Ask The Orioles

[Mayor McCheese]

Ticketing:
With respect to the differences between advanced ticket prices and day of game ticket prices, it is important to have some background. When this change in designation was made a few years ago, we were at a stage when a difficult decision was being made as to whether we would raise all ticket prices or just raise prices for those buying tickets the day of a game. What is commonly thought of as a surcharge is in fact the full price of the ticket, the lower price represents a discount. We believed, and still do believe, that offering a discount to those who make a commitment to purchase in advance is a better solution than raising all prices. We look at this as though you are getting a bonus for buying early, not a penalty for waiting or making a last minute decision.

In terms of attendance, our own evidence indicates that it has not been negatively affected by charging full price on game days. Our walk up attendance is equal to and in many cases exceeding historic levels, and last year we had some of the largest walk-up crowds on record. Industry trends have also demonstrated that differently priced tickets for advance and gameday sales have not negatively impacted attendance.

We encourage fans who wish to save on the full price of a ticket to become a season plan holder (when possible) or to purchase single game tickets in advance.

OK so we ranked:
26 out of 30 parks in attendance in 2011.
24 out of 30 parks in attendance in 2010.
21 out of 30 parks in attendance in 2009.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance/_/year/2011

Of course those numbers are also purely inflated by teams including NON-REV tickets that are given to sponsors.

So in response for 3 straight seasons attendance levels have dropped your answer is to raise ticket prices and add walk-up fee's =

Now you are telling the average fan to spend hundreds of dollars on season ticket plans or plan ahead to goto a game...now why would I buy tickets for a game in advance where I might get called into work, bad weather, etc.

Just admit it... you guys applied VTS (Variable Ticketing Strategies) to make more profits in response to decreasing attendance figures....

The fans are smarter than you. PERIOD.

[weams]

Concessions:

I am actually ok with all of this. I was ok with the previous vendor/partner and I am ok with the new one. The liberal outside food drink policy works well for me.

[weams]

Ticketing

I am not angry that the Orioles decided that for their business model that a full price of the ticket increase was thought to be necessary for continued viability. I just think it is a poor strategy considering the quality of the on field product and emptiness of the stadium on most dates. I can not see that a "sale price ticketing" approach would not fill more seats and produce a better revenue stream.

We all know that the real solution is to win more games than are lost. The pricing would be very reasonable if that were to be the future results.

[weams]

Personnel

I believe that the Orioles have finally taken a top to bottom restructuring that may improve the way the organization performs as a "Professional Baseball Team." I never care how much money is spent to improve the team, but I do I think that the focus on what constitutes acceptable performance of player and executive employee has been poor compared to other organizations. The past fourteen years of Orioles work has not been to a level of excellence to deserve a year end profitability. Hire the correct individuals to change this and spend what is necessary to accomplish it and I will never care how enormous the profits might become.

[weams]

I believe that the Orioles have finally taken a top to bottom restructuring that may improve the way the organization performs as a "Professional Baseball Team." I never care how much money is spent to improve the team, but I do I think that the focus on what constitutes acceptable performance of player and executive employee has been poor compared to other organizations. The past fourteen years of Orioles work has not been to a level of excellence to deserve a year end profitability. Hire the correct individuals to change this and spend was is necessary to accomplish it and I will never care how enormous the profits might become.

What I am saying here is that the experience of the fans over the last decade and a half has been a net negative. Any level of financial commitment by the fans has been a loss for them individually. So if the Business of the Orioles has not also been a loss, that is inappropriate given the poor product that has been offered. A look at every aspect of the business that can allow it to be profitable with continued bad product is what is necessary and it must be corrected.

[weams]

Personnel

It is not necessary for the team to be competitive annually. No amount of spin or hype can correct the downward spiral of team performance over the last three front office management committees. The Executive Management staff is responsible for this continued poor performance and any aspect of the corporate culture that permits this needs to be removed and restructured with new personnel and new ideas replacing them. The team needs to be built in a way that wins more games than it losses and in a sustainable way that permits competition for the post season on occasion. This is a minimum standard. In a way, every person who spends money on the Orioles or Masn at every level is a stakeholder in the product and the stakeholders are no longer accepting the extremely inefficient way that poor product is dealt with.

