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Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.com!

Ceetar Oct 04 2011 11:48 AM

From: Media Relations \ Date: Tue, Oct 4, 2011 at 1:40 PM Subject: 1004--METS RESCALE TICKET PRICING FOR 2012 LEADING TO LOWER PRICES FOR MOST SEASON TICKET HOLDERS To: METS RESCALE TICKET PRICING FOR 2012 LEADING TO LOWER PRICES FOR MOST SEASON TICKET HOLDERS Limited Number of Full-Season Tickets For Less Than $1,000 Dynamic Pricing for 2012 Expands Price Options for All Fans FLUSHING, N.Y., October 4, 2011 – The New York Mets today announced they have rescaled ticket pricing at Citi Field, leading to lower prices for the majority of Season Ticket Holders for 2012. No Season Ticket Holder will see an increase in their invoice for next season. Season Ticket Holders will also receive new early renewal incentives and season-long benefits. The majority of Season Ticket Holders will pay less for their seats in 2012: · 80% of seats will have a reduction of approximately 5% or greater · 57% of seats will have a reduction of 10% or greater · 35% will have a cut of 20% or more · 18% will have a drop of 30% or more · More than 15,000 seats will cost less than $25 per game Some of the deepest Season Ticket Holder price reductions are in the following seating categories: Caesars Silver (39%); Caesars Gold (34%); Promenade Outfield (33%); Promenade Box (30%); and Promenade Gold (30%). The Mets have consolidated or expanded seating categories throughout the ballpark, which allows many Season Ticket Holders the opportunity to upgrade their locations at no extra cost. Renewal Incentives Season Ticket Holders who renew and pay in full by November 7, 2011, will receive admission to four exclusive events with unprecedented access to Mets players and front-office staff, including batting practice at Citi Field and an autograph session with Mets players. The Amazin’ Mets Perks program will expand in 2012 with new benefits and exclusive experiences. Fans must pay in full or select a three-month or six-month payment plan by November 7, 2011 to be eligible for Amazin’ Mets Perks. The Mets will hold their first ever “Select-A-Seat” event Thursday, November 17 through Saturday, November 19 at Citi Field, providing Season Ticket Holders with the opportunity to upgrade their locations with their dedicated Account Service Executive, based on seniority. Club Access All Season Ticket Holders – regardless of seat location – will have access to the Caesars Club, Acela Club and Promenade Club. Champions Club The Champions Club will become a members-only, all-inclusive area. Members will have access to some of the best seats at the ballpark with premium food and non-alcoholic beverage options at no additional cost. Special Season Tickets for Less Than $1,000 The Mets will introduce a limited number of Full-Season Tickets for only $12 per seat, per game, or $972 for the entire season. The limit is six seats per account. Dynamic Pricing 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. The Mets also announced they have selected Tickets.com Inc., the global leader of integrated, high-performance ticketing solutions, as their ticketing technology provider using the company’s ProVenue® platform. Complete Season Ticket Holder information is available at Mets.com or by calling (718) 507-TIXX. The Mets will release information on Ticket Plans and Packs in the coming weeks. # # #

Frayed Knot Oct 04 2011 11:53 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

And those pesky laws of supply and demand kick in yet again.

Gwreck Oct 04 2011 12:21 PM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

1. The Mets' alleged dynamic pricing is a sham, because it incorporates an artificial price floor (specifically, the season-ticket-holder price). It's obvious they intend to protect the STH's investments, but by doing so, it's not really dynamic pricing. 2. Switching to Tickets.com is an unfortunate development. The Paciolan system the Mets used is far superior to the Tickets.com interface and user experience. I find it highly amusing that the Mets claim to have "selected" Tickets.com as their provider, given that Tickets.com is owned by MLB Advanced Media, LP. 3. Price reductions are a good thing. I get the impression that much of these reductions have been created by removing pricing tiers -- ie. seats that used to be called "Metropolitan Box Silver" or "Metropolitan Box Bronze" have been eliminated and are now just called (and priced at the level of) "Metropolitan Box."

