Atlanta Hawks: ‘Dynamic pricing’ for tickets in 2010-11
Last season the Hawks charged “marquee” prices at Philips Arena for games against the Celtics, Cavaliers and Lakers. They are expanding that concept in 2010-11 with “dynamic pricing,” a technology developed by Qcue that allows prices for individual game tickets to be adjusted in real time.
QCue says it’s technology “allows event promoters to respond to the real variables that drive fans to attend events, enabling every event to be priced independently and updated when market conditions changes.” So when you check the price for those Hawks tickets at Ticketmaster one day, the price for the same seat could be different the next day–or even later that same day.
The strategy allows for more flexibility than static prices set months in advance. For example, if the Heat comes to town and LeBron and D-Wade are both out with injuries (or sitting out that final home game), then the market for any remaining tickets could be expected to soften. Conversely, if a blockbuster trade at the deadline suddenly makes a middling team “marquee,” then prices could be expected to go up when that team visits.
The Hawks (and Thrashers), Rockets and Jazz have announced they will use the dynamic pricing next season. Tracy White, chief sales officer and senior VP of sales and marketing for Atlanta Spirit, said he’s still not certain how often the team will adjust prices since this is a new concept for sports teams.
“The best comparison is the airline industry,” he said. “They’ve been doing this for years. This is us taking that concept and applying it to sporting events.”
Theoretically, tickets for low-demand games could be had for less than face value but don’t expect to get rock-bottom prices. White said season-ticket holders are guaranteed to pay the lowest prices per game. Feedback from season-ticket holders played a part in the decision to try dynamic pricing.
“Some season-ticket holders choose to sell seats for some games,” White said. “They asked for a system that better reflected the value of each game.”
The Hawks have yet to set a a date for the start of sales for individual games; White said they hope to finalize a date next week.
– After declaring the Hawks painfully thin at point guard, Kelly Dwyer at Ball Don’t Lie gave more love to Atlanta’s shooting guards and small forwards. Jamal rates No. 12 on Dwyer’s list of 2 guards, J.J. is No. 4 and Marvin is No. 21 among small forwards (one slot ahead of Chills).
No real argument on Dwyer’s takes for the Hawks guys, though I think he shortchanges the threat Jamal presents with that crossover.
– Bret LaGree at Hoopinion was among the bloggers to propose deals for Melo to Nuggets blogger Jeremy. Both proposals were good enough to make Jeremy’s “win now” category but it seems some contracts are hard to move even in fake deals.
LaGree offered J.J. but Jeremy passes on the deal “with gusto” because of J.J.’s contract. LaGree also offers to send Smoove and Marvin for Melo but Jeremy turns that one down, too, because “ultimately the four years and over $30 million owed to Williams is a difficult pill to swallow.”
– Have a good weekend, blog people.
MC
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168 comments Add your comment
Grandad
August 23rd, 2010
3:04 pm
doc
CRS:
I gotta remember that one.
uh oh!
ryan
August 23rd, 2010
3:16 pm
Kwame Brown has just signed with the Bobcats thats is it my friends ASG better hopes the Hawks make the playoffs because if they don’t there will be hell to pay .
KevinM
August 23rd, 2010
3:22 pm
Brown off the market, Dampier sounds like he is going to join the market.
Is Sund off vacation yet?
So does Indy or the Hawks get Dampier for a vet min?
The Truth
August 23rd, 2010
3:25 pm
Dear Rick Sund
Since I heard you were on vacation, I thought you might enjoy watching this classic hit. Your inspirational source in managing the Hawks is no secret anymore since this discovery has been made. Enjoy!
Sincerely
The Truth
Rondo
August 23rd, 2010
3:41 pm
Rudy Fernendez = No Defense, shaky ball-handler, misses more wide open jumpers than Marvin
Let someone else have him.
Eric Dampier = Ok rebounder, terrible footwork, occasional shot blocker, less drama than shaq, wouldn”t hurt to try to get him, better than Randmo and Collins combined
Rondo
August 23rd, 2010
3:46 pm
Hey Big Ray Krispey Kreme or Dunkin Doughnuts!
The Truth
August 23rd, 2010
3:47 pm
Garret Siler (for much less) = Eric Dampier
JoJo the Godfather
August 23rd, 2010
3:55 pm
Dampier is my guy…Hawks are one of very few contenders that can offer him any kind of deal north of $2.5M…A 2 or 3-yr deal for anything less than what Za Za makes ($4.2M), is a steal.
