Kings Season Ticket Holders Outraged

Fanfare: Renewal policy prompts ticket holder to decline


(Published July 1, 2001)

First of all, I am one of the many faithful season-ticket holders for the Kings and love the team that has been on the floor the past three years as much as anyone.
And I am not even complaining about the 72.7-percent increase in my ticket prices since the 1998 season (from $38.50 in 1998 to $66.50 for 2001). The tickets have been worth it.

The complaint I have is twofold. This year, season-ticket holders were billed for playoff tickets and had to pay up front for all 15 possible playoff games as if we were going to be hosting the NBA Finals (and every series would go the distance in between, with the Kings as the home team).

This was almost a $3,000 check I had to write, just for playoff tickets (it looked like a good investment until we ran into the buzz saw also known as the Los Angeles Lakers). The balance of the money not used for playoff games (there were four games at Arco) was to be refunded within a month of the last game (how nice -- free use of my $2,200 for over a month).

But then comes the real heart of my complaint. Before I even received my playoff refund, I received my invoice for next season's tickets. And payment is due Monday. In years past, we had to make two payments, one in mid-August and one in mid- to late September, (remember, the season starts in November). This year's timing is not just a little suspicious. Hostage! Help!!

As Kings fans know, free agency opens today, and the Kings' best player -- Chris Webber -- can begin negotiating. In other words, our loyal season-ticket holders are being made to pay for next season's tickets before we know what team will be on the floor.

I agree the Maloofs have brought much class and respect to Sacramento, but I do not agree with this aggressive "hostage-type" scenario their ticket people have created. They even added the cost of attending the Senior Gold Rush golf tournament into the price of the Kings season tickets. You have to physically mark on your invoice and subtract the cost of that event if you do not wish to attend (or cannot, as is my case).

Due to this treatment, I have, through much anguish, decided not to renew my season tickets with the Kings. I am quite certain many other individuals like myself will elect the same option.

I suppose a good thing does not last forever, and the Kings are destined to become like the other "big- market" teams in the league, with most of the season tickets owned by corporations. Just don't complain when Arco begins to sound like Staples Center, as in, don't go blaming the fans.

I only wish the team's management had not become so greedy so quickly.

-- Joel Coffman, Vacaville

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/news/sports05_20010701.html


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"For there is nothing either good or bad, thinking makes it so."
- William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Hamlet

[This message has been edited by BobFinn* (edited July 01, 2001).]