Ceetar Oct 04 2011 12:31 PM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 04 2011 12:32 PM

Gwreck wrote: 1. The Mets' alleged dynamic pricing is a sham, because it incorporates an artificial price floor (specifically, the season-ticket-holder price). It's obvious they intend to protect the STH's investments, but by doing so, it's not really dynamic pricing. 2. Switching to Tickets.com is an unfortunate development. The Paciolan system the Mets used is far superior to the Tickets.com interface and user experience. I find it highly amusing that the Mets claim to have "selected" Tickets.com as their provider, given that Tickets.com is owned by MLB Advanced Media, LP. 3. Price reductions are a good thing. I get the impression that much of these reductions have been created by removing pricing tiers -- ie. seats that used to be called "Metropolitan Box Silver" or "Metropolitan Box Bronze" have been eliminated and are now just called (and priced at the level of) "Metropolitan Box." I'm going to ask David Howard that first question. There should be no floor on non-season ticket holder sections, but they seem to have extended season ticket options to ALL sections as well. Unless they mean they'll sell ticket plans to section 504/503 and have dynamic pricing in sections 530/531? I was also curiosu about the second, but I have no familiarity with tickets.com. I'm curious if other Paciolan clubs switched as well. Specifically, will this alter the amount of surcharges and fees? Will fans finally be able to select specific seats, as you can with ticketmaster?

G-Fafif Oct 04 2011 12:31 PM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

The Mets, in their own way, seem to be introducing the We Haven't Won Jack In Five Years package

Ashie62 Oct 04 2011 12:35 PM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

The less than $1000 season ticket plans should do well with businesses. Dynamic pricing could mean $1 to get in???

Edgy MD Oct 04 2011 12:37 PM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

G-FaFiF wrote: The Mets, in their own way, seem to be introducing the We Haven't Won Jack In Five Years package/ Which philosophically beats the hell out of the We Understand You're Pissed That José's Gone Package.

Gwreck Oct 04 2011 12:40 PM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

Ceetar wrote: Specifically, will this alter the amount of surcharges and fees? Probably not any meaningful decrease. Will fans finally be able to select specific seats, as you can with ticketmaster? Nope. Tickets.com doesn't have this feature.

Ceetar Oct 04 2011 12:42 PM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

Ashie62 wrote: The less than $1000 season ticket plans should do well with businesses. Dynamic pricing could mean $1 to get in??? hope not. That means a September like this one. But it depends on how the sectioning work. it might be you only get the 10% discount the season ticket holders get for buying early, unless it's a huge game and then you pay out the nose. But given the circumstances it doesn't seem like it's a "pretend it's a good thing when really we're fleecing them" type scenario. But stay tuned, more details will be revealed after 6:30.

batmagadanleadoff Oct 04 2011 02:22 PM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

Does this mean that Mets tickets won't be available on StubHub?

Gwreck Oct 04 2011 03:28 PM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

No.

metirish Oct 04 2011 04:37 PM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Does this mean that Mets tickets won't be available on StubHub? on the contrary StubHub are all over Tickets.com. I am at the site and no matter what I look up, sports, Jazz, comedy etc stubhub appears in next window along with "find tickets"

Ceetar Oct 04 2011 05:08 PM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

yeah, sounds like pretty much don't expect to be buying tickets for $2 from mets.com. was vague on the specifics of how cheap they could get, but emphasized protecting season ticket holders. sounds like the cheap season tickets are aimed at under the out of town scoreboard. It seems like he was suggesting that gives them full flexibility to reduce the RF promenade outfield seats as much as they want though, but I guess we'll see. In general, and not just a Mets thing, purchasing day of type tickets seems to be becoming a worse and worse move.

Fman99 Oct 04 2011 07:16 PM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

Edgy DC wrote: G-FaFiF wrote: The Mets, in their own way, seem to be introducing the We Haven't Won Jack In Five Years package/ Which philosophically beats the hell out of the We Understand You're Pissed That José's Gone Package. Don't be that guy. You've chased enough CPF'ers away already with your cattitude.

Edgy MD Oct 04 2011 07:23 PM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

I thought it sounded optimistic.

Edgy MD Oct 05 2011 07:55 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

Ceetar wrote: Gwreck wrote: 1. The Mets' alleged dynamic pricing is a sham, because it incorporates an artificial price floor (specifically, the season-ticket-holder price). It's obvious they intend to protect the STH's investments, but by doing so, it's not really dynamic pricing. 2. Switching to Tickets.com is an unfortunate development. The Paciolan system the Mets used is far superior to the Tickets.com interface and user experience. I find it highly amusing that the Mets claim to have "selected" Tickets.com as their provider, given that Tickets.com is owned by MLB Advanced Media, LP. 3. Price reductions are a good thing. I get the impression that much of these reductions have been created by removing pricing tiers -- ie. seats that used to be called "Metropolitan Box Silver" or "Metropolitan Box Bronze" have been eliminated and are now just called (and priced at the level of) "Metropolitan Box." I'm going to ask David Howard that first question. There should be no floor on non-season ticket holder sections, but they seem to have extended season ticket options to ALL sections as well. Unless they mean they'll sell ticket plans to section 504/503 and have dynamic pricing in sections 530/531? I was also curiosu about the second, but I have no familiarity with tickets.com. I'm curious if other Paciolan clubs switched as well. Specifically, will this alter the amount of surcharges and fees? Will fans finally be able to select specific seats, as you can with ticketmaster? Ceetar does just that, coming on in relief of Kerel Cooper. I think Ed Kranepool Society Guy had the best question.

