ajcsportstalk

By Jon

April 23, 2007 6:56 PM | Link to this

I used to be a season ticket holder but it just got too expensive. I won’t be back but maybe it will help those who can’t handle their money well and plan for the tickets.

By J

April 23, 2007 8:12 PM | Link to this

I don’t believe the Braves are the first to offer this as the article states. The Thrashers offer 8 months with no interest!

By JACK

April 23, 2007 9:01 PM | Link to this

I THINK THIS IS THE BIGGEST JOKE LIBERTY-MUTUAL COULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT UP FOR THE DIE HARD BRAVES FAN.JUST MAYBBE IF THEY WOULD PUT A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CALLIBER TEAM ON THE FIELD THE FANS OF THE BRAVES, WOULD PAY THE COST OF THE OVERPRICED TICKET’S! 14-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP’S ONLY 1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP YES THE FAN’S IN MY OPINION ARE JUST PLAIN TIRED OF PAYING THE HIGH COST OF BRINGING THEIR FAMILY’S TO A BRAVES GAME TO WATCH OVERPAID,OVERWEIGHT,PLAYER’S AND COACHES WHO REALLY JUST DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE FAN’S AT ALL, JUST TRY TO GET THEM TO SIGN AN AUTOGRAPH AND SEE HOW MUCH THEY CHARGE YOU TO JUST TO SIGN THEIR NAME!I WILL NOT COME BACK TO TURNER FIELD, UNTIL THE BRAVES ARE UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT AND UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP.

By lawl

April 23, 2007 9:13 PM | Link to this

lawl! who cares! lawl!

ajc is a joke! lawl!

By Tyrone

April 23, 2007 10:51 PM | Link to this

How generous of the braves! How about cutting the price of tickets instead.

By Josh

April 23, 2007 11:16 PM | Link to this

Hawks/Thrashers are way ahead of the Braves on this one…

By Marion

April 24, 2007 6:48 AM | Link to this

This is one of the worse ideas I’ve ever seen. 80% of “90 days same as cash” sales convert to monthly payments at 24%+ interest. If you can’t afford to buy a ticket you surely can’t afford to finance it.

By Darrell

April 24, 2007 6:53 AM | Link to this

Debt. The great American pastime.

By DAWG

April 24, 2007 7:24 AM | Link to this

If you think you are getting a deal from the Braves, think again. The fan is the last thing on their mind. Someone has to pay Hampton 12-14 mil to sit there. Not to mention, you’ll still pay $10 to park, $7.00 for a beer, $5.00 for a coke, etc. do I need to go on?

By areader

April 24, 2007 8:20 AM | Link to this

Like I need another reason to go into debt.

By Romola

April 24, 2007 8:45 AM | Link to this

I use to work for the Braves in the 70’s and have been an ardent fan since they came to Atlanta. However it is not right to intice people who cannot afford tickets to go this route. It is all about money and greedy owners.

By Ugh

April 24, 2007 8:59 AM | Link to this

Another dumb idea. What is this, Rent-A-Ticket?

Here’s a realistic idea: Lobby the city aggressively for real transportation options to Turner Field. By which I mean a direct on-ramp to 75/85 North from the official parking lots and a MARTA stop by the stadium. I live 3 miles from the stadium and it takes me 40 minutes to drive home from a game….

By Dee

April 24, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this

It’s a sad day in the USA when we have to consider “financing” our tickets to see America’s favorite pasttime!

Here’s an idea: How about if the Braves and their Managers take a pay cut and stop making literally Millions of Dollars FROM the people who they suggest finance their tickets and then lower the price of the tickets, the food, the drinks, and offer free parking!

The American Way - The Greed of the Entertainer!!! Shame on you, Braves!

By Michael

April 24, 2007 9:16 AM | Link to this

It’s the hassle factor, stupid. Why is it no one in this organization is listening? Here is some free advice to the brain trust at Turner Field: Want to raise attendance? Quit alienating your loyal base. For example, please tell me why I pay a premium on a Green lot parking pass for every game? To guarantee a parking spot, right. Bravo to those who thought it would be a good idea to bring in traffic off Capitol Avenue and instead defer it to the Green lot itself. Now I have to wait in line, looking at empty spots, while I wait for anyone with a $10 to pay and park in the same lot. The dumbest idea ever.

By ERfromATL

April 24, 2007 9:20 AM | Link to this

You have GOT to be kidding! It isn’t bad enough that tickets are so expensive that they are practically prohibitive to the average family? But they are further going to say “oh, but do we have a deal for you?” by offering financing - OF ALL THINGS! - for the pleasure of paying to park in their parking lots, spending ridiculous money on their food and drinks, to sit in their park and watch them play for millions??

Greed has a newer, fresher, ‘more affordable’ face - the Atlanta Braves.

By DJ

April 24, 2007 9:28 AM | Link to this

Wonderful. What a great idea - people who can’t afford to go to a baseball game will now risk even more financial problems. I have a better idea - can I put my credit card balance on a credit card?? What a joke - the invisible hand doesn’t “guide” - it smacks stupid people. Hard.

