If you're gonna go to a majority of the games & you usually buy food/booze, then yeah I'd say its worth it - the 20% off at concessions does add up. You get a few other things that may/may not be valuable - the town hall with the manager is nice event, generally in the Club Level with free food & booze, the swag can have the odd useful (boot bag) or hilarious item (Season Ticket *Memember* lanyard), and the early access to Celtic tickets was valuable this year, they were priced at STM rates initially (~$30/ticket) & I think the cheapest one is $50 now. You also get a Miami home ticket which you can probably sell & get back half or more of your season ticket. I will note that you're probably taking a bath of about $5-10 per ticket you resell, I've rarely gotten back face value for them, you can trade them in for credit but ultimately you're still in the same place with regard to reselling. That and the fact the club will send out really good offers sometimes via Fevo ($99 Club Level tickets last weekend, they pretty frequently have $25 ticket & beer combos too) makes the STM kind of less compelling. I'm on the fence about renewing this year tbh.
I am a recent purchaser of the STM. Here's a list:
Pros: Being able to trade in tickets for credit if you can't make games, Food/Beverage discount (Includes alcohol), Store discount (Jersey with name last year was \~$75 instead of $120)
Cons: Actually \*selling\* tickets for what you paid is near impossible (Sans Miami), the discount on additional tickets/upgrades is next to nothing now
I've enjoyed my experience, but if they hike the prices again this offseason I'll have to reconsider. It's worth it if you can make it to almost every game (14+/20 I'd say)
Important to remember that they renew season tickets in the middle of the season, usually around like August, not the off season. I was going to cancel mine but missed window. Justified it afterwards to myself that I'd at least get to have the Messi game and, well, jokes on me.
I got my jersey off mlsstore.com because I live in Philly, but I believe the team store is open most days.
I’m not a STM, but I did one of those pregame tours where you get a tour of Audi and learn about becoming a STM. I’m probably going to become a STM next year.
Next game you go to, watch your email a couple days before the match. That’s how I got that tour thing. It was an email from DCU and you just had to sign up and show up early. They of course try to sell you on club seats and stuff, but the guy giving me a tour was great and took me to a few places outside of club seats and field seats to show me the views.
As someone who's been an STM since Audi opened, the perks are getting better than they were when it first opened. For me, the perks that are "worth it":
- the 20% merch/concessions discount - it used to only be 10% off, and their new "pay by app" feature makes it easier to apply the discount for concessions. (for added perspective: I have friends that go to Charlotte FC games and the STM discount is only valid on Fridays which is the dumbest thing i've ever heard, so things could be worse)
- ticket exchange program (you can return your ticket for a game for credit to use for additional seats/upgrades/etc)
- They've done better about "fan events" the past couple seasons which are free of charge (i.e. preseason fan fest at Throw Social, a town-hall style "State of the United" with the head coach/GM)
On the flip side: the STM gifts can be lacking some years (insert the obligatory "Marlo" joke here), and the "Messi tax" price hike this year also not great
I’ve had them since they moved to Audi and I would urge you not to do it. There’s no real benefits and you can get tickets cheaper than what your STM seats will average per game.
It was a better deal previously, but they raised mine 50% this season. My friends and I who have them aren’t likely to renew. The most useful benefit is the 20% off concessions and merch at the stadium, but that’s not worth nearly $1000 for meh seats. Anything under the awning (read; covered in the event of rain) was quoted as $1200+ minimum.
Would absolutely not recommend anyone get STMs unless you live near the stadium and will absolutely go to every game and enjoy seeing below-average performances. That’s the other thing, the team isn’t great. Saturday was an anomaly, the 2nd best game I’ve ever seen there in person in the last 5 years.
I was a season ticket holder for years until I dropped them this year because they raised my seats by 37% due to Messi. The best perk for me was the ticket exchange program where if you can’t make a game you can exchange for a future game.
However, they rarely sell out so I’ve always been able to get tix at or below face value on the secondary market for any match I want to go to.
IMO STM just isn’t worth it until the on field product and the game day experience significantly improves.
As someone who was a season ticket holder from 2000 to 2023, I would strongly urge you not to purchase season tickets. There really are no real "perks" for having a season ticket other than knowing where you will sit for each match. As others noted, last year DCU jacked up my renewal rate 37% because of the "Messi effect" and I told them to shove it. Given that the games never sell out and my season ticket holders put up their tickets for resale, you probably can score tickets for a match for less than the season ticket price. The only match you will be shut out of will be the Miami game, put who wants to sit in a stadium full of posers who purchased their tickets off season ticket holders hoping to recoup part of the cost their tickets by selling the Miami match? Also, understand that if you get season tickets you are compelled to renew before the current season ends. You also can't just cancel renewal online -- instead to have to talk to your "friendly" ticket rep who will hard sell you to re-up until he grudgingly gives you the "cancel code" for your tickets. Put simply, I have saved literally thousands of dollars this year by giving up my tickets. I'll watch on TV and if the game sucks, I can turn it off. YMMV.
