Just in case you thought ticket scalpers were the only ones who really understood how prices fluctuate leading up to the moments before a game starts, the Dallas Stars will be the first NHL team to offer flexible pricing.
Scalping the scalpers, classy!
There will be two driving factors that affect prices: when you buy a ticket (earlier=cheaper) and who the opponent is. All this from the geniuses at a company called Qcue. Ticket prices would change say, every 15 minutes, up until game time. Pricing would be controlled by a complex algorithm.
Basically, if you buy a ticket early, you can save money, sort of like buying an airline ticket. If you want to see your Dallas Stars take on the Detroit Red Wings or the Pittsburgh Penguins, it’ll cost you more than, say the Florida Panthers or the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Classy and complex algorithm's and charts
Will this be the start of a new trend in pro sports? What happens if the Penguins are in town but Sidney Crosby pulls out at game time? If I’m a pro scalper, I would buy up early and hope for the best. Conversely, fans could probably pick up really cheap tickets just prior to game time if it is not a sellout and a so-so team is playing.
The goofy thing is that a wild swing from season to season could result in bizarre ticket trends. Two years ago, the Stars lost to Detroit in the Conference final. Last year, they missed the playoffs completely.
The whole economics would change: at the later stages of a season, when a team has already been eliminated from playoff contention, they could theoretically still sell out their remaining games if the pricing is attractive. More butts in seats equals more food sales, parking revenue and beer money.
Wait and see. This is already making my head spin.
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I’m not sure I follow. Wouldn’t this basically mean the scalpers buy early tickets for cheap and turn more profit as game time gets closer?