Hawks Raise Ticket Prices

The Seahawks are staying in Seattle, but it’s going to cost more to watch the NFL team in the Kingdome this winter.

For just the third time in 10 years, the Seahawks will increase ticket prices in certain ranges, they announced Monday.

Tickets for 1996 will be priced at $46, $41, $38, $33, $28 and $19. The new price structure features six categories instead of four, while maintaining some $28 and $19 seats.

“We fully intend to compete with the top teams in the NFL,” said Bob Whitsitt, spokesman for Paul Allen, who is negotiating to buy the team. “We have no intention of passing the full burden of catching up on to the fans, but we felt we had to be at least in the middle of the league in ticket pricing.

“Last year, the Seahawks’ ticket prices ranked 25th in the league and the new price structure will take us to the middle of the league.

“The additional revenue will be put right back into the Seahawks to give (coach) Dennis Erickson every possible resource to continue to build this team.”

In Erickson’s first season, the Seahawks finished as one of the league’s hottest teams last year, winning six of their last eight games for an 8-8 record.

Seattle has two preseason games in the Kingdome, Aug. 3 against Atlanta and Aug. 23 against San Francisco. Its first regular-season home game is Sept. 8 against Denver.

, DataTimes