2012-2013 Ticket Plan$ Discussion

[IceSun]

Originally Posted by Canesluver

When the team hasn't made any play-off revenue in 3 years, you really can't expect the ticket prices to stay the same.

Thems the breaks....

When the team cheap-a$$es replacing missing players, doesn't provide a star winger for our star captain, and leaves a coach who is clearly worse than mediocre in place until he has led the team into a play-off killing death spiral that has proven impossible to recover from, the team doesn't get any playoff revenue....Thems the breaks

If they don't acquire what is needed for Muller to take the team places having now raised prices, next year I may seriously consider 1-offing after 11 years as an STH. Like everything else, I'll give them a mulligan this year based on the good Muller vibes.

[nccanes]

Yeah I agree. While I'm not surprised at the price hikes (though I do think the offset in the F&B is a very nice tradeoff for most), I don't think that the org can justify it with the fact that THEY'VE done a ****ty job for the last 3 years. That's not a viable business model: We didn't do a good job, we didn't increase demand, we did it 3 years in a row, now the loyal customers have to make up for that and trust us to fix it next year. Kind of a hard sell.

The fact that the ice your price has expired + the somewhat reasonable hikes is just a much easier sell.

[KaniacFever]

We also have to remember that the Freeze your Price ended this season. So although it appears they raised pricces for everyone, did they really. I froze my LLN seats for $49.50 for the past 3 years. However, those STHs who didn't freeze their price were paying $53. They can't just lower prices to our locked in amount, although it would be nice.

How many areas had a price increase over last years not locked in price. For my area, since i'm not locked in, I get a raise from $49.50 to $53. That $53 was the same price as last years STHs, so it didn't really increase, just increased for those of us who locked in prices three years ago.

[Canesluver]

That's a good point.

[andyt]

My seats in the mezzanine went from my locked in $37.50 to the non-locked in $42.50, so I'm in the same boat as KF. I think there were sections that went up more than the locked in price though.

[superdave]

I emailed my ticket rep over the weekend to see the logic in my section increasing 30%. I don't expect much more than a generic excuse. It won't matter, but I'd like to hear the reasoning.

As for the idea that no playoffs for 3 years should make us expect an increase, that's just hogwash. It isn't my fault that JR made the wrong decisions and PK was trying to sell some of the team and going cheap. The only real benefit (to me at least) to being a STH is playoff priority.

[IceSun]

In all fairness, I'm not sure if my increase is due to end of Ice Your Price or a rate hike. I can live with it and am renewing. I just don't buy the "fans have to pay more because the organization's bad moves cost us the playoffs" argument.

My bigger issue remains that as a White Plan (weekday games) ticket holder, I am almost always surrounded by people who are getting seats as good as mine for a fraction of the price - and when it comes time to exchange tickets, the exchange choices are almost always for games I already have. With the heavy devaluation on the tickets, neither the "Iced" price nor the raised price seems like a particularly good deal. If JR gets some talent & playoff priority means something again, much of the value is restored. Wait & See.

[superdave]

I emailed my ticket rep to see if there was some reason that my section went up 30%. He called me this evening. He said he looked at where my seats were and they were very good seats in the section and understood why I might be upset, but there were some good seats in the FanZone that I might be interested in. He stated that the Ice-Your-Price deal was over and that they saw that they hadn't raised the prices in my section in a while.

He said they had lowered the prices in areas that they had difficulty selling seats and that they had expanded the FanZone. I took that as that they wanted to boot me into some less desirable seats so they could sell my front row, south UGZ seats for more money. Of course, I could always elect to keep my seats at the much higher price. 30% is just an unreal increase in today's economy and especially taking into consideration the teams performance. I have to say, I'm not very happy with that.

He did thank me for my superior attendance. He suggested that I renew my seats and that I could switch to the other end at the Select-A-Seat. I'm thinking that I'm going back to an individual game ticket buyer.

[IceSun]

Originally Posted by superdave

He did thank me for my superior attendance.

