Suns Using Various Incentives To Maintain Season-Ticket Base

Suns President Says More Than Half Of Existing Season Ticket Holders Have Renewed

Suns President & COO Rick Welts said that "'well over half' of the existing 14,500 season ticket holders have renewed in the past two months, on par with most NBA teams," according to Paul Coro of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. The Suns began their '09-10 season-ticket renewal period "later in February this year, waiting until the trade deadline passed before sending out material and putting" C Shaquille O'Neal and G Steve Nash on city billboards. The Suns "boast a home sellout streak of 161 games and intend to sustain it." The team has "offered flexible payment plans, will bring back mini-plans with fewer games and froze season ticket prices, although single-game tickets for marquee opponents will carry premiums." The Suns recently held a town hall meeting at US Airways Center "in which on-the-fence customers heard from" Welts, Owner Robert Sarver and President of Basketball Operations & GM Steve Kerr. Suns Senior VP/Business Development John Walker has also "started a 'Sixth Man Advisory Board' with about 25 season ticket holders who help with renewal calls and prioritized which past incentives should be restored." As a result of the board's recommendation, early renewals "received free parking" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/29).