The Phoenix Suns ticket price increase is a necessary evil

Some Phoenix Suns season ticket holders are getting some unwanted sticker shock from the increase in the price of tickets, but with Project 201, it is a necessary evil.

The Phoenix Suns have increased their season ticket prices for next season, much to the disdain of those who hold them. The team says that the average ticket will go up between 6 to 16 percent but considering the way averages work, some fans are seeing even larger increases.

Unfortunately, the ticket increase is a necessary evil.

As much as it would be nice if stuff were free, my lifetime of meandering through society has proven to me this is almost never the case, and usually, stuff–at least cool stuff that people want–often cost more than what is expected.

It would also be nice if the Phoenix Suns unleashed boundless benevolence, but Robert Sarver didn’t become a billionaire by giving things out for free, and the organization just invested a yacht-full of money on which they plan to see a return.

On what, you might ask? Project 201.

Remember all those renovation renderings with new visually impressive video boards, state-of-the-art audio system, 5G technology, an uncanny amount of sports bars? That stuff costs money. A lot of it. An estimated $230 million.

Here is where detractors and those in sticker shock denial might argue, “But the city of Phoenix paid for most of that! Why is the cost being transferred to ticket holders?”

Good question. There are a lot of other similar questions on the subject as well, so let’s examine it.