Gwreck Oct 05 2011 08:06 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

I thought that was a great question as well. He's wrong about Philly though -- those are the "premium seats" behind the plate there; they are just priced more reasonably and people actually show up to sit in them (of course, those things go hand-in-hand). The question about ticket fees was weak. Open ended questions just give Howard license to B.S. for a few minutes. Gee, they're going to "look at" ticket fees? Thanks, that's a real comfort to me.

HahnSolo Oct 05 2011 08:35 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

So, Partial Ticket plan holders (of which I am one) will have access to ALL clubs? That is what Howard seems to be saying...although I can't see that in the Mets announcement. The announcement I thought only covered full-season plans?

Gwreck Oct 05 2011 08:39 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

Nope. Season ticket holders will have access to Promenade, Acela and Caesar's clubs regardless of where their seats are. Champions and Delta clubs remain "more exclusive." No indication as to whether any such benefit is extended to partial plan holders but I'll wager the answer is "no."

Edgy MD Oct 05 2011 08:46 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

It seems like the Mets are unwillingly evolving toward a market position of what they should be: accessible, engaging, good value. They just can't bring themselves to concede the top shelf. And it's just not healthy. It's 2011 (or 2012 for them, I guess), and there are a lot more plebeians than patriarchs in the marketplace. Outflank those fuckers.

batmagadanleadoff Oct 05 2011 09:29 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

One can still go to StubHub then, if choosing your specific seat matters (it does, to me). And there won't be any artificial floor on Stubhub either. What remains to be seen is whether Ticket .com will have a significantly better selection than Stubhub. The more full season tickets the Mets sell, the unlikier this is. I'm also wondering if the Mets artificial floor will affect the Stubhub market. This being the Mets though, what'll likely happen is that even though the team will fizzle once again in 2012, the Mets will nevertheless be locked in to selling their unsold full season ticket section tickets at no less than face value even though comparable tickets on Stubhub will be selling for a third or a quarter of face value. Of course, the more tickets the Mets sell out in their full season ticket sections, the less number of tickets they'll be stuck with for resale on Tickets.com.

Ceetar Oct 05 2011 09:37 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

Edgy DC wrote: It seems like the Mets are unwillingly evolving toward a market position of what they should be: accessible, engaging, good value. They just can't bring themselves to concede the top shelf. And it's just not healthy. It's 2011 (or 2012 for them, I guess), and there are a lot more plebeians than patriarchs in the marketplace. Outflank those fuckers. The market doesn't bare that though. In response to Keane's question about the premium Sterling seats (though Howard should read something into the fact that even a die-hard blogger doesn't really know the different between champion seats and sterling seats) Howard basically says "Those are sold out" So while the swing money is with th plebeians, they seem to already be getting the revenue and interest they want from the corporate types. Speaking to those seats, it's fan/FAN issue that they're empty. The Mets don't care, because they know they're sold. (same goes for the Yankees, Phillies, etc) Those people are in the Delta Sky Club, in the climate control, drinking and what not. Or walking around even. They skip games when the Mets aren't interesting or the weather is bad. Give me a September 10th game against the Phillies with the Mets one back and it's 2-2 in the eight? I bet those seats look crowded. While I appreciate the opportunity to ask him anything, the one question format allows him to gloss over parts of the question and gives no opportunity to follow up. I specifically mentioned Stub Hub in my question, and he didn't address it at all, or how the dynamic prices will match it, or if faced with a September like this year, will it be more competitive no to buy for stub hub. As I result I read into it that prices are not going to drop significantly below face anywhere. You may have a game that's priced as "Gold" for say the NL Champs, but if August comes said champs are 40-60 then the prices may drop to "Value" but not to $4.

Gwreck Oct 05 2011 09:45 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

batmagadanleadoff wrote: And there won't be any artificial floor on Stubhub either. Stubhub charges a minimum $5 service charge + $5.20 delivery fee per order, so even if a ticket is listed there for $0.01, there's still an artificial price floor.

batmagadanleadoff Oct 05 2011 09:51 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

Ceetar wrote: While I appreciate the opportunity to ask him anything, the one question format allows him to gloss over parts of the question and gives no opportunity to follow up. I agree. I think he answered just about every question like a seasoned politician:he had predetermined talking points and managed to hit them no matter what the question. I'm skeptical about the choice seating behind home plate being sold out. Those sections are too damn empty to my eyes, and the idea that most of those ticket holders are in attendance but indoors, in the luxury lounge directly behind their seats is a crock of shit.

batmagadanleadoff Oct 05 2011 09:54 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

Gwreck wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: And there won't be any artificial floor on Stubhub either. Stubhub charges a minimum $5 service charge + $5.20 delivery fee per order, so even if a ticket is listed there for $0.01, there's still an artificial price floor. I don't like that analogy. That's like saying that there isn't an artificial floor because Stubhub will charge at least one penny for each ticket. Besides, Ticket.com will also charge fees. When you can buy $200 tickets for $50.00 on Stubhub, you'll see my point.

