[skiski]

- Drive across town, meet a player and get a coupon for 2 concession items. Yoohoo, a "free" pizza and pop. This is a joke, right?

I personally like the STH autograph session, but this year it is worse than it has been the past few years. On a normal year, you get an autograph and a picture with a player when you pick up your tickets. You can normally bring 4 people (I think) and everyone gets an autograph. This year, if you bring 4 people you get broken up into groups of 2 and likely won't get an autograph from the same player (each group of 2 gets a assigned randomly to a player). Also, you only get one autograph for every two people.

So this year, when they are trying to win fans back, my family who have 4 full season tickets can't even get a group picture together and only two of us can get autographs. Pretty terrible if you ask me.

 

[skiski]

Yes, they do suck.

There was no option for STH who had paid up front to be refunded what they had paid, after the goods could not be delivered. The Sens retained the funds, claiming they could not give a refund. Bollocks.

I did get an email near the start of the season (when it was suppose to start) that gave me the option of keeping my money in my account or getting it refunded as games were cancelled. I remember I had to go to a website and make my selection.

Since I kept my money in, I don't know how the refunds worked/how easy it was to actually get your money, but that option was available.

 

[BK201]

I did get an email near the start of the season (when it was suppose to start) that gave me the option of keeping my money in my account or getting it refunded as games were cancelled. I remember I had to go to a website and make my selection.

Since I kept my money in, I don't know how the refunds worked/how easy it was to actually get your money, but that option was available.

I think it was being credited to your account for every game cancelled then you had to choose whether to keep the credit with them or get it refunded and if you chose refunded they would only refund x amount per month.

Now that's not the gospel on this that's just what I took from what some people I know we're saying when they cancelled thier season tickets. I may have mixed something up here. Seems like a couple people I know have outright cancelled 1/2 season packages.

I kept my 10 game but am not going to be going to the home opener.

 

[skiski]

I have found it is not easy to use our account credits either (or to even get much information about the balances). I tried to use my account credit to get some extra tickets for friends, but it was not possible yet.

It seems like the team is offering us these 50% off tickets, but only if we pay out of our own pockets. I guess they only want us to use our credits that they owe us on full price items.

 

[Filatov2Kovalev2Bonk]

.

So after all this, the Sens look to rebuild goodwill. Their great ideas are:

- 50% off tickets for 9 of the first ten games!! YOOHOO, Give you more of my money. If you haven't noticed, I am a STH and have enough games.
- Drive across town, meet a player and get a coupon for 2 concession items. Yoohoo, a "free" pizza and pop. This is a joke, right?
- One free hockey game! Oh, another game, did you note that I have LOTS of tickets and this isn't really that interesting. YOOHOO again, maybe I can scalp the free ones. It will be interesting to see what games are made available. "Free" tickets to someone who wasn't going to buy them anyway.

100% agree.

Discussed this with friends that are still half-seaons (we usually split costs) and they weren't impressed. They aren't going to take their 8 and 6 year old daughters to a game, for obvious reasons, so they can't benefit from that. The $1 popcorn is...meh? You can get FREE popcorn from sports bars, it costs literally nothing and is a nice goodwill while you wait for your food. The parking concession is nice but again, we're getting a lot less than what other teams are getting.

Isn't Pittsburgh giving sweaters away? Edmonton had an outside skate with players? Yeah it's been rainy around Ottawa, I get that. If money is so tight that they can't give us a 50% off concessions (simply assign a stamp to the cashiers, get your hot dog and pay 2.50 for it or w/e, stamped ticket, move on)...seriously. The Senators need to realize that this town isn't in a rush to buy seasons and will show only when the team is winning. If it wants us there irregardless of results and if it wants our goodwill then it needs to do more than getting that LAMEASS "THE WIZ" back on Team 1200 (story for another thread and yes I know they don't control Team 1200) but rather have a CLEVER promotion:

Silver Seven Night! Tickets and concessions for these games are scaled back to the 1920s! 10 cent hot dogs, 25 cent beers, limits as written. Tickets scaled back dramatically, heritage jerseys 50% off and heritage jerseys worn too! Come celebrate Ottawa's hockey heritage!

Yeah they'd be taking a HUGE financial hit but it would be unique and classy!

 

[GimmeMyJetpack]

100% agree.

Discussed this with friends that are still half-seaons (we usually split costs) and they weren't impressed. They aren't going to take their 8 and 6 year old daughters to a game, for obvious reasons, so they can't benefit from that. The $1 popcorn is...meh? You can get FREE popcorn from sports bars, it costs literally nothing and is a nice goodwill while you wait for your food. The parking concession is nice but again, we're getting a lot less than what other teams are getting.

Isn't Pittsburgh giving sweaters away? Edmonton had an outside skate with players? Yeah it's been rainy around Ottawa, I get that. If money is so tight that they can't give us a 50% off concessions (simply assign a stamp to the cashiers, get your hot dog and pay 2.50 for it or w/e, stamped ticket, move on)...seriously. The Senators need to realize that this town isn't in a rush to buy seasons and will show only when the team is winning. If it wants us there irregardless of results and if it wants our goodwill then it needs to do more than getting that LAMEASS "THE WIZ" back on Team 1200 (story for another thread and yes I know they don't control Team 1200) but rather have a CLEVER promotion:

Silver Seven Night! Tickets and concessions for these games are scaled back to the 1920s! 10 cent hot dogs, 25 cent beers, limits as written. Tickets scaled back dramatically, heritage jerseys 50% off and heritage jerseys worn too! Come celebrate Ottawa's hockey heritage!

Yeah they'd be taking a HUGE financial hit but it would be unique and classy!

