The MLS Chicago Fire are nearing their best-ever mark for new season tickets sold, and credit the success to the club’s offseason revamping of ticket payment plans. The team since October has sold roughly 1,850 new season tickets for the '11 season. The team’s best season-ticket sales came in '98, its inaugural season, when the club sold 1,936 season tickets through the entire year. The club has also renewed existing season tickets at 71%, up 10% from '10. In August, the team conducted a survey of team supporters in an attempt to boost ticket sales. After the survey, the team created a 12-month payment plan for new buyers, and included free parking for all season-ticket holders (parking fees are $15 per game). The team also conducted a season-ticket offer through Groupon.com that sold 400 season tickets at the $450 price point for $150 (the discounted tickets did not include parking or the new payment plan). “Ownership came to us and said they wanted to double the season-ticket base in the next few years,” said Fire Dir of Ticket Sales Mike Ernst. “We decided to listen to the fans to hear what they wanted.”
