Season ticket prices announced…
Posted on May 9th, 2008 – 11:30 AMBy Kent Youngblood
Today the Wild announced season ticket prices for the upcoming season. If you’re currently a ticket holder in the club level, it’s good news. The 2008-09 season will be the third and final year of a price-freeze at that level. If you hold season tickets in either the upper or lower level, however, there will be per-game increases ranging from $2 to $5. We’ll have all the info in the paper tomorrow. I just thought I’d give you a heads up right now.
Single-game ticket prices will be announced at a later date.
58 Responses to "Season ticket prices announced…"
Damn. I’m in 102. Timmonen injury will hurt Flyers.
I hope ticket prices for the Recliner section Row 1 Seat 1 remained the same…
Nice. I guess the Wild need more revenue to spend on players. Oh wait, there is a salary cap. And they’re already profitable.
I guess it must be a fuel surcharge or something… 
kj,
You think that Zamboni moves around the ice by itself? They need the extra income to put gas in the Zamboni! 
I guess it must be a fuel surcharge or something
Actually, kj, it’s been reported that they lost $10.5 billion for the first three months of the year!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24270864/
…Oh, wait. That was Delta/Northwest….nevermind.
bfw, from the last thread, can they buy out contracts? Does the CBA allow that?
Nobody ever is willing to have someone else make any money on them, and we live in a capitalistic society?
People, if I choose any of you as a vendor, I want you to be profitable and to stay in business and to prosper … because otherwise you will not be there for whatever future goods or services I want to purchase.
It is a partnership. I want to watch NHL hockey, so I buy a ticket. I want the Wild to be a good so maybe they need more scouts or coaches, etc. It is an escalation process.
Of course fees go up, just look at inflation.
We are caught in the middle, it is just the way it is. I’m broke and will probably stay that way but I enjoy life a lot.
Do Zamboni’s run on propane? Prices have tripled since the Wild were born 
Does the CBA allow that?
Yes. In a nutshell, it would cost CL 2/3rds of the remaining value of the contract ($5.567M).
That amount is spread out evenly over twice the remaining length of the contract (3yrs remaining x 2 = 6 years total).
That’s over $927K per year. *Gulp*.
The cap hit, however, ranges from $727K to $927K for the next 6 yrs.
Sounds pretty ridiculous…
But it’s fairly reasonable to expect the cap to continue to increase, in which case the relatively flat amount of the buyout would be decreasingly significant.
(I never did understand the contract we gave him, particularly the length.)
just posted, coach Q out at CO.
http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_9206746
another one rumored for the Toronto job.
M 03,
Sounds like his contract would have expired June 30, and that they hadn’t offered an extention.
http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_9187433?source=commented-avalanche
That Toronto team is a mess. But in today’s NHL, you can go from outhouse t penthouse pretty d@mn quick (see: Flyers.)
———–
What is the trade market for Parrish?
Is there any club that would be willing to take on his salary (nearly $3M/yr)?
Boo! Time to start selling seats down in 114,
Remembering the Seinfeld episode about breakups, is it possible for a coach and a GM to mutually breakup?
Parrish is not very tradeable at the moment, I would guess.
I can’t believe I haven’t heard this story until now. Maybe I’m the only one left that didn’t know this, but just in case I’m going to share:
In recent years, the golden-coloured loonie ($1 Canadian coin) became associated with Canada’s winning hockey and curling teams and has been viewed as a good-luck charm in international competition. The legend began during the 2002 Winter Olympics, when a Canadian icemaker for the ice surfaces in the ice hockey tournament, Trent Evans, had buried a loonie under centre ice. The original reason for placing the loonie was to assist in the puck-drop: the centre ice at Salt Lake was emblazoned with a large logo, and was missing the customary circle used by the referee and face-off players as a target for the puck - so he needed to add some kind of a dot as a puck target that would not stand out, and a loonie buried under the ice served well. Both the men’s and women’s hockey teams would win gold in the tournament, the men’s 50 years to the day after their last gold medal victory. Following the Games, Team Canada executive director Wayne Gretzky recovered the coin and gave it to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
A loonie was also used at the IIHF World Hockey Championships between Canada and Sweden on May 11, 2003. This lucky loonie is known affectionately as the Helsinki Loonie. It was hidden surreptitiously before the Gold-Medal hockey game and saw Team Canada to victory. After forward Anson Carter scored against Swedish goaltender Mikael Tellqvist in overtime to win the World Hockey Championship for Canada, Team Canada officials admitted they had placed a Loonie in the padding beneath the crossbar of the Swedish net.
