The Astros Money Grab

Regarding "Want to go to Astros’ opener? Step up to plate — with wallet" (Friday Sports C1), the huge increase in ticket prices against marquee teams like the Yankees isn't the worst thing that the new owners of the Astros have done to Houstonians of late, not by a long stretch. As reported in the Chronicle Online Feb. 15th, the Astros and the Houston Rockets are angling to charge every television subscriber in Greater Houston a surcharge of as much as $3.40 per household per month, whether you watch their games or not.
 

Apparently, the Astros are not satisfied with just the inflated prices for tickets, hot dogs, beverages and merchandise; they are not satisfied raking in millions for the commercials that will still be broadcast with their games; they are not satisfied with the tens of millions in bonds and other taxpayer subsidies that we all had to pay; and they are not satisfied having a protected monopoly on baseball in Houston. Now they want to reach into the pockets of millions of people who don't even like baseball and would willingly go without it being broadcast into their homes.

Adding insult to injury is the timing of this latest money grab. The Astros are the worst team in baseball, and at roughly $30 Million, their payroll is mere pocket change against their overall revenues.  This is what happens when businesses are granted a monopoly. What is new, though, is filching money from folks who aren't even your customers. As big a deal as all professional sports make about the integrity of the game on the field, they ought to try practicing some when it comes to their business dealings.
 

Pete Smith
Cypress