Cubs Season Ticket Renewals Out; Some Prices Up, Others Down
by Al Yellon on Dec 4, 2009 2:05 PM CST
in Chicago Cubs News
Email
PrintThe Cubs have begun emailing their season ticket renewal forms; many prices have remained the same from last year, some have been reduced.
For example, last year a "platinum" game in the bleachers cost $60. For 2010, that price has been reduced to $54 -- but the number of "platinum" games has been increased from 14 to 26. Other bleacher prices remain the same from 2009.
I do not know if single-game prices will match season ticket prices, but here is the ticket pricing sheet the Cubs sent (link opens .pdf)
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You won't know for a while...
… until after they find out how many people aren’t renewing.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Al, look at your bill closer
they didn’t add the tax to the ticket price, they add the total tax to the bill.
My Platium games are still $100 list, but the 12% amusement tax makes them $112 this year.
well i can sell u my season tickets
i have had mine for 26 years and i have to take a loan on my 401 k to pay for them i am looking to sell all my games
sec 129 row 3 seats 1-4 on the aisle
edo4cubs@aol.com
If there is enough interest....
… I will make a ticket exchange post for this — selling people’s season tickets.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Wow, yes. You mean people selling game by game, right? Not the whole season...
Now only 12,859 on the "Cubs Season Tickets Waiting List"...
Sure, but...
… if he wants to sell the whole season, and someone’s interested, why not?
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Thank you
I just do not have the money to own these any more but I also cannot transfer ownership ..the cubs will simply just take them…so I will have to sell them by the game ..I would appreciate it…
It's just hard getting my head around the concept of selling an entire season ticket package...
since I don’t own one and likely never will until I, you know, hit the lotto, retire and move to Chicago. In that order. ;)
Now only 12,859 on the "Cubs Season Tickets Waiting List"...
Al, this would be great.
I may be selling my 4 season seats as well. Job transfer but I know I’ll move back to Chicago someday…gotta keep my seats!
Go on Craig's list
Lots of people looking to buy season tickets.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Dec 4, 2009 10:13 PM CST up reply actions
subsidize your ST's
sell them on Stubhub. Waaaay better than dipping into your 401(k)…..
Just win the next game...!
I just figured it out the face value doe NOT include the tax
So whatever the face says thats not really the face of the tickets add another 12%
i add all the games by category the cubs sent me on the invoice and it comes up with the price without the tax included so now you have to tell the buyer you have to add 12% onto the face for the real price
That bleacher price reduction is genius.
The average buyer will be like “these are $6 cheaper!” and will rejoice (and possibly buy more) without realizing the expensive games have doubled.
Dum spiro spero…
Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
Well...
… for the person who maybe wants to buy 4 or 5 of those games, they will save money.
For the season ticket holder, not so much.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
And for the team...
… they get to look like they are reducing prices, while actually upping revenue.
Well played, Cubs. Well played.
Dum spiro spero…
Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
Or for someone like myself...
…that doesn’t have a season ticket, but goes to a lot of games.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
Not that I'm complaining.
I try to tell myself that the more I pay, the more money the team will have to spend. It helps ease the pain….a little.
Have they always had the “combination plan”? Who is eligible to get that?
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
No one.
It’s an old plan that they used to sell. They don’t sell it any more, but those who had it were grandfathered in to keep it.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Were they offered to the general public?
Or was that an option for season ticket holders?
I would have done the combination plan in a heartbeat.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
They were offered to the general public....
… back in the 1980’s and early 1990’s. I don’t think any new combo plans have been offered in at least 10 years, maybe 15.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
THe last year they offered Combo plans
was for the 2003 season. I know that because one of the people I sit with (and used to buy some of the games I could not go to) got her season ticket that year, and she has a combo plan. After the success in 2004, they eliminated that option for new season tickets, but grandfathered us who had it in.
Kasey
See the Cubs 2010 schedule at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/sched2010.html
Also see what old Cubs Scorecards looked like at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/scorecards.html
IIRC, I Got Mine After the 2003 Season
… starting in 2004. I believe that window they opened it up in was also the last year you could buy season tickets. Gave up the combo plan a couple of years ago for full season.
