Playoff Renewal notification for STH

[rohara66]

I'm not declining. I haven't missed a playoff game since the 04' run.

The point is the Flames obviously know that most people will 'pay whatever' so they up the prices this much. It is blatant price gouging. There is no chance that ticket prices were nearly triple regular season price in round 1 or 2 in 2004 or any other year they made the playoff since then. If I recall correctly they were up 15-20% each round not triple right off the bat.

/rant.

[BigFlameDog]

Yeah, looks like no pay as you go option for game pack holders....we are guaranteed 2 games per round but apparently have to pay for all 4...either all up front or 2 payments. If I am reading it correctly it is $242 a ticket vs $92 regular season

Looks like I am out based on that alone. I go monthly payments for a reason...if I had $2k kicking around for entertainment I would have just paid for my pack. I would be selling at least half of the games regardless as I just can't afford that much live NHL hockey.

I am still waiting for a response but very disappointing as a 11 year game pack holder. I will be releasing my tickets to be gobbled up by a fairweather "fan" (ok,ok hopefully a real fan). If I could pay by round, I would share round one with someone.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by rohara66

I'm not declining. I haven't missed a playoff game since the 04' run.

The point is the Flames obviously know that most people will 'pay whatever' so they up the prices this much. It is blatant price gouging. There is no chance that ticket prices were nearly triple regular season price in round 1 or 2 in 2004 or any other year they made the playoff since then. If I recall correctly they were up 15-20% each round not triple right off the bat.

/rant.

That's where it stings for me. I can accept that the playoffs will be more, and I can accept that as the playoffs progress, the price would increase accordingly. I'll admit that I was just caught off guard with the "here's crappier seats (PL17) at 4 times the regular season cost. Credit card, please."

That being said, the Flames are free to charge whatever they want for tickets. They've done the math, and they know that any declines from game pack holders will be snapped up by the general public. I just have a really hard time justifying nearly $100 a seat for nosebleeds, even in the playoffs.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by rohara66

Agreed 100%.

Received our 9 game pack renewal for next year for $918 ($51/game). Then two days later we get our playoff renewal for $1066, 2 games in round 1 and 2 games in round 2 ($133/game). Same seats for game packs and playoffs.

Fricking ridiculous.

I haven't seen any of your invoices, but I'm not sure you are comparing apples to apples. For buying game packs or season tickets you get a discount off the door price. It doesn't look like they are giving you the door discount on this, but are giving you the option of purchasing two seats before the general public is allowed to buy. So you may not be getting a deal, but you are at least getting the option. Many, many fans will be disappointed they are unable to buy tickets at the face value.

I'm in the greens and my regular season discount is about 30% off the face value. My tickets for rounds one and two are up about 55% in total over my season ticket holder cost. If they play 8 games in the first two rounds it is costing me $128 per pair, per game. (I don't have the splits in front of me, but round 1 would be lower and round 2 higher, but the average is still $128). I assume I'm still getting a discount off of face. My game cost is lower than your for a "better" section (based purely on what you said the cost was). This is likely a perk of being a season ticket holder. Your perk of being a game pack doesn't give you a playoff discount, but at least it gives you the option to go to some of the games.

Looking back to the last time I paid for playoff tickets, the increase doesn't seem to be too much different. I may be in the minority, but I don't care that it costs more. I have been wanting to watch playoff hockey for too long now. I know I'll always be able to recoup my money if I can't/don't want to go to the games. The playoffs are a privilege. If Calgary makes it in there will be tons of people wanting to go to the game. I'm happy the bandwagon is filling back up, but I don't think that everyone should be able to get the same discounts and opportunities. I think STHs, especially multi-year holders, deserve to pay less than game packs. I think game pack holders deserve to buy before the public. I think the tickets that are left over should go to a lottery, and if people want to pay 5 times the face value on the open market (StubHub, etc.) I fully support both buyer and seller.

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

So decline. There will be a long lineup of those that do want them.

Yeah, we get it but not really the point. It would be nice and easier on the budget to have the option of buying two games (one round) at a time.

I get that it's supply and demand so not begging them to lower the price (they will likely get what they are asking) but give more options. I am certainly not the only pack holder who can't afford to drop 2k (or more) over the next three weeks for potentially no games and no refund.

Basically...not having the option of going round to round has me out.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by BigFlameDog

I am certainly not the only pack holder who can't afford to drop 2k (or more) over the next three weeks for potentially no games and no refund.

A refund would be issued if the team doesn't use any or all of the games they're asking for though, right? This is my first playoff offer as a game pack holder, but I assumed that there would be a refund for any unused games.

[MrCallahan]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

A refund would be issued if the team doesn't use any or all of the games they're asking for though, right? This is my first playoff offer as a game pack holder, but I assumed that there would be a refund for any unused games.

Quote right from the email I received:

"If paying in full, any credits for unplayed games will be applied to your 2015-16 season tickets or refunded upon request."

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by MrCallahan

Quote right from the email I received:

"If paying in full, any credits for unplayed games will be applied to your 2015-16 season tickets or refunded upon request."

Thanks. Nothing about credits or refunds in my game pack email. I'm assuming that the same would apply.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by rohara66

I'm not declining. I haven't missed a playoff game since the 04' run.

The point is the Flames obviously know that most people will 'pay whatever' so they up the prices this much. It is blatant price gouging. There is no chance that ticket prices were nearly triple regular season price in round 1 or 2 in 2004 or any other year they made the playoff since then. If I recall correctly they were up 15-20% each round not triple right off the bat.

/rant.

There is ample competition in the market for your entertainment dollars. Therefore, the Flames are not "price gouging", they are simply charging what the market is willing to pay. There is a point where people would stop paying for playoff tickets, clearly they haven't hit that point.

