20-25% Increase on ticket prices?

[Mizzou]

According to Barry Rozner, it might happen.

 

Last week at Wrigley Field, a carefully worded letter was crafted and should be on its way to season-ticket holders explaining a price hike, perhaps on the average of 20 percent, with the best seats up 25 percent.

 

If any season ticketholders are reading this and have received that letter, please share it's contents with the rest of us.

[BigbadB]

That has the potential to increase the gate by anywhere between 15-25 million.

[DurbanJer]

Memo to fans? "You want A-rod, help us pay for it?" Interesting thought, if that were the case. Or just a pipe dream, anyway.

[Garwilly]

A season ticket holder I work with told me this the other day. Not sure if she heard it through the grapevine or recieved a letter yet.

[mdwilla]

I am gonna really learn to love April baseball.

[BigbadB]

Memo to fans? "You want A-rod, help us pay for it?" Interesting thought, if that were the case. Or just a pipe dream, anyway.

 

They'd probably have to go up more than that to get ARod. The increases to Zambrano, Ramirez, Soriano, etc... and the increase in team salary for 2008 is probably a more realistic reason for the increase.

 

Besides that, as often as the Cubs sell out and the limited ticket availability places Cub tickets in high demand. High demand brings higher prices.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Memo to fans? "You want A-rod, help us pay for it?" Interesting thought, if that were the case. Or just a pipe dream, anyway.

no, the memo to fans is "Infante needs a raise and boy, you just wait til Jenkins gets here".

[Twiggy]

That would be a huge increase in ticket prices.

[wekse]

i already can't really afford to go to wrigley...this sucks.

[Coach C]

I understand in a way about the ticket prices. However, I feel that the product on the field isn't worthy of a ticket price raise, especially considering that the Cubs haven't won the pennant since '45 and havent' won a World Series since 1908.

 

How about winning a World Series, or a Pennent, then they can raise the ticket prices? *shrug*

[Yanksfan1523]

I understand in a way about the ticket prices. However, I feel that the product on the field isn't worthy of a ticket price raise, especially considering that the Cubs haven't won the pennant since '45 and havent' won a World Series since 1908.

 

How about winning a World Series, or a Pennent, then they can raise the ticket prices? *shrug*

 

They would more than double ticket prices if they won a World Series. In contrast to this, the Red Sox have announced a 9% increase in ticket prices. This after 2 rings in 4 years, how do the Cubs justify 20-25%?

[jersey cubs fan]

I understand in a way about the ticket prices. However, I feel that the product on the field isn't worthy of a ticket price raise, especially considering that the Cubs haven't won the pennant since '45 and havent' won a World Series since 1908.

 

How about winning a World Series, or a Pennent, then they can raise the ticket prices? *shrug*

 

They would more than double ticket prices if they won a World Series. In contrast to this, the Red Sox have announced a 9% increase in ticket prices. This after 2 rings in 4 years, how do the Cubs justify 20-25%?

 

They justify it by looking at the prices being paid on the secondary market. People are more than willing to pay what they are charging. Season tickets are practically a guaranteed profit making venture right now, with people being able to pay for the tickets they use by selling ones they don't use. I don't understand why team take heat for selling tickets at prices far below what people are actually willing to pay. I'd rather that revenue go into the team's account than anybody else's.

 

Since when has there been a contract stating the requirements the team would have to meet before raising ticket prices? The Red Sox have the highest priced ticket in the game. The reason their increase is a smaller percentage is because they already did the big jump.

[GhostRunner]

That sod is expensive stuff, especially when you have to buy it twice.

 

Big price jump, and unjustified despite the post-season "appearance", but if it keeps more advertising signage out of Wrigley then I can let it go.

[danonwaveland]

If the prices go up 20%, I'll have to cut back to two or three games per year. Ugh.

 

_______________________________________________________________

Sandberg>Mazeroski>Morgan

[Balsa]

Well they just priced me out.

[Irrelevant Dude]

Big price jump, and unjustified despite the post-season "appearance", but if it keeps more advertising signage out of Wrigley then I can let it go.

But sadly, you know that they will raise ticket prices and find places to add more advertisements at the same time. I actually don't mind the Under Armour logos on the wall, but I never have been able to get used to the sign behind home plate.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

A 20-25 percent increase in ticket prices...

 

A 20-25 percent increase in the budget!!! Dun Dun DAAAA!!!

 

conspiracy!!!

