Tim, hogging the spotlight and giving the people what they want, as usual. Rockets launch ticket drive with new prices, playoff bait By JONATHAN FEIGEN http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2432310 The Rockets, beginning next season's season-ticket drive, raised the price on 2,900 club seats and lowered the price on 4,200 other lower-bowl tickets. In addition to the price changes, the Rockets have brought their payment schedule more in line with much of the NBA, with the first 25 percent payment for renewals due March 15. Season-ticket holders who make the first payment by that deadline will be given free tickets to the first two Rockets playoff <a href="http://go-advertising.com?go=games" onmouseover="window.status = 'goto: games';return 1" onmouseout="window.status=''">games</a>, should they make the playoffs this season, with one free ticket for every season ticket renewed. The other large change from past policies will offer playoff tickets to season-ticket holders who renew with no payment up front. In the past, the team required advance payments for between two and all four rounds of playoffs, depending on the season. "We want to take to them early with the season still going on," Rockets vice president Tim McDougall said. "It gives us a lot more time to do upgrades and renewals. "We talked to season-ticket holders and said, `What's the most valuable thing we can give you to reward you?' That's what came back. The most valuable thing is playoff tickets. We want to get our renewal percentages high. I think most of our fans expect that we'll make the playoffs. The important thing for us is how do they view this gesture. They expect us to make it. They consider it an offer that has some teeth to it." The lower bowl's $50 season tickets were reduced to $45 per game, and the $60 season tickets were cut to $55. The club seats that have been $175 per game were increased to $180. The $135 club seats were increased to $150, and the $125 club seats were increased to $130. Those club seats have been sold out this season with a waiting list. "It was our first year doing club products, so we took our best shot with the pricing," McDougall said. "The $175s and $125s hardly moved (in price) at all. The $135s, we have a huge waiting list. We know we have a lot of demand for them. Rather than take a price increase across the board, in the area we have a lot of demand and a product that's gotten very good reviews from our customers, we're taking a price increase. "Overall though, for regular Joe Fan, there's a lot more going down than going up." The 6,604 upper-deck ticket prices, from $9 to $35 for season tickets, did not change. Renewal notices were sent several weeks ago. In the past, they were sent in June, but McDougall said an emphasis on renewals and customers' interest in more payment installments changed the payment schedule. The final payment deadline remains in August. McDougall said the team has received 245 renewals so far, with just four season-ticket holders choosing not to renew.
Tim, a suggestion. Charge those club holders 75%, 100% more. Maybe then they'll SIT IN THEIR SEATS during the game. I've been to ~12 games. Scored club level seats 3 times. I would hate being priced out, but if those seats were primo, maybe the corporates would value them more and at least sit in them. We need to get it so that the Clutchfans members aren't so disgruntled with the empty seats on national TV (all club level seating). Also, is it me or is the West Club consistently less filled than the East? Oh, small perks on/under the seats may help. Rich people love free stuff even more than people that may need it. Go figure.
