2016 Grey Cup @ BMO Field

[1971GreyCup]

Last year three of us saw Manchester City FC play Crystal Palace in London. We paid 82 GPD or $180 CDN for three tickets for a season match. Mid pitch, row 2.

One week later Man City played a friendly against TFC at BMO Field. Out of interest, I scouted out equivalent seats. $1,200 CDN for a friendly! Says it all.

[Will]

So, the message to people that bought #GreyCup tickets before the prices were slashed today... too bad, suckers. https://t.co/tUs6ErjLld

— Drew Edwards (@scratchingpost) October 19, 2016

[Argos1983]

I don't think I can stop myself ---if they actually think that by pissing off the very people who supported this franchise when no one else seems to give a crap - ie. the remaining and dwindling STH list that will fall absurdly lower after this crapfest, I am just dumbfounded --- has anyone been to business school? does anyone know how hard it is to get a customer back once they have left because you pissed them off? it is literally the most short-sighted type of thinking I can think of, there is nothing about this that says we care about anything beyond Nov 2016 (ie. we need to fill that stadium now and try to keep as much money as we can - damn the consequences), next year when they are calling me begging me to take ST, and they will, will the concept of making me feel like I am absolutely taken for granted and a "sucker" of epic proportions weigh in that analysis....good luck future ticket ops people and the like in 2017, you will be unemployed shortly, as we know it can't possibly be managements fault when you can't hit your target sales next year, you should have tried harder, it has nothing to do with mgmt crapping on us in 2016......all I can say is wow, just wow.....

[R.J]

Just so everyone knows, people who purchased Grey Cup tix in sections that are being reduced will get discounts. #CFL

— Kirk Penton (@PentonKirk) October 19, 2016

Not sure what he means by this, because based on the emails it's upgrade and $50 credit or just $50 credit.

[Neely2005]

This ownership group is making the same errors that prior groups have made in the past with their season ticket holder. We continue to invest in this team but no special rewards for us. I have point out in early talks that other teams seem to find away to discount season ticket holder for their grey cup tickets also. Wow i get a 50 dollar credit which would work out to 25 dollars a seat if you have 2 seats, and 12.5 if you have a seat. They need to start with the season ticket holder experience to start to build a solid fan base.

Is the $50 credit per buyer, per Season Ticket or per Grey Cup ticket?

[argofan81]

I sent an email to my ticket rep voicing my displeasure (and with the hopes that perhaps he could do something for me) and I got the following automatic reply -- posting this as I assume a lot of us on here have the same ticket rep:

"Please Note: Rob Richardson is away from the office for an unknown amount of time. He has limited access to email however, if your email is urgent please contact 416 341-2746 (ARGO)."

[R.J]

^ I hope Rob's alright.

[Will]

Yeah, he is one of the good ones.

[1971GreyCup]

Attachment 819

This version was different from the email I received. Drew Edwards Twitter follower shared.

[Mightygoose]

Is the upgrade just one category? Most upgrades are 100.00 apart so hopefully they can at least upgrade the seat at least to the dollar amount of upgrade. It sounds like it's the mid categories being discounted so there should be somewhere to move people too.

Curious to see whwre these 89.00 seats are located tomorrow. I'm thinking the sides of the temp seats since they we're greyed out from the beginning.

[Neely2005]

I sent an email to my ticket rep voicing my displeasure (and with the hopes that perhaps he could do something for me) and I got the following automatic reply -- posting this as I assume a lot of us on here have the same ticket rep:

"Please Note: Rob Richardson is away from the office for an unknown amount of time. He has limited access to email however, if your email is urgent please contact 416 341-2746 (ARGO)."

I got that too but he replied later:

Not all tickets are being reduced. All ticket holders that have a ticket that has been reduced will receive a call to go over options.*

Rob Richardson
Toronto Argonauts

[Shatto]

This would be a perfect case study for Business Management 101. 1)Make a significant change but let major stakeholders (STH's) find out from the press. 2)Offer upgrades rather than refunds. 3)No mention what happens if no upgrades are suitable. 4)Offer a ridiculously small reduction on next year's tickets ($12.50 a seat if you hold 2 seats) 5)Send an unsigned e-mail--nobody taking responsibility. 6)No apology for this serious error of judgement 7)Have people wait around until someone calls--regardless of one's schedule.
I have sympathy for the reps who going have to contact to people. Must remind myself not to get angry with my rep --don't blame those who have no responsibility for this balls up.
Sorry to hear about Rob, as somebody said, he is a good individual. Hope he is o k

[argofan81]

I got that too but he replied later:

Not all tickets are being reduced. All ticket holders that have a ticket that has been reduced will receive a call to go over options.*

Rob Richardson
Toronto Argonauts

So what I'm guessing is that the previous "cheapest" seats in the endzone are remaining at $169/ticket + fees, etc. (total I paid was $187/ticket). Ticket prices in other sections (perhaps even better sections) are being reduced, possibly as low as $89 or part of the thousands at $150. No matter how you look at it, $89 or $150 is still cheaper than the $169 I paid and for potentially better seats (since it was the mid-priced seats that are affected by the price drop and when you look at the original seating chart, I'm guessing that they are dropping the $299 seats or the $399 seats).

[AngeloV]

Last year three of us saw Manchester City FC play Crystal Palace in London. We paid 82 GPD or $180 CDN for three tickets for a season match. Mid pitch, row 2.

One week later Man City played a friendly against TFC at BMO Field. Out of interest, I scouted out equivalent seats. $1,200 CDN for a friendly! Says it all.

More importantly, were you invited for tea with the Royal family?

