The New York Mets announced that they will be lowering prices for most full season ticket holders today, but of more import for most us is the news that they will introduce dynamic pricing for 2012 single game tickets.
Quoting the press release (emphasis added):
The Mets will introduce dynamic pricing for 2012 single game tickets. The face value of single game tickets will initially be offered in March 2012 at prices at or below 2011 prices. As time progresses, those prices may be adjusted on a real-time basis, either upwards or downwards, based on market demand. The ability for the Mets to adjust prices throughout the season will provide all fans with a variety of pricing options.
However, the Mets will not price single game tickets in Season Ticket Holder areas below the Season Ticket Holder discounted prices.
The dynamic pricing system will be powered by Qcue, Inc., which provides dynamic pricing for live entertainment and sports teams including the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals. In addition, Qcue works with clubs in the National Basketball Association and National Hockey League.
It seems to me that this is more about pumping up the price of tickets if the market will allow it – prices are probably not going to come down enough for fans to see much benefit as long as the team is guaranteeing they won’t fall below the Season Ticket Holder discounted prices.
From a conference call between some Mets bloggers and Mets Executive Vice President David Howard this evening:
http://twitter.com/#!/matthewartus/status/121356581039382528
(MetsBlog has more details from the conference call for those who are interested)
So there’s probably good reason to take a look at the mini-plans when they’re introduced — and to think about catching the Mets on SNY next year instead as well.
What do you think about today’s ticket price news?
PaulHadsall.com 
The release does say “in season ticket holder areas.” So, in the upper deck and bleachers, prices *could* go low.
The Mets are likely going to stink next year so, what the Mets are saying is not to buy in advance because, for crappy series later in the season, the prices should be cheaper than before the season starts. A pricing structure like this only encourages advance sales if the team is good. And, with the Mets, we know that’s not going to happen.
Best bet if you want to see a live game? Stub Hub. The season finale went for as low as a buck. We sprung for club seats at $15, probably about $35 under face. Even with the fees it’s cheaper than buying from the Mets.
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The entire ballpark, except for a few group seating areas, is open for season ticket sales. The dynamic pricing will apply to all seats available for individual game sales.
I’m not counting on Stub Hub for bargains next year, either – it depends on people renewing their season tickets for inventory. Even this year, while there were major deals in September, Stub Hub prices didn’t sink too much below face price for the games that I looked at earlier in the season. It was generally a case of buy on Stub Hub & pay their fees to sit a few rows closer to the field, or go to the Citi Field ticket window to save a few dollars.
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Paul,
With Stub Hub, you have to do it last minute. For game 162, I bought that morning. So, as Alice mentioned, you’ll know the day before or day of if the weather is going to be crappy and you can decide not to go and not get stuck for an unused ticket. And, if you do you, you’ll likely get a great deal.
If there’s a game you *really* want to see and must buy well in advance, then Stub Hub isn’t the place.
And now, the Mets have finally figured out how to charge for seats like the airlines. Let’s hope the Mets’ pricing structure makes a little more sense.
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We was at the Mets vs. Phillies on Sat., Sept. 24, 2011 at 1:10 in the Promenade. It’s was like a Phillies home game – they was more Phillies fan at the game. (60% to 40% Mets fan). I like buying tickets at the window because of rain out.
PS: Jose!Jose! on the cover of ESPN Magazine thank you Jose!
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Alice, the Phillies sell out all of their home games- even on a Tuesday against the Astros. The only way to get good Phillies tickets is in NY, Miami, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, or Washington.
While they Phillies do have premium areas as does ANY new ballpark, they are not as extensive as both NY ballparks. This is why they sell out. The Yankees have qualified for the post season each year or their new stadium- yet they are not sold out do to HIGH prices in premium sections.
Paul I think I read somewhere today the Mets are going to have season tickets for $12 in certain sections. My guess is that the seats will be closer to the planes going in and out of LGA
One thing Alice- philly fans do travel- there were several Eagles fans last year @ the Lions game in sept 2010. There were plenty of tickets available in Detroit. If they’ll travel to Detroit- they will travel anywhere.
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Freddy,
The point of the new retro-style parks being built was, obviously, that many of the previous ’70s era parks were hideous and, as multi-use facilities, good for neither baseball nor football.
The second was that many of them were built with about 10,000 fewer seats–more in some cases. The reason? To discourage walk-up business. If a team is good AND there are 10,000 fewer seats on the market, that can only help the advance sale. Besides, with the exception of the Yankees, how many times did teams play to that extra 10,000? A handful of times a season, maybe. And to build a park with 50,000-55,000 seats, as opposed to 40,000-45,000 when that last 10,000 gets used maybe a few times, makes no sense. Hey, it costs money to put in those 10,000 seats and facilities for the people who would sit in them. Pry some tax dollars or breaks out of a city and such a stadium is almost a win-win for any team who builds one.
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The $12 per game season tickets will be in the left field promenade sections – 532 to 536, according to Mets VP David Howard. It will be interesting to see if it helps put people in those seats. My guess is that people will buy them, but treat them as “standing room” tickets.
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Mark,
I’m not disputing the cookie cutters needed to be replaced. They went up as a result of replacing facilities that were built around WWI. They obviously were a bad idea.
I’ve been to every current stadium in use- it just seems the further I get from NY area, I find more of a selection of affordable tickets. The trend I found will ALL the new parks is that they drew very well in their first year of existence; however, if there was still the same mediocre team on the field attendance declined in the second year. See Pittsburgh. You would never know it now, but CBP (opened 2004) in Philly- the attendance actually declined in 2005 and 2006- that trend of course was reversed when the Phillies started to win divisions. You could build the greatest park of all time- people want to see a winner.
The best deal I ever had was a Phillies game in Cincinnati- got 2 tickets from stub hub for just under $400- all food and drinks included- Row 1 behind the plate in the Diamond Box. I was on TV. The “seats between the bases” @ Yankee stadium are $265 each- for a FULL SEASON ticket holder! They don’t feed you either. Walk up is over $300
Just ask the NY Jets about new stadiums and higher ticket prices. Perhaps you’ve heard radio ads advertising season tickets? If they tank this year there might be blackouts on the horizon.
One last thing about the cookie cutters- Veterans Stadium was the greatest place ever to watch a football game. That place was LOUD and a nightmare for opponents. The new place is sold out- its still not the same.
The Vet was a nightmare if you had to use a bathroom- it still was a great place to watch a game.
I will agree the cookie cutters were a nightmare for baseball.
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Freddy,
Been to Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Great parks, the tickets are much cheaper, the fans are more civilized and the staff seems to bend over backwards to make sure you’re satisfied–“please,” “thank you” and all the rest.
As far as football… I laugh my head off at the PSL debacle as season ticket lists for the Giants and Jets went from years to nothing overnight. Maybe the teams made some money on them, but that the Jets are still giving the come-on for tickets gives me that warm, fuzzy feeling. 🙂 It just reeks of desperation.
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If you get a chance get to the new park in Minnesota- excellent. The 2 Texas parks are awesome also
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