From: scott@asd.com (Scott Barman)
Subject: Re: Playoff Tickets
Keywords: $$
Organization: American Software Development Corp., West Babylon, NY
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 17:49:53 GMT

In article <9967@ncrwat.Waterloo.NCR.COM> aclark@53iss5.Waterloo.NCR.COM (Allen Clark) writes:
>Well I received my tickets to game one of the ALCS at Skydome
>yesterday and I have a few comments on the process the Blue Jays used
>to offer them to the public.
>
>1) For the regular season good and bad seats are offered to the
>public, when the playoffs roll around the average guy gets offered the
>crap (believe me in Skydome the crap is CRAP!!).

The Blue Jays do not set the primary seating policies.  There are
minimums that have to be met for the league and MLB, including tickets
for the families of players and other VIPs.  After that, the Jays
probably offered additional seats to their full season ticket holders
(providing they have other plans, like most other teams).  After that,
their other plan holders are offered tickets before the public gets
their chances.  Needless to say, you're among the last to get a shot at
tickets.  In many ways you should feel a bit luckey they didn't sell out
to season plan holders (which they could do if the league and MLB did
not set minimums that they have to offer to the public).

>2) I shelled out $24.00 (CDN) for a ticket that is $4.00 in the
>regular season. (I know the league sets the prices but WOW, I wonder
>what the $17.50 or $22.00 tix go for?)

The revenues for the first four games of each playoff series and the
World Series determines the "prize" money each team will share.  It is
suspected that the WS winner should take home nearly $100,000 per share.
The balance gets distributed to the teams with those involved getting
more (obviously).

>3) If the Jays do not make the playoffs I do not get a full refund (I
>lose an admin. fee)

Did you buy it from the Blue Jays directly or a ticket service?  Here in
New York, Ticketron (now defunct) sold the Mets' post season tickets to
the public in 1988.  They had a $2 per ticket surcharge which was
non-refundable.  As a season plan holder, I had bought my tickets
directly from the Mets and there was no extra charges (except shipping).

>4) They did not accept any credit cards or personal cheques.  This
>forced me to spend even more money on a money order.

This must be the policy of whom you bought your tickets from.  Find out
first before blaming the Blue Jays.

>5) Here is the kicker, the one that is unbelievable...I had to include
>a stamped addressed envelope!  They would not even send me the tix
>($0.42 for a stamp).  

That's OK, the Mets charged us shipping for registered mail.  This was
not the ticket service but the Mets' ticket office themselves!

>I gues the Blue Jays want to save every precious $1.00 to pump back
>into the organization to pay the millionaires for next year...

Not really, this is typical practice.  In fact, I am charged a $10
shipping and handling fee on my season plan tickets, so I'm not
surprised.  Besides, when was the last time your ordered something
through the mail and did not pay a shipping charge?

>However, I am thrilled to be going to game 1 of the ALCS and would do
>it all again to get tickets.  I guess if there were less saps like
>myself they might be forced to improve the process.

Not really.  They are not doing anything different than many mail order
companies do.  If you look at it like that then there should be a better
understanding of the process.

>Sigh...the plight of a baseball fan.

Hey, be happy... at least your team is going to post season, not
fighting to stay out of the cellar!!
-- 
scott barman			| <This space intentionally left blank>
scott@asd.com			|
 (I can barely speak for myself, you expect me to speak for my employer??)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball