New York Knicks: Are We Overreacting To the Increased Cost of Tickets at MSG?

Since announcing their tickets hikes back on Friday, March 10, Madison Square Garden, Inc. has been on the receiving end of criticism from just about everyone. In case you missed it, MSG announced that it would be charging Knicks season ticket subscribers more next season.

A lot more.

Since MSG has elected to keep ticket prices stagnant during the Knicks' six-year playoff drought, everyone was expecting a price hike. But initial reports that the price of Knicks season tickets would increase by "an average of 49%" literally sent shock waves throughout the sports world.

Fans were livid and the press were appalled. And perhaps rightfully so.

Whether you understand and agree with the recently announced tickets hikes, or, like Charles Barkley, believe that they are "a complete and utter disgrace," those initial reports and figures released had the potential of being somewhat misleading.

After receiving a myriad of inquiries related to the "outrageous" ticket prices, some objectivity seems to be in order.

Most of the press have been reporting the "49% average increase," mainly because that's the exact language that Madison Square Garden's initial release contained. And reporting that figure might not have been the best idea.

Ask anyone that knows anything about statistics; the simple truth is that reporting on an "average" on just about anything can be a wasteful endeavor if the sample contains some outliers.

Read on for my personal take if you'd like, but prior to that, take a look at some objective facts that need to be reiterated:

Fact 1:
The seats that are seeing the highest hikes are the seats that are closest to the floor. The price points for these seats for 2010-2011 were $110, $240, $330, $900, $1,900, $2,500, and $3,000.

Beginning next season, the price points for these same seats will be $230, $280, $350, $675, $825, $900, $1,250, $2,850, $3,150, and $3,600.

In short, the seats that have seen the highest increases were amongst the seats that were most expensive. These same seats are most often seats that are purchased by investment banks, law firms, corporations, celebrities and the well to do. That's not to say it's alright, but it makes a difference.

And in case you're wondering, the highest percentage increases will be seen at the $110 and $240 price points, some of which will increase by about 110 percent and 180 percent, respectively. Those outrageous increases skew the average. 

Fact 2:
The gross majority of non-club level seats in MSG will see increases of less than 15 percent, and most seats inside of Madison Square Garden are non-club level seats.

Fact 3:
More than 1,000 seats will remain at their current price.

Facts 4-10:

• 400 Level End tickets cost $10 for the 2010-2011 season, and will remain $10 next season;
• 400 Level Corner tickets are $25, and will be raised to $35 (40 percent increase);
• 400 Level Center tickets are $40, and will be raised to $45 (12.5 percent increase);
• 300 Level Non-Center tickets are $56, and will be raised to $63 (12.5 percent increase);
• 300 Level Center tickets are $74, and will be raised to $83 (12.2% increase);
• 200 Level Non-Center tickets are $74, and will be raised to $85 (14.9 percent increase); and
• 200 Level Center tickets are either $80 or $95, and will be raised to $105 (31.25 and 10.5 percent increases, respectively).

So, is the term "overreacting" appropriate? Perhaps. But those who believe that Knicks fans should not have to put up with being asked to spend even one dollar more after the futility of the past decade certainly have a point.

With that, refer to the final two facts, both of which MSG brass should have given more consideration.

Fact 11:
The Knicks haven't won a playoff game since 2001. Now, 10 years later, when fans hope the streaks ends at one decade, they slam their season ticket holders with these hikes.

That's a terrible way to thank those that have been supporting the team.

Fact 12:
The Knicks really should have given their loyal subscriber base at least one relatively good season unaccompanied by any fare hikes.

The last two "facts" aren't facts at all.

But after a enduring a decade of embarrassment, Knicks fans deserve better...

And sadly, that is the most irrefutable fact of them all.

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