I stand corrected
I just checked with the person, and she told me it was indeed 2004 when she got her tickets, not 2003. And she also reminded me that 2004 was the last year combo’s were offered.
See the Cubs 2010 schedule at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/sched2010.html
Also see what old Cubs Scorecards looked like at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/scorecards.html
Hey ballhawk! I think I just scored 15 points in your contest.
Cubs reduce the price of some tickets. This counts, right????
Now only 12,859 on the "Cubs Season Tickets Waiting List"...
Hold your horses, Sparty-boy...
First of all, I’m not convinced yet this is a reduction in price of tickets. As my bleacher ticket analysis below shows, they haven’t really reduced the prices at all. Don’t know about the other sections yet.
Furthermore, the real test (at least as far as the contest goes) will have to wait until they announce the single game ticket prices. I think that’s a fairer test of whether or not prices have been reduced.
But feel free to try and curry my favor with gifts, trinkets and under-the-table payments. After all, this is Chicago… ;-)
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I hear new garbage cans are always in vogue as bribe gifts...
At least, that’s what the aldermen all say… ;)
And as I said in my “IT’S HAPPENING???? CONTEST” post, it’s going to take a longshot to win it I think.
(#15 – Cubs lower ticket prices on some seats. )
“Heh, heh…” (Rubs hands together)
Now only 12,859 on the "Cubs Season Tickets Waiting List"...
tell you what...
one of those blue wooden saw horses with “Ald. Ballhawk – 44th Ward” on it would be sweet.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
I got my combo plan for the 2004 season
2 years ago considered moving to full season, but then realized I couldn’t go back to Combo. It’s nice that the Cubs let us be grandfathered in. They could easily say: full season or bust.
Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08 (http://www.wearecubsfans.com)
I did the math on the bleacher ticket prices and I don't see any reduction
Add the 12% tax on the new “reduced” prices and the amounts come out almost the same as last year.
$54 + 12% = $60.48 (last year $60)
$45 + 12% = $50.40 ($50)
$36 + 12% = $40.32 ($40)
$22 + 12% = $24.64 ($25)
Well, apparently I lied. There is a price reduction at the Bronze level. So I guess if you really want to stick it to the man, only go to those 6 bronze games and you’d be saving $2.16. Yeah! Right on! Power to the people!
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Yes, you're correct.
It was unclear the way they put it on the pricing list, compared to the invoice total.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
They quasi 'hid' the increases
by upping the Platinum game count from 14 to 26. And IIRC, they took away several games from the Silver games to do that. So going from Silver to Platinum is a pretty big jump; 25% for my tix.
Just win the next game...!
There is absolutely a price increase!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This year my tickets went up 12%…
Why ??? Because the cubs are now passing along the 12% Cook County Amusement Tax that used to be included in the ticket price.
Of course the Cubs are claiming there is no price increase but there is no way around saying the cost of my package went up 12%!
Did the TOTAL price go up 12%?
That 12% tax was always included in your ticket price. Look at your tickets from 2009 — the tax is printed right on the ticket.
Compare the TOTAL you paid last year to the TOTAL you are paying for 2010. That’s your increase. Mine is about 5%.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Amusement Tax
That 12% tax doesn’t seem too amusing to me.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
You are correct that they split out the tax as a separate item this year.
But again, I ask you to go back and look at what you paid in 2009 — total amount — and compare it to the total amount you are being asked to pay next year.
The Cubs aren’t “passing along” anything. You have always paid the amusement tax — it’s just that it has never been listed separately on your invoice before.
Again, look at your 2009 tickets. The tax is printed on the ticket. You paid it last year — you have always paid it. You didn’t get a 12% increase this year because of the tax.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Al – my full cost of my tickets are $800 more – face value of each ticket is the same
by Reed's Johnson on Dec 4, 2009 2:50 PM CST up reply actions
That doesn't make any sense.
What seats do you have?