That Silver Seven Night idea is genius! Not only is it good for the fans but it would receive so much good press. It's definitely too good of an idea for the senators to use.
If it did happen, beer would certainly not be included.

 

[Indrew]

I have a whole stack of free parking tickets they sent me early eventhough I cancelled my tickets. I wonder if they will still work.

 

[SanderSen]

I think it was being credited to your account for every game cancelled then you had to choose whether to keep the credit with them or get it refunded and if you chose refunded they would only refund x amount per month.

Now that's not the gospel on this that's just what I took from what some people I know we're saying when they cancelled thier season tickets. I may have mixed something up here. Seems like a couple people I know have outright cancelled 1/2 season packages.

I kept my 10 game but am not going to be going to the home opener.

The refunds were provided at the end of the month, the month following cancellations. ie. All October games were refunded on Nov. 30. This was for STH who paid in full up front.

 

[TeamRenzo]

Nice... popcorn is totally the same thing, do you have a crayon drawing to go along with your explanation?

I left my money with the team because I support the team, however they offered interest because they pretty much had too (As I explained above). Now that there is going to be a season they are offering promos to essentially non season ticket holders. All the OP was trying to say is what they have offered STH as a bonus is actually less than in previous years. Last year I got a free Jersey, and I meet 20 players and I got $100 concessions. This year me and my wife could be sitting in our seats that we paid (ahead of time) over $130 for and have someone beside us who paid $25 for because of the promos or have free tickets added on for kids under 14.

Anyways, I am not really bitter, I would have left my money with the team regardless, I just think the incentives were unimaginative.

On a side note and to other STH, I would call ahead. We called to say how many tickets we wanted put aside for the meet and greet and they did not have this event on our account. We asked why and they had no idea.

If you bought tickets to support the team then why are complaining about the free stuff that you are being offered?

 

[skiski]

If you bought tickets to support the team then why are complaining about the free stuff that you are being offered?

I don't think supporting a team means that you have to accept a bad apology when they mess up/don't live up to an agreement they have with you.

 

[BK201]

The refunds were provided at the end of the month, the month following cancellations. ie. All October games were refunded on Nov. 30. This was for STH who paid in full up front.

Brutal.

 

[SilverSeven]

I think it was being credited to your account for every game cancelled then you had to choose whether to keep the credit with them or get it refunded and if you chose refunded they would only refund x amount per month.

Now that's not the gospel on this that's just what I took from what some people I know we're saying when they cancelled thier season tickets. I may have mixed something up here. Seems like a couple people I know have outright cancelled 1/2 season packages.

I kept my 10 game but am not going to be going to the home opener.

It worked like this if you were on one of the two payment plans:

If you paid for 5 of 10 games, they would only refund you once game 6 was cancelled, and only for 1 game. This is because you "still owed them money", even though, as I have said many times, the Sens have made it exceedingly clear to me that payment #1 is for games #1-5. Payment #2 is for games #6-10 etc etc. Payments would happen at the end of the month.

If I miss a payment, my next game is cancelled. Even after 17 years as a STH, there is no goodwill here. You are late by a day and there is a game tonight? Tickets cancelled. If they cancel a game, I have to wait half a year to get my money back (and no, this isnt an exaggeration. Some of my money has been with them for over half a year)

I was over $1000 in, chose refund, and never received a dime from them, because in their eyes, despite the fact that half the season had been cancelled, I still owed them money because I hadnt yet paid for all remaining games + cancelled games.

 

[SilverSeven]

Its also worth noting that at the free practice today popcorn was apparently $5 and drinks $4.50.

Seems like the free practices are an attempt to recoup some lost income.

 

[BK201]

Its also worth noting that at the free practice today popcorn was apparently $5 and drinks $4.50.

Seems like the free practices are an attempt to recoup some lost income.

No that's how much it always is every game so it's not a big surprise.

That sucks though what they were charging you and not returning your money.

Although I use to notice parking for STH would be $8 in advance but now when I look it looks more like $12. I'll have to recheck considering parking in general was only $11 at the gate, if it went up I'm gonna be a little pissed off.

 

[The Expert]

Its also worth noting that at the free practice today popcorn was apparently $5 and drinks $4.50.

Seems like the free practices are an attempt to recoup some lost income.

They never said it was going to be free concessions. No point turning this into a general whining thread. If you have such a big problem, don't renew. It's easier to get cheap tickets as a non-STH in this city anyways.

 

[hman]

I was wondering if a STH could post some additional details on the event tonight?

I purchased a half-season package this week but they have been relatively slow in giving me access to my account. With all the complaints about the lack of incentives for STH I know some of you may be questioning my decision to buy this pack, but I'll be leaving the city for a few years after this season and I wanted to do this before I left!

 

[BeerandHockey]

If you bought tickets to support the team then why are complaining about the free stuff that you are being offered?

If you finished reading my post you would see I said the promotion was unimaginative; I did not complain. Man, people are so black and white, what happened to the middle ground of literary communication. Any'who, at least half my season tickets for next year are already paid for.

 

[Smash88]

I was wondering if a STH could post some additional details on the event tonight?

I purchased a half-season package this week but they have been relatively slow in giving me access to my account. With all the complaints about the lack of incentives for STH I know some of you may be questioning my decision to buy this pack, but I'll be leaving the city for a few years after this season and I wanted to do this before I left!

This is what i went by...

You do need your account though in order to get tickets to get in.. If you don't have it yet, I'm sure your ticket rep will be able to help you.

 

[sens4life]

Does anyone have 1 extra ticket for the late session tonight? I need one more for my 5 year old!! PM me, please!