Giants Go To Dynamic Ticket Pricing System For All Games

They used this last year on a trial basis and are expanding it this year. Could be the wave of the future for a lot of teams. The article explains it:

Under the system, prices will rise and fall as a game nears based on factors influencing ticket demand, such as the weather forecast, the starting pitcher, the opponent and the likelihood that the Giants will make the playoffs.

about 2 years ago Al Yellon 25 comments 0 recs |

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Sounds reasonable to me

Why should the scalpers be the only ones to benefit from in-season dynamics.

by jerry morales rules on Feb 9, 2010 1:08 PM CST reply actions

So I can go see a Giants' game for $3 come August?

ZING!

(Sorry, I’m really bored today)

by chilango2 on Feb 9, 2010 1:10 PM CST reply actions

Last year

They were discounting tickets for designated games in a certain section (it changed from game to game) based on how many strikeouts Lincecum had in his last start. They knocked a buck off the price for each K. I believe at least once the ticket prices got down to $3. It may have even been in August.

by Josh Timmers on Feb 9, 2010 1:19 PM CST up reply actions

If the Pirates did this

Their September games might be 2 bits.

by Chi-Fed on Feb 9, 2010 1:24 PM CST reply actions

And if they did...

… more people would go to their games.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Feb 9, 2010 1:27 PM CST up reply actions

True

Lower prices doesn’t always mean lower profits.

by madcow256 on Feb 9, 2010 2:22 PM CST up reply actions

Actually,

In instances where the bulk of your operational costs are fixed, it usually leads to higher profits.

by Damen Jackson on Feb 9, 2010 2:44 PM CST up reply actions

Yup

The variable costs associated with larger crowds (extra security, vendors, cleanup, etc) are relatively minuscule compared to to the potential income.

by madcow256 on Feb 9, 2010 2:52 PM CST up reply actions

Exactly.

If, say, the Pirates had sold tickets to the games I went to, in September, for $1 each, they’d probably have gotten 5,000 more people to show up. They buy food and souvenirs and maybe they’d come back again. Instead, those seats went completely unsold.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Feb 9, 2010 2:59 PM CST up reply actions

The Marlins seem to understand this

My cousin used to go to games when he lived there for a few bucks a game when he lived there. And he’s a diehard Cubs fan with little interest in the Marlins. Knowing him they probably made $20+ back on every ticket in alcohol sales.

As much as I don’t like them because of 2003, by every account they are incredibly well managed by the front office (with the exception of their advertising and in-game promotions departments).

by madcow256 on Feb 9, 2010 3:16 PM CST up reply actions

One too many "when he lived there" phrases, sorry

by madcow256 on Feb 9, 2010 3:17 PM CST up reply actions

Smart, smart, smart...

Shame it will probably only last until season ticket sales pick back up.

by Damen Jackson on Feb 9, 2010 1:30 PM CST reply actions

In which case, the Giants make more money.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Feb 9, 2010 1:32 PM CST up reply actions

Will the beer, hot dog and parking prices change too?

I remember seeing a sign outside the HHH Metrodome some years ago, to the effect of $10 to park for Twins games and $20 for Vikings games. Same lot, same location, and (I think) same capacity.

by ChipSet on Feb 9, 2010 2:43 PM CST reply actions

Doubt it..

Concession is normally outsourced.

by Damen Jackson on Feb 9, 2010 2:45 PM CST up reply actions

I think it is a bad idea

a person won’t be able to plan ahead by buying tickets in advance at a set price (that may fit their budget).

The ball club itself could blatantly “hype” a certain game artificially, to create a false sense of importance, and in essence rip their own fans off just to make a bigger buck.

If you think you've seen it all...just wait!

by CubFanSince1970 on Feb 9, 2010 3:15 PM CST reply actions

I think most fans are smarter than that.

If the prices are too high, people won’t buy them.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Feb 9, 2010 3:44 PM CST up reply actions

Don't they already do that?

Don’t they already say “Don’t miss budding superstar Garrett Jones and the new-look Pirates as they visit the Giants for their only trip to San Francisco!”

I don’t think most teams could artificially hype a game more than they already do. Almost all fans don’t fall for it.

by Josh Timmers on Feb 9, 2010 7:22 PM CST up reply actions

Bought tickets a few days ago

I bought tickets to the Cubs series in San Fran. My seats are along the left field line. I’ll be interested to see how the ticket prices fluctuate for seats in that section as the season goes on.

by Jay Johnstone on Feb 9, 2010 3:40 PM CST reply actions

An example of dynamic pricing

I paid $30/ticket for my seats for the Aug. 9 game vs. the Cubs. Opening Day tickets vs. the Braves in the same section are $65.

by Jay Johnstone on Feb 9, 2010 8:55 PM CST up reply actions

Obviously, any team's Opening Day tickets are going to be more expensive....

… on a variable pricing scheme.

If the Cubs and Giants are both contenders by August, tickets like yours, if still available, will cost more than $30.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Feb 10, 2010 8:30 AM CST up reply actions

Yes, it is obvious...

I was just providing this as an example of how different ticket prices could be for different games. I would also think that ticket prices for the game I’m attending will most likely rise as the season goes on (if they remain available), which is why I wanted to lock them in now.

by Jay Johnstone on Feb 10, 2010 3:13 PM CST up reply actions

Which may be what a lot of people are trying to do.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Feb 10, 2010 3:39 PM CST up reply actions

Season Ticket Holders

I don’t see a problem with teams trying to eat into the extra money that people want to pay to see premium games, which currently goes to brokers.

But this could be an issue for season ticket holders. At the beginning of the season, they pay a set price for all games (though there may be a range based on time of year/day and opponent). If at the end of the year, they could have paid much less for similar seats to all games, what incentive do they have to renew? I guess the hope would be they would ultimately pay less than single game prices because the team was good.

by mph3 on Feb 9, 2010 5:19 PM CST reply actions