So Tim, if the team continues to be as craptastic as it has been the last 4 years, and we don't make the playoffs, will Les drop any prices? How much do other losing teams, like ours, charge on the average for this stuff? The Clips, Cavs, etc.. THAT'S who the Rockets compare to on the court, NOT playoff teams. How much do THEY charge for tickets, parking, etc. Let's compare.
I think you are using your personal situation to define the overall market for ticket buyers in the lower bowl. Given that those tickets always sellout and that there is a waiting list to purchase them, it would appear that yours isn't the case in general. Sellouts have NOTHING to do with the good seats in the lower bowl. Those are ALWAYS sold out - always have been and always will be. There are always people willing to pay for those seats. The problem with attendance is with getting people to pay for seats in the upper bowl which is why the Rockets are making an effort to keep those prices low. I'm sure if it were difficult to sell seats in the lower bowl, the price would drop but the reality is that it isn't difficult at all to sell them. Maybe you are not able to justify the spending for business and I completely understand (neither could I), but there are plenty of people out there who are able to justify it whether it is for business or personal use. If there weren't, there wouldn't be a waiting list and tickets wouldn't increase in price.
I make a good living, better than most. I am a committed fan. But, sports games have pretty much priced themselves out of my attendance. For me to attend a game there has to be a reason beyond just another game of (too) many. I took my son, we sat in 43?$ seats, or some such, and the night cost me $200. We had a good time, but -- but it is not worth $200 for a night out at a 1 in 82 or 162 game schedule, or even 16 without a driving reason. Sometimes business is the driver, or fatherhood or whatever. I go a couple of times a year to all the teams. I just don't go any more often than that. Sports has become a studio game, by and large. Such is the pity.
I unsderstand the economics of it all and how it is completely justifiable to raise ticket prices in some areas. However, I don't think that's really the point. The Rockets have a perfect opportunity to endear lots of fans that they may have alienated in the past four dissapointing years. By not raising ticket prices or perhaps even *gasp* lowering prices, they would be sending a very important message to the fans. Remember when Seattle and Utah both had half-price on season tickets...and that was after making the playoffs. I'm not saying to do something that drastic, but it would be nice to see a much more tangible sign of appreciation from the Rockets. As an aside...I think it was mentioned that when buying season tickets or mini-plans you get a better per game price. Looking at the price structure that I received in an email from the Rockets, i don't see the savings. For example: $34 seat per game equates to a price of $1496 for season tickets. You divide $1496/44 (44 games are included)...you get $34. Is it just saving us the ticket processing fee?
In reality, they DID lower the price of some seats. There have never been $35 seats downstairs. Also, they expanded the number of seats available under $35. When those teams lowered ticket prices (particularly in Atlanta), they did NOT lower them across the board. They lowered the upper bowl seats and even dropped their cheapest seats to $8. I know for certain that Atlanta left the expensive seats at the same price. Truth is, if you want to endear yourself to fans, you make the games more affordable for fans who cannot normally afford to go. That is what they have basically done.
Jeff/Tim, Do you know anything about the whole price per game deal with the season tickets? Looking at the price structure I have sitting in front of me, I don't see the price per game savings with season tickets or mini-plans.
