Symphony ups prices on seats in Third Tier

Seattle Symphony patrons love their Third Tier seats at Benaroya Hall — and several patrons are up in the rafters over price increases in the hall's highest elevation.

About 1,900 patrons sit in the Third Tier, either in box seating on the sides or balcony seating at the rear of the hall. The seats are attractive for a number of reasons. Chiefly, the price — they're among the least expensive seats — but also due to acoustics and sightlines. Some patrons like a bird's-eye view of the concert activity; and it's no secret that acoustics in the upper reaches of the hall are particularly good.

Because the Third Tier has been selling out while more expensive seats on the main floor remain unsold, the Symphony administrators decided to raise Third Tier prices and reduce some orchestra level prices.

Acting executive director Mary Ann Champion said she wants to "see the main floor looking full and lush." She adds that many patrons are "thrilled to be on the orchestra level" instead of the Third Tier; so are ticketholders who already were on the main floor sections where prices are going down.

Others, who want to stay in the Third Tier, are not thrilled. The price raises for 2007-08 are steep. Third Tier box seats for current subscribers to the main subscription series are rising from $279 to $500; other Third Tier seats are going from $387 to $500. (New subscribers will pay even more: $999 instead of $500). Prices for the Visiting Orchestra and Mainly Mozart series are going up as well, with some seats nearly doubling.

"Seattle Symphony management figures it can make a lot more money than it currently does off of third floor box seats, so it is throwing nosebleed subscribers out of their seats in coming seasons unless they are willing and able to pay twice the current price," disgruntled Seattle subscriber George Potratz e-mailed The Times.

Subscriber Dr. Ronnal L. Lee of Edmonds wrote to Champion (with a copy to The Times): "My reaction is that you are insulting your subscribers' intelligence, with a thinly disguised 'bait and switch' ploy ... We actually prefer the acoustics in the Third Tier."

Champion countered: "We need to offer more seating choices at a variety of prices and charge a premium price for locations that are in high demand. We now have more seats available at a wider price range on the orchestra level." As many ticket prices are decreasing as are increasing, Champion said, with an across-the-board effect of about "a 3-4 percent increase in ticket prices, which has been our pretty consistent annual price raise."

Even with the increase to returning subscribers, new subscribers to the Third Tier will pay more. A series of six concerts that cost $108 this season in 2007-09 will cost renewing subscribers $231, but new subscribers $324.

"Our subscribers are the last people we want to offend," said Champion. "But we have to keep playing, and that means we need ticket income."

Melinda Bargreen: mbargreen@seattletimes.com