As far as the Bobcats…I don’t see why they don’t cut Dampier rather than trade him so that they can get below the luxury tax…I know that team is getting some solid corporate $’s thanks to MJ, but they can easily avoid the tax and still get a PG by going back to their Diaw for Calderon trade that was on, and then off, earlier this offseason…Not sure if Indy would swap Ford’s expiring for Diaw’s 2-yr deal, but it would make them a better team.
Get Dampier! (if he ever gets cut)
Rondo
August 23rd, 2010
3:57 pm
Just kidding Big Ray. I got a question for you Big Ray, since you say you are a cop,I was just wondering if you could help me. I got a ticket about a month ago for running a stop sign heading to work. I admit that I did bump and go at the stop sign, but the officer wrote on the ticket that I didn’t come to a complete stop at a stop sign at a totaly different address. Should I go to court and fight the ticket since the officer wrote the incident happening at the wrong address? Oh and I almost forgot…..Go Hawks!
Rondo
August 23rd, 2010
4:07 pm
Signing Dampier or Siler = Quiets Fan-base
Dampier or Siler = 0.3 wins (my guess)
Dampier or Siler = 6 more fouls on D.Howard
I say beg Rasheed Wallace to come out of retirement, he may be having a case of the Brett Farve Syndrome.The guy just gets all up in D.Howards grill and somewhat shuts him down.
Rasheed Wallace = D. Howard’s Kryptonyte
Astro Joe
August 23rd, 2010
4:21 pm
So ESPN’s Broussard & Hollinger are ranking the teams and today they focused on the bottom 5. They have 4 Eastern team in that group (along with the T’Wolves), Pistons, Raptors, Pacers and Wizards.
Like I keep saying, just because 2-3 teams got better, it doesn’t mean that a few teams won’t be worse. Hawks fans should expect 50+ wins. You may choose to make that a secondary goal (to losing better in the playoffs) but it doesn’t change the notion that a team bringing back the same roster with a more competent coach (according to most) should not reasonably expect to take a step backwards during the 82-game campaign.
drmaryb ^•^
August 23rd, 2010
5:00 pm
MJ
Is he drinking the Kwame Kool-Aide again?
WOW! What happened since MJ drafted Kwame #1 in DC?
doc
August 23rd, 2010
5:19 pm
astro if i dont take your bait and say 50+ wins is not to be expected am i then a non-hawk fan? for some reason i see you setting a trap. i also saw a lot of things happen last year like certain teams not fortifying themselves hoping to get in on the FA pool, a new system to learn this year, an aging point guard or a not ready for primetime one and our side having ZERO injuries last year. there are WAAAAY too may other variables and you are playing me the fool to suggest i buy that or you are just plain stupid …. ahem, which i know you are not.
i cant argue the other one.
so just change the tune dude already, that one is so old. you are much more creative than that.
intheKnow
August 23rd, 2010
6:10 pm
East Standings Predictions
1.Miami- Wade LBJ CB is greatest offseason signings for a single team in NBA history , not to mention Mike Miller, Hashlem
2.Orlando-Dwight owns the paint, and orl is bout the same as last year
3.Bos- Rondo will control games and PP & RA will continue to hit big shots, could you imagine the celtics pf/c roation if it were the 2002 season?
4.Chi- Chicago leaps the hawks by making offseason acquistions, Boozer and Noah downlow are going to make scoring inside tough and Rose is the fastest man in the NBA
5.ATL- I like but dislike signing joe. I like having joe back because we are going to the playoffs again for sure. Maybe last seasons playoffs were a fluke and joe can return to the 08 joe. I dislike signing joe because having a 29 year sign a max 6 year contract who couldnt do anything in the playoffs makes me think the Hawks are content with being a playoff team but not a championship team. I hope joe challenges himself and proves me wrong. Also can the hawks please sign a legitimate 7 footer. No more 6′9 pfs, were good.
6.Mil- B jennings and Bogut will secure the #6 spot again
7.Was-Washington will make the playoffs this year with a renewed agent 0, as well as john wall winning rookie of the year honors over BG32. Andray Blatche is a great player and continues to improve and jhow or al thornton at 3 is a good platoon. I like Javale defensively as well at C.
8.NY- Im putting NY 8th for now as Amare, Anthony Randolph, Danillo Gallinarri will be a very tall athletic 3,4,5. If a trade happens and NY lands Anthony NY could jump the Hawks and get the 5 seed
drmaryb ^•^
August 23rd, 2010
7:46 pm
InTheKnow
Well, Sir, let’s see about that?
