According to Greg over at Puck Daddy, the Caps have become the latest team to add variable pricing to their schedule. In addition to no group discounts for the select games,
season-ticket holders can no longer purchase additional tickets for friends at their discounted rate for select Capitals home games: Like the season-opener against the Chicago Blackhawks, and contests against the New York Rangers (Nov. 8 and Jan. 3), Detroit Red Wings (Jan. 31) and the two visits from Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins (Feb. 22 and March 8).Individual tickets for those games will increase by an average of $15 above their usual cost.
At least these price hikes are only in place for 6 games. But it still hurts the average fan, if only for 6 games. With so many transplanted Rangers and Pens fans that live here, what's the incentive to see any other Caps games if they are getting ripped off to see their own team play. I have friends at school that only manage to make it to a game or two a year, usually to see their home teams play, which just so happens to be the Pens and Rangers. If they have to fork over an extra $15 for one game, it makes it that much harder to justify seeing another Caps game.
Greg also notes that;
Nate Ewell, director of media relations, told me today that this variable pricing is in keeping with the Capitals' long-standing tradition of trying to fill their building with more home than away fans."That's something that's important to the franchise and to our season-ticket holders," he said. "And Caps fans can still buy those tickets with savings - season-ticket holders get them at their usual rate and fans can buy mini-plans as small as six games that include substantial savings."
Now how about the fans that can't get a six game plan?
I suggest a different idea to allow more home fans than away. Keep the price increase for all tickets purchased online, but allow for a discount if the tickets are bought at the box office. And if they really want to get tough, make sure the tickets at the box office are bought within a week or two of the game, so out-of-towners can't buy tickets well in advance while in the District, and come back later for the game. This allows local fans to save by buying tickets at Kettler, while away fans will have to pay the $15 price increase on Ticketmaster.
Variable pricing is a bad idea. If we have to pay extra for what are anticipated to be more exciting games, shouldn't we get to pay less for games against lesser opponents like Toronto or Nashville. At least cut the 6-game packages into 2 or 3 game packages. Don't charge extra, but make someone that buys a premier game have to buy a ticket to a game that the Caps will have trouble selling tickets for.
Calling on the need to have more home fans than away fans is a poor excuse for variable pricing. There will probably be more Flyers fans in DC this season than Hawks and Wings fans combined. If you're going to pry extra money out of the fans, then at least step up and give a real reason for why. The Caps can at least say they need to bring in more money to pay more in salary. I'd at least understand.
Whatever the reason, no paying customer is going to be a fan of variable pricing.
