Thread: Price gouging for opening night tickets

On the bright side, I'll be able to get that new big screen Ive wanted for years but went to games instead.

Originally Posted by Ecktore

You're discrediting it because the article was written 2 years ago? And if it's not dynamic pricing, then what is it?

Are hockey fans, scalpers ready for 'dynamic' ticket prices? - Puck Daddy - NHL*Blog - Yahoo! Sports

Dynamic pricing is new trend in ticket sales - Sports Business News, Analysis - Dollars Blog - ESPN Playbook - ESPN

Los Angeles Kings Optimal Pricing - Dynamic Tickets Enters NHL

The Seattle Mariners have been doing this for 2 years. I am a big Red Sox fan and have to pay (on average) $7 - $10 more a ticket to see the Sox. Happened when the Dodgers came to town last season as well and always when the Yankees are in town. I went to 3 games last season (2 Sox and the Dodgers series finale). All it has done is prevent me from going to more games then the 3, which was actually higher then we would've gone in a given year since the "Doyer's" came to town.

Originally Posted by santiclaws

Being a fan is being delusional. It is utterly irrational. It is absolutely absurd. The fact that I care about how a bunch of guys in skates who don't know me from a sack of wheat do in a game is ludicrous. I'm a grown man, for crying out loud. People on this board admitted to crying at Game Six. You think they were crying because they imagined the profits AEG would rake in as a result of winning the Cup? If someone told me I'm an idiot for caring, how could I not agree?

The fact is that sports teams are selling delusion. They're in cahoots with the fans, who are willing participants in being deluded. That the team cares about "the fans." That somehow the fans have some input. That by being present at a game they "participated." Since I've been a fan, the team has changed players, coaches, owners, building and uniforms. There is virtually no connection between team I started rooting for and the current team except for the name. That's it. When you get down to it, I'm a fan of a freaking name of a sports team. It's moronic, frankly. But the team and I pretend that I matter. That there's something in being a "loyal fan" besides income for the corporation who currently happens to own the name. We are both willing participants in the deception. Any time a sports team reminds me that rationally, I am an idiot for caring about them in any way, I get a little uncomfortable. I know he's there, but I don't want to see the man behind the curtain.

Again, from a business perspective I don't think it is a very wise decision. There is a reason tobacco companies used to sell cigarettes with cartoon characters. There's a reason the price of a six pack of Coke in the store does not come close to keeping up with inflation. You need future customers. When you prevent future customers from becoming current customers by pricing them out of your product, what's going to happen? The Kings were selling a lot of tickets long before they became any good. Eventually, not too many years from now, they'll suck again and all those people clamoring for tickets now will not want them anymore. They'll buy Lakers tickets or Clippers tickets or whatever the new hot thing happens to be then. If you haven't expanded your customer based and alienated your long-time customers by pricing them out of your product, you're not going to do so well.

This is nails.

Also, keep in mind that an even BIGGER thing to me is the fact that they're only raising prices to this level for this one game. In effect, you're literally saying to the fans "We know this is the one you want. How bad do you really want it?" If they were making all the games this price, I would have less of a problem with it. I'd think the prices were absurd sure, but at least it was consistent. This just reeks of sticking it to the people who care the most.

I don't know why this is shocking people so much when you look at what ticket prices were starting at for the Stanley Cup.I am sure the Kings will have ticket deals throughout the season.This game is a huge huge huge deal.Most teams want season ticket holders.When you raise the prices for premium games you are sending out a silent message that game should get season seats.Why should the Kings charge say $60 bucks for opening night ? They just won the Cup for crying out loud.

If you want to play with the big boys this is what happens in big business. The owners and players know that no matter what they do to the NHL such as lockouts and strikes people will still fill the seats no matter the cost. This is a great game to watch live and they know they have that niche group of people that will spend their last dime to come see an NHL game, especially where they just won the Stanley Cup. This is how they can put teams in non hockey areas because others will come and bail them out. Just enjoy the moment you will forget how much the tickets cost once you are in the arena.

Originally Posted by doughtydiva

I don't know why this is shocking people so much when you look at what ticket prices were starting at for the Stanley Cup.I am sure the Kings will have ticket deals throughout the season.This game is a huge huge huge deal.Most teams want season ticket holders.When you raise the prices for premium games you are sending out a silent message that game should get season seats.Why should the Kings charge say $60 bucks for opening night ? They just won the Cup for crying out loud.

Yes, JUST. After 45 years of mostly mediocrity. After 45 years of fans sticking with them. After those same fans DIDN'T leave them when the Ducks won and the Kings were busy finishing in the bottom 1/3rd of the league year after year. After a lockout.

It's just not the right thing to do. As far as your question of "Why should the Kings charge say $60 bucks for opening night?" well, how about because that's still twice as much as they are charging for other games and that's at least a little more palatable than $155. Hell, my season seat this year is going to cost about 3x that and I get to go to a lot more games than three. Again, it's not IF they an do it, it's that they shouldn't. Just poor form is all.

We are only talking about a,very small amount of tickets.I only saw singles when I went online yesterday.About 15,000 people maybe more I don't know the exact number of ST got their seats at face value the others had to pay a premium.Years ago when I had season tickets during the Stanley Cup run in 93 I had brokers offering ne $1000 a seat for my seats so this is not a new thing.The Kings were a very hot ticket back then as well.The Kings actually had before Gretzky prices and after Gretzky prices when he came to LA.I was lucky enough to get the before Gretzky price on my tickets.I started going to games in 87.

Originally Posted by Bogey

We're getting a replica banner.

Don't be surprised if it has a large yellow M on it.

Originally Posted by doughtydiva

We are only talking about a,very small amount of tickets.I only saw singles when I went online yesterday.About 15,000 people maybe more I don't know the exact number of ST got their seats at face value the others had to pay a premium.Years ago when I had season tickets during the Stanley Cup run in 93 I had brokers offering ne $1000 a seat for my seats so this is not a new thing.The Kings were a very hot ticket back then as well.The Kings actually had before Gretzky prices and after Gretzky prices when he came to LA.I was lucky enough to get the before Gretzky price on my tickets.I started going to games in 87.

So, if it's just a few tickets, why jack up the prices at all? This "It's what the market will bear" "It encourages people to buy season seats" "They're winning now so you pay a premium" "It's to prevent the secondary market from getting them" and all these other excuses hold no water if, as you said, it's only a small amount of tickets. Bottom line, the org is trying to squeeze extra dollars because they know they can and there are people who think it's fine (for any and all reasons) and there are those of us who think it's unfortunate.