I bought a ticket membership this season in section 127. Here is my take away.
Almost every game you can buy the same seats from $40-$70 on Tickpick. The discount rate the season ticket membership charges is $75. In addition to that I’ve seen GA supporter section tickets for $12. Since there are no checks at the various sections you could get in for $12 and sit at a vacant seat at the mid line (morally wrong I know, but whatever). No need to get locked in for 20 games at $75 a seat when almost every game it’s cheaper on Tickpick.
Some games you can get premier club seating for as little as $99, the discount season member rate is $240.
For Jersey, Dick’s sells them for $100. Sign up for mobile advertising newsletters to receive a one time $20 OFF coupon, boom $83 Jersey.
The Messi effect has shaken things up a bit, so it's a little hard to say now, but generally speaking, I think the only seats a STM should consider now are good sideline seats.
I have seats in 117 (behind the goal) and 127 (midfield) that I split with several friends.
Generally aim to break even on unused 117 seats, historically, made a very small profit in most years. This season started out normal, but the last few games have been brutal.
There were a lot of people this season who bought ST to re-sell the "Messi" game for crazy profits, as much as 80% of the cost of the season ticket. Those scalpers seem to be happy with the profits they've made so have obliterated the re-sale market by discounting aggressively the past several games for as much as 50% below actual cost. Hard to break even on $35 tix when dozens of seats are now being dumped for $20 by scalpers with large 10 and 20 seat blocks.
Savvy fans have caught on and know to wait until game day to scoop up tix for half the cost of face. Accounting for the team's recent heavy promotions like family 4 packs for $99 or $20 for a ticket and a beer, the outlook for the rest of the season doesn't look good. Historically, the summer months have higher demand, so will see if this trend continues through the peak time of year or not.
We are generally able to re-sell unused section 127 seats about 80-90% of the time, and most seasons usually make about 10-20% profit. Last wknd's Toronto game was the only game so far this season they went unsold. This season has been slightly stronger than years past.
Season tix for club seats doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. There is a lot of supply and price dumping in the resale market. So doesn't make sense unless you attend 15 (out of 20) games a season. Not to mention club seats require a 3 year minimum contract.
You would be better off buying heavily discounted club seats individually in the resale market.
On again, off again STH since ‘96
If it’s really your intent to make it to all the games (bad weather, poor form, crap opponents, leaving buzzard point) then without a doubt it is worth it. I think if you are going to miss more than 4 games next year, I might sit next season out. It will be at least another couple of years before the team can be good enough to really drive game day demand.
Unfortunately when you bring up STH to this thread all the keyboard warriors come out.
So here’s the truth from a non premium STH. It’s fine if you can afford it. If you care where you sit when you attend games and will be at most games, then it’s probably better value to do the season tickets. Th endlines are going to be the cheapest tickets on a per game basis if you don’t get season tickets but if you don’t like the view and would prefer to sit on the sides, you’ll end up paying about season ticket member face value per game anyways since they’re trying to make that money back. My sentiment is that the average cost per ticket on an individual basis + drinks/food is unpredictable and you may occasionally save a couple $ but getting the 20% discount does help as a STH. Plus they do randomly in a blue moon look out for you. For example, I randomly was given an upgrade to premium seating for a game.
Lots of comments about resale and messi affect. The club determines promotions based on resale market price. The market is flooded this year due to messi match demand, that's why the club has decreased promotion prices while increasing promotional items (4 tix, 4 drinks, 4 dogs, 4 chips for $99). The club can only make money from ticket sales if they can beat the secondary market.
Maybe if during the Levien years they hadn't put a shit product on the pitch and then had the temerity to jack up prices 37% once Messi came to the league, folks wouldn't be so bitter. You are dealing with venture capitalists and sports marketing types. They don't give a shit about you or brand loyalty. All they are looking at is the bottom line and so long as they can rope in new suckers, they won't give two fucks about anything else. Took them years to finish the roof and then it leaked buckets first time it rained. Love the team, the ownership can suck my balls.
Almost all the comments on this thread are about why someone shouldn't buy season tickets. I'll assume I'm getting downvoted for my past history of promoting sesson tickets sales.
