Dynamic Ticket Pricing

[harvey16]

Jays are introducing dynamic ticket prices this year. Thoughts???

 

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/tor/ticketing/dynamic_pricing_faq.jsp

[Jonn]

I guess they are expecting crazy attendance numbers this season. Better hope they get off to a fast start.

[jglicksm]

I don't think it will cause big swings, even if they make a run for it in September. Even the home opener didn't get above $30 as face for upper bowl and that's a guaranteed sellout crowd (same for Canada Day).

[burlingtonbandit]

I don't think it will cause big swings, even if they make a run for it in September. Even the home opener didn't get above $30 as face for upper bowl and that's a guaranteed sellout crowd (same for Canada Day).

 

Home opener sold out before dynamic pricing came into effect. My guess is the pricing is capped around 30-40% of the original face value unless there is a huge spike a week before the gameday.

 

There is still easy way to get around the single game pricing anyways. Just buy a flexpack and you can get the original ticket pricing across multiple games.

[jglicksm]

They haven't said this explicitly, but it looks like they are taking the most popular games (i.e. the ones where prices are spiking) out of flex pack inventory. For example, a lot of September games are gone from flexpack inventory despite single game tickets being available.

 

While a lot of people might be frustrated by the dynamic pricing I think it's actually a good thing... the smaller the gap between face prices via Jays and what Scalpers can command for tickets the less incentive there will be to scalp. Scalpers don't like getting involved unless the risk-reward is favorable.

 

Home opener sold out before dynamic pricing came into effect. My guess is the pricing is capped around 30-40% of the original face value unless there is a huge spike a week before the gameday.

 

There is still easy way to get around the single game pricing anyways. Just buy a flexpack and you can get the original ticket pricing across multiple games.

[Dick_Pole]

I don't mind this idea for single game pricing. Better that the money goes to the team than to scalpers.

[burlingtonbandit]

They haven't said this explicitly, but it looks like they are taking the most popular games (i.e. the ones where prices are spiking) out of flex pack inventory. For example, a lot of September games are gone from flexpack inventory despite single game tickets being available.

 

While a lot of people might be frustrated by the dynamic pricing I think it's actually a good thing... the smaller the gap between face prices via Jays and what Scalpers can command for tickets the less incentive there will be to scalp. Scalpers don't like getting involved unless the risk-reward is favorable.

 

You just have to pick a seating area where there are available seats. A lot of the marquee games don't have any field infield pairs available so that is why you probably don't see the game. Pick field level bases and all the games are available pretty much.

 

This actually helps scalpers in a way. Most scalplers have season tickets so they already got locked in on the price. Now they can sell their tickets for "below face value" so people aren't complaining about it breaking the law and all that ********.

[Jimcanuck]

I like my couch and tv

[jaysblue]

Tickets to watch a Blue Jays game are still the cheapest in town in comparison to the other major Toronto sports teams.

[burlingtonbandit]

Tickets to watch a Blue Jays game are still the cheapest in town in comparison to the other major Toronto sports teams.

 

They are extremely cheap compared to other contenders around the league as well.

[Stangstag]

I like my couch and tv

 

Same. Being in the stadium is super uncomfortable, plus its a bit of a hassle getting downtown and back home. I'm fine with around 10 games a year. If I lived close to the stadium I would probably go to more

[CBlake]

I find dynamic pricing only pushs a ticket up and is very rarely adjusted down. I completely agree that the Jays FO is striking the fire while it's hot, having sold an insane number of tickets already and with all the hype heading into the season but wonder what it will be like in the future when they have a down season. Selling baseball tickets is a very different dynamic than the other sports based on the number of seats they have to sell and the amount of games played.

[CrackerJack]

I find dynamic pricing only pushs a ticket up and is very rarely adjusted down. I completely agree that the Jays FO is striking the fire while it's hot, having sold an insane number of tickets already and with all the hype heading into the season but wonder what it will be like in the future when they have a down season. Selling baseball tickets is a very different dynamic than the other sports based on the number of seats they have to sell and the amount of games played.

 

Yes, it'll be interesting to see dynamic pricing in action when the Jays eventually return to being a .500 club with some of its beloved stars gone ...

 

But for this season, it must be pretty slim pickings for tickets ... there's probably only a decent inventory for the mid-week series against the White Sox (in April) ... the Rangers & Rays (in May) ... and the Phillies, Diamondbacks & Padres (in the summer.)

 

Last year, the Jays drew crowds larger than 40,000 for 36 games (and 27 of those were over 45,000!) ... and, yeah, while there won't be a repeat of last year's trade deadline hysteria whipping up the fanbase (unless Edwin and/or Bautisa are dealt), it won't be necessary to fill the place given that the Jays apparently have almost doubled the number of season tickets and flex packs sold.

[CBlake]

Completely agree , you will not be able to base much on this season even if it does not go well as so many tickets have been sold even before the regular season starts.

 

Stub hub right now is very interesting , lots of cheap stuff available in the 500 level even with the exchange. I wonder when it will adjust as I assume much of what's listed right now is season ticket holders putting up what they do not want to use.

 

Yes, it'll be interesting to see dynamic pricing in action when the Jays eventually return to being a .500 club with some of its beloved stars gone ...

 

But for this season, it must be pretty slim pickings for tickets ... there's probably only a decent inventory for the mid-week series against the White Sox (in April) ... the Rangers & Rays (in May) ... and the Phillies, Diamondbacks & Padres (in the summer.)

 

Last year, the Jays drew crowds larger than 40,000 for 36 games (and 27 of those were over 45,000!) ... and, yeah, while there won't be a repeat of last year's trade deadline hysteria whipping up the fanbase (unless Edwin and/or Bautisa are dealt), it won't be necessary to fill the place given that the Jays apparently have almost doubled the number of season tickets and flex packs sold.