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
It sure does make sense
Last year my package cost $6200 and change for 4 seats in the 500’s & this year $7000 and change – face value is the same on each ticket as last year
by Reed's Johnson on Dec 4, 2009 4:39 PM CST up reply actions
Yes but last year they"included" the 12% tax
This year it is seperate. This will be interensting when folks order on line or at box office. To the best of my knowledge all other teams include the tax. Might drive tickets.com crazy.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Dec 4, 2009 4:57 PM CST up reply actions
WRONG
heres my invoice
i did not pay this tax last year
Total Charges: 23280.00
Total 12% Amusement Tax: 2793.60
Total Paid/Credits: 0.00
Grand Total Due 1/8/10 Amount Due: 26073.60
Per Ticket 81 Game Package
2009 2010 % Increase
Club Box IF $7,000.00 $7,795.20 11.4%
Club Box OF $5,785.00 $6,518.40 12.7%
Field Box IF $5,785.00 $6,518.40 12.7%
Field Box OF $4,735.00 $5,152.00 8.8%
Terrace Box IF $4,294.00 $4,788.00 11.5%
Terrace Box OF $3,869.00 $4,058.88 4.9%
Upper Deck Box IF $4,294.00 $4,788.00 11.5%
Upper Deck Box OF $3,869.00 $4,058.88 4.9%
Terrace Reserved IF $2,718.00 $2,924.32 7.6%
Terrace Reserved OF $2,400.00 $2,563.68 6.8%
UppDeck Reserved IF $1,643.00 $1,823.36 11.0%
UppDeck Reserved OF $1,528.00 $1,597.12 4.5%
by Reed's Johnson on Dec 4, 2009 7:32 PM CST up reply actions
Actually, you did pay the tax.
They’re just splitting it out separate from the ticket price on the invoice, and yes, there is an increase as a result.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
al, the cubs say my tickets didnt go up in price… but I am paying more….spin it how you want
by Reed's Johnson on Dec 4, 2009 9:19 PM CST up reply actions
This is like "Fuzzy Math"
I don’t know if they’re trying to be slick or what, but it DEFINITELY amounts to a 12% increase if the face value of the ticket prices remained the same.
My two terrace reserved infield seats (combo plan) are $1806 each + 12% tax = $2022.72 each.
In 2009 they were $1910 each—inclusive of the tax. And that was for 55 games (as opposed to 54 this year.)
So here’s the question for you tax pros out there… can we deduct the amusement tax in the same manner that we can deduct sales tax paid for big ticket items?
Eamus Catuli!
It is fuzzy math.
Your increase isn’t 12%. It’s 5.9%. You are paying $112.72 more than you did last year.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
It's actually a 7.86% increase on a per game basis
2009: $1,910 per seat for 55 games = $34.73 per seat per game.
2010: 2,022.72 per seat for 54 games = $37.46 per seat per game.
Eamus Catuli!
That's because there are more platinum games.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
You did pay it.
It was embedded in the price. It did go up from 11% in ’09 to 12% in ’10.
Just win the next game...!
Game times.
The Cubs included a schedule which had home game times listed. I have put those into the BCB tentative 2010 Cubs schedule which is always on the left sidebar.
Times are listed for 131 games. The only ones missing are road games at Braves, Dodgers, White Sox, Rangers and Rockies, and Saturday games that could become Fox games. ESPN does not release its telecast schedule till January.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Braves Starting Times
I don’t have a link to it, but I got a flyer in the snail mail from the Braves. The April 5 game was listed at 3 PM central (4 PM eastern) with the April 7 and 8 games listed at 6 PM central (7 PM eastern).
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
Thanks for the info.
That probably means starts of 3:10, 6:10 and 6:10 — the Braves generally start their games at 10 past the hour. I’ll adjust the opening day countdown clock.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I'm not gonna look, no I'm not, I'm not gonna look, a return flight would cost 1,371.70 Euros (cattle class, 2 night stay in Chicago),
please don’t let me look, well maybe a peek wouldn’t cause any harm, if I find a really really cheap hotel, then I could stay longer and the flight would be cheaper, naw, I shouldn’t open that PDF…………
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
Actually it's an interesting (failed) historical aircraft
The Avion III (sometimes referred to as the Aquilon or the Éole III) was a primitive steam-powered aircraft built by Clément Ader between 1892 and 1897...
