Depends on the market but if you go to the MLS thread I linked earlier there are some links to stadiums where you can see prices. It's not that unfavorable a comparison, but the price itself is less what I'm upset about. It's the way it's being handled, and it's the way we waited years to pick good seats only to be told we have to move back 10 rows and watch the seats we vacated be empty all season - just the way so many of the cup holder seats have been empty since day one. These are changes of a team that has demand, not a team that can't fill the stadium regularly and is a disaster on the field. And I'm pissed that I was priced out of the Corner Club when I was one of the few people that goes there regularly and is on a first name basis/friends with many of the people running it. I'm not paying another 300+ just for the privilege of spending $50 a game on over priced drinks and food when I can easily go to Iron Bound instead. And this is why it's so infuriating for those of us who were season ticket holders for years - there's absolutely no advantage now to having done it - those of us who have been loyal throughout are the ones that are furious, not the folks that showed up just last season as STHs. It ain't right.
Exactly - I might cool off a little eventually - but forcing me to put down $1400 plus with this little notice is just really uncool. There is almost zero point now to spending this money - we can buy $20 tickets in cash before the game and sit wherever we want.
Re: from Big Apple soccer...tix price increase They are screwing the long time fans, but keeping those empty seats very happy.
Perfectly phrased. Just to tag along with kokoplus's point: I can't believe that they're doing this so early and giving us such little time to decide (and finance).
They're forcing early renewal because they know the team isn't going to make the playoffs, so they have to capture everyone's attention NOW. They'll never get people to spend hundreds or THOUSANDS of additional dollars after a terribly disappointing season. It's rather smart and stupid at the same time. As for finding the money for your tickets, it's no surprise that renewals happen in the fall so why not save a little every month throughout the year (if you can spare it), rather than scrambling every fall. I realize the price increase was a big surprise, so we'll have to save a little more every year. I love going to games, but they just made it a lot less fun.
I merged price threads - the link to the big apple soccer piece mentioned/quoted is here: http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/columns/mytwocents.php?article_id=28415
I guess the Front Office didn't get the Wall St Journal today: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100...213896.html?mod=WSJ_economy_LeftTopHighlights Household income is down again for the 3rd year in a row to 1996 levels and I for one can't afford the increase in prices. I'm looking at 2 options: 1) Cut my ticket count from 4 to 2 and only see a slight rise in my overall cost 2) Not renew and pickup cheap tickets on Stubhub well under cost for the games I want to attend
I've started working on collecting that info. Checkout: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...DdyNUVWZm1HNktycm9mT2l2R0d1LVE&hl=en_US#gid=8
Good for you. And if I wanted to sit in Section 227, I could always buy a walk-up ticket day-of-game. But I wanted to sit in the lower tier at midfield at RBA and that's why I continued to purchase season tickets for 14 years at Giants Stadium. So remind me why I bothered to purchase tickets (that often went unused because I couldn't even give them away) for 14 years at Giants Stadium?
I assume they are gambling many of us will cave - and if we do, guess what - next season the Stampede card "a $200" value is no longer free!
Wondering if any of you have had any discussions with the powers-that-be at the team, or have made any personal decisions on whether or not to renew. Please update.
I haven't talked with fan services or anyone else nor have I made a decision on my tickets. I'm leaning heavily towards not renewing and simply buying tickets to individual matches next year. Not because I can't afford it, but simply based on principle. Not as easy as all that since I have a handful of friends who are also season ticket holders who are still trying to figure out what the hell they want to do.
I'm with you. Crazy increase in prices, with both a decline in the economy and product on the field? I'm truly going to have to pass. If someone wants my overpriced seats, fine, I'll buy individual tix at a discount next year, and walk down to my current seats.
I've had a few emails with my ticket rep who is a nice person and has handled it as best as can be expected. I'm definitely a lot less angry as a result. One thing new I was told - which I'm sure isn't worth a lot - is that any increases next season will be small. Although - I'm sure they love the flexibility to charge or not to charge for the stampede card - if we win MLS cup by some miracle, I'm sure that $200 value won't be free. For me a big part of the equation is whether I'm hurting myself more than I'm hurting them. I will save a ton of money - but I personally am not the type that likes to sit all over the stadium - and having season tickets definitely gets me to more games than I would otherwise. Truthfully - I like being a season ticket holder. Tomorrow night hopefully the regulars we sit with will be there and we can discuss what everyone is doing. For me, the thing that will probably annoy me the most if I renew is not being able to use the corner pub - hardly anyone uses it when just about everyone has the benefit - and they aren't going to sell many of the seats that get the privilege - and we really liked waiting out the Path lines at the pub while watching other MLS games. Don't think I can afford to poney up $1k+ for the privilege.
I LOVE being a season ticket holder too. However, I don't love being #ucked over by Ownership. I mean this is some really stupid $hit they are pulling. I was not a fan of the corner pub so that doesn't really rub me the wrong way. What does rub me the wrong way is the bullying tactic they are using with this 2 week window and this retarded membership card. Price increases will happen (although some fans really got bent over hard the past 2 seasons). That's the reality. It's then up to Ownership to handle said increases effectively and with some semblance of ethics.
I've ranted enough in this thread so you know I don't disagree with you - but it might be worth talking to your ticket rep anyway. The only thing that even has me considering renewing is that atthe end of the day - the prices aren't too far out of line with the rest of the league I don't think. It's obvious this new guy in charge doesn't give a crap about the continuity and loyalty we've shown - and I'm now much more likely to return the favor when there's a second New York team.
Eventually I'll speak to my rep. Right now I'm still pretty heated about it and I've got to come up with some sort of game plan. I'm not so much upset about the price increases. Simply the way it's being handled.
Totally agree - they targeted the longest paying members and probably some of the most loyal - who paid through some really lean times. And this is the second sizable increase in 2 seasons after a really crappy experience this year - terrible concessions, vendors in the aisles, and a really bad on field performance. Better management would have handled this in a way that didn't make everyone furious - instead of trying to act like "71% of seats decreased or remained the same" - they could have apologized to us, and offered us bonuses/incentives if we were forced to move seats - and grandfathered us in to the pricing changes if we stayed. On top of that - they are further devaluing our seats by offering 2 for 1s, groupons, etc. - and we are often surrounded by non-soccer fans who are constantly getting up for refreshments - not paying attention to the game, only there for 1 week, etc. etc. What we should do - even if not by this deadline - is start a campaign to network season ticket holders - start in our sections and try to get it going in other sections - so that we have a big database of contacts for folks who are season ticket holders. Can you imagine if we as a group could all decide to not renew? We'd have lot more power and a voice when changes like this occur.
I'm not sure Red Bull would give a $hit. They don't seem to give a $hit right now. However, I'd gladly jump on board.
Excellent idea. This could serve as a de facto supporters trust, something more broad-based than the supporters groups in the South Ward.