nivek_wahs
04-11-2007, 02:13 AM
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/sports/story.html?id=37333d3e-dd1f-422a-b8dd-5ddc37c68b53&k=30966
Fans paying for success
Greg Harder, Leader-Post
Published: Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Success in the playoffs doesn't come without a price.
While the Regina Pats enjoy the fruits of their deepest playoff run since 1998, fans of the WHL club have been reminded that there's a cost associated with doing business in the postseason, translating into a ticket increase of $5 over two rounds.
The pricetag for an individual seat went up $3 during Regina's first-round series against the Swift Current Broncos, plus an additional $2 in Round 2 against the Medicine Hat Tigers. The updated prices are as follows: Adults ($20), seniors ($17) and students/kids ($10). Those figures don't include a $1.25 surcharge invoked by the box office.
The best-of-seven series between Regina and Medicine Hat switches to the Brandt Centre for Game 3 on Wednesday and Game 4 on Friday. Despite some complaints about higher prices, the Pats had sold just over 4,000 tickets for Game 3 as of Monday night.
"It's standard operating procedure around the league (to increase playoff tickets)," explained Pats GM Brent Parker. "Maybe it's because we haven't been in the second round for a while that people don't remember, but it's standard practice. It's not something we invented to gouge the fans of Regina."
In fact, Parker said the Pats have gone to great lengths to keep their prices reasonable. He cited the fact that the club lowered its season-ticket rates this season, then created a new $5 student discount ticket for ages 18 and under (plus anyone with a valid ID card from a postsecondary institution).
The Pats also negotiated with the Regina Exhibition Association (now IPSCO Place) to eliminate the $3 parking surcharge.
"It's not like we haven't done things to make it affordable," said Parker. "The hockey club gave up a significant amount of revenue to get rid of the parking charge. To come to a playoff game in the first round last year as compared to this year is cheaper because there's no parking charge."
A detailed comparison of ticket prices around the league reveals that the Pats' postseason rates are competitive with Canadian teams in smaller markets and cheaper than those in large markets.
For example, Regina's second-round prices are lower than the average rate in Medicine Hat: Adult ($20), age 13-17 ($16) and 12 and under ($12).
The Calgary Hitmen and Vancouver Giants don't offer age discounts on individual tickets. Calgary is charging $23 for all second-round tickets while Vancouver offers two options based upon the quality of the seat: $22.50 and $20.50 (including a $3 box-office surcharge).
Among the smaller markets, the Prince George Cougars have the following breakdown: $18 (adults), $13 (students and seniors) and $11.50 (kids). The Brandon Wheat Kings have the cheapest rates: $17.50 (adult), $14.50 (age 19-30), $12.50 (age 13-18) and $9.50 (12 and under). Brandon's numbers include an increase of just $1 per round.
"Everybody does something different," noted Parker. "Some teams have gone up by more (in the playoffs) and some are less. Swift Current was $19 in the first round for an adult ticket, ours was 18. You can find examples of both. We've always been in the middle to low range of ticket prices in the league. I don't think the argument that our ticket prices are too high is a fair statement at all."
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007
Fans paying for success
Greg Harder, Leader-Post
Published: Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Success in the playoffs doesn't come without a price.
While the Regina Pats enjoy the fruits of their deepest playoff run since 1998, fans of the WHL club have been reminded that there's a cost associated with doing business in the postseason, translating into a ticket increase of $5 over two rounds.
The pricetag for an individual seat went up $3 during Regina's first-round series against the Swift Current Broncos, plus an additional $2 in Round 2 against the Medicine Hat Tigers. The updated prices are as follows: Adults ($20), seniors ($17) and students/kids ($10). Those figures don't include a $1.25 surcharge invoked by the box office.
The best-of-seven series between Regina and Medicine Hat switches to the Brandt Centre for Game 3 on Wednesday and Game 4 on Friday. Despite some complaints about higher prices, the Pats had sold just over 4,000 tickets for Game 3 as of Monday night.
"It's standard operating procedure around the league (to increase playoff tickets)," explained Pats GM Brent Parker. "Maybe it's because we haven't been in the second round for a while that people don't remember, but it's standard practice. It's not something we invented to gouge the fans of Regina."
In fact, Parker said the Pats have gone to great lengths to keep their prices reasonable. He cited the fact that the club lowered its season-ticket rates this season, then created a new $5 student discount ticket for ages 18 and under (plus anyone with a valid ID card from a postsecondary institution).
The Pats also negotiated with the Regina Exhibition Association (now IPSCO Place) to eliminate the $3 parking surcharge.
"It's not like we haven't done things to make it affordable," said Parker. "The hockey club gave up a significant amount of revenue to get rid of the parking charge. To come to a playoff game in the first round last year as compared to this year is cheaper because there's no parking charge."
A detailed comparison of ticket prices around the league reveals that the Pats' postseason rates are competitive with Canadian teams in smaller markets and cheaper than those in large markets.
For example, Regina's second-round prices are lower than the average rate in Medicine Hat: Adult ($20), age 13-17 ($16) and 12 and under ($12).
The Calgary Hitmen and Vancouver Giants don't offer age discounts on individual tickets. Calgary is charging $23 for all second-round tickets while Vancouver offers two options based upon the quality of the seat: $22.50 and $20.50 (including a $3 box-office surcharge).
Among the smaller markets, the Prince George Cougars have the following breakdown: $18 (adults), $13 (students and seniors) and $11.50 (kids). The Brandon Wheat Kings have the cheapest rates: $17.50 (adult), $14.50 (age 19-30), $12.50 (age 13-18) and $9.50 (12 and under). Brandon's numbers include an increase of just $1 per round.
"Everybody does something different," noted Parker. "Some teams have gone up by more (in the playoffs) and some are less. Swift Current was $19 in the first round for an adult ticket, ours was 18. You can find examples of both. We've always been in the middle to low range of ticket prices in the league. I don't think the argument that our ticket prices are too high is a fair statement at all."
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007