Pats ticket office: renewals at 98%, same as usual

[Tunescribe]

Just got off the phone with the Patriots ticket office, called to see if I have a better chance than usual at a seat upgrade because of the price increase. The woman I spoke to said that season ticket renewals were unchanged this year, coming in at the normal rate of about 98 percent. So much for people dropping out over the 30-percent cost increase. She noted that practically nobody in the lower bowl bailed, even with the price going from $125 to $169.

 

[Rob0729]

Although people's expectations of renewals being down massive amounts were probably way too unrealistic, I don't know if I would believe the renewal rates of ticket office personnel. I am guessing that even in a good renewal year, they inflate the renewal rate estimates. It is a part of business to inflate things like these.

You never admit to slow sales unless you are a public company and required by the FTC. Even then, teams juggle numbers to make things look better.

 

[Tunescribe]

Although people's expectations of renewals being down massive amounts were probably way too unrealistic, I don't know if I would believe the renewal rates of ticket office personnel. I am guessing that even in a good renewal year, they inflate the renewal rate estimates. It is a part of business to inflate things like these.

You never admit to slow sales unless you are a public company and required by the FTC. Even then, teams juggle numbers to make things look better.

Well, it wouldn't have been too big a gaffe for her to admit renewals were down slightly, if that indeed was the case. She gave me practically no hope for an upgrade moving down in my own section (from row 16, sec. 227), which is all I requested on the renewal form.

I'd like to know if anyone here on the waiting list has been notified of seats opening up.

 

[bruschifan1]

I find it hard to believe that the renewal rates are the same when I personally know of at 5 people who let their tickets go this year. I'm sure that the percentage of people that I know with tickets vs the number that didn't renew is a representative of the overall population. Between that and the so called crack down on Stub Hub type deals there has to be some movement within the stadium and on the waiting list.

I think that they won't say anything because:

a) the tickets are going to go to "VIP"s
b) they don't want to admit that some ppl are disgruntled (as mentioned here)
c) they don't want to get people's hopes up for an upgrade or to get off the waiting list in case their number isn't called.

 

[Bigdogx]

Yeah i know of a couple myself, sucks because it was nice knowing a few season seat holder's to try and get tickets off of when they could not make the game.

I wonder if we will ever see it level off for a little bit, paychecks are just not increasing at the rate needed to keep luxury's like nfl season tickets around for most people.

 

[cupofjoe1962]

Usually I get the feeling from the Pats they they want the Season ticket holders to miss the cutoff so that they can give your tickets to someone
else.

This is the first year I have seen this message on the Patriots website
after the deadline has passed.

Makes me think that all is not well at 1 Patriots place !


https://oss.ticketmaster.com/html/home.htmI?team=patriots&l=EN&STAGE=1


Season Ticket Holders:
2008 Invoice payments were due on Monday, March 31st. If you missed the deadline, log on now to secure your seats for the 2008 season.

Payments can be made online using a Visa card or via check made out to New England Patriots.

Season Tickets will be mailed to the addres on file as of May 15th. Please update your mailing address to receive your 2008 Season Tickets.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I find it hard to believe that the renewal rates are the same when I personally know of at 5 people who let their tickets go this year. I'm sure that the percentage of people that I know with tickets vs the number that didn't renew is a representative of the overall population. Between that and the so called crack down on Stub Hub type deals there has to be some movement within the stadium and on the waiting list.

I think that they won't say anything because:

a) the tickets are going to go to "VIP"s
b) they don't want to admit that some ppl are disgruntled (as mentioned here)
c) they don't want to get people's hopes up for an upgrade or to get off the waiting list in case their number isn't called.

Insightfull analysis Karen. Tix are going to VIPs and were the Pats to say that there were many new 'openings' most ST owners would be (understandably) besieging them for location upgrades.

 

[Gainzo]

Just got off the phone with the Patriots ticket office, called to see if I have a better chance than usual at a seat upgrade because of the price increase. The woman I spoke to said that season ticket renewals were unchanged this year, coming in at the normal rate of about 98 percent. So much for people dropping out over the 30-percent cost increase. She noted that practically nobody in the lower bowl bailed, even with the price going from $125 to $169.

I believe there are a couple of reasons why the renewal rate remained high.

1). People like me who sold their tickets for the season.
2). The Pats giving VIPs access to tickets before they hit the waiting list.

The ridiculous $5K per seat transfer fee makes people like me keep their tickets in their name and then sell them.

I can pretty much guarantee that there are going to be a lot of new faces in Foxboro this season.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

I believe there are a couple of reasons why the renewal rate remained high.

