Lakers can do it because ... they're the freakin' Lakers, OK?

They're gonna call it "variable pricing," a technique that allows the Lakers to raise the price on tickets for seven home games this season, but if you buy a season ticket package, you've effectively sidestepped the increase.

With the plan announced today, tickets in various sections of Staples Center will have three different prices -- an individual game price; a discounted season seat price; and a premium price.

The seven premium games are:
Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) against Boston; Jan. 19 against Cleveland; Jan. 25 against San Antonio; Feb. 20 against New Orleans; Feb. 26 against Phoenix; March 15 against Dallas; and April 3 vs. Houston.

More info on our Laker blog (linked here), as tickets go on sale Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. The Lakers explain more about their policy at their website (linked here).

"This has been a growing trend in sports and entertainment ticket pricing in recent years and allows us to increase revenues to offset our increasing payroll costs," Tim Harris, senior vice president of business operations, said Tuesday. "At the same time, while determining the market value of ticket prices, we were sensitive to being able to protect our season seat holders by keeping their price increases to a minimum."

Harris said that season ticket price packages will go up five percent this year. He said there are about 3,700 accounts that hold reservations to 13,600 seats in the 18,000-plus seat arena.