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

meh, bottom line is we are Cubs fans. Meaning, that unlike the south side of town, most of us are educated and have good jobs. We can afford it.

[daske17]

As a fan, I find it galling that Selig can there and say how this is a great time for baseball fans with all the revenue the sport is generating, while at the same time teams raise ticket prices every year.

 

The main reason the sport is making so much money is because of high ticket prices, advertising everywhere and that DirecTV deal certainly didn't hurt any.

 

Whatever. I'll still go to games that I can find cheap tickets for.

[jersey cubs fan]

As a fan, I find it galling that Selig can there and say how this is a great time for baseball fans with all the revenue the sport is generating, while at the same time teams raise ticket prices every year.

 

How is this galling?

[daske17]

As a fan, I find it galling that Selig can there and say how this is a great time for baseball fans with all the revenue the sport is generating, while at the same time teams raise ticket prices every year.

 

How is this galling?

 

Because every time Selig talks what great health the sport is in, he doesn't mention that it costs an average of $200 for a family of four to go a game. Sure, we in Chicago see sellouts every year because of the way Wrigley is marketed.

 

Gate receipts are up because parks continue to charge more. Not necessarily because more people are coming to the game. I've been to five different parks this summer: St. Louis, Wrigley, US Cellular, AT&T and Safeco. The only parks that were packed were St. Louis and Wrigley.

[jersey cubs fan]

As a fan, I find it galling that Selig can there and say how this is a great time for baseball fans with all the revenue the sport is generating, while at the same time teams raise ticket prices every year.

 

How is this galling?

 

Because every time Selig talks what great health the sport is in, he doesn't mention that it costs an average of $200 for a family of four to go a game. Sure, we in Chicago see sellouts every year because of the way Wrigley is marketed.

 

Gate receipts are up because parks continue to charge more. Not necessarily because more people are coming to the game. I've been to five different parks this summer: St. Louis, Wrigley, US Cellular, AT&T and Safeco. The only parks that were packed were St. Louis and Wrigley.

 

Again, where is the galling part? Attendance is up, revenue is up. Parks don't have to be packed to be healthy. Percentage of seats filled is up. Going off ESPN's attendance info, 7 million more people went to games in 2007 compared to 2001, and parks went from 64.7% to 72.4% of capacity. Can it be expensive? Sure. But I still don't see the galling part.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

We may bitch and moan about ticket prices, but the secondary market is proof that prices haven't reached a point where people will not go to the ballpark.

 

If people are willing to get on ebay, stubhub, or whatever and pay double the face value of a ticket, why shouldn't teams recognize that and raise the price to meet the demand?

 

I know we all hate the fact that we'll have to spend more to do something we enjoy. For some, the increase may price us out of going. That sucks. But the market for tickets shows that right now, there is a greater demand and people are willing to pay.

[swordsman]

We may bitch and moan about ticket prices, but the secondary market is proof that prices haven't reached a point where people will not go to the ballpark.

 

If people are willing to get on ebay, stubhub, or whatever and pay double the face value of a ticket, why shouldn't teams recognize that and raise the price to meet the demand?

 

I know we all hate the fact that we'll have to spend more to do something we enjoy. For some, the increase may price us out of going. That sucks. But the market for tickets shows that right now, there is a greater demand and people are willing to pay.

 

I cannot back this up with real stats right now but I'll bet the tickets that are selling for the prices you stipulate are either really great seats or are for coveted games. I'll bet you that there are plenty of seats in sec 404 in early May that go unsold.

 

Just a guess, though.

[jersey cubs fan]

We may bitch and moan about ticket prices, but the secondary market is proof that prices haven't reached a point where people will not go to the ballpark.

 

If people are willing to get on ebay, stubhub, or whatever and pay double the face value of a ticket, why shouldn't teams recognize that and raise the price to meet the demand?

 

I know we all hate the fact that we'll have to spend more to do something we enjoy. For some, the increase may price us out of going. That sucks. But the market for tickets shows that right now, there is a greater demand and people are willing to pay.

 

I cannot back this up with real stats right now but I'll bet the tickets that are selling for the prices you stipulate are either really great seats or are for coveted games. I'll bet you that there are plenty of seats in sec 404 in early May that go unsold.

 

Just a guess, though.

 

yeah, maybe for a handful of bad weather games that's true. But most of the stadium sells for way over face value on the secondary market, maybe not always double, but quite often far more than double. The fact is the team could easily make more money by raising prices, the problem is the PR backlash from people screaming. Demand clearly supports the higher prices.