$teaux Ticket Prices

[billski]

Anyone look over the $teaux lift ticket price structure? Top dollar tix are now $76. An interesting spin, they let you ski until 9pm for $76. They seem to be skewing toward later operating hours - more options for afternoon and night tix, though you really aren't saving that much. It looks like an investor's mentality, where you are trying to maximize return on investment/sunk costs of the infrastructure. Keep people at the lodge longer, later. Wouldn't suprise me if they offer more evening dining options on mountain. Pushing multi-day tix substantially too. Any way you cut it, they are making a lot more money. Looks like the marketeers are running the place now.

Here are their single-day, adult, "prime" rates, as a baseline.
Afternoon $58
12:30-4pm
Sunday AM $60
7:30am-noon
Twilight $62
1-9pm
Ultimate $76
8am-9pm
Night $24
5-9pm

Incredible. $60 just to ski sunday am. That's $13/hour. Ultimate, if you can ski that long, is only $6/hour. No more 8am to 4pm tix. So I figure, I'm shot by 4pm. 8am to 4pm, $10/hour.

Compare to Burke tix @ 52, comes out to $7.4/hour. I can ski Bolton for $4/hour.
And all these calculations are done at full rate adult prices! I've never done this sort of analysis before, but it can easily become a $1000 weekend for my family and I when you add it all up.

I hate to say it all comes down to money, but $teaux is looking to upgrade its clientelle and milk more from them at all angles. That's the message.

Of course, they also see themselves as a "destination" resort, so they are of course pushing multi-day tickets, which in my opinion are only marginally better since I'd only do a 2 or 3 day. But then again, it's a hook. Get you there longer, you'll spend more overall. Marketing 101 live!

For me, I'm skiing where I can get the best conditions at the best price. While I enjoy skiing $teaux, with a family of 5, I'm going to Burke, Mad River, even with my cheap(er) club discounts.

I know, I know, it's the quality of the experience that counts (easy to say when you are a single skier). But clearly, this market is segmenting big time. The only families you'll see at $teaux are those that have so much discretionary income that they don't even look at the prices. Where does that move the mainstream? I know you know the answer.


Billski

 

[thetrailboss]

The best part about Stowe is that this year they refused to release day ticket prices online or publish them. Talk about sending a clear message--we don't care.

 

[billski]

otw

I found those prices on the web. It was really difficult to read around the spin.

http://www.stowe.com/tickets/tickets.php

There's no such thing as a "day" (i.e., daylight hours only) ticket any more.

 

[thetrailboss]

Re: otw

I found those prices on the web. It was really difficult to read around the spin.

http://www.stowe.com/tickets/tickets.php

There's no such thing as a "day" (i.e., daylight hours only) ticket any more.

I just recall a couple months ago someone contacted them with day rate prices and Stowe gave a snappy response that they would 'probably not' be publishing them nor posting them in advance, meaning that people were caught. I criticize them for this practice.

I also recall how last year they made a big deal about how they would remain open 'as long as they could' and incrementally drop the price every day until it was free. Any guesses how far they got? You guessed it. They shut the deal off pretty quickly. Heaven forbid if too many common folk skied there :roll: :evil:

 

[billski]

marketeers

I've always been amazed at what a short memory Marketeers have (and I deal with them all the time in my business.) Live and price for the moment....

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

It's hard to believe how the perception of Stowe has changed to the general public in a relatively short time. It wasn't that long ago (or at least it seems so to me) that it was considered a no fluff, hard core ski destination.

 

[JimG.]

It's hard to believe how the perception of Stowe has changed to the general public in a relatively short time. It wasn't that long ago (or at least it seems so to me) that it was considered a no fluff, hard core ski destination.

It still is a hard core ski destination; Stowe considers itself THE best ski destination in the east and they price themselves according to the perception they want the public to have.

I love the place, but $76 is steep.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

It still is a hard core ski destination; Stowe considers itself THE best ski destination in the east and they price themselves according to the perception they want the public to have.

I love the place, but $76 is steep.

Mansfield is hardcore for sure, that can't change. I was thinking more of the atmosphere of the resort in general.

 

[JimG.]

Mansfield is hardcore for sure, that can't change. I was thinking more of the atmosphere of the resort in general.