[grimed1]

[QUOTE=Official Orioles;2701883]Concessions:

Ticketing:
With respect to the differences between advanced ticket prices and day of game ticket prices, it is important to have some background. When this change in designation was made a few years ago, we were at a stage when a difficult decision was being made as to whether we would raise all ticket prices or just raise prices for those buying tickets the day of a game. What is commonly thought of as a surcharge is in fact the full price of the ticket, the lower price represents a discount. We believed, and still do believe, that offering a discount to those who make a commitment to purchase in advance is a better solution than raising all prices. We look at this as though you are getting a bonus for buying early, not a penalty for waiting or making a last minute decision.

In terms of attendance, our own evidence indicates that it has not been negatively affected by charging full price on game days. Our walk up attendance is equal to and in many cases exceeding historic levels, and last year we had some of the largest walk-up crowds on record. Industry trends have also demonstrated that differently priced tickets for advance and gameday sales have not negatively impacted attendance.

We encourage fans who wish to save on the full price of a ticket to become a season plan holder (when possible) or to purchase single game tickets in advance.


But you also raised ticket prices. The premium games ticket price were increased over the prior three years. Also you changed the designation of certain seats, Some lower reserved seats became lower box and upper reserved seats became upper box. You did not change the price but you made more seats in the higher price range based on what is now considered a boxseat as opposed to reserved seating. Also the general admission sections got smaller.

[waroriole]

But you also raised ticket prices. The premium games ticket price were increased over the prior three years. Also you changed the designation of certain seats, Some lower reserved seats became lower box and upper reserved seats became upper box. You did not change the price but you made more seats in the higher price range based on what is now considered a boxseat as opposed to reserved seating. Also the general admission sections got smaller.

Well, I'll be interested to see the spin on this. Of course, I'm sure it will just be ignored.

Here's a question that will get answered: Can the Oriole bird come to my birthday party?

[grimed1]

Well, I'll be interested to see the spin on this. Of course, I'm sure it will just be ignored.

Here's a question that will get answered: Can the Oriole bird come to my birthday party?

Only if you pay by the hour. He gets lawyer rates.

They can say, I am not telling the truth,but I have pocket schedules over the years that show both premium price increases and changes in the seating bowl. Some sections gave changed color and price and what they are called.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Right on..I didn't buy Ravens post season tix (I'm a season tix holder) because I could not afford it. I watched the game and didn't wonder (or complain) whose ass might be sitting in my seats.

Well, that's a completely different issue. Those are tickets you declined to purchase, and someone else purchased them instead. This is about people who bought the tickets but didn't attend, and others taking those seats.

The seats in question are very visible and expensive. The people who historically buy those tickets are the same people who have been historically the biggest complaint about the fans attending games: businesses and wealthy individuals who use those seats for social purposes, not to watch a ballgame. You don't think that within that group there are people who will see others in those seats, call the club and scream about it?

That has nothing to do with the policy or its enforcement, it's just the basis of the issue.

[Sports Guy]

What the Orioles failed to mention is that walk ups are solid because of all the Boston and NY games, which brings in THEIR fans...they don't care about the extra fees because its still a lot cheaper than going to Yankee Stadium or Fenway.

Did you guys expect anything more than the "form letter" answers?

[CA-ORIOLE]

Cliff notes version:

We have an owner who isn't really committed to winning and would rather pocket O's/MASN profits than reinvest them in the team. In additon to that we've had cronyism and organizational incompetence ingrained for a generation. Dan Duquette will do what he can within those constraints.

I suppose this violates house rules.

[SammyBirdland]

We have an owner who isn't really committed to winning

LOL, that's like saying Charlie Sheen isn't really committed to sobering up.

[weams]

And he doesn't even have a Bobblehead. This must be corrected.

Thank You.

And Thank You for already allowing Brady to hire those strength and performance coaches and trainers.

[PrivateO]

Typical responses. Anyone that thought otherwise hasn't been paying attention to the past 14 years.