OK, here I am. A real life example of what VF21 and KG have referring to. I am an 8-year season ticket holder that is now struggling with my decision on whether or not to renew.
To thesanityannex, you just DON'T GET IT.
My highly propagandized season ticket invoice package arrived today. Another hike in prices as we were notified just before the end of the regular season. Here's my problem...
I've been in the lower level since Day 1 when ticket prices there cost the same as in the roof on sidecourt now. The escalation in prices year after year was acceptable because the team made great strides to get better...and we did. The Maloofs tried to each year add something to the season ticket package to increase its value even more...they were highly into customer service and enhancing season ticket holders' investment in the team. IMO this ended after the Kings got knocked out by LA in 2002.
At that pinnacle in the Kings' rennaissance, SAC had the 3rd highest payroll in the NBA. Then, for the first time, we saw advertised, conscious efforts to reduce payroll. And today, the Kings are lodged exactly in the middle of the league in payroll at #15. Meanwhile, season ticket prices have continued to escalate. That's not right.
Also, after the 2002 WCF devastation, the Maloofs stopped enhancing the season ticket holder experience. In the last 3 years, nothing new has been added, except the on-line options to pay for tickets (bigger advantage for the Kings than me) and transfer tix to indivisulas when you want to give them away or sell them to someone (I've NEVER used this feature). All the "extras" have remained exactly the same...for 3 years. No effort to further enhance the season ticket holder experience. Never even hear from my season ticket rep any more. Meanwhile, season ticket prices have continued to escalate. That's not right.
Finally. I am firmly in the camp that the Maloofs (with their Petrie Puppet, in this particular case) blew up this season and ended any chance we had of achieving that ultimate goal by sending off Doug and Chris to career Siberias. It was purely a financial-induced, potentially risk-reducing move, not to make our team better. You can always argue that things are long-term and go the self-fulfilling prophecy route, even if teh Kings never win a title in teh next few years. This is NOT meant to restart that now age-old debate, but in the end, losing miserably to the Sonics proved the point. The interviews with coaches and players right after February 23rd also proved the point. THEY all knew. For me, given what I pay for entertainment, I felt abandoned as a fan. Meanwhile, season ticket prices have continued to escalate. That's not right.
The 7-year ride we had was fun to be a part of, and I got value for my "investment" until the latter part of this season. I am now pushed to the limits of affordability with the latest increases, and so now I have to question, for the first time in 8 years, if the entertainment value justifies the expense. I have already been pushing being able to afford these tix for the last 2 years.
I now must decide if I want to become a rabid TV fan, like most of you here, since I won't miss a game on Comcast, or re-up and start the ride over again. Either way, it doesn't change the fact that I will always be a fan of this team, but now I have to think of what I can do to entertain myself and my girlfriend over the next year for the new price tag for tix and parking of exactly $11,000.
A boat? Caribbean, Hawaiian, European vacations? Gambling junkets to Vegas? Other investments? Swanky restaurant dinners every weekend for a year? ALMOST ALL of the above?
On the flip side, giving up the Kings experience (note, NOT the Maloof experience) would be very difficult for me to do, since it's been a big part of my life for the last decade or so. I still love the game and especially to be in Arco to cheer on my team.
So think about it, especially those that think "what's a measly grand or two on top of 10 grand".
The line for me has been reached. It happens and it's here. And I have 3 weeks to make up my mind.