Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig told clubs to be sensitive to the nation's tough economic conditions. But the Reds said their performance during the season is the reason they decided to freeze ticket prices for next season. In 2008 the Reds went 74-88, their eighth straight losing season and 13th in a row without reaching the playoffs. Reds chief executive Bob Castellini felt strongly that ticket costs shouldn't go up even one dollar given the way the team played. The last time the Reds froze their ticket prices was in 2005.
The article also explained how the Philadelphia Phillies are among several teams that are raising prices for next year. The Tampa Bay Rays, the American League Champs, who went from worst to first announced they are going to slightly increase ticket prices for select games. Not surprising at all, the article mentioned the New York Yankees and Mets, who are both moving into new ballparks in 2009, as seeing significant increases in their ticket prices.
I feel that the Reds are doing some good for themselves by not raising their ticket prices for next season. They are trying to fill the stands and realize that their teams poor performance the last 8 years and the bad economy do not merit an increase in ticket prices. What surprises me the most about this article is the price freeze the Boston Red Sox put on their tickets. Boston is a strong team year in and year out and sell out every game, yet they decided not to raise their tickets. I would say that this a good management move due to the poor economy, but eventually will lead to a profit lose they could potentially have gained because the Red Sox would not have a problem selling out every game. From the article, I am not surprised that the two teams who made it to the World Series are increasing their ticket prices and that the two teams who are moving into new ballparks are increasing their ticket prices as well.
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