Ticket price increase has some fans upset

Bill and Jill Morse are committed Clippers season-ticket holders, traveling 230 miles round-trip from their home in Palm Springs to attend games since 1991.

But for the first time, the couple considered not renewing their tickets because of an 18.5% price hike for next season.

“I understand that it’s business, and I understand that our season-ticket prices are not high in comparison to a lot of other NBA teams,” Bill Morse said. “But a price increase of 18.5%, for the product that they’ve delivered to us this year, is exorbitant. I’m unhappy about it.”

He’s not alone.

Many in the “Clipper Nation” say they’re upset about the increases -- as high as 80% for some premium seats in the lower bowl at Staples Center -- in large part because of the team’s poor performance this season.

With three games remaining, the Clippers (39-40) are in contention for a Western Conference playoff berth, but they’re the league’s biggest disappointment, many veteran NBA observers said.

That’s not what season-ticket holders expected after the Clippers had their best season in California last season, many said, and they were surprised by ticket prices listed in renewal packages mailed recently.

“All of our fans matter to us very much, and we want all of our fans to be happy,” said Andy Roeser, executive vice president. “This year, we did have some price increases in the areas that have extraordinarily strong demand, but we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that our fans’ needs are met.

“People will have choices. If people want to relocate to a more cost-effective seat it’s going to be there for them. We’re going to do everything we can to get our people situated in seats that they’re happy with.”

Tom Reinecke says he’s among a group of Row 1 season-ticket holders experiencing sticker shock.

Reinecke enjoys his seats (“I sit right behind Billy Crystal and Donald Sterling”), but might part with them because of an increase from $40,000 this season to $72,000 for the 2007-08 season, he said.

“A lot of people around me are upset about it,” Reinecke said. “To raise the prices that much with the way the team has played ... I’m not going to renew.”

Prices were not raised on more than 40% of the seats at Staples, the Clippers said, and the average ticket price increases from $50.28 to $56.07 next season.

Moreover, 16 teams have higher average prices than the Clippers, who also have lower prices than 13 of 15 other teams that participated in the playoffs last season, the Clippers said.

The lower bowl at Staples is sold out this season. The Clippers are 12th in the NBA in average attendance at 18,381 and 12th in attendance capacity at 97.4%.

“The seats are priced strategically, so that the team can meet its needs and provide the product that the fans expect,” said Carl Lahr, senior vice president of marketing and sales. “And their price is such that we believe there are plenty of fans who will find that that price is a fair value.”

TODAY

vs. Sacramento, 12:30 p.m., FSN Prime Ticket

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 1540.

Records -- Clippers 39-40, Kings 32-47.

Record vs. Kings -- 2-1.

Update -- The Clippers will clinch a playoff berth if they win their final three games.

jason.reid@latimes.com