TICKET PRICES

MY DAUGHTER AND I RECENTLY WENT TO THE MOHEGAN SUN ARENA TO SEE SHERYL CROW. THE PRICE OF EACH SEAT WAS SIXTY DOLLARS. TOTAL PRICE ONE HUNDRED TWENTY DOLLARS. THE SHOW WAS GREAT. THE ARENA WAS FILLED TO CAPACITY.

MY DAUGHTER SAID "WHY DOESN'T THE TRIBE ADD AN EXTRA FIVE DOLLARS TO THE PRICE OF THE TICKET AND IT COULD HELP THE FINANCES OF THE TRIBE?"

I HAVE BEEN TOLD ON SOME SHOWS WE EITHER BREAK EVEN OR LOSE MONEY ON THE SHOWS. THE IDEA IS THAT THE CASINO WANTS TO GET PEOPLE TO STAY AFTER THE SHOW AND GAMBLE. ANY ARENA IN THE COUNTRY WOULD NOT DO A SHOW THAT WAS NOT MAKING THE ARENA MONEY. SO WHY SHOULD WE?

I WAS TOLD THE PERFORMER OF THE EVENTS AT THE ARENA SETS THE TICKET PRICES. I DO NOT THINK ANY PERFORMER WOULD CARE IF WE ADDED FIVE DOLLARS TO THE PRICE THEY CAME UP WITH. IT COULD JUST BE ADDED IN THE TICKET PRICE. THE MONEY WOULD THEN COME DIRECTLY TO THE TRIBE.

MAYBE SOME EVENTS LIKE THE CONNECTICUT SUN BASKETBALL GAMES, WE WOULD LEAVE THE PRICES ALONE, SO THAT THE FAMILIES THAT COME TO ENJOY THEM WOULD NOT BE STRAPPED BY THE HIGHER PRICES. SOME OF THE GAMES ARE NATIONALLY TELEVISED BY ESPN AND HAVING THE ARENA FULL IS A GOOD THING FOR US. IT IS GOOD ADVERTISEMENT TO SEE THE ARENA ON TV. IT WILL MAKE PEOPLE WANT TO COME AND EXPERIENCE THE MOHEGAN SUN.

THINK ABOUT IT ABOUT TWO HUNDRED SHOWS A YEAR AT FIVE DOLLARS A TICKET, AROUND TEN MILLION A YEAR.

I URGE THE TRIBAL COUNCIL WHO I BELIEVE HAVE VISITED THIS SUBJECT BEFORE, TO RECONSIDER THIS.

DO YOU REALLY THINK IF SOMEONE WANTS TO SEE SHERYL CROW IT MATTERS WHETHER THE TICKET PRICE IS SIXTY DOLLARS OR SIXTY FIVE DOLLARS?