Pass-holder only weekends?

[Harvey]

limiting all Saturdays and Sundays in February

Blocking Saturdays and Sundays certainly cuts down on how many new customers you can attract.

I agree with Broski, if the business thinks it's a good move (Saturdays) then it probably is.

 

[trackbiker]

I think it's a bad idea. There's already too many obstacles to entry to the sport; very high day ticket prices, having to purchase tickets in advance, high cost of equipment, etc. People have many more options for other activities today compared to the past.
Many people are aging out of the sport and if you don't encourage newcomers, eventually your customer numbers will decline. Raising prices to make up for the decline in numbers will only make more people leave the sport.

 

[Benny Profane]

The situation in Utah is nuts. Stuart Winchester posted a graph of Utah skier visits, and it's gone parabolic. Combo of population growth, cheap airfare, and Ikon. I experienced a Saturday at Snowbasin just pre Covid that was insane. Even Deer Valley was a struggle that week. Something had to be done.
Personally, I avoid Saturdays like I avoid gatherings of small children. But, it dawned on me that Saturday is the only day an awful lot of people ski. Check out Killington. Probably twice as many skiers on Saturday than Sunday. Sunday, they nurse the hangover with brunch and drive home. Although, lately, powder Fridays are the new Saturday.

 

[Harvey]

Long lines on Saturday could also inhibit growth.

 

[snoloco]

Powder Mountain continues to radicalize. First they privatize a third of the mountain, and now they won't even sell tickets to normal people on February weekends. Note that they'll still give you a tour if you're looking to buy real estate there. It's a terrible business decision. Weekends in February have the highest demand, and on the highest demand days, you have to sell your highest yield product.

 

[TheGreatAbyss]

Never been, but I doubt many beginners are going to Mount Bohemia so it's not really preventing new entrants to the sport.

With season ticket prices that insanely cheap and their extensive partner program, it's just a volume play to get everyone and their mother to buy a pass if they think maybe they'll ski somewhere 1 or 2 days the whole season.

 

[MiSkier]

The bulk of northeast skiing is on or around a weekend. It would be decision based on the individual data of each area and what other choices are available for the customers you are turning away. A place like Plattekill cannot afford to turn away business. A place like Stratton will sell every $199 walk up ticket it can sell. I do not see it ever happening (under normal/ non-covid years) in the northeast.

Bohemia is an odd duck as they sell a season pass for 7 day/week season pass for $109 and 6 day/week (excludes Sat) season pass for $99 from Nov 27,2024 to Dec 7, 2024. There are additional fees for each pass. Why wouldn't you spend the additional $10 even if you think you might never ski a Saturday? Is Bohemia now overrun on Saturdays?

Season Passes | Mount Bohemia - Extreme Skiing - Upper Peninsula of Michigan

www.mtbohemia.com

Yes Bohemia is overrun for the lift capacity and the shuttle bus capacity they have on Saturdays.

 

[x10003q]

Yes Bohemia is overrun for the lift capacity and the shuttle bus capacity they have on Saturdays.

It makes sense since the long drive from population centers means driving home Sunday to get home at a reasonable hour.

 

[MarzNC]

Blocking Saturdays and Sundays certainly cuts down on how many new customers you can attract.

I agree with Broski, if the business thinks it's a good move (Saturdays) then it probably is.

Blocking Saturdays can make sense. At least for beginners and cautious intermediates. Being at a resort when it's very busy, after having paid for a relatively expensive day ticket, could mean a newbie to that resort may never want to return.

Blocking Sundays as well doesn't make sense to me.

 

[trackbiker]

If I was a season pass holder I would probably selfishly be in favor of pass-holder only Saturdays to keep the crowds down.
A season pass doesn't work for me. I have the Indy and ski at a lot of different areas in different parts of the northeast. If Saturdays start getting blacked out at more areas I will likely just stop skiing after 53 years. The $120+ lift tickets are more than I'm willing to pay for a day.