Saints Will Not Raise Prices For 94% Of Superdome Seats

The Saints "won't raise tickets prices" next season, except for a "block of 4,500 plaza-level seats that are being upgraded to premium seats" at the Superdome, according to Nakia Hogan of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Saints VP/Communications Greg Bensel said, "This means that 94% of the stadium capacity will realize no ticket price increase." Bensel added that the 6% of the ticket holders "who account for 4,500 seats and about 600 accounts will have their ticket prices increased to prices comparable to that of the club level in the loge." A 10-game plaza sideline seat costs $1,900, while seats in the club level range from $2,400-2,980. The Saints "already have notified some ticket holders of the price increase and are working with fans to relocate to other seats if they don't want to sit in the new premium plaza, which will extend between the 35-yard lines." The Saints last year on the heels of the franchise's first Super Bowl title "had their first ticket hike" since '08. The Superdome this offseason is "undergoing a massive overhaul" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 1/16).

NO PRICE HIKES: In Houston, John McClain reported the Texans "are not increasing ticket prices for the first time since" '06. The Texans have "sold out 90 consecutive games -- every game in franchise history." The team's average ticket price last season ranked 16th in the league. Fans "will be able to get refunds for preseason or regular-season games that are cancelled because of a lockout." The refunds "will be paid with interest no later than 30 days after the NFL determines how many games will be played in the 2011 season" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE , 1/15). Meanwhile, in Miami, Barry Jackson wrote after a "disappointing season and 1-7 home record, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is doing the right thing: He is not raising ticket prices." The team will make "an announcement this week." More "flexible payment plans also will be offered." This will be the "second time that Ross has not raised any prices in his three offseasons as majority owner." Jackson noted the Dolphins "sold 51,069 season tickets for 2010, and this offseason will be challenging" (MIAMI HERALD, 1/16).