The average price for Cubs tickets is going up about 10 percent, the team said Friday as it sent out 2016 invoices to season-ticket holders.
The number of marquee games also has been increased from nine to 14 in the bowl and the bleachers, while one section of outfield terrace reserve has been reclassified to corner box reserve, with a 43 percent increase.
Colin Faulkner, senior vice president of sales and partnerships, said the team's annual analysis of ticket sales from 2015, along with its renewal numbers, the waiting list for tickets and the huge demand for postseason tickets, led to the team's highest increase since 2010.
In other words, you're paying for the Cubs' success.
"We've clearly seen an increase in demand, so that helped factor into an increase in our prices," Faulkner said. "Our goal is to remain competitive for the long term and provide value to our fans for a competitive baseball team, but also (value) in their tickets."
The Cubs had the third-highest average ticket price in the game in 2015, according to Team Marketing Report. They finished sixth in major-league attendance at 2.959 million fans after ranking 11th at 2.562 million in 2014.
With the Cubs advancing to the National League Championship Series and winning 97 games, no one appears too concerned the price hike will stifle another big attendance increase. The front office is looking for starting pitching and a center fielder after free agent Dexter Fowler officially declined the Cubs' $15.8 million qualifying offer on Friday.
According to the Cubs' numbers, the increases will range from about 7 percent in the upper box midfield/outfield to 14.5 percent in upper infield reserve to more than the 38 percent increase in some of the newly reclassified terrace boxes.
The highest average ticket price, a club infield box, is $105.24 per game, or $118 with the 12 percent amusement tax added. The lowest, upper deck outfield reserve, is $20.37, or about $23 with the amusement tax. Bleacher tickets remain about the same, from $16 to $65 before taxes, though the addition of marquee games will increase the total price.
One section of the terrace reserved outfield, affecting about 900 seats, or about 350 season-ticket holders, will be reclassified as corner seats, with a 43 percent increase. The Cubs originally said it was a 38 percent, before correcting the error.
"We found the first five or six rows are much different than the seats that could potentially be in Row 28-29 or 30 at the back of those sections," Faulkner said.
Faulkner said a team analysis found there was a 20 percent increase in 2015 for tickets on the secondary market over 2014, while postseason tickets were going for three to four times face value.
The first payment deadline of 20 percent is Dec. 2, with the full amount due Jan. 12. Faulkner said the majority of fans have put their postseason ticket refunds for the unplayed playoff games (Game 5 of the NLCS and three World Series games) toward next year's tickets.
The Cubs did not reveal game times or say which ones will be classified as marquee, platinum, gold, silver or bronze. A preliminary schedule indicates there was one marquee game on Sept. 24 against the Cardinals, with most of them from mid-July to mid-August against the Rangers, White Sox, Mariners and Cardinals.
Joe Maddon was seeking fewer 3:05 p.m. Friday starts, which he said are not conducive for players who like to keep the same routines. The Cubs have no 3:05 p.m. Friday starts currently scheduled, bit have seven Friday games with game times to be determined. The Cubs also have a rare Friday night game scheduled on April 15th against the Rockies.
Extra innings: Like Fowler, free agent White Sox starter Jeff Samardzija declined a qualifying offer of $15.8 million. … The Astros' Colby Rasmus became the first player to accept his team's qualifying offer. Orioles catcher Matt Wieters and Dodgers pitcher Brett Anderson also accepted offers, while Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada agreed to a two-year, $26 million deal. … Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez was not one of the four finalists for the Dodgers managerial job, according to reports. Bud Black and Dave Roberts are among finalists.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...se-ticket-prices-spt-1114-20151113-story.html
The number of marquee games also has been increased from nine to 14 in the bowl and the bleachers, while one section of outfield terrace reserve has been reclassified to corner box reserve, with a 43 percent increase.
Colin Faulkner, senior vice president of sales and partnerships, said the team's annual analysis of ticket sales from 2015, along with its renewal numbers, the waiting list for tickets and the huge demand for postseason tickets, led to the team's highest increase since 2010.
In other words, you're paying for the Cubs' success.
"We've clearly seen an increase in demand, so that helped factor into an increase in our prices," Faulkner said. "Our goal is to remain competitive for the long term and provide value to our fans for a competitive baseball team, but also (value) in their tickets."
The Cubs had the third-highest average ticket price in the game in 2015, according to Team Marketing Report. They finished sixth in major-league attendance at 2.959 million fans after ranking 11th at 2.562 million in 2014.
With the Cubs advancing to the National League Championship Series and winning 97 games, no one appears too concerned the price hike will stifle another big attendance increase. The front office is looking for starting pitching and a center fielder after free agent Dexter Fowler officially declined the Cubs' $15.8 million qualifying offer on Friday.
According to the Cubs' numbers, the increases will range from about 7 percent in the upper box midfield/outfield to 14.5 percent in upper infield reserve to more than the 38 percent increase in some of the newly reclassified terrace boxes.
The highest average ticket price, a club infield box, is $105.24 per game, or $118 with the 12 percent amusement tax added. The lowest, upper deck outfield reserve, is $20.37, or about $23 with the amusement tax. Bleacher tickets remain about the same, from $16 to $65 before taxes, though the addition of marquee games will increase the total price.
One section of the terrace reserved outfield, affecting about 900 seats, or about 350 season-ticket holders, will be reclassified as corner seats, with a 43 percent increase. The Cubs originally said it was a 38 percent, before correcting the error.
"We found the first five or six rows are much different than the seats that could potentially be in Row 28-29 or 30 at the back of those sections," Faulkner said.
Faulkner said a team analysis found there was a 20 percent increase in 2015 for tickets on the secondary market over 2014, while postseason tickets were going for three to four times face value.
The first payment deadline of 20 percent is Dec. 2, with the full amount due Jan. 12. Faulkner said the majority of fans have put their postseason ticket refunds for the unplayed playoff games (Game 5 of the NLCS and three World Series games) toward next year's tickets.
The Cubs did not reveal game times or say which ones will be classified as marquee, platinum, gold, silver or bronze. A preliminary schedule indicates there was one marquee game on Sept. 24 against the Cardinals, with most of them from mid-July to mid-August against the Rangers, White Sox, Mariners and Cardinals.
Joe Maddon was seeking fewer 3:05 p.m. Friday starts, which he said are not conducive for players who like to keep the same routines. The Cubs have no 3:05 p.m. Friday starts currently scheduled, bit have seven Friday games with game times to be determined. The Cubs also have a rare Friday night game scheduled on April 15th against the Rockies.
Extra innings: Like Fowler, free agent White Sox starter Jeff Samardzija declined a qualifying offer of $15.8 million. … The Astros' Colby Rasmus became the first player to accept his team's qualifying offer. Orioles catcher Matt Wieters and Dodgers pitcher Brett Anderson also accepted offers, while Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada agreed to a two-year, $26 million deal. … Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez was not one of the four finalists for the Dodgers managerial job, according to reports. Bud Black and Dave Roberts are among finalists.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...se-ticket-prices-spt-1114-20151113-story.html
