Lower ticket prices in '13

[Harry Potter]

From an e-mail I received

Our ticket sales staff is beginning to contact season ticket holders this week, so we wanted to get this basic information to you first.

Overall, we are taking aggressive steps to decrease the cost of attending a White Sox baseball game in 2013. Two of those steps are lowering ticket prices and creating affordable seating options that will be available to fans in both the lower and upper levels on a daily basis.

Below are some of the more notable items about ticket pricing for this upcoming season.

· Near the end of the 2012 season, the White Sox commissioned a comprehensive research project by Rich Luker, the creator of The ESPN Sports Poll, author of “Simple Community,” and the Up Next trend columnist for Sports Business Journal, who helped examine White Sox fan sentiments on a variety of issues, including ticket prices, and other factors affecting the decision to attend White Sox games.
· The club took the results of the research, feedback on dynamic ticket prices -- which has been utilized by the White Sox since 2010 -- as well secondary market prices (from sites such as Stub Hub) and created a new ticket pricing model that provides fans more value opportunities to attend games.
· More than 87% of all full season tickets for the 2013 season are either dropping in price or staying the same; with more than 54% of the full season tickets dropping an average of 26%.
· The biggest drop in season ticket prices for 2013 are in the Bleacher and Outfield Reserved sections, which are dropping 32 and 30 percent, respectively (for full season tickets). For example, for the 2013 season four full season Bleacher tickets will cost $2,800 less than in 2012.
· Furthermore, full season tickets will be available for as low as $810/per seat and split season plans for as low as $297/per seat (both Upper Reserved).
· On split season tickets, all 27-game plans are decreasing in price, an average of over 25%.
· On a daily basis, corner seats in the lower deck will be available for $20 per game and upper deck corner seats will be available for $7, all season long (excluding only Opening Day and the two Cubs games in May) – which accounts for nearly 5,000 seats per game.
· The cost of parking also is being dropped – to $20 (down from $25 and $23).
· The season ticket holders who will receive decreases in their tickets will have that reflected in their invoices for 2013, which they will receive the coming weeks. The small number of fans who will see a ticket price increase – due to the high demand of their current locations– are being personally contacted by the White Sox.
· There will be additional announcements regarding pricing for seven and 14-game ticket plans, and individual tickets later this offseason.

Feel free to use any of this information at any time.

If you have any questions or if you are interested in speaking with Brooks Boyer about the new ticket pricing or Rich Luker regarding the White Sox fan research, do not hesitate to contact me.

[beasly213]

Originally Posted by doublem23

I agree, I like the corner OF sections, $20 is a steal. If this is true, I might buy a partial season ticket plan.

Ditto. I'm going to e-mail the Sox and find out more info.

[DonnieDarko]

Originally Posted by beasly213

The Sox listened to the fans. $20 is very reasonable for lower deck tickets and $7 is also a great deal for uppers.

Now, will people come out?

Pretty much my thoughts on the matter, too. Good to see that they actually listened to people. Now they just need to show up.

[ChiSoxGal85]

Terrific news. Kudos for listening, White Sox!

[TheOldRoman]

Wow. Good job on taking the initiative and hiring this guy to do the research. One of the things Arte Moreno did when he bought the Angels was a bunch of fan surveys, which lead to him decreasing ticket prices, making beer cheaper, and many other things. Obviously the Angels are in a much different situation financially and market-wise, but listening to the fans has worked for them. I hope this study leads to more comprehensive change in the Sox' marketing and public relations.

This is huge for the Sox. I don't think it will turn things around and create a huge amount of enthusiasm about a "new direction" for the franchise (because I don't think anything short of new ownership would do that), but I think it will help create a buzz about the team. You've got to get people into the park to build fans. You have to make a good atmosphere which looks enticing on TV. That's what the Cubs did. The Cell is not and never will be Wrigley, but the same concept applies. Nobody likes sitting in an empty park. Hell, even if you only fill the lower deck (I believe 28,000) that will look SO much better on TV broadcasts. People going to a handful of cheap games now, be they fans or just people looking for something to do, are going to be more likely to spend much more money on the team later.

[jdm2662]

If I didn't have an infant, I would be inclined to go to more games. I did make it to five last season. Maybe the little one will experience his first game next season.

[Lip Man 1]

Very good move by the Sox.

Lip

[roylestillman]

I've got a share of a friend's season ticket plan, but this will definitely make day of game decisions to go much more appealing to me. Those extra wide corner seats in the lower deck are some of my favorites.

[Chez]

Great move by the Sox. Hopefully this will mean a fuller ballpark on most days/nights -- though Im always amazed at the number of reasons/excuses Sox fans invent to justify not showing up. In my opinion, cost was the only legitimate excuse for most people.

[PatK]

Like many of you are posting, this means I'll go to more games.

Would be nice if parking dropped to $15, but I'll take it.

[DeadMoney]

Originally Posted by roylestillman

Please tell me that dynamic pricing is dead.

Still no word on dynamic pricing, but apparently Brooks says they're eliminating prime and premier pricing. In the Tweet I got this link from, Dan Hayes said a club official mentioned wanting to reconnect with the fan base.

[amsteel]

So Club Level, Lower Box, Premium Lower, and Gold Coast & Scout Seats are staying the same/increasing?

I have a feeling alot of people in Lower Box will jump to a different section.

[PaleHoser]

Tribune story here. Not sure if it includes any details that haven't already been raised in this thread.

Christmas comes early this year.

[thomas35forever]

If this thread is a nutshell of the fan base's reaction to this, hope the Sox realize now what played a big part in keeping fans away last season.

[DeadMoney]

Originally Posted by thomas35forever

If this thread is a nutshell of the fan base's reaction to this, hope the Sox realize now what played a big part in keeping fans away last season.

I think - for the sake of the casual fans - they still need to help market the hell out of the neighborhood and area surrounding the park (as being safe, clean, etc.), but this is a start.