[Argos1983]

^ I agree Shatto --- did no one go to business school? its literally "save our asses now" mode, 2017 is never coming apparently so why worry about those customers......I too feel for the reps who have to deal with the irate customers, its not their fault, they just bear the brunt of the displeasure and the lack of job security as a result of failing to meet unrealistic expectations.....

The other issue is they keep talking about upgrades or how that if your section was reduced in price you will get a refund of the difference (don't know if that's true or not) or that my section was unaffected, but my right to make an informed choice was affected, my issue is that if I bought $299 seats because I did not want to sit on the benches and that was literally the cheapest "seat" available to me, what happens if there are other seats now that are $149 (as I'm guessing there will be) --- maybe some of us would have sat in 219/227 (hypothetically speaking but these were very undersold sections) instead of 209 for 1/2 the price or whatever the difference is....the point is we weren't given that option to choose what was best for us under the new model which frankly favours those who waited over those who didn't, not exactly rewarding the loyal and diligent customer.....and we should be a STH why again? the perks? the benefits? the awesome treatment as valued customers?

[BATKINSON001]

Here is the full email that I received:

Dear Grey Cup Ticket Buyer and Season Seat Holder,

Thank you for purchasing tickets to the 104th Grey Cup in November. We look forward to seeing you at the stadium in less than six weeks!

Tomorrow morning we are unveiling new ticket prices in unsold sections of the stadium.

The tickets that you purchased are not affected by these changes.

However, in consideration of these changes and as a gesture of goodwill to you as a valued Argos season seat holder, we are crediting $50 to your account for you to apply towards the purchase of your 2017 season tickets if you renew before Friday, December 23rd 2016.

We are making this change because sports fans have told us they want to experience the iconic Grey Cup in the incredible new setting that is the Argos new home, BMO Field.

But they have also told us they need pricing that reflects the fact that is has been an unprecedented year in sports in Toronto with major events like the NBA All-Star game, World Cup of Hockey, a deep Raptors playoff run, the Jays playoffs, and the upcoming NHL Centennial Classic and World Junior Championships.

Our sales so far indicate that our top prices and lowest prices were probably set correctly: most of the seats in those sections have sold out.

It is in the mid-range that we need to adjust to ensure that every sports fan can still afford the best possible Grey Cup experience.


Sincerely,

Toronto Argonauts

They should be refunding us the difference not giving us a credit which forces us to renew before christmas in order to use the credit rather then when we want to... I was planning on renewing in the spring when I get my income tax refund.

This credit should be going back to my visa along with the playoff ticket from the seasons package that wont be used because our team shit the bed.

[Neely2005]

So what I'm guessing is that the previous "cheapest" seats in the endzone are remaining at $169/ticket + fees, etc. (total I paid was $187/ticket). Ticket prices in other sections (perhaps even better sections) are being reduced, possibly as low as $89 or part of the thousands at $150. No matter how you look at it, $89 or $150 is still cheaper than the $169 I paid and for potentially better seats (since it was the mid-priced seats that are affected by the price drop and when you look at the original seating chart, I'm guessing that they are dropping the $299 seats or the $399 seats).

We bought the $299 Sideline Seats and this is the Email that we got:

Dear Grey Cup Ticket Buyer and Season Seat Holder,

Thank you for purchasing tickets to the 104th Grey Cup taking place here in Toronto on November 27th. We can’t wait to see you at BMO Field.

We are reaching out to you today because we have timely and important news for you.

Tomorrow we are unveiling new Grey Cup ticket prices for some unsold sections of the stadium. *We are making this change because sports fans have told us they want to experience the iconic Grey Cup in the incredible new setting that is the Argos new home, BMO Field.

But they have also told us they need pricing that reflects the fact that is has been an unprecedented year in sports in Toronto with major events like the NBA All-Star game, World Cup of Hockey, a deep Raptors playoff run, the Jays playoffs, and the upcoming NHL Centennial Classic and World Junior Championships.

So, we are listening.

And since the price of tickets you purchased has now been lowered, we are offering you the opportunity to upgrade your seats at no additional charge. Plus, in consideration of these changes and as a gesture of goodwill to you as a valued Argos season seat holder, we are crediting $50 to your account for you to apply towards the purchase of your 2017 season tickets if you renew before Friday, December 23rd 2016.

One of our sales reps will be in contact with you shortly to discuss this with you.

Sincerely,
*
Toronto Argonauts

http://us11.campaign-archive2.com/?u...5&e=e0a4147c95

[ArgoFan1]

Let's just wait until the phone calls come to see what is being offered. No use getting too upset just yet. Obvious the tickets are not selling well, so you could see something coming. At least they are addressing those season ticket holders that have bought already. I don't particularly want an upgrade, but some money back would be good. It would be even greater if I could upgrade to my season seats, but that is never going to happen. Too big a price difference there.

[Argos1983]

^Not all $299 seats are created equally apparently -- mine in Section 209 were offered no upgrade and no one will be contacting me shortly to discuss anything with me --- can't say I blame for that last part though.... ha ha ha....the upgrade is a nice gesture, but the option to downgrade is what most people want here.....

[BATKINSON001]

^Not all $299 seats are created equally apparently -- mine in Section 209 were offered no upgrade and no one will be contacting me shortly to discuss anything with me --- can't say I blame for that last part though.... ha ha ha....the upgrade is a nice gesture, but the option to downgrade is what most people want here.....

exactly. I was looking at downgrading but the only option is in the rafters in the corners of either side of the stadium. F that. I am stuck where I am in the fanzone unless I pay more (without the discount)