76ers CEO Adam Aron yesterday announced the team is not raising the face value of tickets to "regular" games next season. However, the surcharge for Select and Choice games in the lower bowl will increase by $5 or $10, respectively, to cause an overall increase in ticket prices for those seats (76ers). The announcement follows the "decision by the new owners when they bought the team to reduce the cost of almost" 9,000 seats. The team announced that prices for "front-row courtside seats will increase, but fans will get a 'new unlimited food and beverage entitlement.'" Prices will "rise for the two or three front rows of folding seats 'inside the dashers,' but those seats will be replaced with new plush leather seating." The team said that the amount of discounts "below face value for seats in the first 10 rows of center court and either side of center will be 'somewhat tightened.'" Additional discounts "will be offered to season plan buyers" of 1% to 5% off, "depending on the payment plan option they select" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 3/8). Aron also announced yesterday that the 76ers will provide packages and experiences for season-ticket holders beginning in the '12-13 season via a new membership club called the Franklin Club. There eventually will be a one-time $500 initiation fee to join the club. However, the fee will be waived for all '12-13 season-ticket holders. The Franklin Club will have five levels of benefits, a basic membership and four Elite Levels, based on seating locations and includes a variety of rewards such as watching pregame warm-ups and private team functions (76ers).
