Post by Fish Troll on Oct 23, 2007 22:37:46 GMT -5
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- A big new scoreboard is not the only thing going up at Kauffman Stadium. So is the price of tickets.
The Royals announced Tuesday that the average price for single-game purchases will increase next year by almost 15 percent, going to $23.76 per ticket from $20.67. That does not include the so-called "premium games" such as those with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Prices for season-ticket holders will go to $16.62 from $14.46 per game.
The Royals will still rank 27th among the 30 major league clubs in average ticket price based on 2007 pricing, the club said. The average price per season ticket in the majors this past season was $22.69, the Royals said.
Kevin Uhlich, the Royals' vice president for business operations, said a survey of 10 small- and medium-market teams found that the Royals' price for premium seats was about $9 below the average.
"We need to try to play a little bit of catch-up. We're never excited to raise prices. But over the past five years, we've raised them very little," Uhlich said. "We have an obligation to operate like a major league team. We can't just sit here and take from revenue-sharing. We need to make moves like this to keep ourselves competitive."
Uhlich said the increases were made only after careful consideration.
"Obviously we want to keep our prices reasonable for our fans, and I feel that despite the increase in ticket cost, Royals baseball is still one of the best bargains in professional sports," Uhlich said.
"With the renovations that have begun and the new pricing structure, we are committed to providing a well-rounded, exciting experience once fans enter the gates at Kauffman Stadium."
From a public relations standpoint, the ticket price increase seems ill-timed. The stadium is in the midst of a $250 million renovation paid for almost exclusively by a county sales tax. Voters were told the tax was necessary in order to refurbish the stadium to increase revenue streams and keep the Royals competitive with other clubs.
The Royals finished 69-93 this past season, last in the AL Central for the fourth year in a row. They have not been in the postseason in 22 years.
If attendance remains as it was this past season, Uhlich said, the increase will bring in about $3 million in additional revenue.
Uhlich said no increase was planned for parking.
"It's the most unpleasant aspect of the business side. Nobody ever likes to raise prices," Uhlich said. "It's still money out of someone's pockets and yes, we are sensitive to it."
The Royals announced Tuesday that the average price for single-game purchases will increase next year by almost 15 percent, going to $23.76 per ticket from $20.67. That does not include the so-called "premium games" such as those with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Prices for season-ticket holders will go to $16.62 from $14.46 per game.
The Royals will still rank 27th among the 30 major league clubs in average ticket price based on 2007 pricing, the club said. The average price per season ticket in the majors this past season was $22.69, the Royals said.
Kevin Uhlich, the Royals' vice president for business operations, said a survey of 10 small- and medium-market teams found that the Royals' price for premium seats was about $9 below the average.
"We need to try to play a little bit of catch-up. We're never excited to raise prices. But over the past five years, we've raised them very little," Uhlich said. "We have an obligation to operate like a major league team. We can't just sit here and take from revenue-sharing. We need to make moves like this to keep ourselves competitive."
Uhlich said the increases were made only after careful consideration.
"Obviously we want to keep our prices reasonable for our fans, and I feel that despite the increase in ticket cost, Royals baseball is still one of the best bargains in professional sports," Uhlich said.
"With the renovations that have begun and the new pricing structure, we are committed to providing a well-rounded, exciting experience once fans enter the gates at Kauffman Stadium."
From a public relations standpoint, the ticket price increase seems ill-timed. The stadium is in the midst of a $250 million renovation paid for almost exclusively by a county sales tax. Voters were told the tax was necessary in order to refurbish the stadium to increase revenue streams and keep the Royals competitive with other clubs.
The Royals finished 69-93 this past season, last in the AL Central for the fourth year in a row. They have not been in the postseason in 22 years.
If attendance remains as it was this past season, Uhlich said, the increase will bring in about $3 million in additional revenue.
Uhlich said no increase was planned for parking.
"It's the most unpleasant aspect of the business side. Nobody ever likes to raise prices," Uhlich said. "It's still money out of someone's pockets and yes, we are sensitive to it."
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Wow that pretty cheap, no wonder why the Royals still have a decent amount of fans who show up to the park.
