Is the Galaxy/ AEG totally serious? I heard that not only do we get FU*KED this year with NO bonus games; NO Season Ticket Holder Event; not to mention that we have a "I don't give a Sh*t about the game" team in last place they are going to raise the ticket prices next season.
Sounds like the natural buisness model to me. Crap product that sells out each home game. Raise the prices! And you know what we may look back years from now and miss Mr. Alexi. While I have no great love for him, he did have some stones to sit there and take all that we dished out. Arena looks like he'd call a hit squad.
I guarantee you that I, the season ticket holder of two in section 134, will not be paying a penny more for season tickets. Just like last year, I will hold out until the very last moment and will get a call from a supervisor giving me what price I want. Also, I would say that it's always a good idea to vote with your dollars. Use the state of the California economy to your advantage - - if you have the money, they will meet your price. Other alternatives include waiting til the season starts, then scooping up the deals on ebay. There are lots of corporate clients that never show up for games and sell off the tickets for cheap. Chin up! Topper
Yeah, they are seriously gonna be shooting themselves in the foot by raising prices next season. The Beckham brand has slowly fizzled, and the product on the field is a worse disaster than Hurricane Ike...The chickens is coming home to roost y'all...
they will give us 'credit' for the unused bonus games that bring the price of next year's season tickets the same price as this season. they'll make a big deal about it not costing any more out of pocket and expect us to be grateful.
Its like going to your favorite pizza place for years and years... ordering the same large pizza with pepperoni as you always do, then you recently notice over the past year that they are slowly putting less pepperoni on you pizza. You used to be able to see only pepperoni on the top of your pizza, but over time, you could see more cheese and less pepperoni. You began counting the pepperoni's... 7 for each slice of pizza. Then 5 each slice of pizza. Recently it went down to 3 pieces of pepperoni for each slice of pizza. You just went in to order your favorite pizza like always and there is... and I count... there is one pepperoni on each slice of pizza. (this is based on a true story) The company gets you hook line and sinker by serving you a pizza pie loaded with pepperoni, then slowly cuts back as they see you become a regular customer. The company makes more profit off of you by not having to put so much yummy pepperoni slices on your pizza. They know they have you- becuase you like them, they like you, smiles smiles smiles, they even raise their prices a little once in a while but you just dont seem to mind. They get away with more by adding lots of ice to your cokes, and pouring you 14 oz of beer instead of 16, or by using those beer glasses with the REALLY thick bottoms so it still looks like 16 oz but is really only 14 (Tony Roma's does this BTW) and they start using the cheap wilted lettuce instead of the fresh stuff. WHAT DO YOU DO???? Do you stick with the pizza becuase its "your pizza"? Do you stick with the pizza place since you know the owners? Do you stick with the pizza becuase the owners sold the place and there are new owners who dont do a good job anymore? Since this is based on a true story... my family ended up going to a different pizza place
The only people who are going to buy Galaxy season tickets next season are Goats and Smurfs who just want to be reminded who the superior California team is: not us. I am for sure not going to pay even more money to see a large sea lion flop around the field and then get yellow carded. I can go to sea world and throw fish to pires. Without the bacon wrapped hot dog ladies, Galaxy has nothing. If they get injured, we have no depth to replace them, and even with them, I like soccer, not stargazing.
I won't renew my tickets in 2009. I'm spending $7 to watch UCLA, whose players rarely make back-passes or turn the ball over in their own penalty area. Oh, and they actually run the full 90 minutes.
So this is how I see it... I am devoted to this team, unhealthily so. The results of the Galaxy matches have a direct impact on my mood for several days. I spend a large part of my income on season seats and other Galaxy related items. The organization is not reciprocating. I certainly don't expect them to have the same level of devotion that I have to them, but a mutual respect would be nice. A simple acknowledgment of my devotion to the team by being a season ticket holder would suffice. The best way to do this is for them to keep up their end of the bargain, and that bargain contained a STH event and bonus games. I feel like the Galaxy organization is basically saying f@#* you, you don't matter and you can be replaced. Well if this is the case, then perhaps the feeling can become mutual. I don't want to stop being a STH, and I certainly don't want to stop supporting the team. But I am not going to lay down and just take this. As far as I am concerned they are obligated to provide these events since they were represented to me as STH benefits at the time of purchase. Can you say class action, because I know I can.
Mparker... good post. You could decide to park elsewhere for free. Or eat before going to the park. There are ways to speak with your wallet while still going to the games. Heres another example. I have a relative I always get a birthday gift for. I used to give her $50 gift certificate, or a gift card, or take her out to eat a few times. But she never said thanks. I then made it $30 the last couple years... dont take her out anymore and just give her a generic gift card. Shes in the military so I know any dollar she can get helps out. Last year she didnt say thanks again. So this year (today) I first called her and said happy birthday, and just now sent her $15. If she doesnt thank me today or tomorrow, she'll be getting $7 next year. On and on until I send nothing. If someone doesnt reciprocate the respect then youre (we all are) going to get tired of it. And something will have to give. AEG is digging themselves into a hole, thats for sure. Especially if they promised STH's bonus games and events. As an offer of hospitality, I recommend AEG send all STH's down under to Australia to count as the bonus games.
Got more bad news for you, http://www.newusfl.com/USFLBlog/files/9801950729ccff0232e32c04b5eb3232-4.html Apparently the new upstart USFL spring pointy ball league (yes they're actually bringing the USFL back for those that remember it from the 80's), is looking to put a franchise in LA. And they'd like their home stadium to be the Home Depot Center. Even as a visiting fan I'm appalled at that idea. Last thing we need is even more pointy ball lines on our fields. Hopefully the HDC says no to the USFL.
Don't feel too bad. Look back a few days "The USFL has also been in contact with a local Salt Lake soccer team regarding the use of their new upcoming stadium in 2010." Looks like they're specifically targeting SSS's as site for their crap league. And San Jose is being saddled with one of these teams too.