We’re a long way from free meatballs.

Leave it to the Bruins. The team returns to the NHL schedule Wednesday night in Buffalo, Boston’s first game since Feb. 8’s 7-2 thrashing of Ottawa, but rather than dreaming of Black and Gold over the thought of watching Olympians Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, and Loui Eriksson play together for the first time in nearly three weeks, a certain segment of Bruins season-ticket holders are seeing red.

The hammer dropped Tuesday in regards to what Bruins faithful can expect to shell out in season ticket funds next season, and the news came with more angst than seeing Blake Wheeler cradle the puck. Based on reports from season-ticket holders, prices will increase anywhere from 17 to 44 percent next season, likely pricing many fans out for the tickets, which currently boast a waiting list.

$1000 increase in my Bruins season tickets next year and $3400 if all 16 playoff games are played. Ouch. — Scott Masterson (@cjanneyfan23) February 25, 2014


TeamDOY Bruins season tickets going up $1200 next season. Bs STH price rising faster than my salary. — Justin Aucoin (@JustinDOY) February 25, 2014

Bruins seeing as my tickets went from about 1900 to 2655 for one 8th row balcony seat next season..my acceptance of "dips" in effort is NIL. — InAWhisper (@whisperandmoan) February 26, 2014

Bruins are already asking me to renew my season tickets for 2014-2015. 20% increase in ticket prices for next season. #NHLBruins #CenterIce — King B (@brendan207) February 25, 2014

Wait, a 20% increase on Bruins tickets next year? Am I seeing that correctly. Because I don't approve — Jessica Foxlow (@jessfoxlow) February 26, 2014

Neat.

It was just over a year ago, of course, that Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs pandered apologized to loyal fans in the wake of the 2012-13 NHL lockout by handing out goodies. According to the Bruins’ objective website article press release, “The estimated totals for each item given away throughout the five games are astounding to mention. At the end of the fifth game on January 31, TD Garden estimated that 36,111 fountain sodas; 27,364 hot dogs; 19,472 cups of popcorn; 18,720 sausages; 17,640 slices of pizza; 5,666 healthy wraps; 4,512 bags of peanuts; 3,230 bags of chips; and 1,291 jumbo home-cooked meatballs were given away free of charge to B’s fans flooding the Garden.”

What, you didn’t think that was going to come back to haunt you?

While the price of success has priced out a certain segment of Bruins fans hemming and hawing on renewing, what does Jacobs worry? By raising season ticket prices, the owner is only assured of nothing less than a long list of holdovers snatching up all packages that may be left behind following the latest ticket hike. A Stanley Cup and a finals appearance over the last three seasons are the perfect excuses for the softened Jacobs to morph instantly back into Mr. Burns mode.


“To be candid, we experienced some years here where we didn’t really have all that much goodwill,” Jacobs after the lockout ended last year. “It took a long time to build up that equity, if you will, of goodwill. I feel it’s still there in this market, and I’ve actually experienced it firsthand.”

Leave it Jacobs to crush the goodwill in one, greedy swoop.