Season Pass Economics (For the Resorts)

[ss20]

Mountains out west have less snowmaking and associated cost.

True...but... look at the other big expense...lifts.
Let's look at some "large resort" numbers:
East Coast: ~18 lifts with 3/4 spinning midweek, 12-15 days a year where you'll see every lift spinning.
West: ~25 lifts, usually all or all but 1-2 spinning every day of the year
Also, lot more detachables out west=more energy, maintenance, and labor costs.

And we can go further with comparisons:
East Coast ski patrol: A dozen of so "core" members that are full-time paid, the rest part-time or volunteer. Annual improvements may be a new sled or hut improvements.
West Coast ski patrol: Serious team that's getting paid quite well to risk their lives each day. Annual improvements may be a new bazooka and avi shells.


In other words... there's other costs the Western resorts see that we don't.

 

[prsboogie]

I can tell you that White Mountain Super Pass revenue goes entirely to the mountain that sells the pass.


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I bet this is why Peak required a Home Mtn when purchasing! It would make most sense for revenue sharing.

 

[deadheadskier]

I bet this is why Peak required a Home Mtn when purchasing! It would make most sense for revenue sharing.

One interesting thing when renewing my pass today at Wildcat is they said the payments will show up as coming from Mount Snow on my CC statements.

 

[gmcunni]

One interesting thing when renewing my pass today at Wildcat is they said the payments will show up as coming from Mount Snow on my CC statements.

vt revenue?

 

[yeggous]

I bet this is why Peak required a Home Mtn when purchasing! It would make most sense for revenue sharing.

I had a different interpretation: sales tax.


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[Scruffy]

One need only look at real estate prices in Stowe to understand the pass price. The market can afford it.

Right. Stowe prices to what the market will bear.

 

[prsboogie]

I had a different interpretation: sales tax.


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Ya but they didn't add any to the price, unless the factored it in

 

[gmcunni]

Ya but they didn't add any to the price, unless the factored it in

added tax to mine on Saturday @ Mount Snow

 

[yeggous]

Ya but they didn't add any to the price, unless the factored it in

Did you buy from a New Hampshire mountain?

 

[BenedictGomez]

I had a different interpretation: sales tax.

No, if that were it SKIS would have gone with Crotched as New Hampshire has no sales tax.

If I were them and I sold a SP for all Peaks Resorts, I'd locate a "SP office" in New Hampshire and not charge sales tax.

 

[Jully]

sugarbush offers a good student pass rate, a $299 for20s pass, and gives out season passes to beginners who complete a 3 lesson sequence.

I thought I saw their for 20s rate was a lot higher than $299 now

 

[Abominable]

"Very interesting question and one I've wondered often myself. So here's a comparison of some of the major resorts in VT (adult unrestricted passes at the early purchase rates):
Bromley925
Stratton899
Mt Snow599
Okemo1239"

Where do you see that Stratton price? Always assumed they'd be in the kton, okemo bracket.

Agree mt snow / peak pass is a bargain.


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[cdskier]

I thought I saw their for 20s rate was a lot higher than $299 now

Yes, it is now $339 at the early rate. Not sure if that's a lot higher or not. Guess it depends on your perspective. Still dirt cheap for an unlimited pass.

 

[cdskier]

Where do you see that Stratton price? Always assumed they'd be in the kton, okemo bracket.

I actually was surprised on that too...thought they'd be higher. Price came right from their website though for the Spirit pass...
http://www.stratton.com/lift-tickets-and-passes/stratton-season-passes.aspx

They have a more expensive option ($1279)...but that seems to just give you early lift access on weekends/holidays. Both passes have no blackouts so that's why I listed the Spirit pass as it is a standard unrestricted adult pass like all the others I listed prices for.

 

[Abominable]

That's surprising to me given proximity to nyc, captive audience with all the real estate, etc. pretty good value compared to okemo for instance.

I'm a bit of a homer for bromley; hurts my feelings that they're more expensive.


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[deadheadskier]

Maybe a Stratton employee caught wind of the Peaks deep discount and that's why their price is pretty affordable?

 

[Jully]

Yes, it is now $339 at the early rate. Not sure if that's a lot higher or not. Guess it depends on your perspective. Still dirt cheap for an unlimited pass.

Oh, nevermind I thought it was in the 400s now. I wouldn't consider it a lot higher at that price. That is a great deal.

 

[drjeff]

Maybe a Stratton employee caught wind of the Peaks deep discount and that's why their price is pretty affordable?

My hunch is that Stratton only knew that Peak Resorts wasn't going to pair up with them, like they did last season for the Double Down pass where for something like $350 the 18-26yr old age demographic could get unlimited access to both Mount Snow and Stratton this season.

I'm guessing that they (Stratton) didn't know that Peak was going to lower the pricepoint to where they did ahead of time

 

[VTKilarney]

Mad River Glen seems pretty darn expensive for what you are getting in return.

I don't understand Bromley at all. I know that it's well liked, but is it really that good?

These prices show just how good a deal the Peak Pass is.

 

[skicub]

Bromley is a sweet spot: they take great care of the mountain and make a good amount of snow considering their size, and they get decent dumps because they seem to always be in the SC-VT snow belt (packing snow while stratton/Magic get rain). There is no better place to be on the coldest days, because their all-day-sunny exposure always keeps it a bit warmer than other spots. They never skimp on grooming every slope that needs it every day (and doing it well), and their lift reliability is strong (when the winds aren't). They have several different back-up chair options when summit lifts are limited by wind, allowing them to essentially operate every day no matter what. It's a shame they haven't linked up with others (besides cranmore and jiminy) because they can only compete as an independent for so long. The pricing is also likely to limit the number of holiday skiers, who, often come from traditionally affluent CT (with some NJ/NYers mixed in), so they can certainly afford it. The mountain is usually at capacity on weekends/holidays, which is why they don't need to compete to make $$$, yet weekdays you have this petite gem to yourself. It's pricey, but if you ask any Bromley regulars, worth every penny. Innkeepers pass is a pretty stellar deal for locals too at $115 to ski every Wednesday. It still would be nice to get more than just one peak for the $$$. I'm only there weekdays, so their midweek pass (includes MLKday and summer lift/+1 summer day pass) is a decent enough deal, all things considering.


the cubbiest skier you've ever met