I usually don't use this space to discuss tickets, or ticket prices, or sales packages, etc., except to mention the paid attendance in the game stories. But the Nationals issued a press release this afternoon that kinda blew me away, and in light of the Stephen Strasburg injury the marketing department is being pro-active in trying to increase season ticket sales for next year.
From the release:
The Washington Nationals today announced the new “Buy 2 Get 2” season ticket offer for 2011, which gives Nationals fans who place a deposit on two new 2011 season tickets in select seating areas two additional 2011 season tickets FREE.
The “Buy 2 Get 2” offer is limited to select seating categories, but fans can also place a deposit on new 2011 season tickets in ANY section of the ballpark. As a bonus for their loyal support, they will “Finish in Style” by receiving FREE tickets to all remaining home games this season.
The release then went on to detail the specific sections the offer was good for, Sections 108, 137 and 235.
Now, I'm not suggesting you run out and buy Nats season tickets. But if you were in the market, you really can't beat this deal. You get four full-season tickets for the price of two. Plus, the rest of this season for free!
Season ticket sales have been down the last several years despite moving into state-of-the-art Nationals Park. Overall attendance this season has been boosted, first by the Nats getting out to a 20-15 start, then the early June arrival of Strasburg. But with Strasburg on the shelf most likely all of 2011, I guess the team decided to get in front of that and offer this incredible deal to entice folks to get out to the ballpark.
They've been down because Nats Park is NOT an elite ballpark compared to other contemporaries such as AT&T, Coors Field, Progressive Field, and recent addition, Target Field and let's not forget that park up the road. What do all these stadiums in common? They sold out their first year even if they did not have elite teams.