BU 2013-2014 (Part III): Close your eyes, we're coming up on the end here...

[ericredaxe]

Re: BU 2013-2014 (Part III): Close your eyes, we're coming up on the end here...

On the season tickets... I also liked that they listed complimentary tickets to some basketball games as a benefit. Maurice Watson transferring out is a sting though.

 

[Agganis]

Re: BU 2013-2014 (Part III): Close your eyes, we're coming up on the end here...

It wasn't clear to me from the website of there is a way to opt out of the hockey east playoff tickets. There is a note that says those will be invoiced later... I just hope they are not mandatory... Hopefully we can opt out.

To me it looks like they are mandatory but won't be invoiced until the spring once BU knows how many games they're hosting. That's how it should be done in my opinion at least. You commit do going, BU doesn't have to hold your money for them for almost a year and then deal with all this credit nonsense.

Charge my card for 2 games as soon as BU clinches home ice, charge me for game 3 as soon as game 2 ends and the series is 1-1.

 

[ericredaxe]

Re: BU 2013-2014 (Part III): Close your eyes, we're coming up on the end here...

To me it looks like they are mandatory but won't be invoiced until the spring once BU knows how many games they're hosting. That's how it should be done in my opinion at least. You commit do going, BU doesn't have to hold your money for them for almost a year and then deal with all this credit nonsense.

Charge my card for 2 games as soon as BU clinches home ice, charge me for game 3 as soon as game 2 ends and the series is 1-1.

I sent an email for clarification. Personally I'm hoping they are not "mandatory" and that you can opt out of them.

 

[Agganis]

Re: BU 2013-2014 (Part III): Close your eyes, we're coming up on the end here...

I sent an email for clarification. Personally I'm hoping they are not "mandatory" and that you can opt out of them.

If you're in town what are the chances you don't go? Do you have plans for either of the two weekends it would be?

Not calling you out specifically, I've just never understood why across the board Hockey East sees an attendance drop for the playoffs, when the games supposedly mean more.

 

[ericredaxe]

Re: BU 2013-2014 (Part III): Close your eyes, we're coming up on the end here...

If you're in town what are the chances you don't go? Do you have plans for either of the two weekends it would be?

Not calling you out specifically, I've just never understood why across the board Hockey East sees an attendance drop for the playoffs, when the games supposedly mean more.

Not speaking for anyone else, but for me:

I live 45 minutes out of town, so heading to Agganis 3 nights in a row is a lot. I'm also a skier, and March is typically the best skiing in New England, so I like to have that option open. The financial commitment is not insignificant (now as many as 4 games x 4 seats x $22 per ticket = $352) particularly when my kids like going to the games, but not so much that they want to go 3 nights in a row.

The other thing is that those tickets are easily available, so I almost always go to one of the playoff games, but I'd prefer to just walk up and buy a ticket for what I want to go to, rather than commit to the full playoff schedule 10 months in advance.

 

[Agganis]

Re: BU 2013-2014 (Part III): Close your eyes, we're coming up on the end here...

my kids

I don't know what "kids" are but I assume it has a lot to do with why you and I make different decisions.

 

[Scarlet]

Re: BU 2013-2014 (Part III): Close your eyes, we're coming up on the end here...

This is an interesting conversation, one I've had discussions about with certain folks. Mostly because of posters here complaining about how the Arena discounted tickets for certain games after he/she paid full price and how that wasn't good. I see something similar with this playoff ticket situation.

As a season ticket holder, you buy a full season for the guarantee you have a ticket to every game. In a perfect world, the Arena wouldn't have to discount tickets to get butts in the seats, there would be a limited number available for individual game and same day purchases. That's why you get season tickets, to not have to worry about it, to have your seat in the Arena. That's why it doesn't bother me personally when the Arena did those discounted seats. I didn't have to worry about the extra time to go buy one, worry if there would be one available and where it would be. It's the tradeoff I make.

Same with the playoff tickets. I'd rather know I have them. If I don't go, that's on me. I do like the idea of them not charging you till they know, but I really think asking them to only charge for two, then the third, is too much to ask for. Too confusing for everyone all around.

I feel there is too much whining about this. If the cost is so bothersome, don't buy them. Go in to the games you want to go to and buy it at the ticket window. It's pretty simple.

 

[ericredaxe]

Re: BU 2013-2014 (Part III): Close your eyes, we're coming up on the end here...

