Cubs Tickets on Sale Today! (Success and Failure Thread)

[Jon]

Any idea what the amusement tax rate was last year? Did they jack that up 3-4 percentage points to further dick over their fans?

It was 12% last year, as well.

[Garwilly]

Any idea what the amusement tax rate was last year? Did they jack that up 3-4 percentage points to further dick over their fans?

It was 12% last year, as well.

 

Jack over their fans? These taxes go to the government.

[hawkcub]

I took a look on Cubs.com for this year's pricing and it stated that all tickets will be subject to an additional 12% amusement tax. Previously, the amusement tax was factored into the ticket price. So consider that before you proceed to checkout.

 

So is this a sneaky way to look like they didn't raise prices on some seats that much? When they indeed raise prices by 12% across the board since the tax was included in the price of the ticket before.

[Jon]

I took a look on Cubs.com for this year's pricing and it stated that all tickets will be subject to an additional 12% amusement tax. Previously, the amusement tax was factored into the ticket price. So consider that before you proceed to checkout.

 

So is this a sneaky way to look like they didn't raise prices on some seats that much? When they indeed raise prices by 12% across the board since the tax was included in the price of the ticket before.

Yeah, but I don't believe all net prices went up. The biggest change is probably the large number of platinum games this year.

[hawkcub]

I took a look on Cubs.com for this year's pricing and it stated that all tickets will be subject to an additional 12% amusement tax. Previously, the amusement tax was factored into the ticket price. So consider that before you proceed to checkout.

 

So is this a sneaky way to look like they didn't raise prices on some seats that much? When they indeed raise prices by 12% across the board since the tax was included in the price of the ticket before.

Yeah, but I don't believe all net prices went up. The biggest change is probably the large number of platinum games this year.

 

Found the confirmation E-mail from last year. I went during the 4 days leading up to memorial day weekend (W-Sat). So I am guessing they were platinum pricing. I sat in the bleachers. Plan on going the same time this year. Here is my Saturday price from last year.

 

Dodgers at Cubs

Saturday, 5/30/09

at 3:10PM CDT

Bleachers

Section Row Price Type

BLCHR GA $50.00 ADULT

Total Convenience Fee for 1 seat $4.90(includes 9.00% sales tax)

Price for 1 seat $54.90

 

----------------------------------------------------------

Subtotal: $54.90

Order Processing (including delivery): $3.75

Total: $58.65

 

I plan on going during the same time this year. Bleacher tickets for that time are $54.00 add the convenience fee we are at 58.90 now add the amusement tax where going to hit 65.38. Now add the Order processing fee we are now at 69.13. Ouch. That is $10.48 more then last year or a 17.8% increase. It will be even higher if the Order Processing fee goes up.

 

Now lets say the 9% sales tax is part of the 12% amusement tax then we are looking at 64.23 for a ticket. Which is only a 9.5 % raise. While although significant would not be as bad and able swallow.

 

Looking at some articles online I see them saying bleacher tickets are going to be around $60.50(guessing that does not involve the convenience fee). So maybe they will be going for the $64.23 a ticket instead of the $69.13.

 

I will still be going like I do every year but if my first scenario plays out it is a very sneaky way of raising prices IMO. It just means 1 less beer I guess. :(

[UMFan83]

It's nuts how they can raise prices so much and yet if the team doesn't contend the tickets don't all sell out depending on when you goto the game. For me, I don't even bother going to weekend games, it's just a waste of money for me. But I get to take advantage of the fact I live a 10 minute walk to Wrigley. I've probably been to 2 Saturday games in the last 3 years, and I think both of them were given to me.

[davearm2]

Looking at this from an economics/societal welfare perspective, the folks that are willing to pay the most for tickets are the ones that should get them, not the ones that happen to luck out in the VWR or have 100 web browsers open or whatever.

 

Heck if anything they should take this a step further, and add more tiers. Many teams should have tiers below 100% face value as game day approaches.

 

Imagine,

tickets are 150% of face value Feb 1-15.

remaining tickets are 125% of face value Feb 16-28

remaining tickets are 100% of face value beginning in March

remaining tickets are 75% of face value the week of the game

remaining tickets are 50% of face value the day of the game

 

As a fan, your willingness to pay (demand) determines how large or small your ticket selection (supply) is. You can wait as long as you wish to try and save money, but you have less desirable inventory to choose from as you do.

