just from talking to folks riding the chair, there have been quite a few locals taking their dollars south to SB from Stowe over the last few years.
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Sugarbush's New Pass Aims to Capture the '20 something' Market
- Thread starter thetrailboss
- Start date
just from talking to folks riding the chair, there have been quite a few locals taking their dollars south to SB from Stowe over the last few years.
BeanoNYC
Active member
Indeed. Very sly branding that will attract that demographic while the name goes over the square's heads. .
When I lived in Stowe, I was fortunate the business I worked for was part of the Stowe Area Association. I'm not sure what the price is now, but ten years ago I got a midweek black out pass for $250.
If I were living there now and didn't have access to such a pass, I'd look at Sugarbush or Smuggs for sure.
riverc0il
New member
There are a lot of folks (especially in VT) that are 30 or older that can't afford a season pass at Bush either. To be fair, I think Bush should open this deal to everyone with either a current college loan or income below a certain threshold. :lol:
College grads certainly are more cash strapped than most. This deal is almost a no brainer for any 20somthing looking at a season pass in VT. Also I wonder how current Bush pass holders will feel about a substantial increase in the most dangerous demographic at a rather family oriented resort.
Bush must be fearful of the graying of the market and boomers retiring and getting too old to ski. Or maybe Bush is trying to bring back the ski bum.
College grads certainly are more cash strapped than most. This deal is almost a no brainer for any 20somthing looking at a season pass in VT. Also I wonder how current Bush pass holders will feel about a substantial increase in the most dangerous demographic at a rather family oriented resort.
Bush must be fearful of the graying of the market and boomers retiring and getting too old to ski. Or maybe Bush is trying to bring back the ski bum.
Agreed. Stowe isn't going to care at all about Sugarbush.
+ 1.
"Ship 'em to Ellen." :lol:
Bush must be fearful of the graying of the market and boomers retiring and getting too old to ski. Or maybe Bush is trying to bring back the ski bum.
One only need to ski at Ellen, then see who is in line at LP to see the difference. Lots of younger folks, families, locals at Ellen. Lots of older folks with expensive clothing and often wicked old (or wicked expensive) skis at LP who ski once or so a year but spend as much $$$ in that one weekend as many folks at Ellen spend in a season. Not to stereotype, but the place has become gentrified (some say again). I was pretty turned off the second to last time I skied at LP when I got there early and watched as some rich folks were able to cut the lines for two runs before any of the locals who were standing in line for the first chair. I can say that while I was slightly peeved, the woman beside me, who said she was a SB passholder for 20 years, was really :angry: and said she was not coming back next season.
That said, I think they got the message and are offering this deal to round out their customer base yet again. If they had not gotten the message, they'd only sell this pass for Mount Ellen only.
And as to Stowe, they are in a place where people think it's great that it is the most expensive thing east of the Mississippi.
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riverc0il
New member
I've never cared much for the Bush. Just don't dig the vibe there. Ellen definitely gives off a heck of a lot less of that vibe that I don't care for, that is for sure. Between the cheaper Ellen only pass and the park being over there for the college kids, it is no wonder the two mountains feel completely different. Interesting that Bush has kind of planted itself into a cross class cultural atmosphere by virtue of trying to "sell" the mountain that doesn't have the more well known terrain and trails, not to mention the amenities and condos.
Some people will ski Stowe because its expense is more of a draw than a turn off. But I think Stowe's prices have less to do with that than the fact that they are just charging what the market will bear and what people are willing to pay to ski the east's undisputed king. And to be quite frank, Stowe ain't that much more expensive than Bush... Stowe just doesn't offer many of the same types of discounts. But full price unrestricted? $1,569 for Bush for an Adult (post early deal)??? Let's not kid ourselves... if people buy Stowe because it is expensive, people are doing the same for the Bush. Bush does give more deals and benefits but full price at Bush is insulting and almost as much as Stowe.