I get it, I'd love to pay less, I'd love to go for free, but I don't understand this attitude from some like the Flames owe them "affordable" (whatever that means) options for games. The Flames sell a product, one that as Calgarians and hockey fans we all like very much. We are selves are responsible for the price points, not the Flames. They aren't running a charity, they are running a business.

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Thanks. Nothing about credits or refunds in my game pack email. I'm assuming that the same would apply.

Good assumption, in the past it worked the way MrCallahan quoted.

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

I haven't seen any of your invoices, but I'm not sure you are comparing apples to apples. For buying game packs or season tickets you get a discount off the door price. It doesn't look like they are giving you the door discount on this, but are giving you the option of purchasing two seats before the general public is allowed to buy. So you may not be getting a deal, but you are at least getting the option. Many, many fans will be disappointed they are unable to buy tickets at the face value.

I'm in the greens and my regular season discount is about 30% off the face value. My tickets for rounds one and two are up about 55% in total over my season ticket holder cost. If they play 8 games in the first two rounds it is costing me $128 per pair, per game. (I don't have the splits in front of me, but round 1 would be lower and round 2 higher, but the average is still $128). I assume I'm still getting a discount off of face. My game cost is lower than your for a "better" section (based purely on what you said the cost was). This is likely a perk of being a season ticket holder. Your perk of being a game pack doesn't give you a playoff discount, but at least it gives you the option to go to some of the games.

Looking back to the last time I paid for playoff tickets, the increase doesn't seem to be too much different. I may be in the minority, but I don't care that it costs more. I have been wanting to watch playoff hockey for too long now. I know I'll always be able to recoup my money if I can't/don't want to go to the games. The playoffs are a privilege. If Calgary makes it in there will be tons of people wanting to go to the game. I'm happy the bandwagon is filling back up, but I don't think that everyone should be able to get the same discounts and opportunities. I think STHs, especially multi-year holders, deserve to pay less than game packs. I think game pack holders deserve to buy before the public. I think the tickets that are left over should go to a lottery, and if people want to pay 5 times the face value on the open market (StubHub, etc.) I fully support both buyer and seller.

Our game pack seats are in the green and it cost us $51 per ticket per game. I have no idea if that's a discount off of face value but that's what we pay. What is the face value on regular season greens? I'm curious if we see the same discount as season ticket holders during the regular season.

The playoff tickets (there is no per round/game breakdown on my invoice) are also in the greens, they actually gave us the exact same seats as our game packs are jumping up to the $133 per seat per game. $266 for the pair which you're saying you pay as a season ticket holder $128 for the pair! Crazy to think season ticket holders get a 50% discount on playoff tickets... if I've done that math correctly.

Regardless I'm paying for them (somehow lol) and glad I get first dibs at some tickets.... but the fact that you have 2 weeks to pay (its due April 3rd) and you can't pay as they play kinda sucks.

[burn_baby_burn]

For people that are worried about cost. I usually attend the first home playoff game. Then I sell the second one and attend the third. (outside of 2006 the Flames were the lower seed). I usually can subsidize the cost of all three tickets by selling a single game.

[RM14]

Originally Posted by rohara66

What is the face value on regular season greens?

$59 is what is printed on the ticket. But the ticketmaster price can go up depending on the opponent or day of week.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by rohara66

Our game pack seats are in the green and it cost us $51 per ticket per game. I have no idea if that's a discount off of face value but that's what we pay. What is the face value on regular season greens? I'm curious if we see the same discount as season ticket holders during the regular season.

The playoff tickets (there is no per round/game breakdown on my invoice) are also in the greens, they actually gave us the exact same seats as our game packs are jumping up to the $133 per seat per game. $266 for the pair which you're saying you pay as a season ticket holder $128 for the pair! Crazy to think season ticket holders get a 50% discount on playoff tickets... if I've done that math correctly.

Regardless I'm paying for them (somehow lol) and glad I get first dibs at some tickets.... but the fact that you have 2 weeks to pay (its due April 3rd) and you can't pay as they play kinda sucks.

The STH discount is bigger, as my cost is $38.31 per ticket per game, which includes the four preseason games. I couldn't care less about preseason, so I divide the total cost by 41 instead of 45, to get an average ticket price of $42.05.

So the STH price is cheaper per game either way, but we have to pay for four preseason games and 41 regular season games. I believe the face value for a regular game is $59.00 + $5.75 ticketmaster charge. The premium games are $82.00 + $5.75. I believe there is some in between pricing as well, such as the CBJ game tomorrow is $70.00 + $5.75.

Since we can all agree the playoffs are premium games, I think that is a better base to compare. At $133 per seat, it's a 51.6% increase over the ticketmaster price of $87.75. This is averaged out over rounds one and two. I'm guessing round one would be a 30% increase and round two the remaining.

[Sec218]

Season tickets holders do get a better discount on regular season and playoff tickets than game pack holders. This is the way it should be. I have been willing to spend over $40K on season tickets the last 9 years to have that privilege.

[rohara66]

Hmm, interesting.

They nail us for a preseason game too which sucks. hah. Oh well, it is what is.

[dino7c]

if the Flames make the playoffs with this payroll the owners will be raking in the money

[RM14]

Originally Posted by dino7c

if the Flames make the playoffs with this payroll the owners will be raking in the money

A very rough guess.... 3 Million + per home game?

[rohara66]

I recall hearing $1m/game in 2004. Have no idea how true or accurate that was.

[rain_e]

Originally Posted by dino7c

if the Flames make the playoffs with this payroll the owners will be raking in the money

Don't forget the payroll costs went up about 20-30% since December with the CAD/USD dollar situation.