NY Mets increase tickets prices.

[metirish]

For people like me that go to a handful of games a season the ticket hike won't really matter, but for those that go to a lot of games this might hurt.

] Mets fans will see the average ticket price rise about 7 percent after busy, star-studded offseason BY KEN DAVIDOFF AND JON HEYMAN STAFF WRITERS The Mets have dominated the ever-popular "Hot Stove League," acquiring a trio of high-profile players. For fans who visit Shea Stadium next season, it figures to be more exciting on the field - and more expensive at the ticket window. The Mets are raising their ticket prices by an average of about 7 percent, Dave Howard, the team's executive vice president of business operations, told Newsday yesterday. Those with the higher-end seats will take the biggest added hit in the wallet. For instance, a fan who identified himself as Scott - worried about jeopardizing his relationship with the Mets, he declined to divulge his last name - told Newsday that his inner box seats were increasing as much as 25 percent, depending on the game. Scott, a 43-year-old accountant who has held season tickets since 1987, said that for his seats, the four games at the platinum level - Opening Day and three games against the Yankees - went up from $60 per seat to $75. The next level, gold, jumped from $55 to $65, followed by silver ($50 to $60), bronze ($45 to $55) and value ($40 to $45). Some fans were understanding of the price increase. "If they put a good product on the field, people will pay," said Mike Caliguri, 40, of Inwood, who was shopping at the New York Mets Clubhouse Shop at Roosevelt Field mall. "Die-hard Mets fans won't think twice. They just want to watch the game." "Given the success of the team and the demand of tickets, where we stand in the marketplace, we thought that certain adjustments were appropriate," Howard said. "There are some that are higher than others. In two categories, the location justified more substantial price." The Yankees announced late last month they were raising ticket prices for about 45 percent of the seats at Yankee Stadium for next season. The price of box seats closest to the field, which are only available as part of season-ticket plans, will go up by as much as $20. The seats, which include waiter service, will cost between $95 and $110 after selling for $90 last season. The most expensive ticket for any Mets game is $96, for the four platinum games at the "Metropolitan Club Gold" level, right by the dugouts. Factoring the different number of games per category, Howard said, the average price for that ticket is $74.59. The Mets have increased their prices without increasing their payroll while Mets general manager Omar Minaya retools the team this winter. The Mets' aggressive offseason is also a byproduct of their new partnership with SportsNet New York. The Mets' 2005 payroll was about $105 million. "We expect we're going to have a healthy payroll," Howard said. "Omar is not done yet ... We think our ticket prices are fair, relative to the product we're putting on the field." The team did drop the price of low-end bronze and value tickets. For the 42 games that qualify as bronze and value, tickets drop from $12 to $9. One fan tried to put the higher ticket prices in perspective. "I don't mind the increase," said Dan Quigley, 26, of Lynbrook, "as long as ticket prices stay lower than [47-year-old] Julio Franco's age." Chris Antonacci contributed to this story. The Mets will raise the average ticket price by 7 percent next year with the most expensive seats getting the biggest increase. Price of Inner Box Seat Game type* 2006 2005 Platinum $75 $60 Gold $65 $55 Silver $60 $50 Bronze $55 $45 Value $45 $40 Highest-price seat --$96 SALARIES ADDED SO FAR (2006) Carlos Delgado $13.5 million Billy Wagner $10.5 million Paul Lo Duca $6.25 million $30.25 million SALARIES CUT Mike Piazza $15 million Mike Cameron $6 million Doug Mientkiewicz $3.75 million Braden Looper $3.5 million $28.25 Million

[seawolf17]

]The team did drop the price of low-end bronze and value tickets. For the 42 games that qualify as bronze and value, tickets drop from $12 to $9.

I'm a big fan of that move.

[Guest sharpie]

Me too. Soak the rich, I say.

[Guest KC]

I got my Sunday plan invoice the other day, I thought the number was a
little different. I'm very pissed off that the Mets won't be extending the offer
to buy tickets to plan buyers for opening day this year. 8-10 have been doing
this for a number of years and to just pull the rug out from under us is bull-
shit considering how much support we show for them.

Boo.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I had a lot of fun, it turned out, standing in line in the freezing cold & wind for 4 hours buying tix for a half-dozen selected games at Shea last February and just may do so again this season.

Except: I will pee before I leave, dress warmer, and arrive earlier.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Predicted ex-Mets they'll have greet fans on the line: Gregg Jefferies and Tim Teufel.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Predicted ex-Mets they'll have greet fans on the line: Gregg Jefferies and Tim Teufel.

[nymr83]

]The team did drop the price of low-end bronze and value tickets. For the 42 games that qualify as bronze and value, tickets drop from $12 to $9.

thank you Fred and Jeff...i couldn't give a fuck what the other ones cost.

[Guest 86-Dreamer]

Newsday ran this as a full page front cover story today, complete with a digitally enhanced photo of Mr. Met with his hand out.

[nymr83]

[nymr83]

kind of an unfair cover if you ask me, i'd bet that at least 50% of met fans will be happy to see the discount on the cheap seats and not give a rats ass about the seats they dont pay for anyway.

[Guest Edgy DC]

A New York tabloid with an unfair cover? No way!

I like the juxtoposition of Mr. Met with the headline up top.

[Guest KC]

I don't give a rat's ass what Newsday puts on their fuckin' cover.

(hey, that's fun)

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

]The team did drop the price of low-end bronze and value tickets. For the 42 games that qualify as bronze and value, tickets drop from $12 to $9.

Far as I can tell, the $9 seats which were $12 last year are only the rear-row loge and mezz seats and upper deck reserved for Bronze games only. All of those same seats for Value games were $5 last year, but the article doesn't indicate whether that $5 becomes $9 this year.

If you've ever sat in the rear-row loge, you'd know that "free" is too much to charge for them.

[Guest martin]

i go to a weeknight game almost every week the mets Are in town. mostly on tuesday and occasionally on wednesday. i always get the cheap tickets and i am always sort of amazed at how much entertainment i can get for such a low price.

they always have some sort of special deal going on. they have the super-cheap bronze and value games, the wendy's weekday 2 for 1, and it seems like i average around 12$ a ticket over the course of the season. thats a pretty sweet entertainment per dollar ratio.

[Guest 86-Dreamer]

I dont care if it is fair or not, I just like seeing Mr. Met on the cover of the newspaper.