OUCH: Hawks To Raise Ticket Prices

[HMFFL]

Odd timing: Hawks to raise ticket prices

Five percent increase comes at a time when team is fading

The timing couldn't be more odd.

Season-ticket prices are going up for the Hawks next season, and for the first time in nine years the renewals mailed to season-ticket holders this week included pricing for playoff tickets.

The only problem is the Hawks, who are 21-30, are slowly sliding out of playoff contention in the Eastern Conference, losers of six consecutive games before Friday night's game against the Golden State Warriors.

The 5 percent increase for next season is actually less than the 7 percent increase a year ago. Lou DePaoli, Atlanta Spirit's chief marketing officer, said the renewals were sent out in anticipation of the Hawks ending the NBA's longest playoff drought.

"It's pretty much standard fare," DePaoli said. "Tickets went up a little over 5 percent. We did the same thing this time last year. So it's pretty much standard fare. As it related to the Hawks, a lot of our season-ticket holders get it, they know that our tickets have been underpriced for a long time, and they know the team is getting better.

"But it's routine timing for us and the best options for the fans in terms of leveraging their playoff tickets."

Season tickets for this season range from $294 to $1,290.


Link

This is far from being the marketing that I was talking about or expecting.

[mattlanta]

Oh well, it doesn't worry me. I never buy season tickets.

[evildallas]

Unfortunate timing, but it isn't a real surprise. Wasn't a drastic increase in prices for my tickets, but another level got busted hard. I'm going to stay under my personal salary cap by renouncing my Thrashers tickets.

I'm not crazy about fronting for playoff tickets this early though.

[tncnz]

There's no need to buy Hawks season tickets, regardless of a price increase. The only "perks" for buying all 40+ games are

1. having the same seat for each game
2. required to pay for preseason games
3. and first shot at playoff tickets.

You must really like the people around you for #1 to matter.
I could have substituted town hall meetings with Billy Knight for #2
#3 hasn't happened in close to a decade, so not much of a perk there. Besides, there are plenty of good tickets available not owned by season ticket holders.

The Hawks discount more than half of the regular season games for 50% or close to it so there really is no need to buy season tickets.

[HMFFL]

There's no need to buy Hawks season tickets, regardless of a price increase. The only "perks" for buying all 40+ games are

1. having the same seat for each game
2. required to pay for preseason games
3. and first shot at playoff tickets.

You must really like the people around you for #1 to matter.
I could have substituted town hall meetings with Billy Knight for #2
#3 hasn't happened in close to a decade, so not much of a perk there. Besides, there are plenty of good tickets available not owned by season ticket holders.

The Hawks discount more than half of the regular season games for 50% or close to it so there really is no need to buy season tickets.

I believe the discounts are now going to be short lived. The ASG is basically going over the cap, so it's not like they can continue to provide the fans with 50% off, and the fans can't expect to receive those types of deals anymore.

On the other hand, I would like for the ASG to provide more benefits to it's season ticket holders. A Portland season ticket told us all his perks about a month ago, and it left me rather annoyed that the ASG doesn't even come close to offering the same perks.

[raleigh]

I could barely afford games to begin with...

[evildallas]

^^^ I agree with that Portland comment. The guaranteed premiums would be nice for me. I never get the hand-outs on midweek games because I work right up to game time and get there by the end of the 1st quarter, so no bags, towels, bobbleheads, etc. for me. There is a 20% discount on merchandise at the Team Gear Store, but realistically that isn't much of a perk.

[conleyorbust]

The Hawks had BETTER make the playoffs. If they don't, it'll alienate some season ticket holders who have been paying good money for a crappy product for a long time.

If the Hawks play well, it works out for everybody.

[JoshB914]

The Hawks piss of their season ticket holders constantly. I know some people that had season tix for like 15 years, and they were forcing them to move up several rows AND pay an increased season ticket price. Needless to say they do not attend games any longer.

[Hawkamanic81]

Odd timing: Hawks to raise ticket prices

Five percent increase comes at a time when team is fading

The timing couldn't be more odd.

Season-ticket prices are going up for the Hawks next season, and for the first time in nine years the renewals mailed to season-ticket holders this week included pricing for playoff tickets.

The only problem is the Hawks, who are 21-30, are slowly sliding out of playoff contention in the Eastern Conference, losers of six consecutive games before Friday night's game against the Golden State Warriors.

