Pirates Expected To Hold Line On Ticket Prices Next Season

The Pirates "will not raise ticket prices" next season, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW. Pirates President Frank Coonelly yesterday said, "I do not anticipate any price increase, even in the individual-(game) pricing." It will mark the "eighth year in a row the team has held the line on season-ticket prices." The Pirates' home attendance this past season was 1,577,853 -- a "decline of about" 2% from '08. It was the "lowest-ever total at PNC Park," and the franchise's "worst total since 1998." Coonelly: "We knew it was going to be a difficult time for our fans. That's why we came out with value plans and took several measures in order to enhance the value of Pirates baseball." Coonelly has said that the Pirates "need to consistently draw 2 million-plus." Coonelly: "There's no question we need to significantly grow attendance in Pittsburgh in order to be competitive." Biertempfel notes the team "mulled raising prices for certain 'premium' games, such as interleague clashes or weekend games, a step some other MLB clubs already have taken." But Coonelly said, "There won't be variable pricing in 2010. Can I say that we will never come to the conclusion that it makes sense to have some differentiation? I'm not prepared to say that" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 10/8).