I don't know what "kids" are but I assume it has a lot to do with why you and I make different decisions.

Believe me, you haven't lived until you have tried to help a 5 year old manage his assortment of chicken finger dipping sauces in the stadium seats at a game!

 

[ericredaxe]

Re: BU 2013-2014 (Part III): Close your eyes, we're coming up on the end here...

This is an interesting conversation, one I've had discussions about with certain folks. Mostly because of posters here complaining about how the Arena discounted tickets for certain games after he/she paid full price and how that wasn't good. I see something similar with this playoff ticket situation.

As a season ticket holder, you buy a full season for the guarantee you have a ticket to every game. In a perfect world, the Arena wouldn't have to discount tickets to get butts in the seats, there would be a limited number available for individual game and same day purchases. That's why you get season tickets, to not have to worry about it, to have your seat in the Arena. That's why it doesn't bother me personally when the Arena did those discounted seats. I didn't have to worry about the extra time to go buy one, worry if there would be one available and where it would be. It's the tradeoff I make.

Same with the playoff tickets. I'd rather know I have them. If I don't go, that's on me. I do like the idea of them not charging you till they know, but I really think asking them to only charge for two, then the third, is too much to ask for. Too confusing for everyone all around.

I feel there is too much whining about this. If the cost is so bothersome, don't buy them. Go in to the games you want to go to and buy it at the ticket window. It's pretty simple.

I've had no issue with the discounted tickets... I also don't think the simple question "Would you like to purchase playoff tickets in advance" is all that confusing for anyone.

Automatically including them in the package is a increased expense that has to be taken into consideration that may or may not affect people deciding to purchase season tickets.

 

[Agganis]

Re: BU 2013-2014 (Part III): Close your eyes, we're coming up on the end here...

I do like the idea of them not charging you till they know, but I really think asking them to only charge for two, then the third, is too much to ask for. Too confusing for everyone all around.

Load one batch with all the charges up beforehand and after the 2nd game either push charge all or delete it; the the ticket office staff can go home before the players have taken their skates off. Just because it hasn't been done doesn't mean it is complicated. Holding onto credit money for months shouldn't be the norm for businesses in 2014, in my opinion at least.

 

[mookie1995]

Re: BU 2013-2014 (Part III): Close your eyes, we're coming up on the end here...

Bruins season ticket holders are not forced to buy playoff games.......... Patsies season ticket holders are not forced to buy playoff games.........

 

[ericredaxe]

Bruins season ticket holders are not forced to buy playoff games.......... Patsies season ticket holders are not forced to buy playoff games.........

According to the ticket office, they remain optional for BU too.

When the time comes, we will be able to purchase or not purchase.

All is well.

 

[Agganis]

Re: BU 2013-2014 (Part III): Close your eyes, we're coming up on the end here...

Bruins season ticket holders are not forced to buy playoff games.......... Patsies season ticket holders are not forced to buy playoff games.........

Only because they know they can sell them out anyways. They force you to buy what they can't sell out otherwise (NFL preseason games) if the seating bowl for Bruins playoff games looked like what BU looks like for theirs you can't convince me Jacobs wouldn't be doing everything in his power to force season ticket holders to pay for their seats.

 

[Scarlet]

Re: BU 2013-2014 (Part III): Close your eyes, we're coming up on the end here...

Load one batch with all the charges up beforehand and after the 2nd game either push charge all or delete it; the the ticket office staff can go home before the players have taken their skates off. Just because it hasn't been done doesn't mean it is complicated. Holding onto credit money for months shouldn't be the norm for businesses in 2014, in my opinion at least.

No, I'm saying do what you initially suggested - wait till they make the playoffs at end of season and do 1 charge. Not hold onto money for several months. I just think it will be more trouble than it's worth to do one charge for two games and a second one for the third game, especially when it's over a weekend and the third game isn't known till 9pm-ish or so the night before.

 

[Rover]

Re: BU 2013-2014 (Part III): Close your eyes, we're coming up on the end here...

I feel there is too much whining about this. If the cost is so bothersome, don't buy them. Go in to the games you want to go to and buy it at the ticket window. It's pretty simple.

No offense, but this comes off like the elitist attitude the ticket office has for a team that got its @ ss fed to it on a nightly basis last year in front of its fans. The concept of cost vs value needs to enter into the equation, not "we're doing you a favor by taking your money". Fans can rightfully point out the convenience of having season tickets needs to be offset with charging 25 bucks or whatever to watch the Under-18 game or all 3 games of the playoffs which people with lives may not be able to attend.

