Spurs Freeze Season Ticket Prices

[duncan228]

Spurs freeze season ticket prices
San Antonio Business Journal
by W. Scott Bailey

At a time when there are signs that a national economic recession is impacting the world of professional sports, the parent company of San Antonio’s lone major professional sports franchise is taking some significant steps to retain its core fan base.

Spurs Sports & Entertainment (SS&E) Chairman and CEO Peter Holt says the company is freezing prices on Spurs season tickets for the 2009-2010 NBA season.

Holt says SS&E officials wanted to reward Spurs fans for their loyal support. As such, SS&E has also decided to offer season-ticket holders a break on 2009 playoff tickets.

Rick Pych, president of business operations for SS&E, says season ticket holders will not have to pay an increased fee for their seats during the first and second rounds of this year’s NBA playoffs.

If the Spurs advance to the Western Conference Finals or to the NBA’s championship round, season ticket holders will pay the same price for tickets to those games as they did in 2008.

The changes do not end there. Pych says those Spurs fans who renew their season tickets for 2009-2010 by March 13 will not have to pay for 2009 playoff tickets until after each post-season round has been completed. Previously, Spurs fans have had to purchase tickets to all four potential rounds of playoffs games in advance, with SS&E offering ticket holders a refund or credit toward the next season for any unused playoff tickets.

Asked if the moves were prompted by economic concerns, Holt tells the Business Journal: “We had a great (season ticket) renewal last year. But we’re trying to be proactive on all of this.”

Says Pych, “We knew we had to do something different.”

But could the decision to freeze prices impact the Spurs’ ability to keep a championship contender on the court?

Holt says Spurs General Manager R.C. Buford, who is also president of sports franchises for SS&E, has been involved in the discussions from the outset.

“We think we can do this and still build the team around the big three,” says Holt about a core that includes Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

It will help, Holt says, that the Spurs will benefit from increased revenues from national and local television deals.

[duncan228]

Press conference video here.

SAN ANTONIO, January 26, 2009 – Spurs Sports & Entertainment Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Peter Holt today announced a price freeze on Spurs 2009-10 season tickets to reward season ticket holders for their loyalty and support.

The Spurs pricing plans for season ticket holders for the 2009 NBA Playoffs and 2009-10 season are:

* Spurs 2009-10 season tickets will NOT INCREASE from 2008-09 prices.
* For the first two rounds of the 2008-09 NBA Playoffs, Spurs ticket prices will REMAIN THE SAME for season ticket holders as this year’s regular season ticket prices.
* Spurs ticket prices for the Western Conference Finals and NBA Finals will REMAIN THE SAME for season ticket holders as they were for last season’s (2008) NBA Playoffs.
* When Spurs season ticket holders renew for the 2009-10 season by MARCH 13, they will not have to pay for 2009 NBA Playoff tickets until AFTER each round of the series is completed.

For information on how to become a Spurs season ticket holder, visit Spurs.com or call 444-5050.

[MoSpur]

Pretty cool. I still think they are still a little too high. For me at least.

[phyzik]

how about lowering the prices of beer or having a dollar beer night like the Rampage. Tickets are not that bad but $6.50 and $7.75 for a ing beer is insane.

[zinagray]

If I lived in San Antonio I'd buy them in a heart beat! I'd even buy some for you duncan228! Go Spurs GO!!!!