Falcons cut upper-level ticket prices
By TIM TUCKER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/05/08
The Atlanta Falcons, acknowledging the damage done to their product in the past year, will cut the price of all upper-level seats in an attempt to hold on to season-ticket buyers.
End-zone seats on the Georgia Dome's mezzanine level also will be reduced in price for 2008, while all seats on the lower level will remain the same price as last season.
The Falcons previously had said they would reduce some prices and hold the line on others after several years of aggressive price increases, but had not provided specifics.
Most of the price cuts will be $30 or $40 per season. For example, upper-level end-zone seats will be reduced from $280 to $250 per season, and upper-level seats above midfield and mezzanine-level seats above the end zones will be cut from $690 to $650 per season.
But the price of about 6,800 seats will be slashed more sharply, the Falcons said: The top 13 rows in the upper-level sideline and corner sections will fall from $520 and $420 per season, respectively, to $250. Those seats will increase the number in the lowest price category to 16,848, the team said.
Reeling from the Michael Vick dogfighting case, the Falcons failed to sell out two games this past season - the first non-sellouts since Arthur Blank bought the franchise in 2002 for $545 million.
The Falcons hope their pricing strategy - along with a new general manager, a new coach, a high draft pick and a promised aggressive foray into the free-agency market - will prevent a defection of season-ticket holders in the wake of last year's chaotic 4-12 record.
"A lot will depend on how [fans] see our off-season activity, whether they feel trust is earned and reestablished," Blank said. "Hopefully, they'll see that and support it.
"Hopefully, fans will appreciate the quality of our GM and coach hires and see us active and making thoughtful decisions about players we want to bring in," Blank said.
Reeling from the Michael Vick dogfighting case, the Falcons failed to sell out two games this past season - the first non-sellouts since Arthur Blank bought the franchise in 2002 for $545 million.
The Falcons hope their pricing strategy - along with a new general manager, a new coach, a high draft pick and a promised aggressive foray into the free-agency market - will prevent a defection of season-ticket holders in the wake of last year's chaotic 4-12 record.
"A lot will depend on how [fans] see our off-season activity, whether they feel trust is earned and reestablished," Blank said. "Hopefully, they'll see that and support it.
"Hopefully, fans will appreciate the quality of our GM and coach hires and see us active and making thoughtful decisions about players we want to bring in," Blank said.
Season-ticket holders will receive renewal forms in the next week or two, the Falcons said. Season-ticket prices include eight regular-season home games plus two pre-season games.
The Falcons said 2008 single-game prices won't be set until season tickets are sold, but the team said it expects price reductions in the Dome's upper level for single-game sales as well. In recent seasons, the Falcons have said only a few thousand seats were available for single-game sales.
But sports marketing experts have questioned whether the team can avoid a substantial drop in season-ticket sales after last year's turmoil.
Bump till May 10th, want to know where new seats are gonna be.