White Sox releasing $5 upper deck ticket for TOR series

[IlliniKrush]

How many times did season ticket prices go down in the past 5 years during this recession?

How is that relevant? They do what they think they will make the most money, both short and long term.

[southsider2k5]

Second team

+

Small fanbase

+

Top 10 in mlb ticket prices

=

20,000 fans instead of 30,000

 

The total amount of fans isn't as important as total revenue.

[knightni]

The total amount of fans isn't as important as total revenue.

Then, people should be silent (KW included) about attendance.

 

Apparently, it doesn't matter.

[BigSqwert]

How is that relevant?

 

If they continued to jack up prices every year when the economy was doing well then they're going to continue with sky high prices during a multi year recession. They'll never cut the price back on season tickets to pre-recession levels or lower. It's unthinkable in their eyes. So your "formula that maximizes income" is already inherently flawed as it ignores a large number of fans who have been hit by the economic conditions.

[IlliniKrush]

If they continued to jack up prices every year when the economy was doing well then they're going to continue with sky high prices during a multi year recession. They'll never cut the price back on season tickets to pre-recession levels or lower. It's unthinkable in their eyes. So your "formula that maximizes income" is already inherently flawed as it ignores a large number of fans who have been hit by the economic conditions.

Long term revenue, yes it maximizes. I think it's unthinkable to most teams. How many teams did that, especially in a big market?

 

Correct, making season tickets $5 and then trying to go back to normal prices...no one would ever go. Talk about crippling an organization.

[BigSqwert]

Long term revenue, yes it maximizes. I think it's unthinkable to most teams. How many teams did that, especially in a big market?

 

Correct, making season tickets $5 and then trying to go back to normal prices...no one would ever go. Talk about crippling an organization.

I never proposed cutting season tickets to $5. Current season ticket holders should have seen small decreases in the past couple of years though.

[IlliniKrush]

I never proposed cutting season tickets to $5. Current season ticket holders should have seen small decreases in the past couple of years though.

I realize that but there is a sentiment in the thread here to do anything to fill the park, that's what I was getting towards.

 

They could have cut it a bit - but I'm sure they had their reasons why they didn't. Based on how many people didn't renew by leaving it, how many would renew if they lowered it, projected people to be new season ticketholders at certain levels, etc. Plus like we said, going back to "normal" prices after they lower it and the affect that has.

[knightni]

I never proposed cutting season tickets to $5. Current season ticket holders should have seen small decreases in the past couple of years though.

Season ticket holders could always be offered better seats at the same prices the following season. The idea is to get as many people to the ballpark while still adding revenue. What's so wrong with filling up the Upper UPPER parts of the stadium? They hardly ever have people in those seats.

[caulfield12]

I think between the $0.01 and $1 and $5 ticket prices, we're losing a lot of price points in between.

 

The Sox seemingly can't cut ticket prices or discount too much, or it will hurt the current base of buyers who ARE willing to pay Top 4-8 ticket prices for all of the majors.

 

Clearly, there's an idea that the Chicago White Sox ticket market is more inelastic than most other markets...that they can sacrifice X amount of attendance because there IS a willingness for those people/corporations to shell out money, even in a down time or continuing economic recession.

 

That's all fine and good, as long as they continue to provide a product that from a cost/benefit standpoint is worthwhile to those people. The problem is going to be when they lose enough of the 20% who attend 80% of the games, where they will go for growth again?

 

While I'll agree that many businesses (and teams) spend TOO MUCH time and money going for new or one-time customers, the White Sox almost seem complacent in this regard...that they're satisfied with their current economic model, as it's becoming less and less important to bottom line than ticket revenue was just 10 or 20 years ago, when it could make or break a franchise.

 

I still continue to believe that they should make more efforts to entice all those fans that we've lost since 2005-06 back to see at least one game. You don't have to give them tickets for free, that erodes the value of your ticket price again...but you should make every possible effort in order to get former loyal customers to buy those former Ozzie/split plan packages.