“3.Bos- Rondo will control games and PP & RA will continue to hit big shots, could you imagine the celtics pf/c roation if it were the 2002 season?”
- Well, let’s see, w/o Tony Allen (didn’t he jetson? Correct me IF I’m wrong?)
Rasheed was unstoppable on defense (he’s gone out like a champ!)
Perkins will need at least two solid years of re-hab a very severe knee blow-out/PCL & MCL tear – ewee! real bad stuff, very rare injury to a weight bearing and pivotal joint). Add, a few more rings to the old oak tree and I see major slippage from the 3rd Seed. J-Oneal (arthritic knees)& S-Oneal will be alright, but will NEVER out run the Hawks – Never!-
“4.Chi- Chicago leaps the hawks by making offseason acquistions, Boozer and Noah downlow are going to make scoring inside tough and Rose is the fastest man in the NBA”
-Boozer is a very nice player on Offense & Rebounds, but has never put up those numbers against the Hawks. Does NOT patrol the paint nor rim on defense, Not a shot blocker whatsoever. The same team we handled very well last year.
No more Heinrich to defend the perimeter and where is Deng?-
Not convinced they will topple the Hawks with the New Coach who is more intemse than Doug Collins, wears on players and stares holes through people.
They will have their own chemistry issues to battle when you add the owners who punches the HC in their front offices for playing Noah extended minutes w/o permission from the owners booth! Too much micro-management and HC intensity. They will play uptight and never loose! Count on it!-
“6..Mil- B jennings and Bogut will secure the #6 spot again”
-Bogut’s elbow blew up like an IED last season. I read on rotoworld.com last Staurday that the re-hab is NOT going well at all! That elbow is severly inflamed right now, keep in mind the elbow was completely dislocated with shredded ligaments and tendons ripped off the bone. As worse as Grant Hill’s ankle – the good news is that the elbow is not a weight bearing pivotal joint, but an eliptical gliding joint, that will need minimal 2 years IF it heals completely.
He will then need a sports psychologist to re-gain mental strength and confidence. He will be hesitant to contact, rebounding and terrified of dunking ever again. IMHO, I would not pencil him in next season, chances are Bogut will not start the season either. Don’t count them Bucks in yet!-
Listen, the Hawks are healthy, young, long and athletic! IF, they learn to play defense? They will be awfully scary as is! But, they definitely need some size and rebounding in the paint to put it all together!
Meanwhile, Slick-Rick is on vacation? I hope he is somewhere scouting talent for his roster – They Need It !
drmaryb ^•^
August 23rd, 2010
7:55 pm
Oh yeah!
And Bogut got substantial nerve damage in the elbow. The median nerve and radial nerve supply forearm muscle strength and to the hand. Peripheral Nerves unlike the Central Nervous System can regenerate some, but I don’t know about
100%? I doubt it (help me out doc, what do you think?).
Had that been Bogut’s ankle with his size and weight? Probably a career ending injury. In the elbow, he has a chance to play again. Gotta’ do some serious rehab though! Sports Medicine has come a long ways. I sure hope he comes all the way back though!
Wink
August 24th, 2010
3:57 pm
Dynamic Pricing – no thank you! As stated earlier “Dynamic Management” would be nice.
The already have a flim flam pricing structure. On the day of the game I have gone to the window to purchase a ticket to a Sacramento game. Since the competition was the Kings, I just wanted a cheap seat, in the 300 section somewhere. Upon requesting said ticket I was told those ticket had sold out. Thus, I would have been forced to buy a more expensive seat. I elected to watch the game at Taco Mac and low and behold the there were seats a plenty in the upper areas of the arena. Bad ticketing policy on game day. So I certainly don’t want to pay 3 times the price for the 300 section to see the Lakers or Miami games. So I guess I will be in a sports bar or on the HD screen at home.
Set a price for your seats and sell the tickets as listed until each section sells out, period.
The Truth
September 14th, 2010
9:32 am
Interesting prospective from Etan Thomas as Sund prepares to deal with Jamal
Nothing against him or any other GM, but GMs say a lot of things and sometimes (I won’t say most of the time) the things they say aren’t exactly… Hmmm… How can I say this… The truth. Any player will attest to this. They’ll look you in your eyes and tell you that you are in their plans and a part of their future, then as you are driving home you’ll hear on the radio that they are looking to trade you.