Bucs, Chargers Decrease Some Ticket Prices In Attempt To Combat Blackouts

The Buccaneers yesterday announced "reductions in many season-ticket prices, lowering the cost of 'tens of thousands' of tickets at Raymond James Stadium," according to Stephen Holder of the ST. PETERSBURG TIMES. Most prices in the lower bowl will "remain flat" next season. But "reductions as great as 31 percent will be seen in the upper deck, including 'upper sideline' seats that will be slashed from $75 to $52," meaning that season-ticket holders "would save $230 on each of those seats." There also will be a "decrease from $99 to $89 on some end zone seats." The Buccaneers are "making other reductions, including some on parking rates, 10 percent discounts on food, beverages and merchandise for season-ticket holders and youth tickets 50 percent off adult admission." Holder notes average attendance for Buccaneers games this season was 15,000 "below capacity, and the team failed to sell out any of its games for the first time in more than a decade," meaning that "all eight regular-season home games and both home preseason games" were blacked out (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 1/19). ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas noted the Buccaneers "at various points in the early part of the previous decade" said that they had an "extensive waiting list for season tickets." But that waiting list "disappeared, season-ticket sales dropped dramatically, and the Buccaneers had home games blacked out." Many of the team's games this season "drew crowds of around only 40,000, even though the Bucs were one of the league's most surprising teams" (ESPN.com, 1/18).

CHEAPER VIEW: The Chargers are lowering the price of nearly 10% of tickets at Qualcomm Stadium for next season while keeping the same prices for all other seats for a franchise-record fourth consecutive season. The 6,500 View Level end zone tickets will cost $54, down about 15% from $63 this season (Chargers). The Chargers "had three games blacked out" this season, and Chargers Exec VP A.G. Spanos noted that the View Level seats are "perennially among the last to sell." Spanos added that he hopes the price decrease will "persuade people 'on the fence' to invest in season tickets." The Chargers are "allowing season ticket purchasers to pay in three installments, one more than in previous years" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/19).