Coyotes use lack of own appeal to Gouge Red Wings Fans
I saw mention of this new pricing plan the Phoenix Coyotes have put in place over at George Malik’s Snapshots blog. George thinks the idea was to keep Red Wings fans away. I’m much more skeptical and cynical. I think they did this because the Coyotes have abysmal fan support so they knew they could greatly increase the price as Wings fans would show up anyway.
Something about this really bugs me. It’s not because I will ever go to a Coyotes game or I have any problem with the free market. It’s that the Coyotes could legitimately drive up prices by…oh I don’t know…actually being good at hockey. Or if they were to adhere to market forces and lower prices to the point where their fanbase snapped up the tickets. If their tickets were scarce Wings fans would have to pay a higher rate to buy tickets from a broker or a scalper. That is part of every sports fan’s experience and is no big deal.
Taking advantage of the fan base of one of the few NHL teams in the United States that has widespread support is just complete rubbish. Teams like the Coyotes should be happy that a game against the Red Wings is a rare occasion where attendance actually cracks 5 digits. Last night’s game was not a sellout but might have been if not for this ridiculous pricing policy. If they really wanted to keep the “red out” they could adhere to the market and lower their prices to the point where their “fan base” would deem the price worthy of the product put out on the ice.
But that would require too much work. Better to just price gouge a fan base that actually turns out to support their team.
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[…] By the end of the game, the arena was largely empty except for Wings fans, who paid double to see their team play in the desert. According to a Wings fan that was there (from an email list), the arena was filled to only 55-60% capacity, with large swaths of the lower bowl, seats on the glass included, empty. Wings fans are still the best hockey fans in the Phoenix area, apparently, even with the discrimminatory pricing the Coyotes have. Dave at Gorilla Crouch has more. […]
[…] If the Coyotes are going to price gouge Red Wings fans by doubling the price of tickets - which is total BS - maybe they can use the money to do a better job maintaining their ice surface. Oh that’s right, they raised prices to keep Detroit fans from coming to their arena. Yes, that’s right: they want fewer people to go their games. Missing the playoffs should do wonders to that end. Henrik Zetterberg Red Wings Comments (0) […]