I tried a couple searches to see if the lucky loonie is in place at this years IIHF World Hockey Championships in Canada. I wasn’t able to find confirmation either way.
In 2006, it was a huge deal in Turin. Countries had to check the ice to make sure that nothing was underneath the surface.
Bye Bye Blake…
Many thanks for your continued support this past season. Each of you was an important part of our Team of 18,000, night after night. There is no doubt your unwavering support helped your team achieve its first-ever Northwest Division championship. We want to thank you for your role in this achievement and we also realize the ultimate goal still lies ahead.
Our playoff outcome serves as yet another reminder of how competitive the NHL has become, particularly our division. And, our core of young players gained valuable experience playing in pressure situations throughout the regular season and the playoffs. With this in mind, we will continue on our path of improvement and address the strategic roster decisions that are necessary this off-season.
In the next few days, you’ll be receiving important season ticket renewal information for the 2008-2009 season. You’ll notice new rewards and a more flexible payment plan option, all with the hope that we can continue to make your “Wild” experience unparalleled in professional sports.Please contact your personal account representative or a member of the Customer Sales & Service Team at (651) 222-WILD should you have any questions regarding the renewal process.
I look forward to seeing you at Season Ticket Holder events this summer and can’t wait to put the ice back in at Xcel Energy Center in September.
Sincerely,
Doug Risebrough
A in H…
Whenever I hear that story, all I can think of is the “Blame Canada” song from South Park the Movie.
On a seperate note, I’m watching the Slovakia-Slovenia relegation game at the Worlds right now. Talk about a toungue twister…
Tough game to call on the radio for sure Lapper!
They better do something next season with the increase other than going out in the first round. again it shows the weakness is in the front office
DB,
Whaddya think the “more flexible payment plan option” will look like?
I wonder what other teams STH options are?
I wouldn’t mind a little more flexible plan, you?
What is the trade market for Parrish?
Is there any club that would be willing to take on his salary (nearly $3M/yr)?
Everyone has a price. It would depend on what the Wild would be willing to take back in return.
WOW $2 - $5 a ticket!! Yikes
Are we trying to buy a Stanley Cup?
Just saw this from last thread:
I tend to love anyone who’s finnish. But that’s just me.
My compliments for your excellent taste in ethnicities!
This may have already been discussed but what is Voros statis? Are we signing him or are we not? Does anybody know, rus”cough”so?
Okay, so it’s Friday afternoon, the Pens game doesn’t start for a while, so I start browsing through the Central Scouting lists, trying to figure out who’s going to be around when we draft at #24, and here’s one who jumped out at me:
http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=345431
Let’s hear some other folks’ ideas.
Well, I guess it depends on what we’re looking for? Or I should say what DR and JL are looking for. We think they need D and they pick up a forward. We need a center, they get Simon. It’s hard to say.
Which person at the Wild offices gets the ‘weenie’ award for this one? Or should we blame No. 2 for not spilling the beans to us season ticket holders?
(Nothing in my mailbox today, either.)
No one can be honest with me today. 
Well if they’re raising ticket prices I guess thats less games for the Mr and me. We don’t make a lot, so this year was a stretch if we couldn’t get the cheapest ones. I know things go up (well, everything but my pay) but with the increase last year, and even more this coming season it’s going to be hard to go to games.
Lower Bowl ticket prices have increased every season except the lockout year and every other team reduced prices that year, the Wild just froze them. The Wild are perilously close to crossing the line and losing fan base like Colorado and Detroit have. And before anyone says anything about the damn warming house the only people on that list are people waiting for upper deck cheap seats. Anyone that wants lower bowl or club season tickets can certainly get them any time they want. The lower bowl doesn’t have half the “fan” season ticket holders it had from the first season, they’ve been out-priced. So much for the lockout doing anything but padding owners pockets. Naegele took his money and ran just like he did with the Outdoor business and Rollerblade.