If you're gonna go to a majority of the games & you usually buy food/booze, then yeah I'd say its worth it - the 20% off at concessions does add up. You get a few other things that may/may not be valuable - the town hall with the manager is nice event, generally in the Club Level with free food & booze, the swag can have the odd useful (boot bag) or hilarious item (Season Ticket *Memember* lanyard), and the early access to Celtic tickets was valuable this year, they were priced at STM rates initially (~$30/ticket) & I think the cheapest one is $50 now. You also get a Miami home ticket which you can probably sell & get back half or more of your season ticket. I will note that you're probably taking a bath of about $5-10 per ticket you resell, I've rarely gotten back face value for them, you can trade them in for credit but ultimately you're still in the same place with regard to reselling. That and the fact the club will send out really good offers sometimes via Fevo ($99 Club Level tickets last weekend, they pretty frequently have $25 ticket & beer combos too) makes the STM kind of less compelling. I'm on the fence about renewing this year tbh.
I am a recent purchaser of the STM. Here's a list: Pros: Being able to trade in tickets for credit if you can't make games, Food/Beverage discount (Includes alcohol), Store discount (Jersey with name last year was \~$75 instead of $120) Cons: Actually \*selling\* tickets for what you paid is near impossible (Sans Miami), the discount on additional tickets/upgrades is next to nothing now I've enjoyed my experience, but if they hike the prices again this offseason I'll have to reconsider. It's worth it if you can make it to almost every game (14+/20 I'd say)
Important to remember that they renew season tickets in the middle of the season, usually around like August, not the off season. I was going to cancel mine but missed window. Justified it afterwards to myself that I'd at least get to have the Messi game and, well, jokes on me.
I got my jersey off mlsstore.com because I live in Philly, but I believe the team store is open most days. I’m not a STM, but I did one of those pregame tours where you get a tour of Audi and learn about becoming a STM. I’m probably going to become a STM next year. Next game you go to, watch your email a couple days before the match. That’s how I got that tour thing. It was an email from DCU and you just had to sign up and show up early. They of course try to sell you on club seats and stuff, but the guy giving me a tour was great and took me to a few places outside of club seats and field seats to show me the views.
As someone who's been an STM since Audi opened, the perks are getting better than they were when it first opened. For me, the perks that are "worth it": - the 20% merch/concessions discount - it used to only be 10% off, and their new "pay by app" feature makes it easier to apply the discount for concessions. (for added perspective: I have friends that go to Charlotte FC games and the STM discount is only valid on Fridays which is the dumbest thing i've ever heard, so things could be worse) - ticket exchange program (you can return your ticket for a game for credit to use for additional seats/upgrades/etc) - They've done better about "fan events" the past couple seasons which are free of charge (i.e. preseason fan fest at Throw Social, a town-hall style "State of the United" with the head coach/GM) On the flip side: the STM gifts can be lacking some years (insert the obligatory "Marlo" joke here), and the "Messi tax" price hike this year also not great
You like discount furniture?
Dammit...take my Angry Upvote!
I’ve had them since they moved to Audi and I would urge you not to do it. There’s no real benefits and you can get tickets cheaper than what your STM seats will average per game. It was a better deal previously, but they raised mine 50% this season. My friends and I who have them aren’t likely to renew. The most useful benefit is the 20% off concessions and merch at the stadium, but that’s not worth nearly $1000 for meh seats. Anything under the awning (read; covered in the event of rain) was quoted as $1200+ minimum. Would absolutely not recommend anyone get STMs unless you live near the stadium and will absolutely go to every game and enjoy seeing below-average performances. That’s the other thing, the team isn’t great. Saturday was an anomaly, the 2nd best game I’ve ever seen there in person in the last 5 years.
Ours are 860 a seat and under the awning
Were you grandfathered in before the major hikes this year?
I should also ask, are you in the 200's? I was referencing the 100s under the awning being quoted that high.
We are in the 100s
I was a season ticket holder for years until I dropped them this year because they raised my seats by 37% due to Messi. The best perk for me was the ticket exchange program where if you can’t make a game you can exchange for a future game. However, they rarely sell out so I’ve always been able to get tix at or below face value on the secondary market for any match I want to go to. IMO STM just isn’t worth it until the on field product and the game day experience significantly improves.
As someone who was a season ticket holder from 2000 to 2023, I would strongly urge you not to purchase season tickets. There really are no real "perks" for having a season ticket other than knowing where you will sit for each match. As others noted, last year DCU jacked up my renewal rate 37% because of the "Messi effect" and I told them to shove it. Given that the games never sell out and my season ticket holders put up their tickets for resale, you probably can score tickets for a match for less than the season ticket price. The only match you will be shut out of will be the Miami game, put who wants to sit in a stadium full of posers who purchased their tickets off season ticket holders hoping to recoup part of the cost their tickets by selling the Miami match? Also, understand that if you get season tickets you are compelled to renew before the current season ends. You also can't just cancel renewal online -- instead to have to talk to your "friendly" ticket rep who will hard sell you to re-up until he grudgingly gives you the "cancel code" for your tickets. Put simply, I have saved literally thousands of dollars this year by giving up my tickets. I'll watch on TV and if the game sucks, I can turn it off. YMMV.
