Paul–
In answer to your question: Nope, no reason why the loyal low-price fans should expect the best seats at prices they can afford. That is how markets work. That said, we know that many sporting arenas are not really market supported, in that tax dollars went to pay for the venue in the first place. This doesn’t mean that there isn’t a market for the seats inside.
As a matter of customer relations, a venue may want to avoid creating policies that put the perks of high-paying customers “in the face” of the crowd in the cheap seats. And VIP sections may cross-subsidize the seats whose ticket prices don’t cover costs. Meaning: if you didn’t offer premiums and perks to the high-end user, you might lose them altogether, and that could cost you severely financially. This is why season tickets, “owned” boxes, and the like receive so much attention from promoters. Selling seats below market value is a form of financial self-denial that very few, if any, promotions can afford to practice.
Smart promotions also do things to encourage their low-end customers to ramp up their financial outlay. This is why Alltel grants VIP status to a certain number of ticket holders for each of its events. If patrons see how nice an upgrade is, they are more likely to consider plunking down the extra dollars for the premium treatment next time.
Paul makes a good point–if people want wealth to spend and enjoy, they have to do what the “fat cats” did–earn it. Unfortunately for the loyal fans, the fat cats put their effort into productive market enterprises–thus the spendable, monetary rewards. The loyal fans put their effort into showing up at the ball park–admirable perhaps, but hardly a paying gig.
To the loyal fans–
*Love pays, but not in ways that increase net worth.
* Addendum: Not directly true, but see Lee & McKenzie, “Getting Rich in America: Eight Simple Rules for Building a Fortune And a Satisfying Life,” p. 15, on The Profile of American Millionaires.