Well, from what you say the next time I make it to MN during hockey season lower bowl tickets should be easy to get at face value. Without knowing the right people.
Is that actually a possibility?
Oh, and yes, it is a larger increase than inflation. But, as is evidenced by the ever rising salary cap, the league is making more money now. And I’m not sure you can say that Minnesota is as hard hit by the “recession” as other places. No one likes it when prices go up, but that is the way that business works. Supply and demand and all that.
One of the best beni’s of the Warming House went down the crapper once scalping became legal. Used to be able to go to the ticket exchange and get game tickets for maybe a dollar or two over face value. Not so much this last season, everytime I went there to see what was to be had for certain games the tickets were jacked way up. One time I saw tickets on there that I know where a face value $22 a piece where on there for $50 a piece, abso-freakin-lutely recockulus. Breath in (picture your happy place)….. breath out (happy place)…. repeat….
In happier news, Kevin, congrats to your boys. It was a fun game to watch. The shorty by Malkin was just wow.
Is it being a sore winner to complain about officiating after winning fairly handily? Because that was a COMPLETE DISGRACE. Hossa gets hooked to the point the guy loses his stick then he gets an obvious high stick later. Sheesh.
Didn’t see that one Kevin, must have been while I was letting the dogs out. But just because I care… Absolutely horrible call. Harrumph, harrumph.. I didn’t get a harrumph from that man…..
No I said lower bowl SEASON TICKETS are an easy get. Weeknight games were easy to get at face value last year, especially those Monday or Tuesday night games. Scalpers couldn’t even get rid of half their Edmonton Tuesday tickets one night. Any weekend game is still pretty hard unless you want to wait until the last minute and hit Craigslist where there are hundreds of listings. Brokers bought a ton of lower bowl season seats last year.
For whoever asked, more flexible payment plan just means you get to break up your payments over a longer period of time, its still the same price. And the “rewards” are probably crap like the skating parties and stuff that those of us with lives and no kids never have time for anyway so they provide no benefit or “reward”. None of the “rewards” other than the discount at the hockey lodge have any value whatsoever to me, and the right to purchase playoff tickets should be a guarantee for any season ticket holder so I don’t consider that a “reward”. Even the ability to purchase tickets to events at the X is junk because anyone can subscribe to email lists and get that. Like I said, the Wild have basically crossed the line in taking the season ticket holders for granted if you ask me. Considering lower bowl ticket prices have gone up $20 in less than ten years for a product that hasn’t increased that much in value (and club level seats have increased what, $5 over the same period of time???!!) is ridiculous.
The Wild are overestimating the stamina of the market.
Excellent Blazing Saddles pull Band
Just because it’s not a reward to you doesn’t mean it’s not a reward to the general public.
And fine, lower bowl season tickets are easier to get now. Great. That helps out of town fans or fans who cannot afford season tickets .. not at all. My point is, if they don’t sell the allotment of lower bowl season tickets, they won’t let those tickets go to waste — they will become single game tickets. Which would make it easier for fans to buy. Season tickets are not cheap, especially lower bowl. More single game tickets means that more people can afford to go for one or more games a season. Which is a good thing for the average fan — but maybe not the lower bowl season ticket holder. But, then again, if you can afford lower bowl season tickets, then you are not likely being hit as hard by the rising fuel and grocery prices.
And having a hard time getting rid of tickets in St. Paul is very different from having a hard time getting rid of tickets in Pittsburgh even 3 years ago.
The economy is tough, and for many people. That doesn’t mean that the price of milk and clothes (or hockey tickets) is going to go down.
Oh, and Band — Mr. A and I love the Blazing Saddles! My family watches that during holidays. One of our favorites!
I’m not saying that Pittsburgh is having a hard time getting rid of them now. I’m saying even 3 years ago when Sid came to town they still couldn’t sell their best tickets (except for as student rush tickets). There are other factors involved, but the true fans still show up. Minnesota has enough true fans. Give more people access and the community will thrive.