LOL. I think there should be an award for all of us with perfect attendance - just like grade school. Maybe a little certificate signed by all the players "Congratulations to SuperDave on his PERFECT attendance" - another great STH perk that costs the org nada

[nccanes]

Originally Posted by superdave

I emailed my ticket rep to see if there was some reason that my section went up 30%. He called me this evening. He said he looked at where my seats were and they were very good seats in the section and understood why I might be upset, but there were some good seats in the FanZone that I might be interested in.

I know they've expanded the FanZone, but wouldn't the best/better seats already be taken by the people that were in the FanZone last year?

I got the hard copy packet/envelope yesterday and think it's a great piece of marketing. I think prior year's have been very unmemorable.

We laughed about the little sticker and cling that say "PROUD Season Ticket Holder" -- that we weren't "allowed" to use them since we're not renewing. But they are cute and another nice thing they've thrown in. Perhaps someone decided that STH plastered on everything didn't mean anything to people who weren't already STHs.

[The Rock]

Originally Posted by superdave

He said they had lowered the prices in areas that they had difficulty selling seats and that they had expanded the FanZone. I took that as that they wanted to boot me into some less desirable seats so they could sell my front row, south UGZ seats for more money. Of course, I could always elect to keep my seats at the much higher price. 30% is just an unreal increase in today's economy and especially taking into consideration the teams performance. I have to say, I'm not very happy with that.

Same situation here with front row UGZ tix (not the row A "handicapped" seats that I'll save for another rant, but the first row of bolted down seats). The price jackup combined with the expanded 9.99 seats on the other side didn't really set well with me when I first heard about it, and I'm still not thrilled about it.

Originally Posted by nccanes

I know they've expanded the FanZone, but wouldn't the best/better seats already be taken by the people that were in the FanZone last year?

This is a certainty. I'm going to go to select-a-seat just in case by some miracle there's a front row pair on the other side, but there won't be, and I'm not giving up my front row seats to move to the other side and sit on the 7th row. Last year there wasn't anything other than a single seat here and there before the 6th row or higher. I'm sure the scalpers that hold the rights to most of those seats aren't planning to get rid of them either, since it's way too easy to unload them to obnoxious visiting fans for big draw games at 5x or more of $9.99 face.

[c-girl]

Proud owner of two of the $9.99 seats here and we love them. This will be our fourth year in those seats. They weren't $9.99 until last year though. We're in Row B and last year there were quite a few open seats in Row A. Most of the time there was nobody in front of us which in effect gave us a front row view. In case there are any misconceptions, seats in Row A in the Fan Zone are NOT $9.99. They are the same price as Row A all around the arena. In fact, as far as I can tell, they are more than four times the price of our Row B seats which makes us even more thrilled with our seats.

[superdave]

Originally Posted by The Rock

Same situation here with front row UGZ tix (not the row A "handicapped" seats that I'll save for another rant, but the first row of bolted down seats). The price jackup combined with the expanded 9.99 seats on the other side didn't really set well with me when I first heard about it, and I'm still not thrilled about it.



This is a certainty. I'm going to go to select-a-seat just in case by some miracle there's a front row pair on the other side, but there won't be, and I'm not giving up my front row seats to move to the other side and sit on the 7th row. Last year there wasn't anything other than a single seat here and there before the 6th row or higher. I'm sure the scalpers that hold the rights to most of those seats aren't planning to get rid of them either, since it's way too easy to unload them to obnoxious visiting fans for big draw games at 5x or more of $9.99 face.

I think I'm going back to being an individual game purchaser and cherry pick what I want. It's the priciple of the thing. You just can't pick my section to jump the price up that much without making me re-evaluate things. If the increase had been in line with the percentage that others have stated, I'd have written a check and re-upped. Now, I have reason to think about things. I have an hour drive each way and a kid starting college. I give away about a third of my tickets now to friends. The tickets are all used, hence my gold star for attendance.