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
Suprised
I thought that the Cubs only offered a “all or nothing” season ticket. Either all 81 games or nothing.
How long have they offered the 54 and 18 game plans?
PS – I am currently ~54,000 on the wait list. I don’t think this will have any effect on me…
"There are no curses here...Games are won and lost on the baseball field" - Lou Piniella
The 54 and 18 game plans...
…. are holdovers. They used to offer these and have allowed those who have them to keep them, but they are not selling any new ones.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
The 54-game plan has been around for a while.
I want to say my family got it towards the end of the 90’s, but I could be off on that.
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
if it makes you feel any better
a guy in my office that just signed up is ~109,000
---AC 00 00 00 - Believe
Interesting, because...
… supposedly, the total count is at 112,000.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
For my tickets It went up a bit...
Infield Terrace reserved – Combo plan. Last year – $1910.00, this year $2022.72. ABout a 6% increase. I have not gone and figured out if that is just from the increase of platinum games or what.
Kasey
See the Cubs 2010 schedule at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/sched2010.html
Also see what old Cubs Scorecards looked like at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/scorecards.html
Mine went up maybe 8%
from $2718 to $2924. The strange thing is the tax which has always been included. Does’t this mean someone ordering tickets on line at box office etc will now pay a weird odd amout with change ?
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
Did everyone get their invoice today ( I mean season ticket holders) ?
I didn’t yet.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
I got mine
Mine came about 2:00 this afternoon. Maybe the ticket office still has your old email address on file. I would check with them
See the Cubs 2010 schedule at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/sched2010.html
Also see what old Cubs Scorecards looked like at http://cubsbythenumbers.com/scorecards.html
No they have the new one
I will check
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Dec 4, 2009 3:23 PM CST up reply actions
Ok now I don't feel so bad
Not like I am in a hurry to give them almost $6,000
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Dec 4, 2009 3:26 PM CST up reply actions
At Least
… you’re not also writing a check to the Washington Nationals.
Talk about throwing good money after bad….
I don't have mine yet, either.
Can’t figure out why all emails couldn’t have been sent at the same time, but apparently, they go out in batches.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I doubt anyone's season ticket cost went down
If your ticket was platinum ticket was $40 last year and is $36 now with a 12% amusement tax, that’s $40.32. Bleacher tickets really went from platinum $60 (inc. amusement tax) to $60.48 fro 2010.
How the Cubs play mostly the same teams from 2009 to 2010 and increased Platinum and Gold tickets from48 to 56 is some nice new math.
My tickets went up 6.82%
Got mine
Email was sent at 1:50 this afternoon
Still STUPIDLY cheap for premium seats
The idea that you should get a Club Box IF seat to ANY game for under $100 (or $150, for that matter) is absurd. Platinum games should be $300.
So a THIRD of the Cubs' home schedule is now "platinum" games?
Ridiculous. Nice little stealthy way of raising prices without actually appearing to do so. Pretty soon all but a handful of games will be at the “premium” and “platinum” price points.
Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.
FWIW: Cubs raising ticket prices on prime seats for 2010 (www.chicagobreakingsports.com)
Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -
If I Lived In Chicago...
and was fortunate enough to afford an automobile, I would go to a lot of Schaumburg Flyers and Windy City Thunderbolts games. I’d even go to some Kane County Cougars contests. Yes, I would even go to some Monday half-price White Sox games. Because of the exorbitant prices, I would only go to a handful of games at Wrigley Field.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
Face value prices are nothing
Compared to scalper prices to 1/3rd of the games.
Chicagoan in the Lou.
I want to sell my season tickets
I just got my invoice from the Cubs..
I have had 4 season tickets for 26 years and they have now went up $13000 in 4 years… on top of the prices going up again , Chicago has put an additional 12% tax over the face on the tickets…
So now I have to take a loan out to pay for my season tickets and I am a teacher. The price of the tickets is 60% of my salary …so so much for the average person being able to afford having season tickets..
