Hornets to cut price on 81% of tickets
by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports
It will be cheaper to watch the New Orleans Pelicans than the New Orleans Hornets.
As the NBA team changes its nickname, jersey, logo and more, fans will have a chance to buy cheaper season tickets across most of New Orleans Arena, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported. That means 13,598 of the arena’s 16,769 seats will cost less next season.
The team’s spin is simple but effective: The Pelicans are for the people.
“It’s counter-intuitive in a way; we’re doing what most teams don’t do,” Ben Hales, team vice president for marketing, told The Times-Picayune. “We’re renovating our arena, we’re giving more options and we’re reducing prices. We’ll be able to show every one of these people that three years ago, you sat in this seat, this is what it costs now. You’ll have an option. And we laid it out for (current holders) if you love this seat you have now, you’re going to spend less for it. If you’re comfortable spending the money that you are right now, and you want to move up, here are what your options are for that as well.”
The company line is one thing, but the real motivation here is to get the city to buy into the rebranding process. Fill the seats, sell more apparel. Fill the seats, build customer loyalty.
The Hornets were purchased by New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson last spring and landed No. 1 overall draft pick Anthony Davis in the summer. But attendance, marred by a poor start to the season, remains near the bottom of the pack. The Hornets are 29th in the 30-team NBA in average home attendance, tied for 25th in capacity sold.
Still, with a young team, a new nickname and an owner who has gained popularity since the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV in February 2010, the Pelicans have a chance to gain some support. The ticket prices are a key first step.
From The Times-Picayune:
In an effort to have long-term sustainability in ticket sales, the Hornets/Pelicans next season will introduce pricing plans that will vary within sections, with season price reductions ranging from a … [For more on New Orleans Hornets to cut price on 81% of tickets, click here.]
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