The Facts About the Price Adjustment

Apr. 21, 2006 -- Yesterday the Denver Nuggets announced a price adjustment for tickets for the 2006-07 season. [Related Article: '06-07 Ticket Prices] While we understand that no one likes a price increase, it was necessary in order to keep the Nuggets competitive with the rest of the NBA. During our rebuilding period, ticket prices were held flat for three straight seasons (from 2001-02 to 2003-04), enabling us to reward our fans for their loyalty as the franchise went through a transitional period.

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The Denver Nuggets and Kroenke Sports Enterprises are building a winning tradition in Denver. Carmelo Anthony is the best clutch shooter in the NBA and is blossoming into one of the best young stars in the league. Our intention is to keep him in Denver for a long time. George Karl is a proven winner. He ranks 12th in NBA history in victories and has won over 60% of his games since being named Nuggets head coach. The entire organization is focused on bringing an NBA Title to Denver. In order to keep and add pieces to compete at the highest level, we must be on par with our competitors.

Since Nuggets owner E. Stanley Kroenke acquired the team, average ticket prices for Nuggets games have ranked near the bottom of the league. Even with the recent price adjustment, the Nuggets still stand in the middle of the pack in regards to average ticket price - ensuring that Nuggets basketball is still one of the greatest values in professional sports.

The Nuggets won their first division title since 1988 this year and are in the playoffs for the third-straight season. Only eight other teams have made the playoffs each of the past three seasons. And according to the Team Marketing Report, Nuggets ticket prices, on average, were 26% less than those other eight teams entering this season.

Not only is the basketball exciting, but Nuggets games offer something for everyone – be it Supermascot Rocky, the Nuggets dance and cheerleading teams, or the numerous in-game festivities. In fact, the USA Today named the Pepsi Center the No. 1 arena in the NBA for ambience and entertainment value last year.

This is just the ninth time since 1988 that the Nuggets have raised ticket prices, compared to many teams throughout sports that raise ticket prices on an annual basis. A challenge the Nuggets face that many other teams do not is that we play in a privately funded arena with a seating capacity smaller than half of the NBA. Being near the bottom of the league in average ticket price puts the team at a marked disadvantage while we try to field a team that can contend for championships every year.

The Nuggets are still committed to being one of the most family-friendly teams in the league. Nearly one-third of the seats in the Pepsi Center will be priced at less than $22. The organization will continue to offer Family Nights (4 tickets, 4 soft drinks, 4 pizzas and a $10 game card for $59), Guys Night Out and Youth Nights (children under the age of 14 admitted free with a paying adult). In addition, all 500 of the $10 seats were held flat and the team will continue to offer $5 seats in the Rocky’s Den section the day of games.

The Nuggets have proven in recent years that the money they make is going back into the product on the floor in an effort to lift the club to new heights. The organization’s goal is to give fans a much better-than-average product at an average price.

Other Blogs for the Nuggets Nation:

• May 6, 2006: The Reality About Off-Season Media Coverage
  
• Feb. 23, 2006: The Truth Behind the Trade Deadline
  
• May 8, 2006: Kroenke Verbatim: Q&A with Nuggets Owner Regarding Front-Office Changes