If anyone is interested in buying any games, I have 4 tickets in row 3 section 129 on the aisle
contact me at edo4cubs@aol.com
Clarification.
You have paid this tax all along. The Cubs are just splitting it out separately this year. It’s not “additional” this year.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
The amusement tax did increase
from 11% to 12%, accordingly to the Tribune.
Also, interestingly, there will be additional season tickets sold due to the ownership change.
Click here for additional info
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Dec 4, 2009 8:48 PM CST up reply actions
it is additional ill show u my last 2 years invoices
Event Aisle Row Seats # of Tks Amount
Daily Package 4 23140.00
129 3 4 -1
Number Value Total
4 5785.00 23140.00
Total Charges: 23140.00
Total Paid/Credits: 23140.00
Grand Total Due 1/19/09 Amount Due: 0.00
Now this years
Event Aisle Row Seats # of Tks Amount
Daily Package 4 23280.00
129 3 4 -1
Number Value Total
4 5820.00 23280.00
Total Charges: 23280.00
Total 12% Amusement Tax: 2793.60
Total Paid/Credits: 0.00
Grand Total Due 1/8/10 Amount Due: 26073.60
and here is my invoice in 2007 they went up 11000 in 2 years
Daily Package 2007 4 15284.00
129 3 4 -1
Number Value Total
4 3821.00 15284.00
Total Charges: 15959.00
Total Paid/Credits: 15959.00
I beg to differ.
It’s added on to the “Face Value” of the ticket. That’s why the invoices are for non-round totals.
My total is $4045.44 for two seats. That’s a combination of the face value of the seats ($3612) PLUS the 12% tax ($433.44).
Eamus Catuli!
Per above
You can go to Craig’s list for people wanting to buy but I might suggest you go to some of reputable brokers ( not an oximoron)
who would be willing to buy your tickets and let you keep some of the game to use yourself.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Dec 4, 2009 10:16 PM CST up reply actions
Interesting quote from Kenney from the above linked article
“We understand our season ticket holders in particular use the secondary market as a way of underwriting their ticket purchases,” Kenney said. “It’s a fact of life. We’re over that. That’s fine. So we did the $5 (average) increase on those premium games as a way of trying to push the burden of our ticket price increase on those games, leaving the ticket prices flat for most of our games, for most of our seats.”
Perhaps you use the “secondary markets”. I subsidize 75% of my ST costs by selling Opening Day, Sox, and 3-4 Saturday games.
Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08 (http://www.wearecubsfans.com)
wow
I sell some of those same games but it sure does not cover anywhere near 75% of my total cost.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Dec 5, 2009 11:01 AM CST up reply actions
How do you get several hundred percent margin
on even those tix to yield 75% of your ST costs?
Just win the next game...!
Amusement Tax, eh?
I go out to get some milk, I come home and I find my son treating his body as if it was an amusement park!
Are you on Twitter? Check out the BCB and Cubs Twitter Community! Post your Twitter name and start tweeting with us!
I have an excel program that i calculate the price with
the average price across the board for my infield box no matter what they say went up 10 dollars…. so contact me if u want to buy any or all of the games i have left ….edo4cubs@aol.com
row 3 section 129 seats 1 to 4
Please repost this ...
… in the season ticket resale post I have set up for this purpose.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
thanks but
i cant use your season ticket exchange because some of my tickets already sold on stub hub and therefore i do not have an entire season left
You can also use the ticket exchanges...
… during the season, when I post them.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Up 11% overall for the tix I buy
off a ST holder. Think the wife will really give me crap for writing a 5-figure check that’s a few grand higher than even last season.
The big shift I saw was Silver game quantity dropping quite a bit and Platinum game quantity nearly doubling.
Can’t focus too much on this right now, ‘Hawks in a big physical battle with the ’guins. They’re up 1-0 on a nice Hossa rebound goal.
Just win the next game...!
My season tickets up 17.2%
My Double Play plan season tickets (18 games) for the upper-deck box infield renewal email arrived today. The price jumped 17.2% from last year ( $1,068.48 for 2010 vs. $912 for 2009).
Probably because you have more platinum games in your plan.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
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