Pimping the Scout Seats

[southsider2k5]

Nice to see the Sox getting some publicity for these seats. The interesting thing was how small the Dodgers started out with these, and how big they are now. I hope we are that successful with them, as these are huge dollar items.

 

The best seats in the house at U.S. Cellular Field come with a pregame buffet, postgame dessert, valet parking and all the ballpark food you could want delivered quickly right to a spacious seat.

 

The new "scout seats" were built to give fans an experience similar to first class on an airplane.

 

The 324-seat area behind home plate already has generated more revenue than the area did to this point last year, even though only 108 season tickets were sold. Television cameras often show a boatload of empty, green seats during games.

 

The Sox, however, don't plan for those seats to stay empty for long.

 

When the Dodgers opened a similar section four years ago, only 30 percent of the approximately 300 seats were sold during the first year, said Brooks Boyer, White Sox vice president of marketing. But the section since has been increased to 500 seats to meet demand.

 

Attendance in the White Sox's scout seats has increased steadily throughout the season. On average, only 60 to 70 seats were filled per game at the beginning of the year, Boyer said.

 

The tickets are pricey—ranging from $170 to $190 per seat depending on the plan. But they include parking right outside Gate 3, a first-class buffet starting 90 minutes before the game and lasting until 90 minutes after the first pitch, all the popcorn, hot dogs, sodas and alcoholic beverages you can ingest until the seventh inning, and fruit and baked goods after the game.

 

"This is definitely the VIP lounge," one fan said during a recent game.

 

The buffet and dessert are served in a large, insulated tent with windows looking out to the fans gathered at Gate 4.

 

The tent is temporary—a permanent structure will be built during the off-season, said Ron Anderson, manager of the Scout Club.

 

Upon entrance into the area, a hostess immediately seats your party at a table, whereupon you can serve yourself from an expansive menu, which is different each game. Then you can order an assortment of drinks from a waitress or at the bar.

 

With three big-screen TVs in the room, you can sit back and enjoy the beginning of the game, or you can walk out to the seats on a path that reveals the entrance of the visitor's clubhouse, the umpires' locker room and the groundskeepers' office. Once in the area, a host escorts you to your seats, where a server makes it very clear that you can order whatever you want during the game.

 

After the game, desserts are served in the tent, where you can relax while other fans are clearing out of the stadium.

 

All that, of course, is included in the price of the ticket.

 

"What do you want when you go for entertainment?" Boyer asked. . "You want no limits. When you come here, you get prime parking, a buffet, in-seat service, ballpark food and dessert. It's all here—you never have to open your wallet."

 

The White Sox have 124 season tickets sold for next year in the scout seats. Different ticket plans are available, from individual game tickets where prices can change according to the market to a five-year plan where prices will be constant.

 

Customers mostly are team sponsors, businesses, former suite holders and season-ticket holders who want a new experience.

[thedoctor]

i'm shocked the tribune would publish this type of story. where's the mention of fans running onto the field or the sox attendance woes?

[Chisoxfn]

Nice to see the Sox getting some publicity for these seats.  The interesting thing was how small the Dodgers started out with these, and how big they are now.  I hope we are that successful with them, as these are huge dollar items.

Just to show some perspective, I've heard the Dodgers ones are about 300 bucks and some of them go as high as 350 to 400.

 

Its the same sort of deal, but the Sox are just a better value. Next year if they stay the same price range, I'm so doing it.

[AssHatSoxFan]

I soooooooooo want to this year but I should just save up and go next year.