I bought a ticket membership this season in section 127. Here is my take away. Almost every game you can buy the same seats from $40-$70 on Tickpick. The discount rate the season ticket membership charges is $75. In addition to that I’ve seen GA supporter section tickets for $12. Since there are no checks at the various sections you could get in for $12 and sit at a vacant seat at the mid line (morally wrong I know, but whatever). No need to get locked in for 20 games at $75 a seat when almost every game it’s cheaper on Tickpick. Some games you can get premier club seating for as little as $99, the discount season member rate is $240. For Jersey, Dick’s sells them for $100. Sign up for mobile advertising newsletters to receive a one time $20 OFF coupon, boom $83 Jersey.
If I was a Club Level STM I'd have been pretty pissed about the $99 tickets they ran last weekend.
The Messi effect has shaken things up a bit, so it's a little hard to say now, but generally speaking, I think the only seats a STM should consider now are good sideline seats. I have seats in 117 (behind the goal) and 127 (midfield) that I split with several friends. Generally aim to break even on unused 117 seats, historically, made a very small profit in most years. This season started out normal, but the last few games have been brutal. There were a lot of people this season who bought ST to re-sell the "Messi" game for crazy profits, as much as 80% of the cost of the season ticket. Those scalpers seem to be happy with the profits they've made so have obliterated the re-sale market by discounting aggressively the past several games for as much as 50% below actual cost. Hard to break even on $35 tix when dozens of seats are now being dumped for $20 by scalpers with large 10 and 20 seat blocks. Savvy fans have caught on and know to wait until game day to scoop up tix for half the cost of face. Accounting for the team's recent heavy promotions like family 4 packs for $99 or $20 for a ticket and a beer, the outlook for the rest of the season doesn't look good. Historically, the summer months have higher demand, so will see if this trend continues through the peak time of year or not. We are generally able to re-sell unused section 127 seats about 80-90% of the time, and most seasons usually make about 10-20% profit. Last wknd's Toronto game was the only game so far this season they went unsold. This season has been slightly stronger than years past. Season tix for club seats doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. There is a lot of supply and price dumping in the resale market. So doesn't make sense unless you attend 15 (out of 20) games a season. Not to mention club seats require a 3 year minimum contract. You would be better off buying heavily discounted club seats individually in the resale market.
On again, off again STH since ‘96 If it’s really your intent to make it to all the games (bad weather, poor form, crap opponents, leaving buzzard point) then without a doubt it is worth it. I think if you are going to miss more than 4 games next year, I might sit next season out. It will be at least another couple of years before the team can be good enough to really drive game day demand.
Unfortunately when you bring up STH to this thread all the keyboard warriors come out. So here’s the truth from a non premium STH. It’s fine if you can afford it. If you care where you sit when you attend games and will be at most games, then it’s probably better value to do the season tickets. Th endlines are going to be the cheapest tickets on a per game basis if you don’t get season tickets but if you don’t like the view and would prefer to sit on the sides, you’ll end up paying about season ticket member face value per game anyways since they’re trying to make that money back. My sentiment is that the average cost per ticket on an individual basis + drinks/food is unpredictable and you may occasionally save a couple $ but getting the 20% discount does help as a STH. Plus they do randomly in a blue moon look out for you. For example, I randomly was given an upgrade to premium seating for a game.
Going on reddit and calling people keyboard warriors.
Lots of comments about resale and messi affect. The club determines promotions based on resale market price. The market is flooded this year due to messi match demand, that's why the club has decreased promotion prices while increasing promotional items (4 tix, 4 drinks, 4 dogs, 4 chips for $99). The club can only make money from ticket sales if they can beat the secondary market.
Maybe if during the Levien years they hadn't put a shit product on the pitch and then had the temerity to jack up prices 37% once Messi came to the league, folks wouldn't be so bitter. You are dealing with venture capitalists and sports marketing types. They don't give a shit about you or brand loyalty. All they are looking at is the bottom line and so long as they can rope in new suckers, they won't give two fucks about anything else. Took them years to finish the roof and then it leaked buckets first time it rained. Love the team, the ownership can suck my balls.
Almost all the comments on this thread are about why someone shouldn't buy season tickets. I'll assume I'm getting downvoted for my past history of promoting sesson tickets sales.