Astros Freeze Ticket Prices for 2009

by Stephen Higdon on Oct 29, 2008 8:30 AM CDT

"We really thought long and hard about the right direction to go because obviously the revenue that we generate helps fund what we do everywhere else in the business,” Astros president of business operations Pam Gardner said.

I would be impressed with the show of humanitarianism in this move, if we weren't supposed to face deflation in the next year -- making freezing the ticket prices an indirect increase on the price of a ticket. Great PR and marketing move though. (I'll also note the article indicated they'll still raise prices on Diamond Club and Suite seats, so at least they're only really screwing the big guys).

0 recs | 6 comments

Comments

Richard Justice's take on the situation...

If Uncle Drayton is holding the line on ticket prices, that means he’s going to hold the line on payroll and spending. You’re probably saying, ’’We’re one good pitcher from the World Series.’’

Tough luck, buddy. Uncle Drayton’s portfolio is probably gone from $1.4 billion to $1.2 billion. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s living on potato soup.

If Uncle Drayton was really smart, he’d approve a short-term increase in the payroll. How does $110 million sound?

Uncle Drayton can’t understand that payroll numbers are cyclical. If the Astros are doing the right thing in scouting and development, there’ll be young talent arriving in three years.

Then again, why bother? The Astros played great after Randy Wolf arrived. Maybe a rotation of Roy Oswalt, Brian Moehler, Randy Wolf, Wandy Rodriguez and one of the goods will be good enough.

Obviously, Justice likes to stir the pot and get more “hits” on his blog. But I can see his point too.

clack - October 29, 2008 reply

Oh, forgot to give link for above.

http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2008/10/uncle_drayton_f.html

clack - October 29, 2008 reply

I think all of this is actually true

And I agree just about whole heartedly with it…this has to be a sign of the apocalypse.

Stephen Higdon - October 29, 2008 reply

Dickie J sometimes says intelligent things

but it’s impossible to tell whether he really means it. He mixes so much trolling and bullshit in with his columns that the line between his real opinions and the crap he makes up to piss people off is blurred.

With that said, I don’t really agree with what Justice has to say on this. The more I think about it, the more I doubt that anything but a truly massive increase in payroll will get the Stros to the playoffs. And it think that money would be better spent in the draft and player development, rather than a few contracts for FAs. Invest in Latin America and the draft, not contracts for Sheets or Pettitte or whatever.

Only_A_Lad - October 29, 2008 reply

I don't see how you can

take anything negative from them not raising the prices.

Stros Bro - October 29, 2008 reply

They could lower them

If they really wanted to help out. This is just an indirect way of increasing the prices. How is that not a negative thing?

Stephen Higdon - October 29, 2008 reply

The Crawfish Boxes