For the "first time in their 82 seasons, the Steelers will charge different prices for different games" in '14, and, for the "first time in two years, they will raise those ticket prices," according to Ed Bouchette of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. The Steelers "raised prices across the board" by an average of 3.5% for '14 and will have "three levels of pricing for each ticket, called variable ticket pricing." Preseason games will be reduced by 20% "or more (depending on seat location) from 2013, and there will be two prices for the same seats for games in the regular season, one called 'black' and the other 'gold'" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 4/6). In Pittsburgh, Alan Robinson noted the new pricing structure "boosts costs for some prime regular-season games." Prices will be announced "once the NFL regular-season schedule is set, probably later this month." Despite the "preseason ticket price cut, season ticket holders are seeing overall price hikes" of about 2.5-4.5%. The price increase is the Steelers' "second in three seasons." Under the new plan, ticket-holders "sitting in the cheapest and upper-most reaches of Heinz Field will pay $790 per season ticket, up from $770 a season ago." Those at field level along the Steelers' sideline near the 10-yard line "will pay $1,048, up from $1,000, or $100 per game" (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 4/6). Six NFL teams now use a variable pricing model: the Steelers, Lions, Patriots, Bills, Seahawks and Dolphins (THE DAILY).