Stowe is one of the first places my family took me to ski as a child, so the place has alot of sentimental value for me. For me, the biggest change is the HSQ on Mansfield that replaced the single chair. I loved that single chair.

They have widened some trails, and the grooming has become brutal. However, the front 4 and Lookout are 5 of the best trails in the east, there are glades and tree shots everywhere, and the hike to skiing from the summit is intense.

The town itself has changed a bit, but for the most part it seems pretty much the same to me. Maybe I'm living in the past.

 

[billski]

since 1980

I've been going to Stowe since 1980. This is all about to end for me. "best" is a relative term of course, depending upon what metric you use. If your only measure is technical challenge, I would agree. However, there are lots of amenities that have changed, starting with #1, the locals. They have pretty much been drummed out of town to places like Morrisville and Hyde Park. Wal-mart try to come to Stowe, no way! But not because the locals didn't want it - because the developers and those with superdeep pockets could afford to fight it. The locals wanted it. Where do you go to get "regular" stuff? Morrisville, of course. With that, goes the real flavor of the town. It has been preserved in a museum-like state by those "from away." It's those same flatlanders who have taken up residence in the town and run the stores, shops, restaurants and hotels. You won't find a real vt-er eating in town. A $6.50 e-coli burger, tomato extra, is a bit too steep for me and the ordinary citizen.

Oh, and did you notice the classical music that plays in the gondi lodge?

Look at the fabric of the town. How many towns have a town rec-center/indoor pool? Contributed by multi-millionaire Burton of snowboard fame.

If I want to be nostalagic, I'll go to Saddleback, to Burke, to Berkshire East for the real deal.

I'll have to admit that technical challenge is only part of the attraction to me any longer. That said, they won't rope me into all the apres-ski activities which will set me back way more than $76 per day. There does come an economic line one crosses.

Additionally, I'm not at all interested in steep, see-to-the-bottom long, wide, straight groomers. I find that way too boring. I don't wanna know what's around the next corner till I get there.

 

[thetrailboss]

It's hard to believe how the perception of Stowe has changed to the general public in a relatively short time. It wasn't that long ago (or at least it seems so to me) that it was considered a no fluff, hard core ski destination.

It still is a hard core ski destination; Stowe considers itself THE best ski destination in the east and they price themselves according to the perception they want the public to have.

I love the place, but $76 is steep.

This is where I have a problem and feel kind of :-? about being so strongly critical of them. I think that their terrain and mountain is great, but I don't agree with the level of 'gentrification' that they are creating and the 'status' issue that they are creating.

 

[thetrailboss]

Re: since 1980

I've been going to Stowe since 1980. This is all about to end for me. "best" is a relative term of course, depending upon what metric you use. If your only measure is technical challenge, I would agree. However, there are lots of amenities that have changed, starting with #1, the locals. They have pretty much been drummed out of town to places like Morrisville and Hyde Park. Wal-mart try to come to Stowe, no way! But not because the locals didn't want it - because the developers and those with superdeep pockets could afford to fight it. The locals wanted it. Where do you go to get "regular" stuff? Morrisville, of course. With that, goes the real flavor of the town. It has been preserved in a museum-like state by those "from away." It's those same flatlanders who have taken up residence in the town and run the stores, shops, restaurants and hotels. You won't find a real vt-er eating in town. A $6.50 e-coli burger, tomato extra, is a bit too steep for me and the ordinary citizen.

This is indicative of what is happening on the state level and will be for some time to come. I am a Vermonter and have my opinion(s), but my comment here is simply an observation of the phenomenon.

I do find it amusing that someone from 'Just outside Boston' is using the term flatlander :lol:

 

[JimG.]

Re: since 1980

I've been going to Stowe since 1980. This is all about to end for me. "best" is a relative term of course, depending upon what metric you use. If your only measure is technical challenge, I would agree. However, there are lots of amenities that have changed, starting with #1, the locals. They have pretty much been drummed out of town to places like Morrisville and Hyde Park. Wal-mart try to come to Stowe, no way! But not because the locals didn't want it - because the developers and those with superdeep pockets could afford to fight it. The locals wanted it. Where do you go to get "regular" stuff? Morrisville, of course. With that, goes the real flavor of the town. It has been preserved in a museum-like state by those "from away." It's those same flatlanders who have taken up residence in the town and run the stores, shops, restaurants and hotels. You won't find a real vt-er eating in town. A $6.50 e-coli burger, tomato extra, is a bit too steep for me and the ordinary citizen.

