News |
Bucs
Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
Club seat fans catch break
Bucs will not require additional deposit with renewal, but don't expect that little refund.
By RICK STROUD
Published July 18, 2007
TAMPA - The Bucs are rewarding fans for their loyalty the past decade.
Club seat holders will not have to pay an additional seat deposit to renew their contracts.
The team plans to use the remaining money in those accounts as a new deposit beginning in 2008. They even promise "discounted" prices on tickets for those who stay aboard.
But there could be some bad news: the Bucs apparently are out of the refund business.
New club seat holders are expected to be charged what amounts to a seat license to purchase tickets.
Although no details of the new plan have been disclosed, the cost of the license will most likely be the same as the price of each ticket purchased on the account.
Team officials began informing club seat owners of the new plan in letters mailed last week. The deadline to renew club seats is Sept. 7.
In addition, club seat owners will have the option to enter new agreements for terms of six or 10 years.
The Bucs haven't revealed whether a similar policy will be enacted for general season ticket holders.
The Bucs also are offering more incentive for club seat owners to renew. Those who own Club 1 and Club 2 seats will have the right to purchase two tickets to Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa in February 2009.
Clubs seats range from $1,480 to $3,500, according to the team's Web site.
"If you choose not to sign a new agreement for your seats for the '08 season, you will receive a refund check for the remaining seat deposit balance on your account after the '07 season," the letter reads.
The 2007 season marks the end of 10-year commitments that many season ticket holders entered into when Raymond James Stadium opened in 1998.
At that time, the Bucs charged a charter seat deposit, offering to refund 5 percent a year for those who continued to purchase tickets.
The Bucs claim to have more than 100,000 fans on the season ticket waiting list.
"We will not require any additional seat deposits to be paid on your account: your remaining deposit will become your new seat deposit," the letter reads. "As long as you comply with the terms and conditions of your new agreement, the seat deposit will remain in full on your account through the term."
However, there is no mention of an annual refund.
The letter states if club seat owners don't renew, their tickets will be sold.
[Last modified July 17, 2007, 23:43:20]
Share your thoughts on this story
Comments on this article
|
by Jay
|
07/19/07 03:40 PM
|
|
This 10yr 2tkt gen sea holder won't pay another deposit. They started out at $50 ea, so I paid $2000 for tkts & dep via 4 payments. Now they cost $75-80 ea. Tkts & dep must be paid in full which is around $3000. I'm also on that unrealistic list!
|
|
by Bb
|
07/19/07 02:08 PM
|
|
John,you can have my tickets,after 9 years as a season ticket holder I'm done,I've seen my tickets go up 140% in 9 years. $25 to park,tons of interest off the deposits,cash from merchandise,free stadium. I'm tired of getting screwed by the Glazers.
|
|
by John
|
07/19/07 10:46 AM
|
|
Anytime you crybabies want to step down, I will galdly pay the price. The tickets should not be renewable. The next group in line on the waiting list should have first choice on the following year. That way everyone gets to enjoy season tickets !
|
|
by Dan
|
07/19/07 10:35 AM
|
|
Go see the D-Ray's. Cheap tickets! Great owners! Awesome Stadium ! No east side sunburn. It only sells out when the Yankees are here?? You people live in Tampa !!.........Support your team !! Go Bucs !!
|
|
by Jason
|
07/18/07 06:47 PM
|
|
You know, for 10 years we have been paying as "General season ticket holders" and we don't get rewarded? By the way Glazers, how many milllllions have you made on the interest from our deposits?? Just curious??
|
|
by Jim
|
07/18/07 04:28 PM
|
|
Are you really getting a refund when they raise the ticket prices every other year? Classic smoke and mirror deal...here's your money back, now I'll send you a bigger bill for your tickets.
|
|
by Randall
|
07/18/07 04:27 PM
|
|
NO letter from Bucs .
Have 2 Season tickets that only??? cost me Seventy
something dollars ò01Ceachò01D per home game.
Ten years - enough for me!!!