 

Now there are reasons why this might not be a profit-maximizing strategy for the team, but from the perspective of economic efficiency, this would be a good thing.

[UMFan83]

It's funny that you say that....I just got this email. The gist is that you can buy tickets to all Cubs home games TODAY starting in 30 minutes....for 20% over face value.

FIRST CHANCE TO BUY 2010 CUBS TICKETS TODAY!

 

The Inaugural MasterCard ® First Chance Pre-Sale offers Chicago Cubs fans the first opportunity to purchase

individual tickets at a premium for all Cubs home games, including Opening Day, in advance of the February

19th on-sale date.

 

Starting TODAY at 10am CT, fans will have first access to all Chicago Cubs 2010 regular

season home games by going to Cubs.com and paying a 20% premium on the face value of the ticket.

However, if you use a MasterCard card during this Pre-Sale promotion you will save 5% on the pre-sale price.

In addition, you will receive a 20% discount on your next purchase with your MasterCard at the Cubs.com Shop

when you enter this code (CHC20FEB) and use your MasterCard card.

 

This access to purchase tickets in advance of the on-sale date will be available through Thursday,

February 18 at 12 pm CT. Act quickly, as there will be a limited number of tickets made available to every

regular season home game for the MasterCard First Chance Pre-Sale.

 

Be sure to go to Cubs.com starting TODAY at 10 a.m. CT to secure your tickets for the 2010 season.

 

FIRST CHANCE PRE-SALE >>

http://link.mlblists.com/r/0UXLW7/XTB8RT/MHN9SZ/EDNJZ8/HD51NX/ZH/t?a=partnerId=ed-3192259-55432997%26source=ed-3192259-55432997

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

And there must be a demand because there's a VWR for the chance to do just that.

[UMFan83]

And there must be a demand because there's a VWR for the chance to do just that.

 

Yep. I pulled up 4 tickets to Opening Day on there Upper Deck Reserved (cheapest tickets in the stadium). They were $26.50 each, with an addition $9 per ticket in fees (amusment tax, sales tax, and oder processing) brining the total for 4 tickets to $141. I'm just going to wait until Friday and take my chances.

[Tracer Bullet]

It's funny that you say that....I just got this email. The gist is that you can buy tickets to all Cubs home games TODAY starting in 30 minutes....for 20% over face value.

FIRST CHANCE TO BUY 2010 CUBS TICKETS TODAY!

 

The Inaugural MasterCard ® First Chance Pre-Sale offers Chicago Cubs fans the first opportunity to purchase

individual tickets at a premium for all Cubs home games, including Opening Day, in advance of the February

19th on-sale date.

 

Starting TODAY at 10am CT, fans will have first access to all Chicago Cubs 2010 regular

season home games by going to Cubs.com and paying a 20% premium on the face value of the ticket.

However, if you use a MasterCard card during this Pre-Sale promotion you will save 5% on the pre-sale price.

In addition, you will receive a 20% discount on your next purchase with your MasterCard at the Cubs.com Shop

when you enter this code (CHC20FEB) and use your MasterCard card.

 

This access to purchase tickets in advance of the on-sale date will be available through Thursday,

February 18 at 12 pm CT. Act quickly, as there will be a limited number of tickets made available to every

regular season home game for the MasterCard First Chance Pre-Sale.

 

Be sure to go to Cubs.com starting TODAY at 10 a.m. CT to secure your tickets for the 2010 season.

 

FIRST CHANCE PRE-SALE >>

http://link.mlblists.com/r/0UXLW7/XTB8RT/MHN9SZ/EDNJZ8/HD51NX/ZH/t?a=partnerId=ed-3192259-55432997%26source=ed-3192259-55432997

 

this is the same premium offer posted on the first page, right?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

It's funny that you say that....I just got this email. The gist is that you can buy tickets to all Cubs home games TODAY starting in 30 minutes....for 20% over face value.

FIRST CHANCE TO BUY 2010 CUBS TICKETS TODAY!

