Lon Rosen Explains Decision To Raise Season Ticket Prices

The Los Angeles Lakers are going through a number of changes on the organizational side since Mark Walter has taken over as owner. One big move is the hiring of Lon Rosen as the team’s new president of business operations, succeeding Tim Harris who will step down at the end of the season.

Rosen has a ton of connections to the Lakers as he began his career as an intern with the franchise before moving up into a front office role in the 1980s. He is also familiar with Walter as he has been an executive with the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2012.

Something Rosen will already have to deal with is fan backlash after the Lakers confirmed a major increase in the price of season tickets beginning next season. In speaking on it, Rosen said that the new prices reflect the market demand but he hopes the holders renew, via Khobi Price of the California Post:

“We hope they renew,” Rosen said. “And obviously it reflects on what the market is now and the demand for tickets. You can look at how tickets sell and what the prices are. You look at the primary and secondary market and you can see where their demand is.”

The affordability of games has been an ongoing discussion throughout many sports as ticket price increases have been rampant. That has especially been the case in the NBA and the Lakers, as the premier basketball franchise, are always one of the most expensive tickets to get a hold of. Add in having superstars like Luka Doncic and LeBron James on the roster, and it makes Lakers tickets even more of a commodity.

Some sections are seeing their season ticket prices increase by nearly 50%, which is quite a massive uptick, and the team will also be adding on a 3% administrative fee if the invoice isn’t paid off to start. It is unfortunate for Lakers fans who are the ones who ultimately have to pay these increased prices, but it is simply the new reality.

Lakers hire Tony Bennett as NBA Draft advisor to Rob Pelinka

The Lakers have already begun bringing in new people as they build out the front office of the organization on both the basketball and business side. Most recently, the team hired former University of Virginia head coach Tony Bennett as their new NBA Draft advisor to general manager Rob Pelinka.