Update: That was quick. The Cavs opened the 2016-2017 by eliminating the bidding option on Flash Seats. That was in response to Wine and Gold members who voiced some concerns about the process during last year’s regular season and playoffs. After a short “test and learn phase,” the team announced this morning that the bidding option is back. Details below.
Throughout the 2015-16 Cavs regular season and 2016 NBA playoffs we received feedback from a large contingent of Wine & Gold United Members expressing concerns over the bidding process on the Flash Seats Marketplace. As a means to find an effective solution and create a more member friendly experience, we opened the Flash Seats Marketplace for the 2016-17 Cavs regular season on September 29th with the bidding feature deactivated. This initiative was created as a “test and learn phase” to gain further feedback from members like you. After a month-long discovery process, in which we heard from dozens of Wine & Gold United Members, we are happy to share that as of today, Thursday, October 27th, we have re-activated the bidding feature on the Cavs Flash Seats Marketplace. As a means to produce the most efficient bidding method for those members looking to sell seats on the Flash Seats Marketplace, any buyer who wishes to place a bid on your seats must start their bid at a price point that is at least 50% of the per game variable price you paid as a member. We believe this will eliminate many of the concerns expressed by members last season.
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(Original story 10/18/16): Cavs fans checking in with Flash Seats in advance of the opening of the 2016-2017 season might have noticed something different this year as they perused tickets and games.
The bidding option is gone.
If you inquired about the development to Flash Seats you got a message like this: “The Cleveland Cavaliers has restricted any bids on their regular season tickets. If you have any questions regarding the bid restriction, please contact the Cavs and Arena Group Sales.”
What gives?
First of all, this is just a Cavs thing. Bidding remains an option for every other event on the secondary ticket marketplace. Second, the decision was made at the behest of feedback from Wine and Gold United members, who chimed in throughout last season with opinions on how bidding was handled.
In response, the Cavs decided to do a test and learn phase, if you will, this season, by eliminating the bidding option for tickets… for now. Like they did with feedback last year, they’ll collect data in the near future and decide the long term process going forward. That could mean no bidding at all, full bidding return, or bidding for select games.
Got an opinion? Drop it in the comments.
This article appears in Oct 12-18, 2016.
As a Season ticket holder, there was several games that I lost significant money on, because the value of tickets was so low because of the bidding function, so on one hand I appreciate them looking out for us. On the other hand, they also implemented that tickets cannot be listed for less then 70% of face value, so for the games I can’t make, If someone doesn’t pay the 70%, I’m going to lose out on everything, with no chance to recover at least a portion of my cost.
The days of cheap Cavs games are gone. For a number of years after Lebron’s departure, we became so accustomed to cheap/free Cavs tickets that people don’t realize how special of a performance we see night in and night out.
I would buy tickets after the game started for cheap which was a win win situation for me and the person who was unable to sell the ticket, now everybody looses.
It’s the seller who accepts a bid. No one makes them take lower amounts that’s there choice. This is just a way for the CAVS to make more money from the fees that are charged when tickets are purchased through flash seats. I guess they like empty seats and loss of concession sales.
BOOOOOOO on the Cavs. Thanks to the old, spoiled Wine/Gold members.
This gave all a chance to be able to sit in great seats once in a while. Now i suspect many of these seats will remain empty if the ticket holders can’t or don’t want to go.Thats also no concession, merch, or parking $$$.
I’ve already looked at the giant prices for seats pretty far up. No Cav’s games for me this year. Everyone is televised anyway and don’t have to deal with parking and traffice headaches.
I can’t imagine this policy will stick. Even the sellers have to dislike this one.
This is a terrible policy. The Cavs are disrupting the liquidity of the secondary ticket market. Expect fewer transactions and more empty seats – especially during weeknight games.
Hey Vince…great article!
As a Wine and Gold member, I liked the option of people bidding on tickets I couldn’t use or tickets that were returned to me last minute. No one is forced to buy or sell their tickets and the Cavs make an extra 20% on the resale of these already sold tickets again! I think this policy is just so 1. people will purchase tickets from the box office that are released last minute, and 2. help the Cavs’ secondary market friends, like Stubhub, etc. They especially want to eliminate extra ticket sellers and unfortunately, the cavs management has chosen to side with them and not their fans. Too bad.
I HATE this new policy!!! Being a season ticket holder for twelve seasons, I suffered through the lean years when you couldn’t give tickets away. I cannot attend all of the games and Flash seats gave everyone the opportunity to enjoy the teams success and attend a weekday game, that sells for much less than marquee games. Supply and demand established the prices that fans would pay to attend games. I was never insulted by low ball offers, I simply ignored them. I am hopeful that this policy changes very soon and all Cavs fans will once again be able to enjoy a game at the “Q”. Management…go back to doing the right thing for your fans! GO CAVS!!!
There will be alot of unsold seats this season
This is just another way for Dan Gilbert cavs to take advantage of the working family man of cleveland who was once able to take his family to games and experience the cavs for a value and put some money in the pocket if a season ticket holder who otherwise would have to give the ticket away for free or just loose out completely in addition u would still spend money in the arena or parking or the local economy thanks to the greed of dan gilbert