The New England Patriots are following the lead of the Detroit Lions. Surprisingly, it’s a move that fans around New England should actually get excited about.
The Patriots will utilize variable pricing for their ticket packages in the 2014 season, the team announced Friday. They are among the first teams in the NFL to try the alternative pricing method. The Lions, who announced they would implement the variable structure earlier in the week, were the first NFL team to try it.
Patriots tickets for the 2014 season will fall into three categories: preseason (two games), premier (four games) and marquee (four games) with ticket prices contingent on the designation of the game. While the overall price of the season package won’t change, the value of each individual ticket will be adjusted to better reflect the value of each game.
Premier games will cost the same amount as a standard game ticket from last season. However, preseason game tickets prices will now cost approximately 50 percent less than premier games. Meanwhile, the marquee games will cost approximately 25 percent more than premier games. The premier and marquee games haven’t yet been announced, but the Patriots did note that the most anticipated games, like the Patriots’ AFC Championship Game rematch with the Denver Broncos, would be assigned higher ticket values.
Aside from the variable pricing, the Patriots also announced pricing adjustments in two of the three lower bowl seating categories at Gillette Stadium for the 2014 season. The price changes will take place in the midfield and end zone sections of the 100-level. Average prices will be increased by $10 and $18, respectively, the team said. Prices of other tickets around the stadium will not change.
Take a look at a more aesthetically pleasing breakdown of the pricing changes in the chart below, per the Patriots’ release.
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