Alanzo George was on the Tilden High School basketball team during the winter of 2007. In March George was involved in an automobile crash that paralyzed him from the neck down.
Edward L. Rose is Vice Chairman and General Counsel of Maxim Group, which is a global investment banking firm. Not all of the “one percent” put money first.
Rose set up a fund to help pay Alonzo’s medical costs. He also purchased court side floor tickets at Madison Square Garden in the area reserved for individuals in wheelchairs. The cost was $300 per ticket.
When one includes Rose’s seat, the total cost was about $600.
George Alanzo has recently discovered that this coming, strike-shortened season, the price of his ticket will increase slightly.
“I was really shocked. I’m wondering how they did that, especially with people in a wheelchair.”
The ticket is now $2,850.
Relatively speaking, to the owners of the New York Knicks as well as to other owners of sports teams, $2,500 is not much money. To “ordinary” Americans, it is a huge sum of money (If we are “ordinary” Americans, doesn’t it follow that owning a team makes one an “extraordinary” American?).
But not to worry. Barry Watkins of Madison Square Garden has revealed disabled fans will actually be closer to the action.
That is wonderful news. The New York Knicks’ management would never think of not providing additional benefits with a price increase.
Since the price increase for Alonzo’s ticket is 900 percent, does that mean the new area is 900 percent closer to the action?
What a disgusting exploitation.
There is a solution, but most “ordinary” sports fans lack the discipline to do it. Simply don’t attend.
There is one fan who knows what to do.
Alonzo told a reporter, “I’m not sure I want to go to the games at those prices.”