My biggest reason to remain a STH is playoff priority, and we all know how that plays out.

[The Rock]

Originally Posted by c-girl

Proud owner of two of the $9.99 seats here and we love them. This will be our fourth year in those seats. They weren't $9.99 until last year though. We're in Row B and last year there were quite a few open seats in Row A. Most of the time there was nobody in front of us which in effect gave us a front row view. In case there are any misconceptions, Row A in the Fan Zone are NOT $9.99. They are the same price as Row A all around the arena. In fact, as far as I can tell, they are more than four times the price of our Row B seats which makes us even more thrilled with our seats.

That sounds like a pretty good setup. On the south side in my section the actual seats start as row D, but there's always somebody in front of me in Row A, and it's usually someone leaned all the way forward with their head in the way of the goal or some kid who gets up every couple of minutes to stand up and put their greasy hands all over the glass wall. I do not care for you, 334 Row A people.

I really wish they'd move those chairs back a few inches, because they're definitely a minor hindrance to the sightlines of everybody behind them, particularly when the puck is in play at the south "Canes shoot twice" end.

[c-girl]

I hear ya. When we do have somebody in Row A in front of us, it's usually people who are not accustomed to attending games so they lean over the railing (why? They have an unobstructed view, for pete's sake) thereby obstructing the entire end of the ice for me or they keep trying to get up and out during play. But when there's nobody in those seats which is quite frequent, we have a fantastic view.

[superdave]

I think the front row seats at the north end are priced as mezzanine.

I'm with you on the 334, row A folks. You don't need to lean up. Your big head gets in my way. Note to the organization: move those folding seats back a foot or so.

[c-girl]

Yes, the front row seats in the north end are indeed priced as mezzanine. The Fan Zone pricing begins with Row B.

[KaniacFever]

Those folding seats are just trouble. We sit in 112 and our row is right next to that little section of folding seats. Since they put the new seats in, my friend who has the last regular seat in our row, is lower, and therefore, cannot see if people are sitting in the folding seats, which they are every game.

So it looks like our whole Row will be moving to another section. We've had people in that row for 10 some years. But if one moves, we all got to move. We are a package

[Greensboro Hurricanes]

Originally Posted by c-girl

I hear ya. When we do have somebody in Row A in front of us, it's usually people who are not accustomed to attending games so they lean over the railing (why? They have an unobstructed view, for pete's sake) thereby obstructing the entire end of the ice for me or they keep trying to get up and out during play. But when there's nobody in those seats which is quite frequent, we have a fantastic view.

And great footrests!

[KaniacFever]

Well I just put down my 20% deposit. BBQ here I come

[ontheboards]

Originally Posted by KaniacFever

Well I just put down my 20% deposit. BBQ here I come

Casino night would be cheaper and likely have better food

[Shell]

It is hard to tell how much prices went up since my price did not go up (9.99 seats) but my invoice is $86 more, presumably because of more preseason games or something? That seems like a lot for 4 $10 seats though. Who knows.
We have been in 314 since 2001 but we moved quite a few rows higher last year because we joined our 4 seats with my good friend's 4 seats. I am very curious to see what the selection is this time. Unfortunately we have to select seats with my friend who has a much later account creation date which makes it tough.

[c-girl]

Originally Posted by Greensboro Hurricanes

And great footrests!

Exactly!

[LeslieK]

Originally Posted by Shell

We have been in 314 since 2001 but we moved quite a few rows higher last year because we joined our 4 seats with my good friend's 4 seats. I am very curious to see what the selection is this time. Unfortunately we have to select seats with my friend who has a much later account creation date which makes it tough.

Were you unhappy with your seats last year? If not, as a full STH you retain your rights to your seats unless you choose to move at S-A-S. Or is it different in the fan zone?

[Shell]

We can keep the same if we want Leslie, I was more hoping to move down. We were in the first couple rows for years, and now we're about 10 rows up which makes a bigger difference than one might thing. I realize that is a slim chance but a girl can hope! Thanks though