 

Have they done market surveys of all those fans who no longer buy tickets, what their primary considerations are? I'm almost positive they have, it's proprietary information that the team paid for, but it would be interesting to see how much of it is attributed to the team/product on the field, how much to the economy/prices/job security, how much to the squabbles between KW/Ozzie and the disappointing 2011 season, etc.

 

 

 

 

[greg775]

Hotels can't sell rooms for $1 just to fill them.

 

Vegas used to have insanely cheap hotel prices, figuring that once you got in the hotel, you'd lose your ass in the casino.

They stopped doing that during the boom years. I haven't checked to see if prices are reasonably cheap again because of the recession/depression of the last 5 or so years.

[caulfield12]

Season ticket holders could always be offered better seats at the same prices the following season. The idea is to get as many people to the ballpark while still adding revenue. What's so wrong with filling up the Upper UPPER parts of the stadium? They hardly ever have people in those seats.

 

 

And then the "micro" considerations, like how many ushers are going to have to staff all those seats to keep the people who are paying for the cheapest tickets from moving to another seating area, for example...

 

For me, it's crazy to think of the benefit of a $5 ticket when I know the parking that goes along with that will be 2X-8X more expensive than the ticket. That might be a primary reason NOT to come, psychologically.

 

When you line all the numbers up, we're still destroying most of those teams like the Reds and Royals in overall revenues because of our average/frontline ticket prices being so much higher than all the teams 16-30 in attendance (the Mets would be the only other team with comparable prices).

[caulfield12]

Vegas used to have insanely cheap hotel prices, figuring that once you got in the hotel, you'd lose your ass in the casino.

They stopped doing that during the boom years. I haven't checked to see if prices are reasonably cheap again because of the recession/depression of the last 5 or so years.

 

 

And also the reason for the $5.99 filet mignon and food or entertainment ticket specials like that.

 

You leave the city recalling all the bargains and forget the fact you've spent hundreds or thousands in the casino.

[IlliniKrush]

Season ticket holders could always be offered better seats at the same prices the following season. The idea is to get as many people to the ballpark while still adding revenue. What's so wrong with filling up the Upper UPPER parts of the stadium? They hardly ever have people in those seats.

With non-renewals, aren't season ticketholders always offered a bit better seats the next year? I get you mean pricing tier, but once you're downstairs, there aren't that many places to go.

 

You'd have to keep those people in the upper UPPER parts as to not sit next to the guys behind the plate with season tickets. I doubt they are moving towards letting UD people go downstairs any time soon, but if you did something like this, there'd be no way you could ever allow them downstairs.

[greg775]

And also the reason for the $5.99 filet mignon and food or entertainment ticket specials like that.

 

You leave the city recalling all the bargains and forget the fact you've spent hundreds or thousands in the casino.

 

Same with baseball.

Get 'em in the park and let the fans walk downstairs and they'll prolly buy tons of merchandise and food and beer and also pay the parking.

[caulfield12]

Same with baseball.

Get 'em in the park and let the fans walk downstairs and they'll prolly buy tons of merchandise and food and beer and also pay the parking.

 

 

If you can:

 

1) Control the longer lines for concessions/bathrooms, etc.

2) Keep those who didn't pay for premium seats up out of lower tier boxes as well as the bleachers.

3) Figure out a way to keep the vendors for the upper deck contented

[IlliniKrush]

Same with baseball.

Get 'em in the park and let the fans walk downstairs and they'll prolly buy tons of merchandise and food and beer and also pay the parking.

Yes, no beer is served in the UD. Or merchandise or food.

[ewokpelts]

Same with baseball.

Get 'em in the park and let the fans walk downstairs and they'll prolly buy tons of merchandise and food and beer and also pay the parking.

The lower deck being reopened to upper patrons will NEVER happen.

 

[greg775]

The lower deck being reopened to upper patrons will NEVER happen.

 

so they can't go into the merchandise stores down there? that sucks.

[ewokpelts]

so they can't go into the merchandise stores down there? that sucks.

Aside from the fact that there are several merch stores and booths up there, fans upstairs have full access to the chicago sports depot. A store that has more items in it than ANY of the lower level stores.