Lower Bowl ticket prices have increased every season except the lockout year and every other team reduced prices that year, the Wild just froze them
we did get comps for the opener. that was worth about $140 to me.
and i don’t think every other team lowered prices.
when I was first buying season tickets back in 2000, i looked at what other teams were charging for seats in various areas and i thought the wild came in very low. the entire lower bowl in 2000 was $100 a seat in chicago. my tickets in ottawa and montreal were more expensive than my tickets at the X were for comparable seats. My point is, i think the wild are not that expensive compared to other teams.
i don’t like the deal the club level gets. doesn’t make sense to me.
what other payment options do you need? you can already pay in one payment, 3 payments or monthly.
Anyone know if the Wild’s site has a mobile option and if so what the address is?
what other payment options do you need?
Russoville dollars?
In an effort to break into the upper bowl, we had season tickets on the club level the year after the lockout (but signed up ahead of the lockout and got the lockout benefits). I think club prices went up $5 after the lockout year (drawing Reusse scorn) and have increased again since as have all other tickets. There is no question the less than prime lower bowl tickets will go soft if team interest lags so I am going to hope this move means management is focused on winning now.
Also, my guess is you could see 10 or more game season ticket patches offered up to keep demand up for tickets on the ends of the lower bowl. That could work out as a good option for some people.
- patches = packages - yikes
- I am not great with faces, but FSN showed what I think was Radio, Demo and Vorros at the Twins game tonight.
Good job for your team Kevin.
Roy is in the mix for Avs coach - http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_9209635
Wow do the Wild have balls or what? They don’t go out & get anyone @ the trade deadline the last two years & bow out in the first round both years & they’re gonna raise ticket prices? Nothing like continually sticking it to the fans!!!!!
Star Trib reporting that the Wild will hold a press conference to announce the future of JL.
1 Russovile dollar on JL will not be head coach this season. Hope I am wrong!
I hope so too Adam, I think he is coming back however.
I would bet he will be back.
Actually the Wild may be on average a bit lower for ticket prices we have a much smaller market within which to sell, and you also have to remember the competition for the hockey dollar. Why pay $75 for a lower bowl seat when you can pay $30 for a Gopher hockey ticket or even less for a high school game or any of the other college games? Especially considering the condition of the economy. Any that doesn’t include the increasing concession costs and gas costs, etc! Compare ticket prices to Nashville, Columbus, Carolina or Atlanta. And actually Chicago was $75 for every seat in the lower bowl in 2000, including on the glass seating. You also have to keep in mind for the size of this market there is also a great deal more competition for the sports dollar than any other market; we have all four major sports teams, and major college sports and minor league baseball as well as other major concerts, etc. Like I said, just way too close to price fatigue, this isn’t a market that can sustain those kind of ticket costs. There is no way that corporate sales are going to make up for the loss of “fans” and what kind of atmosphere is that going to create anyway?. I’ve even seen the corpies bailing on their lower bowl seats the past few years and with the economy belts tightening that’s only going to get worse. The Wild marketing machine is seriously overestimating the Wild fan’s wallet.
I lied, I looked it up the Wild are actually at the top in average ticket price, way above NHL average, and one of the higher fan cost indices so they ARE jacking the fans!!! http://teammarketing.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/Fan%20Cost%20Index/NHL/nhl%20fci%2007-08.pdf
They also had one of the highest increases last year.
Wild in TX I worked three jobs to pay for my lower bowl seats, that is my ony entertainment, I don’t have kids, am not married and do not own a car. Don’t you F’ng judge what the economy is doing to me you ass! I chose what I allotted my entertainment dollar to, I don’t buy freaking jerseys I don’t go out to bars I don’t even buy concessions I buy my tickets and now I will not be able to do that anymore so dont you f’ing judge me!
I feel your pain Claire. I think I will have to give up my season tix this year. =(
Did Doug Risebrough say his team is continuing to improve. He better stay off the drugs and look at the 2007 vs 2008 stats. The Wild were much worse this past year in most categories. Although they did finally have home ice advantage this year. But alot of good that did them.
