The Actual Cost of League Pass for Celtics Fans

[Snoopy the Celtics Beagle <snoopy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

After I declared that I was not going to give in and renew the League Pass, 
Mrs. Celtics Beagle put her paw down and made it clear that she wasn't 
going to A) put up with me for next season not watching the Celtics; and B) 
pay for having a Celtics-related site without any material to put there.

She then pointed out that the price had to be good, even with the presence 
of NBAtv.com detracting from the mix.  So, look out world, here comes some 
Beagle Math....

The Pass, let's say, costs $200 for a new subscriber (It's actually less if 
you're a repeat customer).
On the assumption that you got the pass to watch the Celtics, you're paying 
for 82 games.

Now, LAST season, we know that the Celtics had at most, one or two games on 
network tv, meaning the Pass gave us 80 games.  That worked out to $2.05 
per Celtics game.  If you watched any of the other games, the cost per game 
overall dropped.

THIS season, before it started, we know that there were some 20 games 
scheduled for network tv, leaving 62 games on the Pass.  Let's say that 
NBAtv took 12 games from that.  Yes, it was fewer, but the math is easier 
with 12 games.  that leaves 50 games on the pass, and means the same $200 
meant you paid $4.00 per game, less if you watched other teams at all.

Now, let's look at NEXT season.  The C's are playoff-bound again this year, 
so let's be positive and say the networks went another 20 Celtics games 
next season.  Let's also say that NBAtv wants 20 Celtics games.  That 
leaves 42 Celtics games on the Pass.  That $200 stretches out to $4.40 per 
Celtics game, again, less if you watch the other teams on the Pass.

Considering that, even with a diluted value from NBAtv, it's worth having 
the pass.  But I'd still push for a price cut with the fact that there are 
now four networks broadcasting games.  I've heard that the satellite deal 
with NBAtv is that subscribers get the channel FREE with the Pass.  I'm 
guessing that's what choked the cable deals, they HATE freebies of any kind.

I'm kind of surprised that my previous post on the subject of NBAtv 
generated not one single reply, public or private, on the questions posed 
therein.  I've got to ask those questions during the offseason....  :>))))