Posted: Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 3:29 PM | 15 comments |
 

Union announce ticket prices for Linc games
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The Union announced individual-game ticket prices for its two games at Lincoln Fnancial Field this morning. They range from $28 for the Sons of Ben and seated corner sections to $100 for the fancy club seats at center midfield.

Only the lower bowl and club seats will be sold. This helps push demand and it also makes sure that the fans aren't too spread out, which makes for a better atmosphere (and TV picture).

The seating chart is here. You'll notice that prices are the same across entire sections, regardless of what row you're sitting in.

I was a bit surprised that central midfield seats in the main seating bowl are $55. It struck me as being on the expensive side. Then again, I barely have time to get to Citizens Bank Park anymore, much less the basketball games I cover.

So I decided to compare the Union's prices to some other teams in the league. Here's a sampling, and I think it covers the full range from NFL stadiums to soccer-specific venues. A few still have last year's prices listed, and a lot of teams don't have individual game ticket prices posted yet. But you can get a pretty good idea from the list below.

Chicago: $50 or 70 depending on side of field; $26 for 200 level
Chivas USA: $30
D.C. United: $32-42 depending on row
Houston: $42 for front rows, $36 for higher rows
New York: $45 for 200 level; individual game 100-level tickets not on sale
Seattle: $45 to 50 depending on row
Toronto: $42 to $77 U.S. depending on row and opponent

What do you think of the Union's ticket prices so far?
Posted by Jonathan Tannenwald @ 3:29 PM  Permalink | File Under: Philadelphia Union | 15 comments
15
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:51 PM, 02/23/2010
    I agree Jon. 55 bucks a seat will probably price out a lot of people who would otherwise go to check it out if it were say 30 a seat. Bad move.
    — duffers
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:46 PM, 02/23/2010
    I wish it were cheaper, but defiantly think there are enough soccer fans in Philadelphia that those tickets will be bought. I know I'm willing to pay that.
    — madeiraj
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:28 PM, 02/23/2010
    I just checked out the site for myself. The prices do seem kind of high. And I am sure there are extra service fees and all that. The cheapest seats are $28. It seems to me they are relying on die hard fans too much, many of which already bought tickets in the supporters sections. They should do some sort of $10 upper level seat, even if it just a few sections. Even the Flyers have a family section type deal. The Flyers high prices have resulted in backwards availability. The cheapest seats in the upper levels sell out first, and the more expensive lower level seats remain available, especially during playoff games. This plan could backfire and result in a ridiculous looking opening game with the corner and end seats full and the middle sections empty.
    — AreaMan
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:37 PM, 02/23/2010
    $28 for a brand new team in a sport not a lot of people watch is Insane. I would think about going because I'd like to see the Linc and I can't afforrd Eagles games - but 30 Bucks?? No Way.
    — phillydude
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:41 PM, 02/23/2010
    The only people who will be able to afford these games will be members of the Carpenters Union!
    — JerryD
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:58 PM, 02/23/2010
    Seriously? People are complaining about $28 for a professional sporting match??? I guess we are in a recession but still has anyone on here seen Eagles, or Flyers ticket prices? I will but the $100 seats for the first game if i don't get season tickets. Go Union!
    — TheKeeper
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:22 AM, 02/24/2010
    Wow, either the eagles are holding them over the barrel for the costs of playing in the stadium, or they really don't have a clue. A brand new expansion team should be doing their best to fill the seats, not putting a premium on the pricing. I was planning to go, but also expecting something like $15 for seats in the corners. I don't know If I want to spend 45 bucks for a decent seat. Probably sections, 104, 136, 123, and 117 are the best deal, but I don't know if I can justify it. I wonder how many people you need to get group pricing. The best thing they could do would be to price it in a way to sell out the lower bowl quickly, then convince the eagles to open the upper deck on the side opposite the tv cameras.
    — Pelti
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:30 PM, 02/24/2010
    Well, the Union was doing well in my opinion until the discovery of their ticket prices. I'm sure they've made them as affordable as possible, but there's no way those prices will generate the kind of turnout they will need to succeed. I understand the dilemma: how can the league make the seating affordable while at the same time still be able to pay the players enough to keep them here in the U.S.? What family of four however, will shell out nearly $200 for the product? The same old pattern of pro soccer in Phila and the U.S. will result: highest attendance figures in the first season to be followed by ever-declining numbers seasonally thereafter followed by economic collapse. The league has suffered in this way in nearly all of its franchise cities. I love the game, but the ticket pricing makes me uncomfortable.
    — davidlawrence000
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:17 AM, 02/25/2010
    Tickets will be cheaper at PPL Park if you get them before they're sold out. The team has to pay to use the linc, that's the pricing difference.
    — buzzkiller23
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:33 PM, 02/25/2010
    Come on people!! The excuses have already started for poor attendance and the 1st game has yet to played. (or maybe it already has but no one attended!)
    — HappyBob
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:51 PM, 02/27/2010
    phillydude not a lot of people watch soccer huh? you might want to check your facts or rephrase your comment because soccer is the #1 sport in the world. and the tickets are not that bad. as a few people stated its because they have to pay to play in the linc but the prices are still not bad
    — PhillySports23


15 comments
About Jonathan Tannenwald
The Goalkeeper is your home for the latest news about the Philadelphia Union, Philadelphia Independence, U.S. national teams and the rest of the world's most popular sport. It's also a place for fans to gather and celebrate the culture of soccer and its unique place on the sports landscape.

Jonathan Tannenwald is a sports producer for Philly.com. He became a soccer fan while watching the 1998 World Cup at a bar in Avignon, France, and he's been writing about the sport ever since.

He also writes Philly.com's college sports blog, Soft Pretzel Logic.

Email him by clicking here.

You'll also see occasional contributions from Inquirer soccer writer Marc Narducci and Daily News soccer writer Kerith Gabriel.
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