The 5 percent increase for next season is actually less than the 7 percent increase a year ago. Lou DePaoli, Atlanta Spirit's chief marketing officer, said the renewals were sent out in anticipation of the Hawks ending the NBA's longest playoff drought.

"It's pretty much standard fare," DePaoli said. "Tickets went up a little over 5 percent. We did the same thing this time last year. So it's pretty much standard fare. As it related to the Hawks, a lot of our season-ticket holders get it, they know that our tickets have been underpriced for a long time, and they know the team is getting better.

"But it's routine timing for us and the best options for the fans in terms of leveraging their playoff tickets."

Season tickets for this season range from $294 to $1,290.


Link

This is far from being the marketing that I was talking about or expecting.

I guess they want even less fans to show up. The team is 10 games under
.500 and the owners figure raising ticket prices is an answer. lol

Got to love these clown owners.

[tncnz]

-= original quote snipped =-



I believe the discounts are now going to be short lived. The ASG is basically going over the cap, so it's not like they can continue to provide the fans with 50% off, and the fans can't expect to receive those types of deals anymore.

On the other hand, I would like for the ASG to provide more benefits to it's season ticket holders. A Portland season ticket told us all his perks about a month ago, and it left me rather annoyed that the ASG doesn't even come close to offering the same perks.

They can raise the price to whatever they want. If they can't sell for full price they will discount it. Many other teams do not. It will go unsold. That is my point with the ASG. They will be over the cap, many believe they can barely fund the team as it is. They would rather cut their prices for many games instead of letting the ticket go unsold. This underminds the season ticket holders and leads the one time buyer to believe that the discount can be had, leading him to never pay full price. If the consumer's perception is that the ticket does cost "x" and that it is one of the lowest in the NBA, if they want to go they are more likely to pay it. If you can pay half off to see the Mavericks on opening night, what is the likelihood you can just wait until the next half off game. Why pay full price? Oh yeah, you get to sit in the same seats for each game.

[BRIGGS]

Odd timing: Hawks to raise ticket prices

Five percent increase comes at a time when team is fading

The timing couldn't be more odd.

Season-ticket prices are going up for the Hawks next season, and for the first time in nine years the renewals mailed to season-ticket holders this week included pricing for playoff tickets.

The only problem is the Hawks, who are 21-30, are slowly sliding out of playoff contention in the Eastern Conference, losers of six consecutive games before Friday night's game against the Golden State Warriors.

The 5 percent increase for next season is actually less than the 7 percent increase a year ago. Lou DePaoli, Atlanta Spirit's chief marketing officer, said the renewals were sent out in anticipation of the Hawks ending the NBA's longest playoff drought.

"It's pretty much standard fare," DePaoli said. "Tickets went up a little over 5 percent. We did the same thing this time last year. So it's pretty much standard fare. As it related to the Hawks, a lot of our season-ticket holders get it, they know that our tickets have been underpriced for a long time, and they know the team is getting better.

"But it's routine timing for us and the best options for the fans in terms of leveraging their playoff tickets."

Season tickets for this season range from $294 to $1,290.


Link

This is far from being the marketing that I was talking about or expecting.

1290 for the best *season tickets*? It cost 1500+ a *game* to see the Knicks from the front row.

[HMFFL]

-= original quote snipped =-



1290 for the best *season tickets*? It cost 1500+ a *game* to see the Knicks from the front row.

Just like Atlanta the Knicks also have a $10 seat for sale, so what exactly is your point again? Atlanta also has floor seats that are for sale close or above 1,000.

Your bringing up two completely different markets and obviously the demand for tickets is much higher for the Knicks.

[evildallas]

The $1290 is just a screw up in the article. $1290 was lower level end seats that have a $65 face value that are deep discounted to $30 a game if you bought the whole season. Which is a great deal if you can make it to all games. The top couple rows of that section were $23.23 a game ($999) and the 200-level end were $21 per game or $903. There were seats that $2580, $3225, and $3655 per season. Club seats are even more expensive and sold on an all event basis. BTW, the 4 sections that are $10 seats are half price if you did the whole season ($199).

These are the prices for the seats that are available online. The best seats in gold on the chart linked below are call for price.

http://www.nba.com/hawks/tickets/seating_chart.html

[Hawkamanic81]

How much will they raise ticket prices after this loss?