The Mets have announced a widespread season-ticket price reduction for the '12 season, the third consecutive annual move designed to stem flagging Citi Field attendance. After season-ticket prices were cut an average of 14% for the '11 season, next year's rates will carry no increases for any season-ticket holder, and at least a 10% cut for more than half of the ballpark's seats. The club also has consolidated or expanded several Citi Field seating categories, allowing some fans to upgrade seat locations at no additional cost. The Amazin' Mets Perks rewards program, introduced last year, also returns in expanded form with an increased amount of tangible and experiential benefits. The Mets this season saw attendance decline 8% to 2.35 million, its third straight decrease and lowest total for the club since a 91-loss '04 season at Shea Stadium (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal). In N.Y., Ken Belson noted the Mets have "simplified their price tiers, which have sometimes confused fans, by eliminating about eight of them" (NYTIMES.com, 10/4). The team also announced that it will "introduce a limited number of full season ticket packages for only $12 per seat per game -- or $972 for the entire season" (N.Y. POST, 10/5). Mets Exec VP/Business Operations Dave Howard said, "We've just been adjusting to all of the market forces and factors." He added, "I think we were in a somewhat unfortunate circumstance opening up a new ballpark during the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. And obviously the team's performance has been disappointing over the last seasons. Those are the principal factors for it" (NEWSDAY, 10/5).
PRICE IS RIGHT: The Mets said they will also begin dynamic pricing next year, joining several other MLB clubs such as the Giants, White Sox, D’Backs, A's and Brewers that have implemented such a system. The Mets' dynamic pricing will be powered by Qcue Inc., and like most other clubs active in this space, tickets priced dynamically will be permitted to move lower than season-ticket rates. The ticket pricing moves follow the Mets' recent signing of a seven-year ticketing deal with MLBAM-owned Tickets.com Inc (Fisher).
