The Mariners' plan to sell PSLs for premium seats in
their new stadium is the "most expensive such plan ever
tried by a baseball team," according to David Schaefer of
the SEATTLE TIMES. The team's "controversial" pricing plan
is "attracting the attention of legislators" who two years
ago approved what is "mostly a publicly financed ballpark,"
and a hearing has been scheduled for next month "to review
the plan." The team's 966 "prime seats" in the stadium's
front rows have been designated for PSLs where fans are
required to pay $12,000-25,000, in addition to the ticket
costs, for a license good for 20 years. The team also plans
to charge $100-195 for 352 "Diamond Club" seats behind home
plate, which are currently priced at $25. Second-deck
season-ticket holders will pay $33 a game, compared to $20 a
game at the Kingdome. Team spokesperson Dave Aust said that
in the two weeks since the seating plan was announced,
"about" 100 fans have said they would buy seat licenses, a
"very positive response." The team "expects to bring in"
$19-20M by selling the PSLs (SEATTLE TIMES, 11/20).
