Francesco Aquilini is Gordon Gecko
This year I took the plunge and, for the first time, I bought season tickets for the Vancouver Canucks. Lots of great perks come with the 44 game package, including discounts, prebuys and I get to call sports radio shows and bitch with the qualifier “I’m a season ticket holder.”
My tickets are in the cheapest zone you can find at GM Place, and while I’ve sold off most of my games to friends and family this season, it’s still a good chunk of change on an annual basis.
So I’m a little surprised that just 6 weeks after having ended my payment plan for 2008-09, and with almost 20 games left in the regular season, the Vancouver Canucks have sent out renewal forms for 2009-10.
And they want the money by Monday.
The Canucks haven’t qualified for the 2008-09 playoffs yet, but they’d also like it if you could pay for the entire playoff run in advance (straight through the Cup final).
It’s a little a lot a bit of a money grab. But they’ve got me by the beaver and chesterfield. I am Canadian. I love my hockey. And if I miss the Monday deadline I go to the back of the bus, behind thousands of others just waiting to hand over hundreds and thousands of dollars for games that might not be played and for next season when this season’s not even over yet.
I’ll do it. I’ll renew by Monday, but I’d really like to give Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini a 10 Minute Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty.
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Just so I follow correctly, the team wants you to hand over the dough for next season already – no payment plan option? Or a deposit and then the payment plan option? Or have I completely lost it here and missed the bus?
There are many payment plan options. Some starting in April, some start in July, some in August.
Oh, here’s another kicker .. if you renewed by Monday, March 9 you could have been entered in a few draws.
I got my renewal package on Wednesday, Mar 11.
I heard about this renewal scheme. It’s crazy. They’re really pushing for money upfront, but maybe understandably in this economy. The sad thing is all the individuals are going through this economy as well, so that helps no one.
To be honest though, if I had the money, I’d be lining up for season tickets if I could. All I have to say is that I’m jealous