Wild Thought: Variable Ticket Pricing In The Bronx?
Given that the Yankees are having issues selling many of their really expensive seats this season, do you think we’ll soon see the day where the Yankees will adopt a variable ticket pricing policy? That’s today’s wild thought…
Many other big league teams have such a policy. The Mets have had it for years now. Personally, as someone who has the 81-game season ticket package and who then sells off 72 tickets to eight other parties, at face-value, in lots of nine games each, the thought of the Yankees going the variable ticket pricing way is my biggest nightmare – as not all tickets then would have the same face-value. (And, that makes it much more difficult to split up the games.)
How about you? As a fan of the team, how would you feel if the Yankees adopted a variable ticket pricing policy?
Sure, it might mean that you’ll pay less to see the Yankees play the Royals and the Rangers compared to, say, the Red Sox or the Rays. And, it might mean that you’ll pay less to see a Tuesday night game in May compared to, say, a Saturday day game in July. But, would that mean that the Royals game or the May game would be cheap? Or, would it just mean that they’ll be expensive and the Red Sox game or the July game would be even more expensive?
Ah, that’s the question, no?
I see what you mean Steve as the Yanks are having trouble selling those expensive seats. It didn’t seem to hurt attendance that the Yanks were playing the Royals to begin with as the Yanks are the hot ticket in town as opposed to the Mets. I didn’t like the fact that the Mets adopted this example and would hate it if the Yanks did. As a result of not being able to sell their most expensive tickets, they might do the most prudent/sensible thing and actually lower the prices!That would be received much better than the Mets business model for variable ticket pricing……
From a season ticket holders point of view (in Washington) the variable price thing can be helpful.
I’m charge the same face per game for every game in my 41-game package, but single-game tickets are subject to the “popularity tax” on the Cubbies, Dodgers, Orioles and this year the Red Sox.
In a pinch, as I did last year, I couldn’t go to a Cubs game, so I was able to recoup my expenses (and then some) for that game, and still sell it at under what the premium game price was.
The cost genie raised by Butchie isn’t going back in the bottle. When MLB partnered with StubHub on ticket resale, they were able to see, free of previous constraints, what the open market would bear on tickets, and priced seats according to that.
Thanks Sean – I wasn’t aware that it could work that way – where season ticket holders would get a consistent rate whereas single-game purchases would have to deal with the variable rates. But, when I think about that, it makes sense to do it that way…
BTW, no BBTF survey this year?
Or, are you running late with that one?
Steve –
I’ve been doing less with them lately, partly because BTF is blocked at my office (WW.com isn’t so good news for you) and partly because the future all-star (20 months old and already had a cannon) takes up more of my would-be blogging time.
Also, I haven’t heard if they are doing the “Looking forward to …” series this year. Maybe if I get ambitious over the weekend I’ll punch something up.