Flyers set payment dates for playoffs, next season
Payment for the playoffs is due in mid-February and anyone wanting to renew their tix for next season must do so by April 24.
Flyers season ticketholders began receiving mail the past few days about payment for the 2009 playoffs and for the 2009-10 season.
The letter said: "The emergence of Jeff Carter as an elite NHL scorer, the return of All Star Simon Gagne, Mike Richards' captaincy and Marty Biron's hot November have all been key ingredients to our team's success in the first half of the season. You've also been an important part of our team. As such, we wanted to reach out with a reminder, giving you plenty of notice to plan for playoff and season renewal dates. Our renewal timeline remains intact and is consistent with last season."
Invoices for the playoffs will be mailed the week of Jan. 12, with payment due by Feb. 13. Minimum payment is for the first two rounds, so long as fans include credit card authorization to pay as the team advances.
Fans can expect to see invoices to renew for next season to be sent during the week of March 16, with payment due back by April 24. The minimum payment is 5 percent of the season-ticket package and registration for a seven-month payment plan to begin in mid-June.
A couple of season ticketholders who e-mailed me said they thought the payment for the playoffs used to go out in March.
Shawn Tilger, the Senior VP for Business Operations, said the timing of the letter was in response "to our season ticket research. Fans said in light of current economy the patrons would like advance notice of what we will be doing regarding invoices, prices, etc so they can plan and budget accordingly."
You might have seen in yesterday's Daily News that colleague Ed Moran talked to Comcast-Spectacor president Peter Luukko about the number of empty seats at the Wachovia Center for Flyers games. Luukko said that no-shows are increasing and single-sale seats are decreasing. Overall, there are more available tickets for games than there have been in awhile, sometimes as high as 2,000 or 2,500.
"We're making it known and that they are out there and they are getting sold," he said. "The economy is definitely having an impact."
Finally, the fan advisory board met for the second time Saturday before the game against the Penguins. A member of the board said discussions touched on the following:
1) earlier gameday faxes/emails
2) mailing advising of upcoming invoice dates and "due dates"
3) discussion afternoon vs night games no real concensus
4) web site ...how often+ what else?
5) flyers early bird season ticket payment ...