What We Missed: Bucs Lower Ticket Prices

Here’s a little bit of news that slipped through the cracks a couple of weeks ago. It was on January 19th that the Buccaneers made an announcement regarding their plan to reduce select ticket prices upwards of 30 percent from last season.

“In response to fan feedback and the Tampa Bay region’s ongoing economic challenges, the Buccaneers are unveiling several new family-friendly features aimed at maximizing the Bucs’ home field advantage for 2011 and beyond,”

The Buccaneers blacked out all eight of their home-games in 2010 despite improving to 10-6 and boasting one of the most exciting young teams in the game. Before you jump the gun, it’s not as if we’re talking old Devil Rays prices (back when they still went by that name), the cheapest adult ticket will still be 35 dollars. But upper-deck children’s tickets (16 and under) will now be 17.50 and other sections (some in the lower level) will also see price reductions. We’ll have specifics after the page-break.

This is a smart move, one that obviously needed to be made in order to fill the stadium and give the Buccaneers the type of home-field advantage they deserve. It makes your heart hurt when you see the stadium filled with miscreant Steelers fans shouting mono-syllabic insults at the Bucs and twirling their stupid towels. Hopefully that ends in 2011, provided there is a 2011 season.

For those looking for specifics, season tickets in Sections 302-304, the upper northwest corner have been reduced by 20 percent, while some upper-level seats (Sections 333-336) on the east side of the stadium will be discounted by 30 percent. Price reductions also extend to portions of the lower level, with the average cost of some season tickets in Sections 143 and 144 (near the pirate ship) being knocked from $99 to $89 per game.

In addition, the team has discounted selected season parking passes by up to 40 percent, to as low as $13.50 per game for Lot 13, on the corner of Dale Mabry Highway and Columbus Drive. Season pass holders also will receive 10 percent off all stadium food, beverage and merchandise purchases.

There isn’t a lot of information yet on changes to individual, non-season ticket, sales, but that news will likely come after the franchise can gauge what will be taken up in Season ticket sales. Expect to see price slashes for single game tickets as well.

"“Our organization has spent a lot of time listening to our fans at this time when our team is thriving and our economy is not,” Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer said in a statement. “As a result, we are now offering several pricing changes in response to our community’s needs.”"

Hopefully this will help mitigate the blackouts that prevent Bucs fans from enjoying their team for much of the season. Next year the Bucs will host the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers.