Author: Shannon Shark @metspolice

Wow I’m exhausted from blogging, and there’s one more coolness to come before midnight.

METS EXERCISE JOSE REYES’ CONTRACT FOR 2011

FLUSHING, N.Y., November 3, 2010 – The New York Mets announced today
that the club has exercised the $11 million option on Jose Reyes’ 2011
contract.

“Jose Reyes is one of the most dynamic players in the game and there
never was any doubt about picking up his option,” said Mets General
Manager Sandy Alderson.

“A long term deal is not out of the question,” Alderson added. “It is
something we can certainly discuss at a future date.”

In 133 games this season, Jose hit .282, with 29 doubles, 10 triples, 11
home runs, 54 RBI and 30 stolen bases. He tied for third in the
National League in triples and tied for seventh in stolen bases. Reyes
was named to his third All-Star Game but as unable to play because of a
strained right oblique.

“I can’t wait to get started again,” said Jose,” This is where I began
my career and this is where I want to stay. I want to do everything I
can to help turn this around here. The last four years have been
disappointing for everyone. We have to make it better and we will.”

Since 2005, the Mets are 290-126 when Jose scores one or more runs. In
his New York career, Reyes has put together five seasons with 30 or
more triples, has amassed 83 triples, one of six active player with 80
or more triples, and reached the 1000 hit plateau quicker than any
player in franchise history.

Reyes, 27, began the season on the Disabled List with a hyperactive
thyroid. He also missed time during the season because of an injury to
his right oblique.

Megathanks to Ceetar from Optimistic Mets Fan for covering me today on Dave Howard’s call with Francesa.

I have not heard the call myself but Ceetar has awesome street cred with me.

As with all things Mets Police I leave it to you decide if you find the site reliable. Please visit Ceetar’s site as a Thank You

There is so much going on that it’s hard to keep up. I have at least two amazing things I haven’t shared yet, and I haven’t commented on today’s press release yet.

Plenty to come but in the meantime here is what Ceetar jotted down.

…

Large, 14% decrease in average ticket price.

Season Ticket holders, Plan holders, group sales, 10% off.

Believe customers will enjoy the perks.

change relationship, treat them in an extradordinary manner. Believe it’s among the best in professional sports in treating customers as if they are corporate sponsors.

increases: did market research, looked at data. secondary market data, talked to fans, etc..
large segment selling above face in secondary market. was surprising. Promenade level $12-$25 seats were selling for more, sometimes substantially more. Season ticket/plan will still be less for these seats, factoring in 10%

Embracing the reality of the secondary market, and helping season ticket holdesr interface with stubhub. (“sell” back to the Mets, reprint for stubhub buyer)

“Entire Season Ticket fanbase collapsing” not true. But disappointing. 94% full in 2009, to 2.6million in 2010.

36-38% reductions. club levels, field levels. 16% reduction average on field , 20% reduction average on excelsior.

the “dump to stubhub accusition”. Howard: “We don’t do that. wouldn’t do that.”

They know that “Price and quality” are the biggest things they need to address to woo back the expired season ticket holders. Sandy Alderson will address the quality part, and they’re confident it will approve.

pricing tiers: “season ticket holders like it” they share sometimes, among fans. And that helps with people in choosing games from the same set of season tickets. Peak versus offpeak. Summer and Weekends versus cold months and weekdays. Helps make some tickets available at a very affordable rate. 30 value dates versus 10. Helps season ticket holders on secondary market (the crap games they want to resell are more affordable, I guess)

Plans: Most plans/packs will have a Yankee or Opener. They are very important. It’s a lot of accounts and fans. See more individual fans versus corporations in season ticket seats. Talking about what to do to add benefits and perks to plans. 10% is included.

Expecting some to trade up on plans to more expensive or more seats because of discounts and reductions.

learned from season ticket holders: “in a nutshell “love the ballpark, love ameneities, comfort, food…but #1, just win.”

undiscussed: “Marked up all the sections/rows. but not obstructions”
“plans, will there be weekend/peak plans?”
“didn’t discuss the payment plans (which is new if I recall)”