Significant ticket price increase for Spirit games

FlashMan · Jan 12, 2003

I haven't seen this discussed anywhere - either in a press release or the paper or on these boards - but it was snuck into this morning's article on the National Team and the survival of WUSA:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/uniontrib/sun/sports/news_1s12ussoc.html

The WUSA is clearly hurting financially, having originally budgeted $64 million for its five seasons and reportedly having lost all of it in two. Negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement with the players have spilled into this month, and one of the key issues is the investors' desire to rescind the remaining three years of the five-year salary guarantee they initially made to the 20 founding players.

The Spirit, in an effort to generate more revenue, recently announced a sizable increase in ticket prices for the upcoming season despite never making the playoffs. Tickets that were $12, $15 and $20 last year are now $15, $20 and $25 in advance and $18, $23 and $30 on game day.
Click to expand...

That's a 25% increase pre-game and a 50% increase on game day!!! Holy smokes!!!

Well, at least it comes on the heels of a couple of fantastic winning seasons. O wait...

FlashMan · Jan 20, 2003

I can't believe no one else has a comment on these very steep - almost absurd - ticket prices.

Do you think they're reasonable considering the financial straits WUSA finds itself in?

Do you think it's a bad move and will COST the Spirit revenue (and fans) in the end?

Do you care?

I for one care. I usually can't plan my schedule in advance and often end up bringing along and paying for an older gentlemen who's very poor but loves soccer and enjoys a good afternoon out. This costs me at the bottom line, no question.

I'm sure I'll keep on coming to games, but probably not as many. I guess we'll see.

Wolves_67 · Jan 20, 2003

Didn't they learn anything from the Gold Cup fiasco that a big increase too fast may do more financial harm than good?