Of course with the shortened season, there was a bit of a mystery as to how the Devils would handle it.  Finally, for me that mystery got solved today with my season ticket package that included my food and beverage cards (still worth $200 – though unfortunately me and whoever goes with me to games has to use it by the end of the regular season), and yes…suite tickets to a game in February against the Flyers no less.  Not only a suite, but unlimited snacks during the game such as ice cream, cookies and cake.  Hoo boy, me and my friend that’s going with me are really going to have to be responsible eating till that night when we can both pig out lol.  I’ll find out what access rewards I get another day, presumably after the team finalizes dates and times for each event.

Even before that however, every season ticket holder got an e-mail which we’d be receiving still more perks:

-Our own brick in Championship Plaza, where we can put our name and a short message, and it will be permanently displayed on the ground just outside the building

-An opportunity to purchase extra tickets at 50% off single-game price through this Friday for almost any section in the arena (in some cases even below sth list price)

-Free tickets to one select game

-A 20% discount off merchandise at the Devils Den through the end of the month

-A handful of free vouchers for kids to come to a game – not that I’ll be able to use that one but someone will

-A lapel pin and a donation in our name to Hurricane Sandy New Jersey relief fund

-An opportunity to skate on the Prudential Center ice right after a game

-Entry to a viewing party at the Prudential Center for Saturday’s opening night game with free food and soft drink there…unfortunately, I opted out of attending simply because I wanted my first trip back to be for a game itself (and wanted to flip back and forth to see other games on Center Ice during intermissions), but I probably should have gone since I wound up cursing Cablevision when their HD feed on my SD TV kept me from seeing the score/clock on the Devils’ MSG+2 telecast, and my Center Ice free preview didn’t work until late at night…oh well.

-A pair of tickets to this season’s NHL draft for every season ticket holder account

I didn’t post this blog or this list to make anyone jealous, though some people might feel that way after seeing everything the Devils have given back to their most loyal customers.  Whatever criticism I may lay on the Devils in other areas – starting with the way they botched ticket sales and may wind up being one of the few NHL teams not to sell out their home opener, and the fact they haven’t really offered plan holders or single-game buyers any additional perks themselves (although they’ve vaguely promised some ‘surprises’ at tomorrow’s home opener), I have to give them credit for at least recognizing that you treat your season ticket holders well first and foremost.  I’ve been an sth long enough to know when that wasn’t the case and sth’s in fact felt slighted by single-game buyers who frequently got better deals on pricing, but the Fan Experience team the last few years has really stepped things up to make owning a season ticket mean something more than just having a seat at a game AND doing all it could to give sth’s the best pure price value for their ticket.

For my $22 ticket I certainly can’t complain about my value or price, and I hope other teams are doing right by their sth’s around the league.  Though he’s not a full sth anymore, I’m glad Derek got a signed Ryan Callahan stick and that other fans have also been rewarded for their patience (in some cases monetarily, since we left our money in teams’ accounts during the lockout).