By LivininAL

April 24, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this

Now if they could work on financing the outrageous price of a hotdog and soft drink they might get a few takers for the tickets. I stopped going to games 5 years ago, too expensive for my tastes.

By Doug

April 24, 2007 9:56 AM | Link to this

The problems with sporting events begin with the ticket prices, but do not end there. The prices for parking and concessions are SO outrageous that a family or small group cannot attend a game for less than $100 without sitting in the worst seats in the park.

$10 for parking, $4 for a soda, $3 for a pretzel, $5 for a small pizza, $7 for a beer. The venues only charge these prices because people continue to pay them.

Want value - go see the Rome Braves or Chattanooga Lookouts minor league baseball games. Real baseball, great seats and affordable concessions.

By Willie

April 24, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this

The Braves should be ashame tempting the community into financing season tickets. Just what we need, more debt. They should be focusing on creating a better parking system as well as making it more economical for indiviuals and their families to enyoy the concessions and environment.

By Peter

April 24, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this

Never ceases to amaze me. Atlanta pro sports tickets, comparatively are below the average for a city of it’s size.

No one is asking people who can’t afford tickets to go into debt to do so in order to buy tickets.

Interest free…you can buy the tickets for a particular section that you may like and hold those seats WITHOUT charge.

There’s always some excuse. Other teams don’t win as much as the Braves. Their tickets are generally more expensive. The “incidentals” (parking, food etc.) are WELL BEYOND what Atlanta’s are and yet they draw better than the Braves.

The extra 30,000 per series that other teams draw has an effect on payroll. Why don’t people from other cities have a problem paying the price to come to Atlanta to see their team play “ours”?

Yeah, let’s lower the payroll further. You can’t have it both ways. It takes money to win and people know it. What a way to cover your a*******es on both sides of an issue.

Won’t go because it’s too expensive AND won’t go unless they put a championship calibre team on the field.

Brilliant!

By Wild Mustangs fantasy ball club

April 24, 2007 11:00 AM | Link to this

I love the Braves!!! I can’t afford them, but will buy the tickets regardless of the price, because I AM HOOKED. It doesn’t get any sweeter than sitting next to my adorable boyfriend Joe, and rooting for the great players together.

I request that they also offer more 2 for 1 tickets and let us bring in our own canned beer and soggy sandwiches like at the races.

By a

April 24, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this

Charge it and go into debt = the American way

By ThrasherGator

April 24, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this

This is not the same as what the Thrahers do. The monthly payment plan is not used to entice people to get tickets. Also, you do not apply for any kind of credit to do so. I assume that if you don’t pay, you don’t get your tickes. Very different model.

By Patrick

April 24, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this

I think this is a great idea. It is sure to make the owners a ton of extra cash as people that can’t handle their own finances miss the 90 day deadline. I may look into buying stock in their parent company. It is this type of thinking that builds good corporations.

For all of you whining about getting overcharged to watch an “American Pastime”, get over it. You bought into their marketing, good for them. Hot dogs and beer too expensive? only because you keep buying them, good for them. Tickets cost too much? Only because you keep paying ever increasing prices, good for them. Players make more than they are worth? Good for them.

No one is walking into your living room to tell you that you have too many nice things and should get a pay cut because of it. If you don’t want to support the owners and continue to line their investors pockets, then don’t do it. Go out to the park and play catch with your children, it is still free. Coach a youth league, there is no charge for that.

If you want to watch baseball than watch baseball, but keep in mind that the Braves are not run by the Fulton County Parks Department, and praise (insert deity of your choice here) for that. They are a FOR PROFIT organization, and a pretty good one at that.

By the dude

April 24, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this

Whataburger ! Whatburger ! Get your fresh hot Whataburger !

By Cabbagetown Cracka

April 24, 2007 2:20 PM | Link to this

I”M WAITIN ON LAY-A-WAY!!!!!!!!!!!

By Cabbagetown Cracka

April 24, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this

WHEN THEY START TAKING EBT CARDS IM GONNA BE SITTIN WITH JIMMY!!!!!!WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

By Traffic?

April 24, 2007 2:27 PM | Link to this

I live 3 miles from the stadium and it takes me 40 minutes to drive home from a game….

If that is true, then you are possibly the worst driver in Atlanta or refuse to consider alternative routes, or both.

By Fulton

April 24, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this

Whatever! Come playoffs, it won’t matter anyway, as the Braves make their annual crash and burn, post-season EXIT! Sorry folkz, but The Ted will be a GHOSTOWN by October, as usual.

By Cabbagetown Cracka

April 24, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this

If you live 3 miles from the Stadium..WALK!!!..You lazy fool!!

