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Sabres Season-Ticket Holders Disappointed By Price Hike, Feel Underappreciated By Team

The Sabres' recent hike in season-ticket prices "was disappointing" to holders of those seats, as was the "absence of reasoning behind it," according to John Vogl of the BUFFALO NEWS. The "skyrocketing prices," which are expected to increase by about 4% across the board, are "near a saturation point." Fans feel as if the Sabres "don't appreciate" them and their loyalty. Fans also feel that the "lack of giveaways is disturbing," and the arena experience at First Niagara Center "is poor." Fan Brett Buda said, "Fan loyalty is taken for granted and they do a poor job of tailoring the game-day experience for their core fans." Vogl noted the Sabres "have a lot of room to improve if they want to please their 16,000 season-ticket holders." Since the annual ticket renewal rate hovers in the 95% range, there are "plenty of things that make being a diehard worthwhile." But fan Jill Hewitt said, "Season-ticket holders should be rewarded for the amount of money we spend on tickets. Why aren't there any milestone 'gifts' when a certain anniversary is reached? Say every 5 or 10 years? I know other teams do this." Fans "receive virtually no tangible bonus for being a regular." The Sabres "have chosen to give back" 2.5% of the season-ticket price "in the form of a SabreBucks card rather than provide giveaways." Fan Peter Morris said, "SabreBucks are a nice gesture, but they hardly make a dent in the extras you need or want to buy over the course of a season." Vogl wrote fans can "live without free stuff if they feel they're getting value for their dollar," but losing seasons "combined with a stale atmosphere have made for a diminishing return." Season-ticket holders so far "have absorbed the hits." Vogl: "They would just appreciate if a few bonuses came along with them" (BUFFALO NEWS, 4/3).

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