As the great waves of the economic recession continue to crash on the shore of the marketplace, another industry begins the struggle against its undertow – the sports industry.
Rockets season ticket prices will be frozen or reduced for 98 percent of tickets for the 2009-10 season, Rockets CEO Tad Brown told The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen on Thursday.
The decision was made in response to the difficult financial circumstances faced by many Houstonians.
‘We’re all going through a tough time right now. (Rockets owner Leslie) Alexander recognizes that. He wants to make it as easy as possible to enjoy the Rockets experience,’ Brown told Feigen.
Twenty percent of low to middle-range tickets will be reduced, by as much as 20 percent. The 2 percent of tickets that will increase are the most expensive and are sold to suite holders or corporate partners, according to The Houston Chronicle.
The lowering and fixing of ticket prices is not only an example of corporate responsibility, it is also an example of a smart business practice for a company trying to keep its head above water.
The announcement comes on the same day the Texas Workforce Commission reported that the Texas unemployment rate has risen to 6.4 percent in January from 5.6 percent in December 2008, according to the Associated Press.
During times of prolonged economic distress and personal financial struggles – which is coming no matter what bow of optimism we put atop its head – cheap entertainment is needed to keep up the people’s morale.
We at The Daily Cougar applaud the Rockets for implementing a progressive ticket price policy – one in which the consumer is charged accordingly to his or her ability to pay.
It’s ironic that this model is being implemented in instances across the private sector prior to its realized implementation in the public sector – in the form of progressive taxes. We look forward to the Obama administration reforming the U.S. income taxes to fit this model.