Edgy MD Oct 05 2011 09:59 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

It seems like the Mets are unwillingly evolving toward a market position of what they should be: accessible, engaging, good value. They just can't bring themselves to concede the top shelf. And it's just not healthy. It's 2011 (or 2012 for them, I guess), and there are a lot more plebeians than patriarchs in the marketplace. Outflank those fuckers. The market doesn't bare that though. I think what you mean to say is that the market bears this and more. Yeah, the Mets have are able to sell seats to beautiful people who don't show up, but still throw down money just in case they start caring again, while visible seats grow more underpopulated as the season progresses. My position, as a man who has succeeded at almost nothing professionally, is that's uninspired and unsustainable. I so dream of the MLB monopoly collapsing.

Ceetar Oct 05 2011 10:13 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

I think if they were having issues selling those seats, with all they've adjusted, they'd have adjusted those as well. It's as sustainable as the Mets are. Sure, every year they play meaningless September games and people that own those seats notice they're paying $10000 that month for something they didn't even think about, they'll stop buying them. But there are A LOT of wealthy "Mets" fans in NY, and if the Mets trend upwards, they won't have that problem.

Edgy MD Oct 05 2011 10:17 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

Ceetar wrote: I think if they were having issues selling those seats, with all they've adjusted, they'd have adjusted those as well. And if their original plan was inspired or sustainable, they wouldn't be adjusting it every year.

Ceetar Oct 05 2011 10:24 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

Edgy DC wrote: Ceetar wrote: I think if they were having issues selling those seats, with all they've adjusted, they'd have adjusted those as well. And if their original plan was inspired or sustainable, they wouldn't be adjusting it every year. Of course, if the Mets had had a winning record the original plan would've looked more sustainable, regardless of how inspired it is. And it was created after four consecutive winning seasons. In fact, had they continued that trend, we'd probably have seen a price _increase_ this year.

Gwreck Oct 05 2011 10:29 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

batmagadanleadoff wrote: I don't like that analogy. It's not an analogy. That's like saying that there isn't an artificial floor because Stubhub will charge at least one penny for each ticket. I disagree. The point is that you cannot buy tickets on Stubhub for $2 or $5 or $7 or $9 -- even if that's what the market value is -- because Stubhub's fees create an artificial floor. Besides, Ticket.com will also charge fees. Yes, but that's irrelevant to the issue of whether Stubhub has an artificial price floor. When you can buy $200 tickets for $50.00 on Stubhub, you'll see my point. Is this supposed to be condescending?

Edgy MD Oct 05 2011 10:36 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

And the team potentially failing was as predictable as the turning of the leaves in autumn. And a marketing plan that anticipates and transcends the seasons and cycles of success and failure would be... inspired and sustainable.

Ceetar Oct 05 2011 10:44 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

Edgy DC wrote: And the team potentially failing was as predictable as the turning of the leaves in autumn. And a marketing plan that anticipates and transcends the seasons and cycles of success and failure would be... inspired and sustainable. Also a pipedream. I don't think you the 2009 season was predictable, especially given injuries. I don't think you can anticipate this stuff. At least not via marketing. It's always going to have to be adjusted year to year. Not to mention the economic climate and disposable income cycles that are also unpredictable. I'm not quite sure what you have in mind that could/would work that way.

Edgy MD Oct 05 2011 10:51 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

I don't think it's a pipedream. I don't even smoke a pipe.

Ceetar Oct 05 2011 10:56 AM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

Edgy DC wrote: I don't think it's a pipedream. I don't even smoke a pipe. we do need a more modern term. or have attention spans shortened enough that no one sits around dreaming any more?

batmagadanleadoff Oct 05 2011 01:02 PM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

Gwreck wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: Is this supposed to be condescending? Not at all. We simply disagree. I understand see your point, but I think it's overly technical.

batmagadanleadoff Oct 05 2011 01:49 PM Re: Ticket Prices drop! Dynamic Pricing! Switch to Tickets.c

Does Ticket.com buy tickets from individual ticket holders for resale -- in addition to reselling directly for a team?