Checketts has a lot of Nerve

Im starting to draw a picture of Dave Checketts in my mind. Its one of a little boy crying out, "please can I please raise ticket prices? I really really want to have higher ticket prices!" I remember that the first decision Checketts made when he first bought the team was to raise ticket prices. Thankfully, Checketts saw the light back then and changed his mind on the price increase. Still, it was a stupid decision to raise ticket prices then and it is a stupid decision now.

According to Jeremy Rutherford, Blues writer for the St. Louis Post Dispatch, season tickets are going up by an average of 14 percent. The spin being put on by the blues is that the current tickets is in the bottom fifth of the league and the new prices will still be one of the lowest. They act as if this is a huge bargain. They act as if the Blues have been playing like Stanley Cup contenders these last couple of seasons. What team has Checketts and John Davidson been watching?

Since they seem to have forgotten, I will remind them of this. The team hasn't been very good! Paying low ticket prices for a team that isn't very good isn't a bargain. It is an even trade! Yes, I do remember that the blues were a playoff team last season. However, that was due to a miraculous late season surge in to the playoffs. Even though they made the playoffs, the team still played poorly for most of the year and I dont think I have to remind blues fans how the blues have played this season.

Another excuse the Blues have given is that they need these increases to resign their young guys. That may be true, but simply resigning the players you have won't make the team that much better. The blues youth are not ready to carry this team right now, especially with the way Patrick Berglund has played and the inconsistency of David Perron and Erik Johnson. So how can we have any confidence that the team is going to be any better the next couple of seasons?

There is only way this ticket increase would be acceptable. Thats if the Blues bring in a superstar talent during the offseason, like a Kolvalchuck. Other than that, it is inexcusable.