Some people will ski Stowe because its expense is more of a draw than a turn off. But I think Stowe's prices have less to do with that than the fact that they are just charging what the market will bear and what people are willing to pay to ski the east's undisputed king. And to be quite frank, Stowe ain't that much more expensive than Bush... Stowe just doesn't offer many of the same types of discounts. But full price unrestricted? $1,569 for Bush for an Adult (post early deal)??? Let's not kid ourselves... if people buy Stowe because it is expensive, people are doing the same for the Bush. Bush does give more deals and benefits but full price at Bush is insulting and almost as much as Stowe.
All I know is if I were still in my 20s I would clamor for a pass that price.
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AdironRider
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Lets be real here. If given the option where you could just pick where you wanted to ski, most would pick Stowe.
That being said, putting out a pass like this would destroy Stowe's brand. Stowe is the king of the East. They'd be stupid not to charge what they do, regardless of how non core that sounds.
That being said, putting out a pass like this would destroy Stowe's brand. Stowe is the king of the East. They'd be stupid not to charge what they do, regardless of how non core that sounds.
Northernflight
Member
Crotched Mountain actually has a pass like this. I think its $1299 for up to 5 people.
No, the Fancy Pass does not include first tracks or any line cutting privileges. It includes ski season pass and golf pass and membership in the Health & Racquet Club. For someone who skis and golfs frequently, it is an excellent deal.
jimmywilson69
Well-known member
thanks Win and Congratulations!
BeanoNYC
Active member
Why all the fuss over the name of this smoking hot deal?
They should make pass color green too.
There are a lot of folks (especially in VT) that are 30 or older that can't afford a season pass at Bush either. To be fair, I think Bush should open this deal to everyone with either a current college loan or income below a certain threshold. :lol:
College grads certainly are more cash strapped than most. This deal is almost a no brainer for any 20somthing looking at a season pass in VT. Also I wonder how current Bush pass holders will feel about a substantial increase in the most dangerous demographic at a rather family oriented resort.
Bush must be fearful of the graying of the market and boomers retiring and getting too old to ski. Or maybe Bush is trying to bring back the ski bum.
Agreed. Stowe isn't going to care at all about Sugarbush.
As a passholder, I dont care if they try and give a deal to some twenty somethings. I still remember being that age when I would ski for a 5-7 days a year and it would cost about that much. traffic/lift lines are not really a big issue at SB even on holiday weekends. They may need to expand the bar space though. and I think twenty year olds have more of an issue being around families than vice versa.
I dont think its a matter of stowe not caring about sugarbush per se, but more of them not caring about that demographic. frankly, for their own bottom line they are probably correct in the short run. That being said, I was listening to owner of the UFC on the radio coming into work this morning and he was saying how boxing is dead because they put all their fights on pay per view instead of free tv, to maximize their revenue. They didnt invest in the business but milked it for all the cash they could and neglected attracting new fans. Now UFC got a big deal with Fox and is extremely popular. SB is trying to invest in the future of the sport by enticing twenty somethings as they already do with the free companion lift tickets for kids. Will it work, who knows, but kudos to them for trying.
also, in response to your comments about the line cutting privileges, it definitely annoyed some. however since I almost never wait on a line, it doesnt bother me. Its hard to understand how a regular at SB would have trouble avoiding lines most of the time. and they offered that amenity to sell the expensive condos which allowed them to build the new base lodge for everyone to enjoy.
For those that didn't see it, Win responded as to what they want to do with this program on SkiMRV:
Anklebiter
New member
I'm 38 and in Delaware, I PA ski resorts had better season family pass deals.
riverc0il
New member
I still can't believe Bush has a pass called the Fancy Pants... oops, I am Fancy Pass. That is just... I don't know. 
riverc0il
New member
Someone else posted about the line cutting issue. Stowe must care somewhat about the youth market cause they offer a dirt cheap (by Stowe standards) college pass. And unlike Bush with its Ellen park focus, I bet the college crowd rubs elbows a bit more with the upper crust at Stowe than Bush (of course, Stowe separates the park crowd via the triple chair area).
I don't think that comparing SB to any resort in PA is a fair comparison. In pretty much every category SB is much better and larger.
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