The Hornets next season will reduce prices for 81% of tickets for the '13-14 season in a move "aimed at increasing ticket sales and product satisfaction," according to Jimmy Smith of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. In an effort to have “long-term sustainability in ticket sales,” the team next season will “introduce pricing plans that will vary within sections." Price reductions range from "a high of $2,124," which is a 44% discount from the current price, to "a low of $50." Additionally, 3,748 seats will be reduced by 20% or more and 2,162 seats will be "available in the arena at $10 or less per game.” Ticket prices for suites will be “announced at a later date.” All said, 13,598 of the 16,769 seats at New Orleans Arena "will go down in price.” The Hornets “rank 29th in the 30-team NBA in per-game attendance, averaging 13,656 per game in the arena.” To boost ticket sales, the club is “attempting to contact all former season ticket holders from the time of the Hornets' relocation in 2002 until now to gauge their interest in coming back, if their packages have lapsed.” Hornets President Dennis Lauscha said that because last year's franchise sale “wasn't officially approved until sometime in June, it was impossible to implement changes in price structures since the renewal process had already been under way since late February or early March.” Hornets Senior VP/Marketing & Business Development Ben Hales said that the “hope is past ticket holders who might no longer buy season tickets will have their interest piqued by reverse sticker shock.” Smith noted the team also “hopes to tap into some of the Saints season ticket holders as cross-over customers, as well as Saints sponsors.” Lauscha said that currently there is only a 28% "crossover between the clubs” (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 2/24).