If BU was banging out the arena full to capacity, hey the market dictates the price. However they're playing to a 1/3rd full arena and still charging NHL level prices for the product, not including screwing fans on parking as well. A little humbleness might go along way towards getting a better fan atmosphere back.

 

[Scarlet]

Re: BU 2013-2014 (Part III): Close your eyes, we're coming up on the end here...

No offense, but this comes off like the elitist attitude the ticket office has for a team that got its @ ss fed to it on a nightly basis last year in front of its fans. The concept of cost vs value needs to enter into the equation, not "we're doing you a favor by taking your money". Fans can rightfully point out the convenience of having season tickets needs to be offset with charging 25 bucks or whatever to watch the Under-18 game or all 3 games of the playoffs which people with lives may not be able to attend.

If BU was banging out the arena full to capacity, hey the market dictates the price. However they're playing to a 1/3rd full arena and still charging NHL level prices for the product, not including screwing fans on parking as well. A little humbleness might go along way towards getting a better fan atmosphere back.

Why is that elitist? My point is - season tickets cost x-amount. That's the price. Are they too expensive? Apparently for some people, yes. So, don't buy them. That sends a message. You can still go to games that you want, not worry about paying for tickets to games you don't care to see. Don't come here after deciding to purchase them and ***** and complain that the person next to you only paid $10 because the team is having an off year and the Arena is looking to fill the place. Boo-frickin'-hoo. You didn't know that the team would be having an off year. How AWFUL for you!! You paid $16 more dollars. But because you have season tickets you didn't have to worry about getting a ticket to the BC game that everyone wanted to go to. It's a trade off. If more people give up their seats because they think they cost too much and they're annoyed that they have to pay for playoff tickets up front, they might actually rethink their policy and make the changes that people are crying about.

And NHL level prices? Please. I wish I could pay what I pay for a BU game to go see the Bruins. And park for the same amount.

 

[RoughEmUp]

Why is that elitist? My point is - season tickets cost x-amount. That's the price. Are they too expensive? Apparently for some people, yes. So, don't buy them. That sends a message. You can still go to games that you want, not worry about paying for tickets to games you don't care to see. Don't come here after deciding to purchase them and ***** and complain that the person next to you only paid $10 because the team is having an off year and the Arena is looking to fill the place. Boo-frickin'-hoo. You didn't know that the team would be having an off year. How AWFUL for you!! You paid $16 more dollars. But because you have season tickets you didn't have to worry about getting a ticket to the BC game that everyone wanted to go to. It's a trade off. If more people give up their seats because they think they cost too much and they're annoyed that they have to pay for playoff tickets up front, they might actually rethink their policy and make the changes that people are crying about.

And NHL level prices? Please. I wish I could pay what I pay for a BU game to go see the Bruins. And park for the same amount.

I'm not enamored with many aspects of HAA, but after shelling out between $111.00 and $127.00 for a crappy balcony seat to several Bs games this year, I can't, in good conscience, complain too much about BU ticket prices.

$199.00 (young alumni) for a full season of games is ok with me. Plus, 10 years of ya pricing is pretty generous.

 

[ericredaxe]

Re: BU 2013-2014 (Part III): Close your eyes, we're coming up on the end here...

Did I mention that playoff tickets are optional again this year (as they should be)? It's also nice that for those who do elect to get them, that they will be invoiced in the spring for them. So the box office seems to be moving in the right direction on this one.

Some of the complaining I think comes from the fact that there was a point in the not too distant future where the price / value made getting season tickets a "no brainier" and they definitely have drifted away from being at that point over time.

 

[mookie1995]

Re: BU 2013-2014 (Part III): Close your eyes, we're coming up on the end here...

last row in both rinks was a cheaper ticket price for kids for bruins games than bu games

 

[brassbonanza]

Re: BU 2013-2014 (Part III): Close your eyes, we're coming up on the end here...

I'm still wondering why they ardently stick to the single-price system across the entire arena. Why not designate sections in the upper corners as lower priced seats, offer those at a lower season ticket price if they want, but more importantly, offer them as lower single-game price tickets. Use those seats to boost attendance for crappy games by further discounting those (only) and that way the season ticket holders don't have anything to complain about because they paid a little more, but it's for a better seat. Charging the same price for fifth row center ice as last row in the corner is a bit puzzling and probably dissuades some from attending games.