 

The Inaugural MasterCard ® First Chance Pre-Sale offers Chicago Cubs fans the first opportunity to purchase

individual tickets at a premium for all Cubs home games, including Opening Day, in advance of the February

19th on-sale date.

 

Starting TODAY at 10am CT, fans will have first access to all Chicago Cubs 2010 regular

season home games by going to Cubs.com and paying a 20% premium on the face value of the ticket.

However, if you use a MasterCard card during this Pre-Sale promotion you will save 5% on the pre-sale price.

In addition, you will receive a 20% discount on your next purchase with your MasterCard at the Cubs.com Shop

when you enter this code (CHC20FEB) and use your MasterCard card.

 

This access to purchase tickets in advance of the on-sale date will be available through Thursday,

February 18 at 12 pm CT. Act quickly, as there will be a limited number of tickets made available to every

regular season home game for the MasterCard First Chance Pre-Sale.

 

Be sure to go to Cubs.com starting TODAY at 10 a.m. CT to secure your tickets for the 2010 season.

 

FIRST CHANCE PRE-SALE >>

http://link.mlblists.com/r/0UXLW7/XTB8RT/MHN9SZ/EDNJZ8/HD51NX/ZH/t?a=partnerId=ed-3192259-55432997%26source=ed-3192259-55432997

 

this is the same premium offer posted on the first page, right?

 

yep.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

And there must be a demand because there's a VWR for the chance to do just that.

 

Yep. I pulled up 4 tickets to Opening Day on there Upper Deck Reserved (cheapest tickets in the stadium). They were $26.50 each, with an addition $9 per ticket in fees (amusment tax, sales tax, and oder processing) brining the total for 4 tickets to $141. I'm just going to wait until Friday and take my chances.

 

Tickets were a little cheaper if you were buying with a master card than without one, but yeah. adding in the taxes and fees along with the 20% premium, they are pricey.

 

I don't know what the inventory will be on Friday.

 

Also, it was interesting to see the dugout boxes, bleacher boxes, and bullpen box seats available now. It appears that there won't be a special sale on those and that they are available for purchase.

 

With the 20% mark-up, I doubt many of those sell today, but my guess is they will be available on Friday.

[seminarad]

This is what happens when you sign huge names like Marlon Byrd and Kevin Millar!

28 minutes in the Cubs Virtual Waiting Room so far this AM, on two different computers and still no shot at getting any tickets yet. So much for not many people taking advantage of the pre-sale.

 

 

I took a look on Cubs.com for this year's pricing and it stated that all tickets will be subject to an additional 12% amusement tax. Previously, the amusement tax was factored into the ticket price. So consider that before you proceed to checkout.

 

So is this a sneaky way to look like they didn't raise prices on some seats that much? When they indeed raise prices by 12% across the board since the tax was included in the price of the ticket before.

Yeah, but I don't believe all net prices went up. The biggest change is probably the large number of platinum games this year.

 

Found the confirmation E-mail from last year. I went during the 4 days leading up to memorial day weekend (W-Sat). So I am guessing they were platinum pricing. I sat in the bleachers. Plan on going the same time this year. Here is my Saturday price from last year.

 

Dodgers at Cubs

Saturday, 5/30/09

at 3:10PM CDT

Bleachers

Section Row Price Type

BLCHR GA $50.00 ADULT

Total Convenience Fee for 1 seat $4.90(includes 9.00% sales tax)

Price for 1 seat $54.90

 

----------------------------------------------------------

Subtotal: $54.90

Order Processing (including delivery): $3.75

Total: $58.65

 

I plan on going during the same time this year. Bleacher tickets for that time are $54.00 add the convenience fee we are at 58.90 now add the amusement tax where going to hit 65.38. Now add the Order processing fee we are now at 69.13. Ouch. That is $10.48 more then last year or a 17.8% increase. It will be even higher if the Order Processing fee goes up.

 

Now lets say the 9% sales tax is part of the 12% amusement tax then we are looking at 64.23 for a ticket. Which is only a 9.5 % raise. While although significant would not be as bad and able swallow.

 

Looking at some articles online I see them saying bleacher tickets are going to be around $60.50(guessing that does not involve the convenience fee). So maybe they will be going for the $64.23 a ticket instead of the $69.13.

