Thank You
Today is a very good day in Diamondbacks history. There have been over a thousand days since the 2004 junta expelled Jerry Colangelo and revoked his check writing privileges, and Diamondhacks has chronicled The Subsequent Horror. But today, let it be said, a very good thing happened.
It's not that the Diamondbacks are in first place, taking two of three from the Cubs. A fun thing. An improbable thing.
It's not that Chase drew 46K Saturday night. A Cubs thing. A bobblehead and fireworks thing. But you're getting warmer.
Today, something happened that was more than just fun. Something good. Not perfect.
Good.
Today, the Diamondbacks finally slashed prices in their club level seats, so that people will actually sit in them and share in the enjoyment of a first place team.
The current promo, cleverly titled D*Votion, entails the usual restrictions (10 ticket minimum) and online fees (about 15% extra) and the unpleasant fact that every purchaser gets a Sedona Red T-shirt as part of the package. But I'm trying to stay positive in the face of these little indignities. This is the real world, and if this front office does ninety nine out of a hundred things wrong, it is my distinct pleasure to applaud them when they do something right.
This is how you start to mend fences and rebuild a fan base that you've systematically fractured. It probably wasnt easy - abandoning the model of "exclusion and illusion" - excluding "casual" fans with high single game prices to fabricate the illusion that season ticket holders are getting a fantastic deal by default. Season ticket holders already get a decent deal - you didnt have to extort the rest of us so they could sleep better at night about their investment, visions of Ticket Marketplace dancing in their heads.
This isnt just about the money. Like many fans, I could buy a $50 seat whenever I want. But I dont like the feeling of being ripped off on MLB's terms. So, meet me half way. Club level $23? To root for a first place team? It's a deal. Today, you didnt just slash prices. Today, you peeled away the first layer of what has been the steepest price for fans to pay - the hardest thing for many of us to overlook - your thinly veiled contempt for the customer. I feel like you finally, seriously, want me in your house.
I dont like your colors. From day one, I havent cared for your tone. But I've always loved baseball and a fair shake. So here's $233.50 from me to you, that you wouldnt otherwise have had. It's my way of saying "Thanks".
(image courtesy of joanndesigns.com)
A promo is NOT the same thing as actually lowering single game ticket prices.
A single game ticket for the Club level is still $50. For a casual fan who doesn't want to see 10 games a season (because of you know, gas prices, parking prices, concession prices), he is still getting ripped off.
$233.50? I hope that includes gas money for 10 trips to downtown, 10 parking spots, 10 hot dogs, and 10 water bottles probably bought outside the ballpark.
I sure hope you really didn't just plunk down $233.50. As you once said, "You make the job of MLB profiteers embarrassingly easy."
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"A promo is NOT the same thing as actually lowering single game ticket prices"
Excellent point.
"For a casual fan who doesn't want to see 10 games a season..."
Nobody has to buy ten games, unless they cant find a date :- ) For example, my ten tix are spread over only three games. If I had to buy 10 games, I wouldn't have sprung for any.
But ANY three games (ie no blackout dates), club level, to watch a September pennant race at prices well below what full STH's pay, even after the fees?
Heck, yeah, I'm in. I'm not aware of any other contending club offering a relatively small, flexible package of loge seats for these prices.
I respect the fact that some wont support the team at any price(the values boycott), but failing to respond to significant price incentives now may discourage management from offering similar incentives in the future. They are gaining revenue by dramatically REDUCING prices - that's an important message to send to the "profiteers".
And dont worry, I wont do anything REALLY stupid - like wear a red shirt :-)
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I think you're right to say when they do something good,and this does seem like a reasonable deal. However I'm more interested in these possible fe11acio kiosks you mention in an earlier post.Is there some kind of petition I can sign?
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I see what you're saying, but don't forget what brought the owners to this point in the first place. You really think these same fat cat liars will be "getting the message"?
The only thing they are getting is your money.
Once they change the ACTUAL price of single game tickets, then you should care. Until then, it's just marketing ploy after marketing ploy.
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Look at the free T-shirt as something to wax your car with.
Cubs and fireworks, yes. But how many people really want a Mark Grace bobblehead?
ByrnesBlogger1
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