Rockets Season Tickets Prices Reduced for Next Season

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6296235.html

Rockets season ticket prices will be frozen or reduced for 98 percent of tickets for the 2009-10 season, Rockets CEO Tad Brown said on Thursday, a day before renewal forms will be mailed to current season ticket holders.


Citing the impact of the recession, Brown said that prices for more than 20 percent of tickets current selling for between $40 and $200 will reduced, with some prices cuts by roughly 20 percent.


The 2 percent of tickets to have price increases are the most expensive tickets in the building currently sold to suite holders or corporate partners and all have a waiting list for availability. The largest increase will be roughly 5 percent.


"Mr. (Leslie) Alexander (the Rockets owner) is really sensitive to our most loyal and passionate fans," Brown said. "This is a response to the economy, for sure. We want to continue to give people an opportunity to root for the Rockets at Toyota Center and be a part of this organization. We’re all going through a tough time right now. Mr. Alexander recognizes that. He wants to make it as easy as possible to enjoy the Rockets experience."


Rockets attendance is up slightly this season to an average of 17,345. Through 31 home games last season, the Rockets’ average attendance was 17,259, roughly 1,000 shy of a sellout. (Toyota Center capacity varies depending on the alignment of suites.) The Rockets sold out a Toyota Center record 25 games last season, with 18 sellouts at this stage of the season. The Rockets have 16 sellouts this season and expect a sellout for tonight’s game against the Phoenix Suns.


"I feel pretty good about attendance," Brown said. "I feel about the activation in the building. Fans have been terrific, really engaged. We have won 10 in a row at home. You can’t dispute the fact that Toyota Center is a tough place to play now. We’ll see what happens in the last 10 (home) games, if we can get our (sellout) record of last year. If we don’t get it, we will only miss it by one or two. It’s been a good season."

jonathan.feigen@chron.com

 

Tad Brown cites the poor economy and the fact that Les Alexander doesn't want to punish the diehard fans for coming out to TC.

Classy move in my opinion.