Talk about giving it to the fans. Then again if the dumbfucks are willing to pay it, go ahead and charge it.

Winderman: Heat charging fans to line up on wrong side of velvet rope

Ira Winderman

On a day when LeBron James revealed a bracket on his website that has Duke as his choice, after he previously said he thought Ohio State would win the NCAA Tournament, apparently the rules have changed.

Based on a Wednesday announcement from the Miami Heat, that has become abundantly clear.

Upon announcing that the team has sold out its 2011-12 allotment of season tickets, the Heat unveiled a “Heat Priority Access Club,” one that has $50, $150 and $250 levels of membership.

And what does that get you? Nothing tangible. But it does buy hope.

By joining the club, with those fees due annually, fans can move up on the team’s priority lists when future season tickets become available.

While the team said the memberships would not be refunded if there is a 2011-12 lockout, the memberships would revert to the season when the league returns.

The different levels of membership reflect the ability to purchase playoff tickets in different rounds and other priority lists for individual game tickets. None of the plans guarantee the right to purchase tickets to a 2011 NBA Finals appearance.

According to Heat President Eric Woolworth, “The new Heat Priority Access Club is now the best way for fans to move to the head of the line for Heat playoff tickets even as they wait for future opportunities to purchase Heat season tickets.”

In other words, space on a line that doesn’t necessarily get you in the building now comes at a price.

Those who purchase Priority Access Club at the $50 level receive, according to the team, “benefits such as access to the regular-season presale for individual game tickets and wait-list priority for season tickets.”

Those who purchase Priority Access Club at the $150 level receive, according to the team, “all the benefits of the ($50) level, plus the guaranteed opportunity to purchase Heat playoff tickets for Round 1 of the 2011 NBA playoffs before they go on sale to the general public. In addition, fans who select the ($150) level will also have the opportunity to purchase a Heat partial (2011-12) plan before the general public.”

Those who purchase Priority Access Club at the $250 level receive, according to the team, “all the benefits of the ($50 and $150) levels, as well as the guaranteed opportunity to purchase playoff tickets for Rounds 1, 2 and 3 of the 2011 NBA playoffs.”

Tickets for the Heat’s July welcome party for LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were free.

Now getting in line comes with a cost.

And to think that all those New York Knicks fans are angry about price increases that are accompanied by an actual seat to the games.

_________________

The secondary market is flooded with tickets down there that nobody wants to buy. The Heat struggle to fill the arena unless a marquee matchup is in town. Are fans in Florida the worst sports fans in the country?

_________________