Oh, and did you notice the classical music that plays in the gondi lodge?

Look at the fabric of the town. How many towns have a town rec-center/indoor pool? Contributed by multi-millionaire Burton of snowboard fame.

These are issues that I am blissfully unaware of; however, your comment about the town being preserved in a museum like state does hit home...I commented on it using similar words to my wife when we went there last season.

Honestly, if I knew all this and was a regular, every week/weekend skier there, I'd probably buy a share in the co-op at MRG and ski there instead.

 

[JimG.]

This is where I have a problem and feel kind of :-? about being so strongly critical of them. I think that their terrain and mountain is great, but I don't agree with the level of 'gentrification' that they are creating and the 'status' issue that they are creating.

If I were a regular there and skiied there every week, I'd feel the same way you do.

 

[billski]

Re: since 1980

I was born in the Adirondacks and spend almost all of my formative years growing and working in rural hinterlands....

I moved to "from away" so I could afford to go back there and ski ****

I call 'em as I see 'em. And I can look in the mirror :lol: and what do I see? :lol:
One of those people my parents warned me about! :lol:

I'm laughing right along side of y'all!

**** - actually, that's not true. I was originally going to be a dairy farmer until I saw far too many guys age 50 having heart attacks when their crops went bust, milk sold below cost and the banker cam a-calling. I decided to go where the money was and visit paradise only on the weekends

Bill

I've been going to Stowe since 1980. This is all about to end for me. "best" is a relative term of course, depending upon what metric you use. If your only measure is technical challenge, I would agree. However, there are lots of amenities that have changed, starting with #1, the locals. They have pretty much been drummed out of town to places like Morrisville and Hyde Park. Wal-mart try to come to Stowe, no way! But not because the locals didn't want it - because the developers and those with superdeep pockets could afford to fight it. The locals wanted it. Where do you go to get "regular" stuff? Morrisville, of course. With that, goes the real flavor of the town. It has been preserved in a museum-like state by those "from away." It's those same flatlanders who have taken up residence in the town and run the stores, shops, restaurants and hotels. You won't find a real vt-er eating in town. A $6.50 e-coli burger, tomato extra, is a bit too steep for me and the ordinary citizen.

This is indicative of what is happening on the state level and will be for some time to come. I am a Vermonter and have my opinion(s), but my comment here is simply an observation of the phenomenon.

I do find it amusing that someone from 'Just outside Boston' is using the term flatlander :lol:

 

[riverc0il]

It's hard to believe how the perception of Stowe has changed to the general public in a relatively short time. It wasn't that long ago (or at least it seems so to me) that it was considered a no fluff, hard core ski destination.

i am a hard core no fluff skier and can't afford stowe. never skied there but looking forward to finally earning some backcountry turns there this year. i may stop by for sunday this weekend which is $15 with two canned goods and i will keep an eye out for VT days. stowe has been about the money for a while now, but the day ticket price is simply outrageous (is that higher than stratton's now? top three in the united states i would imagine?). no ski area in new england is worth that much money, i don't care how much back country access you have from the gondi.

 

[riverc0il]

billski, rant of the day and a classic one at that. thank you!

 

[billski]

A quick sampler - $teaux is just about at the top. Full rate, 1 day window ticket:
78 Aspen
76 Stowe
72 Stratton
69 Killington
69 Vail
69 Okemo
69 Beaver Creek
65 Loon
63 Sugarbush
61 Sugarloaf
60 Steamboat
58 Teluride
55 Waterville
54 Hunter NY
54 Cannon
52 Burke
50 Mad River
49 Alta
46 Squaw Valley
30 Cochran's

 

[riverc0il]

makes you wonder who will hit triple digits first?

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Re: since 1980

I was born in the Adirondacks and spend almost all of my formative years growing and working in rural hinterlands....

I moved to "from away" so I could afford to go back there and ski ****

See? Another who selfishly moved South to keep the mountains from sinking from the weight of all the flatlanders that moved North and built vacation mansions :lol:

Back on subject: I've skied Stowe a handfull of times. Great terrain and location, without a doubt. I thought the pricing was outragous last season. Much as I love the mountain, there's other places I can get what I wasnt, pay lots less, and not get all attitude.