Does bigtexx even like the Rockets? It might be too urban for him. Les did the same thing taking away free ticket upgrades, jacking up prices etc.
I think it's just an ordinary waiting list for sell-outs. OP did. But his time to act expired, so now he's in the pool of bandwagoners, expecting special treatment. And even if Tilman is going to have one pricing model for STH renewals (which was completed before the playoffs), and another Lebron-Pricing model for the remaining 500 or so Upper Deck seats, OP still shouldn't get special treatment after he waited too long.
The Rockets did not contact him (or presumably the other current STHs) and offered additional seats before opening them up. He wasn't given "first look." Perhaps he should have checked in more quickly, but the organization didn't actually give him first look.
If you are an owner, the only incentive to do extra stuff is if you are putting a shoddy product on the floor. If the product itself is worth paying for (like this year's team), there is no reason to supplement with extras. I really miss a lot of the little perks I used to get, but that was with a perpetual .500-ish team with Kevin Martin as the best player. I'll make that trade-off 8 days a week.
Well, I always expect ticket prices to go up, so I'm not surprised. I used to get a ticket for $3.00(plus 50% off coupon) when I was a kid, so I've seen prices move up up and up. I refuse to watch basketball from the upper bowl, so I usually just watch the game sitting in front of my 80" tv and spend the money saved on other things I enjoy. With 7 million people in greater Houston and the Rockets performing well, the demand for roughly 18,000 tickets is going to be strong. I can't blame Tilman for trying to cash in on his investment.
STH are always given a renewal notice and chance to upgrade prior to any new sales. This includes buying extra. OP says he already renewed. That's the point in time he should have asked for more seats. Even then, he might have faced a waiting list, depending upon how many STHs already asked for extras.
The Rockets have an "upgrade week" every year wherein they process a bunch of requests for add-ons and seat relocations after the renewal deadline ends (since naturally this is when new seats open up). The process is carried out in order of tenure. This is normal and every organization does this from pros to college. However, what isn't normal is completely locking down the process after it is over. In any of the last 7+ years I've been a STH I could have called up the Rockets virtually anytime during the offseason (or even the season, for that matter, depending on where I wanted I move) and said "Hey I'd like to move seats" and they'd gladly accommodate. Now, for some strange reason, I have to pay 500 non-refundable bucks for the mere possibility to do this. I can understand if you're trying to keep the speculators at arm's length, but there is no reason to lock your tenured season ticket holders out. Especially without any forewarning.
The upgrade opportunity email sent out did not offer additional seats, only an opportunity to upgrade current seats. That took place early May. The renewal process was done in March.
I don't recall know the exact wording of renewal notices, but every STH knows that's when you get the opportunity to ask for add-on seats. I mean, see OP's last post, right before yours; he explains the process.
Rockets weren't good enough to sell out to STHs in those years. No waiting list needed. Rockets are the best team in the league. They finally have a waiting list for STHs. btw: in case it isn't clear, the $500 is redeemable forever, at any point in time. This is how it works. Very common. You'll get a chance to cash it in. I've even heard of GSW fans selling their spot in line to others. There might even be a website for that. I think there is for NFL.
What bugs me is that my ticket rep basically confirmed they have the seats, but they're purposefully withholding them right now. Essentially it's not a waiting list in terms of supply and demand. There are enough seats to fill the orders. They are exploiting the speculative market/bandwagon fever. Which I'm fine with to some degree (it is a business after all), but it seems crappy and unnecessary to apply these rules to your long time customers. I'm not asking for special treatment. I'm asking to be treated the same way I always have, essentially. Or at the very least, tell me you're going to treat me differently before you go... Treating me differently.
