Charlotte Hornets keep season-ticket prices flat for next season – if you act fast

The Charlotte Hornets are keeping season-ticket prices flat for next season – if you act fast.

The NBA team is kicking off season ticket renewals and sales for the 2016-2017 season, and prices will stay the same as this season through Feb. 16. After that, prices will go up at various points through the year, team officials said Wednesday.

The team is looking to build on its successful return to the Charlotte Hornets name last season, a move that rekindled fan interest in the franchise.

“The two years we have had since the transition to the Hornets have been the most successful since Time Warner Cable Arena opened,” said Peter Guelli, the Hornets’ chief sales and marketing officer. “We really thought it was important to reward that support, which is why we are not increasing season-ticket prices.”

The team hasn’t determined how much it will raise prices starting Feb. 17, but in years past it’s been around 6 percent for season-ticket holders, Guelli said.

The Hornets are in the top 5 for most affordable tickets in the NBA, according to the team. Season tickets start as low as $430 for 43 games (one ticket per game). The average price is $1,634.

Season-ticket holders are also part of the team’s “Swarm365” program, which includes access to players, off-season events and concession discounts.

In the past two seasons, the Hornets have had a season-ticket base of more than 10,000, its largest since the NBA returned to Charlotte in 2004. Through the first 23 games of this season, the team was averaging 17,236 per game and had seven sellouts at the 19,000-seat arena.

“The next step for us is to try to get to (12,000), but 10,000 is an indication in the NBA of franchise health,” Guelli said. “About half the teams in the league are at that 10,000 number.”

Reaching 12,000 would be a key milestone for the team, said team President Fred Whitfield.

“If we can get up to 12,000, we hope to be sold out every night,” he said.

The season-ticket push comes as the city’s other major pro team, the Carolina Panthers, are dominating sports news with a 15-1 regular season and a spot in Sunday’s NFC Championship game.

The team sees the Panthers’ success as a positive, Whitfield said.

“The better they play, it helps sports in general in Charlotte,” he said. “We support them, and they support us.”

Tickets can be purchased by calling 704-HORNETS (467-6387) or visiting hornets.com.

Some Panthers players are season-ticket holders, and coach Ron Rivera is a regular attendee, he said. Another celebrity attendee, of course, is Hornets owner Michael Jordan.

The Charlotte Hornets got off to a fast start but have since fallen to 19-22 on the season.

The team’s record “definitely plays a part” in attendance, Whitfield said.

“I think our fans have really been patient with us as our young players have started to develop,” he said. “Unfortunately, we have had a few injuries that have had an impact on the way we perform on the court, but we’re optimistic where our young team is headed.”

This story was originally published January 20, 2016 at 11:54 AM with the headline "Charlotte Hornets keep season-ticket prices flat for next season – if you act fast."