Edited June 11, 2012 by ewokpelts

[Dick Allen]

I don't understand why people buying upper deck seats feel entitled to lower deck access. When you buy a coach seat on an airplane and there are openings in first class do you sit up there? The fact is if you buy an upper deck ticket to save money or can't afford a lower deck seat, you aren't going to be able to afford food or beer or souvenirs at USCF. Buy a lower deck seat and one less beer. That will solve the problem.

 

I could see the Sox implementing a day of game steep discount exchange program for upper deck ticketholders wanting to move down, but it isn't fair to lower deck ticketholders, especially in the OF when the OF concourse is packed with humans.

 

I think one of the Sox biggest problems is their upper deck is still considered and probably always will be considered taboo. They need some gimmick to get people to actually want to sit there. There are a few who realize the first few rows in the infield is a far better place to watch a game than the lower reserved or bleachers, but its a very limited number.

Edited June 11, 2012 by Dick Allen

[Marty34]

I think one of the Sox biggest problems is their upper deck is still considered and probably always will be considered taboo. They need some gimmick to get people to actually want to sit there. There are a few who realize the first few rows in the infield is a far better place to watch a game than the lower reserved or bleachers, but its a very limited number.

 

Disagree. The upper deck is as populated as it's been in recent years. The lower deck (former season ticket holders) is where the issue lies.

[Dick Allen]

Disagree. The upper deck is as populated as it's been in recent years. The lower deck (former season ticket holders) is where the issue lies.

Its not ever populated that is the problem. They have had a problem with bleacher seats and lower deck "boxes" in the corners due to season ticketholders dropping out and IMO pricing. Its a "deal" to pay $38 for a bleacher seat against the Brewers? I think they should make all upper deck seats in the outfield general admission. Reward the people that want to come and get their seats when the gates open.

 

When the park opened, bleacher seats were some of the most popular, and some of the cheapest. Of course, even the Cubs can't sell out their bleachers these days, as they have priced them ridiculously as well.

Edited June 11, 2012 by Dick Allen

[SouthSidePride05]

^ Agree. They need to release $7 LD Corner seats just to fill those sections out. They could also have employees roam the UD concourse and ask people "Would you mind giving us 2 minutes of your time to answer a few questions for passes to the Lower Deck"? That could fill out the bleachers. A packed lower deck sure looks better on tv.

[The Gooch]

And then the "micro" considerations, like how many ushers are going to have to staff all those seats to keep the people who are paying for the cheapest tickets from moving to another seating area, for example...

 

For me, it's crazy to think of the benefit of a $5 ticket when I know the parking that goes along with that will be 2X-8X more expensive than the ticket. That might be a primary reason NOT to come, psychologically.

 

When you line all the numbers up, we're still destroying most of those teams like the Reds and Royals in overall revenues because of our average/frontline ticket prices being so much higher than all the teams 16-30 in attendance (the Mets would be the only other team with comparable prices).

 

But they don't really do that anyway in the UD. I buy deals like these all the time when they have them and just move to UD seats behind home plate. I am never questioned. Still can't get downstairs, but staffing those entrances would be relatively consistent regardless of how well the UD sells.

 

I am also upset at the price of bleacher seats this year. I used to sit in the bleacher a lot, but prices have gotten outrageous.

[caulfield12]

But they don't really do that anyway in the UD. I buy deals like these all the time when they have them and just move to UD seats behind home plate. I am never questioned. Still can't get downstairs, but staffing those entrances would be relatively consistent regardless of how well the UD sells.

 

I am also upset at the price of bleacher seats this year. I used to sit in the bleacher a lot, but prices have gotten outrageous.

 

 

I guess they "stole" this idea from the Cubs, because they used to be among the MOST affordable.

 

But I remember them raising the bleacher seats to much more exorbidant levels 10 or even 15 years ago.

 

Probably with all the improvements out there, the backdrop, patio deck....what is the price now? It seems to be it was in the 20's or low 30's around 10-12 years ago already.