Pirates, Reds Freezing Ticket Prices Amid Economic Turmoil

Pirates Might Scale Back Spend In Free Agency If Current Economic Problem Worsens

The Pirates Thursday announced that they are freezing the prices of individual game tickets for the '09 MLB season. The team last month announced a freeze on all season-ticket prices for next season, as well as new value full-season ticket packages. The Pirates also implemented a new 10-game season-ticket plan for the price of eight games, and a new $12 ticket for seats in the Left and Right Grandstands. Pirates President Frank Coonelly in a statement said, "We believe that freezing the prices of individual game tickets for the 2009 season was the appropriate thing to do in light of the difficult economic climate" (Pirates). Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, Rob Biertempfel reports the Pirates are "not mulling salary dumps if the economy worsens, but the team might scale down its already-modest shopping list for the free-agent market." Pirates GM Neal Huntington: "We haven't had to scale back. But maybe some of the extra money we felt would be available, we're having to take a long, hard look at that." The Pirates' final payroll for the '08 season was $52M, and next year's "figure should be about the same" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 12/5).

REDS: In Cincinnati, John Fay reports the Reds are "holding the line" on '09 ticket prices for the first time since '05, and the decision has "nothing to do with the economy and everything to do with the club's disappointing" 74-88 record last season. The only exception to the freeze "affects about 100 season-ticket holders who have three- and six-year ticket deals that will expire after the season." Reds VP/Communications & Marketing Karen Forgus said that those tickets will increase 5-10%, and that "more than half of those ticket-holders have already renewed" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 12/5).