In Seattle, Larry Stone notes the Mariners are debuting a dynamic pricing system for all single-game tickets, and 70% of all seats "will be priced at or below 2011 prices when they go up for sale on Saturday." Mariners Dir of Public Information Rebecca Hale "stressed that no dynamic-priced ticket will sell for less than the season-ticket price in the immediate seating area." All home games "will be divided into four categories, based on their perceived value." For the first time, tickets within "broad seating areas such as field, box and view can have different prices based on how close they are to the field." Hale said that the Mariners "don't know yet how often they'll readjust their prices" (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/9).
UP TO THE TEST: In Detroit, Bob Wojnowski wrote in "pro sports, the tests never end," and Pistons President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars is "in the midst of his most challenging." While the team's 13-26 record "still has them ticketed for the draft lottery, and The Palace has plenty of empty seats, signs of progress are popping up." It is "not Dumars' style to boldly declare anything, but you get the sense he emerged from two painful years with renewed vigor under new owner Tom Gores, who supports him." Dumars said, "I hated (the past two seasons) because this is not what we're about, not what I'm about. You fight your way through it" (DETROIT NEWS, 3/8).
NBA NOTES: T'Wolves Owner Glen Taylor Wednesday indicated he wants President of Basketball Operations David Kahn to return to the team next year. Kahn is "in the third year of a three-year contract," but the deal "includes two more years at the team's option." Taylor said that he and Kahn "will firm up the option at season's end" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 3/9)....The Clippers have announced the team's season-ticket pricing structure for next season. Season tickets will increase in cost by an average of 15%, and more than half -- over 9,000 seats -- will increase by 11% or less. It is the team's first price increase in six years (Clippers).
