Some season ticket holders said they saw price hikes of over 50%
The Washington Wizards plan to increase season ticket prices for the 2025-26 season, sources tell Bullets Forever.
The Wizards rolled out their season ticket pricing model for next season, which features price increases across a majority of sections, including hikes of over 50% as the team shifts to more premium seating.
One source told Bullets Forever that his company’s cost for two season tickets increased from $14,952 to $23,352 for the 25-26 season. That’s a price increase of 56.1%.
The source said his company is likely dropping its season tickets due to the price hike, as well as a non-commitment from the Wizards to guarantee them seats in a similar location at their old pricing level.
Capital One Arena has added more “premium” seating to replace the traditional seats. The team has slowly rolled out this style of open-concept, higher-end seating via the “Hennessy Lofts” and “Michelob Ultra Courtside Lounge,” which are located behind each basket.
Various season ticket holders have been displaced as a result of the new premium rows, which as one longtime season ticket holder put it, hurts the ordinary fans.
“Less regular seats, more VIP seats, less people, more revenue … The middle class is getting squeezed out for the high rollers because the seats weren’t getting filled.”
The price increases come months after the Wizards announced an $800 million renovation plan for Capital One Arena — a decision that came after owner Ted Leonsis opted to stay in Washington D.C. after his attempt to build a new arena in Alexandria, Virginia, fell through.
The new premium seating, entitled the “United Globe Club & Lounge,” has replaced sections where pre-existing season ticket holders owned seats, offering “a new VIP experience.”
The premium seating offers perks such as access to the United Globe Club & Lounge, which features 16 private restrooms, 145 feet of food service space and a full-service open bar.
Other season ticket holders said they saw their season ticket prices, which featured both lower bowl and upper bowl seating, rise by roughly 7%, which is more than they’d seen in recent years.
“The reason (the cost of my seats) went up so much is the team reclassified our row as a new pricing tier. They are expanding the number of premium rows to justify charging more,” one source said. “My personal tickets in the upper deck went up 7%.”
When asked how much notice was given to season ticket holders prior to their existing seats being replaced with new, more expensive premium seating, one source answered, “None.”
The Wizards are an NBA-worst 9-45 and are on pace to finish with 13 wins, which would mark the worst record in franchise history. While the team is primed for a top pick in June’s NBA Draft, the rebuilding phase has just begun, with more losing seasons expected as the team continues to build through the draft.
Monumental Sports provided the following statement to Bullets Forever:
“We could not be more excited to begin the construction process on the brand-new Capital One Arena this summer. This transformative project will place Capital One Arena among the highest echelon of arenas within the entire sports and entertainment industry and enhance the gameday environment for all fans. Our top priority is to create a first-class experience for every single person that attends an event at Capital One Arena – from the moment they arrive until departure – including expanded entrances to ease flow, wider concourses, and vertical transportation to move around more efficiently, and a significant increase in culinary options, restrooms, and retail locations.
That’s why we are proud to offer brand new products which includes upgrading our VIP and courtside seating areas, as we create new state-of-the-art spaces that are designed to offer unparalleled access, luxury, and service to our VIP ticket holders. Further, most season ticket members will notice nominal changes to their plan from last year. And for those who would prefer to explore other options, we are committed to finding the optimal experience for our loyal supporters.”