NHL Panthers Season-Ticket Holders Paying For Extra Game

Panthers Season-Ticket Holders To Receive  Bonus Tickets After Paying For Extra Game

NHL Panthers season-ticket purchasers "are paying this season for 43 games even though the Panthers are scheduled for only 42 contests at the BankAtlantic Center," according to Brian Biggane of the PALM BEACH POST. Fans buying season tickets for the '08-09 season "have been told that they would be charged for 41 regular-season games and two exhibition games." But when the pre-season schedule was announced earlier this month, "it had only one exhibition game." To compensate, "fans were told they would receive so-called 'bonus' tickets for family or friends." A "reasonable estimate of the money involved is $500,000 ... based on a season-ticket base of 10,000 and an average ticket price of $50." When asked if fans who preferred a cash refund could receive one, Panthers Manager of PR Matt Sacco said, "Our first priority is to try to give some other type of benefit. To take care of them in another way besides refunding their money" (PALM BEACH POST, 7/19).

PREMIUM PRICING: Biggane, in a separate piece, wrote the Panthers, "trying to increase ticket revenue and stimulate season-ticket sales, designated five of their first 16 home games as so-called premium games." Visits by the Red Wings, Rangers and Canadiens are "among the games that will carry a $25 surcharge on every single-game ticket." Season tickets and other ticket packages "will be exempt from the surcharge." Panthers President & COO Michael Yormark said that he expects that 12-15 games "ultimately will get the premium designation." The Panthers had a "handful of premium games last season, with a $10 surcharge" (PALM BEACH POST, 7/18).