I never could ò01Csellò01D any of them!!
I wonder if Mickey Mouse is on their waiting list??
|
|
by Sam
|
07/18/07 04:00 PM
|
|
And you didn't mention the % increase in the 2008 ticket prices over 2007 - 18%, I estimate. Are you sure about the right to purchase Super Bowl tickets in Club 1 and 2 - or is it the right to be in a lottery for a limited number of such tickets?
|
|
by Howard
|
07/18/07 03:02 PM
|
|
I don't believe any of this. These people are self-serving and good ol boy serving. I have 4 seats 2 reg & 2 club. I have yet to receive my tix, or the letter you mentioned. I'm a faithful fan and all I ask for is communication & honesty. GO BUCS!!!
|
|
by Ron
|
07/18/07 01:59 PM
|
|
Bill, don't be naive. You can't read between the lines and see that after that 6 or 10 years are up again, they will pull the same stunt again and tell you that you will have to renew again or lose your deposit? They have you by the, well, you know!
|
|
by Ron
|
07/18/07 01:54 PM
|
|
The Glazers have shown all along that they were the greediest qwners around. It took them 10 years to find a way ro keep the remainder balance of the Club seats . They're getting rich off interest alone. Legal extortion!
|
|
by Ron
|
07/18/07 12:13 PM
|
|
The Bucs aren't worth watching anyway. Invest the money in a plane ticket to go see a team that is worth seeing.
|
|
by Chris
|
07/18/07 12:00 PM
|
|
Give up your tickets crybabies! There are 100,000 fans on the waiting list, and I'm one of them. Please cash out so I can cash in. GO BUCS! By the way, there is no cheap ticket anywhere in the NFL. That is because it blows away every other sport!
|
|
by Jim
|
07/18/07 10:33 AM
|
|
Fire Gruden.
|
|
by Jason
|
07/18/07 10:33 AM
|
|
I'm a fan. Games are ok. It's so hot there. Would rather take the $250 seat price and purchase food for a party at my house with all my buds. That's worth a lot more than a hot plastic seat at a Bucs game.
|
|
by SOG
|
07/18/07 09:05 AM
|
|
Hey Pablo you know the answer. The "regular" fans will not get the same deal as the "club" fans. Bohica!
|
|
by John
|
07/18/07 08:53 AM
|
|
Why does anyone pay good money to watch pro football??? I pay 50$ for season tickets to Division III fottbal and that is $10.00 Per game. A far much better deal and more interesting games.
|
|
by T
|
07/18/07 08:49 AM
|
|
Rich gets Richer & the Poor gets Poorer !- It's all about the Dollar signs !
|
|
by Steve
|
07/18/07 08:42 AM
|
|
My guess is that we 300 level schmoes are going to be stuck paying a non-refundable seat deposit. These guys better be careful on how they treat the fans though. I have heard that waiting list is a vastly overstated number.
|
|
by Bill
|
07/18/07 08:33 AM
|
|
Stephanie, I have club seats and I can read..my letter says I'll get a full refund after my next 6 or 10 seasons, whichever I choose. I don't know what's greedy about running an effective business. It takes $ to make $. Thought it was fair..GO BUCS!
|
|
by David
|
07/18/07 08:25 AM
|
|
Why don't the Glazers give Hillsborough a break and return the $12 million dollars they have - targeted for a practice facility - that belongs to the taxpayers?
I will never spend my hard earned money supporting rich sports team owners.
|
|
by Lynn
|
07/18/07 07:55 AM
|
|
Did you expect anything less????
|
|
by Pablo
|
07/18/07 07:44 AM
|
|
What about those of us who sit in the nose-bleed area and are die-hard fans?? Are they going to treat us the same even though we pay a lot less??
|
|
by steve
|
07/18/07 06:18 AM
|
|
2500.00 will buy a decent plasma TV.
|
|
by Stephanie
|
07/18/07 04:23 AM
|
|
Typical greed by the Glazers
|
News
Print
Email story
Comment
Letter to the editor
