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THE SEASON TICKET HOLDER BLUES
This is a topic we have visited many times at this blog, a situation that has not improved much from the fans standpoint and will likely worsen with the addition of nets, increased demand for the giveaways scheduled and sour attitudes from some. For my suggestions on improved fan experience, scroll way back down, or search via the "The Dr.'s Notes" function, they remain much the same as they have for years, simply the unanswered laments of a baseball fan.
We have learned that Riverwalk will indeed have foul pole to foul pole nets next year. The team offers no discounts or apologies for season ticketholders who, like me, chose their seats carefully so they wouldn't have to sit behind the dreaded nets. That, coupled with the continued eroding of season-ticketholder perks offered in previous seasons has led many of the longtime supporters to question at what point they jump off.
THE GOOD OL DAYS
No longer are season ticket holders covered for road games, game notes are drastically reduced and yours truly got absolutely torched by power hungry, entry-level ushers for making forays to the pressbox to retrieve said notes/stats, items that are literally thrown in the trash following the final out of the game.
The Biscuits ten percent discount on store merch offsets sales tax, but its effect is nullified by the team now charging sales tax for concession stand food items which are purchased much more often by most fans. Requiring fans not to use cash complicates the tax matter, forcing season ticketholders to relinquish a dollars worth of discount bucks for a ten cent tax.
The problem is compounded when many concession attendants lack the basic math skills to calculate ten percent sales tax.
Season ticket holder special events have been largely curtailed since the pandemic, the Biscuits still host season ticket folks in the owners suite once during the season and offer a postseason party during the World Series that includes a cash bar. This years Postseason Party drew a massive crowd that may have included some employees and their families. However, by the time I got there for the first pitch of the game the free food was gone and did not get re-served.
By the second inning of the World Series party, the staff was shutting down the place, it was dark with the lights off in the seating bowl, so I didn't stay to chat long.
Bring back the season ticket holder batting practice? Probably not happening if we are putting up nets to keep fans "safe".
Complimentary playoff tickets for season ticket holders who verbally agree to re-sign for the following year has been kind of a flop as the Biscuits have tanked in the postseason so often many fans now simply skip it. This seems to be a standard across minor league baseball, offering postseason seats for season ticket commitment.
Also, executive level season ticket holders are offered personalized tickets for full season ticket purchases, which I always take advantage of so I can flash the Dr. Miraculous name when I give them away to VIP's such as museum curators, authors, former players and coaches, researchers and other important contacts. This year it required an electron microscope to read the name printed in tiny Times New Roman font.
At $840 full season executive seats, the Biscuits are in the lower end of the pricing in the league, which is to be expected, reflecting the age of their ballpark. However, today's fans need more bang for their buck than they have been getting, and Biscuits supporters are starting to grumble openly that the number of perks that have gone away outnumber the ones that remain.
LETS TAKE A LOOK
A quick check around the league implies that the Biscuits are trailing in the ticket office competition, with other clubs in the circuit working to sell seats with perks notably beyond what Montgomery is offering.
The Chattanooga Lookouts offer 35% off the ticket price for season ticket purchasers, with a 20% discount in the team store.
The Birmingham Barons offer 15% discount on their team store and discount additional ticket purchases by the holder. The Barons also offer a multi-year discount for fans who keep coming back.
The Knoxville Smokies offer nightly buffet, early entry, parking pass, VIP gifts and merch discounts for season ticket holders. They also offer 3-5 year term discounts for longtime season ticket holders.
The brand-new Columbus Clingstones offer season ticket holders the right of first refusal at all events at their ballpark. How helpful would that have been for Savannah Bananas, Rays at Riverwalk, All Star Games and other big events? HUGE. Fans hated having to scramble for those seats and were left to fight among themselves as the Biscuits took a hands off approach to making any of those events easy to attend. Also, most Biscuits fans skip non-baseball events, often not even knowing about them, right of first refusal would sell a lot more of those seats.
Another comparison is that of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the Biscuits sister team under owner Lou DiBella, where they boast 35% off game-day prices (39% for returning season ticket holders), ten minutes early entry via season ticket holder gate and other unnamed percentages off at the team store.
PRO TIP: Most Biscuits giveaways are easier to get via eBay by the end of the second inning of the game that is featuring the giveaway, leading serious fans to avoid the park as the eBay seller hawks invade, pick up the giveaways and leave the park by the middle of the game. For thirty bucks you don't have to stand in line for an hour or more.
I LOVE THIS TEAM
You know I love the team and support it. I will cheer when they do right, which they often do, such as the outstanding Grey Sox/Negro League tribute, their longtime partnership with the military and embracing Korean culture.
It's one we have been talking about for years and effects each and every fan that walks through the gates.
And, obviously, the season ticket packages could use some added sizzle too.
NIKO SIGHTING
Former Biscuits stud Niko Hulsizer is in action down under, patrolling the outfield for Adelaide in the Australian Baseball League. And hitting bombs, of course.. evidence provided!
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| Sam McWilliams ca 2018 |
Former Biscuit Sam McWilliams agreed to a post-season interview with Dr. Miraculous, if you would like to submit a question for the hurler, drop it here in the comments or send it to me online at one of those social media sites that are so popular with the kids these days.
CONFERENCE SPEAKER JEB STEWART ON MONTGOMERY GREY SOX CATCHER PAUL HARDY
In May we heard a detailed presentation from noted SABR biographer Jeb Stewart on the life and career of one of Montgomery's Negro League greats, Paul Hardy. Offered here is a video of that presentation from the 19th Annual Southern Association Conference held at the Alabama Dept. Of Archives & History.
THIS WEEK IN MONTGOMERY BASEBALL HISTORY
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| George Whiteman |
NOVEMBER 16 1875 Buffalo Bills show makes its first visit to Montgomery.
NOVEMBER 23 1910, the Atlanta Constitution reported that George Whiteman went to the Mobile Gulls on waivers for “the measly sum of $400.” Apparently, he wasn’t getting along with some of his teammates, Hub Hart in particular.
Whiteman would go on to star with the Boston Red Sox in their 1918 World Series alongside Babe Ruth. Following the series victory, Ruth gave his jersey and bat to Whiteman in thanks. While no MVP was awared for the World Series in those years, Whiteman was the consensus for best player in the Boston championship games.
NOV 24 1868 The Mobile Register, Nov. 24, 1868 reports on a game at the State Fair between the Montgomery Club and the Capitol City Club, won by the former 37-15.
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