 

I will still be going like I do every year but if my first scenario plays out it is a very sneaky way of raising prices IMO. It just means 1 less beer I guess. :(

[UMFan83]

It's funny that you say that....I just got this email. The gist is that you can buy tickets to all Cubs home games TODAY starting in 30 minutes....for 20% over face value.

FIRST CHANCE TO BUY 2010 CUBS TICKETS TODAY!

 

The Inaugural MasterCard ® First Chance Pre-Sale offers Chicago Cubs fans the first opportunity to purchase

individual tickets at a premium for all Cubs home games, including Opening Day, in advance of the February

19th on-sale date.

 

Starting TODAY at 10am CT, fans will have first access to all Chicago Cubs 2010 regular

season home games by going to Cubs.com and paying a 20% premium on the face value of the ticket.

However, if you use a MasterCard card during this Pre-Sale promotion you will save 5% on the pre-sale price.

In addition, you will receive a 20% discount on your next purchase with your MasterCard at the Cubs.com Shop

when you enter this code (CHC20FEB) and use your MasterCard card.

 

This access to purchase tickets in advance of the on-sale date will be available through Thursday,

February 18 at 12 pm CT. Act quickly, as there will be a limited number of tickets made available to every

regular season home game for the MasterCard First Chance Pre-Sale.

 

Be sure to go to Cubs.com starting TODAY at 10 a.m. CT to secure your tickets for the 2010 season.

 

FIRST CHANCE PRE-SALE >>

http://link.mlblists.com/r/0UXLW7/XTB8RT/MHN9SZ/EDNJZ8/HD51NX/ZH/t?a=partnerId=ed-3192259-55432997%26source=ed-3192259-55432997

 

this is the same premium offer posted on the first page, right?

 

yep.

 

Whoops...guess I didn't read the whole first page. My bad.

[Jon]

This is what happens when you sign huge names like Marlon Byrd and Kevin Millar!

28 minutes in the Cubs Virtual Waiting Room so far this AM, on two different computers and still no shot at getting any tickets yet. So much for not many people taking advantage of the pre-sale.

It may be more curiosity than anything else. I'd be surprised if they actually sell many tickets before Friday.

[Twiggy]

I had no problems getting through and buying 4 tickets to 5 games. A little more expensive but when you are buying 500 level seats it doesn't make that much of a difference.

[kroth1342]

White Sox and Cardinals games got hit pretty quickly, but it seems to be dying down. Like the above poster said, an extra 20% on 500s isn't a big deal.

[Jon]

Unless you're going for the hottest games or can't devote much time to tickets on Friday, I'd recommend waiting for 500 level seating. I'm not sure it's really worth the extra $4 per ticket.

 

Also, I prefer sitting towards the back of the 500 level instead of the first few rows.

[UMFan83]

White Sox and Cardinals games got hit pretty quickly, but it seems to be dying down. Like the above poster said, an extra 20% on 500s isn't a big deal.

 

It's $8 a ticket for the highest tier games, I believe. Combine that with the amusment tax which was previously included in the price and is now separate (12% on the price of the 120% ticket), and it's a pretty big jump in price.

[Guest]

Unless you're going for the hottest games or can't devote much time to tickets on Friday, I'd recommend waiting for 500 level seating. I'm not sure it's really worth the extra $4 per ticket.

 

If you're from out of town, that certainty would probably be well worth it.

[Irrelevant Dude]

I priced out a few games in the presale and decided to wait and try my luck on Friday. I have a bad feeling I'm not going to get any good games/seats this year, but I couldn't justify spending almost $300 for 4 bleacher tickets to a Friday game or almost $200 for 2 outfield box seats to a Thursday afternoon game. As much as I love going to Wrigley Field, at this year's ticket prices road trips are looking more and more attractive.

[cheapseats]

Only scattered single tickets remain for the White Sox series and July 24 vs the Cardinals.

[Tracer Bullet]

Jeez. I'm looking at going to a weekday game in August with some buddies and we're looking at $80 to buy UD box seats today (or $70+ on Friday). cripes.

[UMFan83]

Only scattered single tickets remain for the White Sox series and July 24 vs the Cardinals.

 

Don't forget, they only have a limited number of tickets available with this presale. The rest go on sale like usual on Friday.