Marlins threaten to sue season ticket holders
The neverending saga of Miami Marlins management attempting to alienate their fanbase continues. According to a report from the Miami New Times, the Marlins are threatening to sue a pair of season ticket holders for requesting that their seats be moved after the Marlins installed a billboard that obstructed their view.
Jan and Bill Leon have been Marlins season ticket holders since the 1998 season, and have bought two full season, front row tickets each year since then. When Marlins Park opened for the 2012 season, the Leons bought a two season package for $25,000 per season with the option to change their seats after the first seaso. All was well and good with the seats at Marlins Park until the Marlins decided to add a billboard directly in front of the Leons' seats, obstructing their view. Here's a before and after view of the seats.
The Leons claim that the extra padding at the top of the wall obscures their vision of the entire third base line unless you move all the way up to the concrete, and it also hides line drive foul balls heading right towards the section. The Leons complained about the sign and asked the Marlins to replace it with a digital version, but were ignored. After the season, the Leons told the Marlins that they wouldn't pay for their seats for the 2013 season unless they were moved (which they had the option to when they entered into the two-year agreement). The Marlins responded...by threatening a lawsuit.
In the linked document, Marlins vice president and general counsel Derek Jackson ignores all of the Leons' requests to have their seats moved and cites the outstanding payment of more than $25,000 for the 2013 season as a reason for a potential lawsuit. The Leons have no intention of renewing their season ticket package after the team's fire sale this offseason, even if they had their seats moved.
The Marlins are now apparently in the business of alienating fans that have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the team in the past, when they could have just ceded to their requests and moved their seats. This isn't just bad management, it's bad customer service. The Miami New Times is still awaiting a comment from Marlins management.
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I'm not a fan of the Marlins. I'm not even a fan of baseball. But I really question the fan's motives in this case. Look at the pictures they provided. The one they prefer is a crystal clear view. The other is doctored by taking a picture of a bunch of media in front of them that was likely there during non-game play. Who is really looking at the green padding there? If you want to make your case, make it. Don't try to manipulate it with other non-factors.
You people do realize a verbal contract isn't written and is basically a fairy tale right?Your in real estate, everything in writing is key, and you deal with contracts daily. How foolish are you not to get it in the agreement.
This stinks to high heaven of buyers remorse, and ofcouse the "Obstructed View" photo is with a bunch of photographers in your way. If you have a problem with the seats, just try to sit somewhere else- it's empty anyway. It's obvious you don't like the way the team was heading and are forcing the issue to sneak out of the deal you made.
I pity your efforts, and the insensible thoughts you both had to spend 25k for season tickets when sitting 5 rows further back at $3000 would have sufficed. And yes, for all 81 games.
Oh, and if your sitting in section FL9 or 10- nice putting your tickets on stub hub for the entire season at $500 a pop, not exactly obvious what your intentions are there- to turn a profit.
What a surprise, it's not profitable so you want out. Get anything in writing next time, my 10 year old nephew knows that.
@gabrieljkelly @AdamSantanaLTF @edgarakelly @GinoM1121 Marlins clearly need money from each & every tix holder to afford the high payroll
This thing smells bad. Based on what I've read the Marlins have stepped on their own d_ick again! If I'm Jeff Loria and those guys were paying me $25k I'd be picking 'em up in a limo this year!
@revafriedel they were STH since 98, full season plan, paying for front row seats. 25K a year at the new park!