By ChampDawg

April 24, 2007 2:46 PM | Link to this

Thanks but no thanks. I enjoy the Braves but would rather sit at home and watch them on TV. Tickets, parking, and concessions are just too high for me plus the traffic— oh, and all the low-class locals that hound you hocking their stuff all the way to the gate. Real nice. Turner Field ain’t exactly in the best part of town!! Nope, I don’t mind watching them on TV but I’m not going to fork over $250 (gas, parking, tix, food) for me and my family to watch a bunch or overpaid athletes.

By Dan

April 24, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this

This blog is absolutely positively, frightening based on the ignorance and sense of entitlement people have. The braves or any team owe you NOTHING !!!! and if you and others don’t like it don’t go, don’t buy tickets don’t buy concessions (for petes sake you can even bring your own food in!!!)if enough people feel the same way the current owners will fail and new ones (who may be better or worse) will take their turn. Everyone loves the big screen and relatively fresh food. (old stadiums had hours old hot dogs wrapped in foil and carries around in a big metal box) but they don’t want to pay for it. DONT GO THEN

By landsaf

April 24, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this

we attend alot of games, buy cheap seats, bring our own food/water from home and sit back and enjoy the game. Yeah we pay for parking. That is ANYWHERE anymore. For two of us, we spend no more than $30 a game. We are financially stable, but die hard tightwads. $30 seems like a good deal to us.

I think pro athletes are overpaid, and I think concessions are overpriced, but I also enjoy the atmosphere of a MLB game, so I pay.

By Me

April 24, 2007 4:39 PM | Link to this

I think ball games are excessively priced as much as the next person, but I am still going to see a game when I have the time and money.

Here are some tips for everyone who thinks concession/parking prices are too high:

You can bring soft drinks and food to the ballpark in a softsided cooler. Save $3 or more per drink. I can bring a six pack of 20 oz cokes for $5.

Park at Lakewood and take the 5 minute shuttle. It costs $5 and saves you an hour or more getting a parking spot and getting out after the game.

It doesn’t have to cost a fortune to go see a game. But those who do not go have no right b*** about the Braves payroll, lack of a championship, etc.

By ChampDawg

April 24, 2007 4:52 PM | Link to this

“It doesn’t have to cost a fortune to go see a game. But those who do not go have no right b* about the Braves payroll, lack of a championship, etc.”

Hey “Me”— you don’t know your @$$ from a hole in the ground. 1000x more fans watch on TV than attend the games and have MORE right to complain about overpaid .180 hitters like Andruw Jones and Booby Cox who doesn’t know how to move runners into scoring position with no outs.

By MrHughes

April 24, 2007 6:51 PM | Link to this

While ticket financing is not for me I do like the fact that they are trying something different in an effort to reach folks that would experience financial hardship paying for season tickets in a lump sum. With that said, I don’t think the average fan still benefits from 90 days same as cash on a three thousand dollar purchse, but who knows. It’s an interesting idea, and we will know real quick if it is successful. I think the Thrashers and Hawks do a great job by letting you pay over 8 months. The Falcons give people 4 months interest free. Personally, I think the traffic plan is smarter now. And, that signage they put on capital avenue to direct people to lots is pretty cool. Otherwise, the traffic problems have more to do with people getting their late and not riding Marta, which is pretty sad considering the shuttle drops you off right outside the Pollard St gate. It’s not Marta or the City of Atlanta’s responsibility to build dedicated highway access from the green lot to 75/85 or a station adjacent to the stadium. Those things would get used 82 times a year. That’s about 20% of a calender year and Turner doesn’t sell out every night or host a multitude of things like Philips Arena. If they stood to make the kind of money that would support building that kind of thing they would do it. But, the market/money is not there. The truth is that there is way too much unused parking at Turner. The Georgia State Station is a short walk and the bus drops you off a lot closer than it did when our ring of championships began. No one forces you to buy popcorn, peanuts, tickets, programs, beer, or Coca-cola. Consumers set the prices by continuing to pay them.

By Braves Fans?

April 24, 2007 11:16 PM | Link to this

The problem is seeing how the visiting fans at a home Braves game seem to usually outnumber (or outvoice) the home crowd. There is no reason for it, except a city that just doesn’t seem to give a crap about one of the most successful baseball (and sports franchises in general) teams the past decade and a half.

It doesn’t have to do with price, because you will spend 3 times as much at a mets/yankees/phillies game. You apparently have season tix starting at just 250 bux. It may be nosebleeds, but its better than nothing.

Just support your damn team. When you draw <20K a game, how do you justify a RAISE in the teams salary when it is already a top 10 salary team?

By Doc

April 25, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this

I won’t be going back even if the tickets were free! Whomever is in charge of parking, and the trafficing beforehand, has no clue what this entails. I live 45 minutes from the park and to witness the first pitch I must leave 3 1/2 to 4 hours early. They get you parked at the dome. There has to be a better plan.

By Justin

April 25, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this

If you idiots would go to the games they wouldn’t have to go this route. 10.00 for the outfield pavilion is not expensive. Give me a break. This a good team go support them or shut the hell up !!!!!!!!!