1). People like me who sold their tickets for the season.
2). The Pats giving VIPs access to tickets before they hit the waiting list.

The ridiculous $5K per seat transfer fee makes people like me keep their tickets in their name and then sell them.

I can pretty much guarantee that there are going to be a lot of new faces in Foxboro this season.

$5,000 seat transfer fee??? wtf is that about? I fly in for one game a year, so i dont see all the wacky fees you st holders get. i just go to ebay.lol. It sounds like i would have to be rich to afford season tickets now. What is the purpose in a seat transfer fee?

 

[Patjew]

$5,000 seat transfer fee??? wtf is that about? I fly in for one game a year, so i dont see all the wacky fees you st holders get. i just go to ebay.lol. It sounds like i would have to be rich to afford season tickets now. What is the purpose in a seat transfer fee?

It's not a mandatory fee that we all pay. You only pay it if you want to pass the seat on to someone else.

It's such a high price it seems like a punitive fee to avoid having people actually transfer the seats. Like a company will price a product so expensive because they don't really want to sell it, but if someone must buy it, then they are really going to pay through the nose for it. Feels the same here.

 

[fgssand]

It's not a mandatory fee that we all pay. You only pay it if you want to pass the seat on to someone else.

It's such a high price it seems like a punitive fee to avoid having people actually transfer the seats. Like a company will price a product so expensive because they don't really want to sell it, but if someone must buy it, then they are really going to pay through the nose for it. Feels the same here.

Nobody rallies around the Kraft family any more than me.....that said, this $5,000 Pass it On policy is about the worst policy they have ever done.

A PSl would have been much better, I did not think that at the time.

I am not sure they meant to do it this way at the start, Pass it On was introduced only 3 years ago.

Either way, to punish your long time loyal STH's with this transfer fee, seems very wrong.

I was hoping to spend the kids inheritance all by myself......

 

[bruschifan1]

That Pass it On fee is for family members only, if I recall. I don't believe you can just pick anyone to pass them on to. Technically, if my husband dies, I lose my tickets because they're in his name only. When we bought them we never thought of putting my name on them as well. If I want to keep the tickets that WE have paid for each year, we would have to pay the 10 Grand up front. SORRY... but I'll be watching from my couch at that point since all of our bills are together and EVERYTHING we own is TOGETHER. I'm not paying for something that is already mine.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

That Pass it On fee is for family members only, if I recall. I don't believe you can just pick anyone to pass them on to. Technically, if my husband dies, I lose my tickets because they're in his name only. When we bought them we never thought of putting my name on them as well. If I want to keep the tickets that WE have paid for each year, we would have to pay the 10 Grand up front. SORRY... but I'll be watching from my couch at that point since all of our bills are together and EVERYTHING we own is TOGETHER. I'm not paying for something that is already mine.

Good point. Now I'll be extra carefull not to run Big Al over and kill him in the tailgate parking lot.

And yes, it is for family only.

 

[pats60]

Good point. Now I'll be extra carefull not to run Big Al over and kill him in the tailgate parking lot.

And yes, it is for family only.

Glad my son has the same name as me .When i go to see my maker he will have
the tickets and the pats will never know.

 

[fgssand]

Glad my son has the same name as me .When i go to see my maker he will have
the tickets and the pats will never know.

Gues one of my sons changes his first name - of course in 60 years, I will be 110, wonder if they will catch on??

 

[pats60]

Gues one of my sons changes his first name - of course in 60 years, I will be 110, wonder if they will catch on??

You will never know. Only the computer knows

 

[cupofjoe1962]

I have had my tickets since Hart Lee Dykes was in diapers. If I want to give them to my son, It should not cost 5 thousand dollars.

Truth be told.... I will never die... there will always be a credit card in my name in my sons posession.

:singing:

 

[fgssand]

I have had my tickets since Hart Lee Dykes was in diapers. If I want to give them to my son, It should not cost 5 thousand dollars.

Truth be told.... I will never die... there will always be a credit card in my name in my sons posession.

:singing:

Bingo...mine is a Patriots Visa at that so he can get points too!!!

That will be the gift to my boys that will keep on giving, long after my ashes are spread over Gillette, the Cape & Aruba!!

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Bingo...mine is a Patriots Visa at that so he can get points too!!!

That will be the gift to my boys that will keep on giving, long after my ashes are spread over Gillette, the Cape & Aruba!!

Where were YOU when Natalie Holloway went missing?

 

[Tunescribe]

Bingo...mine is a Patriots Visa at that so he can get points too!!!

That will be the gift to my boys that will keep on giving, long after my ashes are spread over Gillette, the Cape & Aruba!!

Ashes on artificial turf? Yuck!