Finally: AntiTrust Lawsuit Against Vail and Alterra Day Pass Price Collusion.

ChrisC

ChrisC

Well-known member
Both mountains signal pricing to each other preseason - especially their $300/day resort groupings - to drive Season Pass sales.

Should be found guilty. It’s a textbook example.


www.vaildaily.com

Class action lawsuit claims Vail Resorts, Alterra inflate pass prices to push skiers to mega passes

A class action lawsuit filed in federal court this week claims that Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Co. — the two biggest ski companies in the U.S. — have unlawfully inflated pass prices and suppressed...
www.vaildaily.com www.vaildaily.com
 
Sympathetic to day skiers who have been hurt by the duopoly at destination western resorts... but realize prices for passes have come down dramatically and day passes can be purchased well in advance for reduced rates. Epic offers 1 day under $140 and 7 days at under $100 per day. This is on par with Euro resort options like Verbier. I know because I fund 5 passes annually😳
 
jamesdeluxe said:
Westerners this season need to have all of their bases covered: five passes!! (I assume that Sbooker is briefed on baseball expressions).
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I’m familiar with the term and sometimes use it without consciously thinking about baseball. The business I work in sponsors the local baseball club. Pine Rivers Rapids. I go watch a game a couple of times a year. I have never played the game as my thing was cricket as a youngster. My cricketing skills were like my skiing. Keen but mediocre.
 
snowbird surfer said:
day passes can be purchased well in advance for reduced rates. Epic offers 1 day under $140 and 7 days at under $100 per day. This is on par with Euro resort options like Verbier. I know because I fund 5 passes annually😳
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These new Epic Rates are not under $100 per day. Try $120 for a weekend plus tax. Vail lowered rates after a devastating year, and you are buying a year in advance. Opportunity costs are an almost 12-14% vs an S&P Spider.

And what a sh-t sandwhich skiing anyplace in Colorado, Utah, California, Washington - even Whistler - is right now if you planned Spring Break a year earlier.

Meanwhile, Verbier walk-up for 7-days (with no commitment downsides, 100 inch base at Gentianes station and 20-30 inches new) is $560 USD (inflated exchange rate (1 USD was .90 CHF 1 year ago, now .78) due Trump's tariffs and war).

So no obligation Verbier $80 USD today and high-risk Epic resort is $120 for a year later.

Not apples to apples.


Vail's opportunity to create a Euro-centric Pass fell apart over the last few years due to its inability to buy another core Swiss Resort (Verbier, Laax, etc), and will never be able to construct one. This is a huge failure for the company that goes unacknowledged to unnoticed. Lots of money spent on ski resorts without an outcome like USA, Canada and Australia.

See Alps Pass (excellent! want a month of remote work in Lucerne!) or Magic Pass.


Rob Katz should have never returned (assume after his wife's early death, work might be a purpose/distraction and release). However, the consolidation fueled growth, creation of a duopoly partner in Alterra and driving skiers (80% of skier days) to pass products due to inflated/colluded day pass prices 'era' is gone and not to be recreated. Assume the stock will stagnate for a long time and underpreform the market.


Alterra fired its TicketMaster CEO. I cannot imagine what Deer Valley's results look like.
 
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Facebook post led me to deal on Ikon Pass that ends today. Some CO resorts (Steamboat, Winter Park) have had kiosks offering $200 off if you buy pass in person. Instead, you call Steamboat Central Reservations (877)783-2628 and press 2 for tickets and passes, then press 1 for single and multiday tickets (not 3 for Ikon as that will transfer you to Ikon). I next pressed 2 to modify an existing reservation and person there helped me.

I bought our next season Ikon Base passes for $799 each. That is $150 less than full price and $125 less than what I would have paid using $25 Base pass renewal. And it was $50 less than I paid last season. New pass shows in my Ikon account and credit card shows pending charge.

OFFER ENDS at 7 PM Mountain Time TODAY! You cannot pay over 6 months.
 
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Tony Crocker said:
I tried. Phone answerer said you had to be there in person.
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Two friends tried at 6 pm MT with a similar outcome. Any idea why they'd have an in-person requirement at a specific resort and then make an exception for Tseeb on the phone? Clearly, the answerer was impressed by his long-distance-driving exploits and craft beer knowledge!

Also, why would Alterra do such a thing, a flash sale, in general?

Flash sales are short-term, high-discount promotions designed to drive immediate revenue, clear excess inventory, and boost brand engagement. They leverage consumer psychology—specifically the fear of missing out (FOMO) and urgency—to boost conversion rates.​
 
ChrisC said:
These new Epic Rates are not under $100 per day. Try $120 for a weekend plus tax. Vail lowered rates after a devastating year, and you are buying a year in advance. Opportunity costs are an almost 12-14% vs an S&P Spider.

And what a sh-t sandwhich skiing anyplace in Colorado, Utah, California, Washington - even Whistler - is right now if you planned Spring Break a year earlier.

Meanwhile, Verbier walk-up for 7-days (with no commitment downsides, 100 inch base at Gentianes station and 20-30 inches new) is $560 USD (inflated exchange rate (1 USD was .90 CHF 1 year ago, now .78) due Trump's tariffs and war).

So no obligation Verbier $80 USD today and high-risk Epic resort is $120 for a year later.

Not apples to apples.


Vail's opportunity to create a Euro-centric Pass fell apart over the last few years due to its inability to buy another core Swiss Resort (Verbier, Laax, etc), and will never be able to construct one. This is a huge failure for the company that goes unacknowledged to unnoticed. Lots of money spent on ski resorts without an outcome like USA, Canada and Australia.

See Alps Pass (excellent! want a month of remote work in Lucerne!) or Magic Pass.


Rob Katz should have never returned (assume after his wife's early death, work might be a purpose/distraction and release). However, the consolidation fueled growth, creation of a duopoly partner in Alterra and driving skiers (80% of skier days) to pass products due to inflated/colluded day pass prices 'era' is gone and not to be recreated. Assume the stock will stagnate for a long time and underpreform the market.


Alterra fired its TicketMaster CEO. I cannot imagine what Deer Valley's results look like.
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Can I reliably pencil in 14% YOY returns? Hope so!!! As for passes, day skiers have been seriously hurt, but those who ski 7 days or more now have significantly more choice and "value." The duopoly is certainly a mixed bag, but is it illegal?
 
Many businesses operate on a membership and day job payment model. Fitness centres come to mind first. I cant see how this pricing model would be considered illegal unless they really focus on no other choices where Alterra and Vail own the market such as Colorado and Utah.
 
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