Do the fans care? No? Then why should the NFL?

Also, your blog sucks horsecock

That was a good study.

CSB Alert: I had my first experience with NFL Sunday Ticket (and Redzone Channel) on a 62" Samsung LED TV yesterday. I remembered what it felt like to fall in love.

With that said, I do not know why people pay to go to football games these days (especially in places like New England in the winter) unless you're rich and can afford a suite/box.

Games and bread for the masses!

Recession? What farking recession? No recession from the owners' boxes.

Little known fact -- along with an NFL franchise comes the right to print your own US currency.

If you're team is playing in a new stadium odds have it that costs are most likely going to be a bit higher than usual.

/Ric Romero signing off

The super rich no longer adhere to the principles of supply and demand. The arrogance is such that they'd rather seats go unfilled than sell them for less than they believe they are worth.

I probably would be priced out of going to a game, but our school got a 50% discount on Vikings tickets. So I grabbed two and am bringing my dad to a game, both of us for the first time. Eating and drinking beforehand, however.

The split between the 'haves' and the 'have nots' has only increased thanks to this recession. The lower-lowers and the lower-middles are suffering hardcore. The middle-middles are disappearing, and turning into the lower-middles. What you're seeing is the businesses aimed towards those people suffering - be it McDonalds or Walmart, people in the lower end of the income spectrum are cutting back spending as their pay declines and gas prices increase. The upper middles and the upper-uppers, they, on the other hand, are still spending money with reckless abandon. They are still wearing Polo shirts that they buy at Macy's and drive new BMWs and yes, go to NFL football games. It's strangely symbolic, in a way - a sport supported most fervently by the people who can never, ever afford to actually attend a game.

MayoSlather: The super rich no longer adhere to the principles of supply and demand. The arrogance is such that they'd rather seats go unfilled than sell them for less than they believe they are worth.

There were a total of 11,000 fewer tickets sold for this year's opening week when compared to 2010, an average of 687 fewer tickets per game. Considering that both the Giants and Jets played home games last season and the Redskins removed 10,000 seats from FedEx Field, I'd say it's a wash.

Fan Cost Index: Do NFL teams know we're in a deep recession?

We're not in a "deep" recession. We're in a period of low growth with stubbornly high unemployment and significant underemployment. Slow to no economic growth != recession. Let's be accurate with our terminology here.

Also, here's how you save money on the game.

1. Take public transport to the game to avoid parking fees.
2. Buy your tickets from a scalper outside the stadium (it's risky, but that's why it's cheaper).
3. Stash a small bottle of Jack in your crotch and buy a coke in the stadium. (if you're with a woman, put the bottle in the bottom of her purse and put tampons on topf it. Tampons are kryptonite to male security).
4. Don't buy souvenirs at the game. Theyr'e a ripoff.

I just don't understand the lure of being a spectator in a stadium. An arena, sure, but you're relatively close to the action no matter where you sit. In a stadium, you're never close to it.

swahnhennessy: I just don't understand the lure of being a spectator in a stadium. An arena, sure, but you're relatively close to the action no matter where you sit. In a stadium, you're never close to it.

Liar.
/8th row yesterday for the Skins game
//csb

i'm quite sure all the empty orange seats for the Dolphins game were quite aware.

i thought I had tuned in to a hurricanes game replay instead for a minute.

LegacyDL: If you're team is playing in a new stadium odds have it that costs are most likely going to be a bit higher than usual.


Why? They didn't pay for it.

Yanks_RSJ: MayoSlather: The super rich no longer adhere to the principles of supply and demand. The arrogance is such that they'd rather seats go unfilled than sell them for less than they believe they are worth.

There were a total of 11,000 fewer tickets sold for this year's opening week when compared to 2010, an average of 687 fewer tickets per game. Considering that both the Giants and Jets played home games last season and the Redskins removed 10,000 seats from FedEx Field, I'd say it's a wash.

The Dolphins game yesterday the owner had to buy up remaining tickets so the game wouldn't be blacked out locally. From the looks of it on TV there were plenty of lower bowl seats available. I'm sure if they lowered the price they would have made more money. Same goes for concession. Owners would likely make a lot more in volume by lowering the price of 9 dollar beers and 7 dollar hot dogs than sticking by those prices.

In the larger markets they likely aren't hurting themselves much....NY, NE, Philly, Chicago are likely to sell about the same regardless. Jacksonville, Miami, Carolina are going to struggle if their teams aren't winning.

We're not in a deep recession, subby. We're not in any recession. The recession ended in 2009.



What we're in now is a period of slow economic growth.

star_topology: That was a good study.

CSB Alert: I had my first experience with NFL Sunday Ticket (and Redzone Channel) on a 62" Samsung LED TV yesterday. I remembered what it felt like to fall in love.

With that said, I do not know why people pay to go to football games these days (especially in places like New England in the winter) unless you're rich and can afford a suite/box.

Chicago here. Tickets are usually really expensive, but if I get them I will get them in the winter and tailgate with some friends.We all know its crazy, but its a lot of fun. (and a rare chance to cook outside and drink beers until the hellish cold is gone)

The FCI is the cost to take a family of four to an NFL football game using the average priced tickets for a stadium, the cost of parking, 2 small draft beers, 4 small hotdogs, 4 small sodas, 2 programs and 2 of the cheapest hats.

Who the fark buys all that shiat at the game?

I might get *one* beer to keep my buzz going, and a hotdog to wash the pisswasser taste out of my mouth. Who the hell goes to a stadium thinking it'd be a great place to buy a hat you can get at a mall kiosk for a third of the price, or online for a tenth?

/at the last home game of the season, the Rams do "fan appreciation" with $1 large sodas/regular hotdogs

mynameisdouglas:
Chicago here. Tickets are usually really expensive, but if I get them I will get them in the winter and tailgate with some friends.We all know its crazy, but its a lot of fun. (and a rare chance to cook outside and drink beers until the hellish cold is gone)

I went to a Bears game once in 1999 at the pre-renovation Soldier Field. It was 33 degrees, windy, and pouring rain. The Bears and Saints put on a three hour punting clinic. Still, it was a blast when the Bears pulled out a victory with seconds to go and Ditka threw his headset on the Saints sideline.

We waited for the game to start and paid $20 each from a scalper.

/csb

MayoSlather: Jacksonville, Miami, Carolina are going to struggle if their teams aren't winning.

Jacksonville is going to struggle no matter what, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to their attendance fluctuation over the years. It's just not a reliable NFL city.

Carolina doesn't seem to have any attendance issues, even last year they were around 98% capacity.

Miami fans are just fickle. They spent all their money buying expensive seats on the Heat bandwagon.

As someone else mentioned, as long as people are lining up for tickets (in some cases waiting years for the opportunity), the NFL will continue to raise prices.

It's either too much effort or too much money to follow my team outside the home market.

Rapmaster2000: Fan Cost Index: Do NFL teams know we're in a deep recession?

We're not in a "deep" recession. We're in a period of low growth with stubbornly high unemployment and significant underemployment. Slow to no economic growth != recession. Let's be accurate with our terminology here.

Also, here's how you save money on the game.

1. Take public transport to the game to avoid parking fees.
2. Buy your tickets from a scalper outside the stadium (it's risky, but that's why it's cheaper).
3. Stash a small bottle of Jack in your crotch and buy a coke in the stadium. (if you're with a woman, put the bottle in the bottom of her purse and put tampons on topf it. Tampons are kryptonite to male security).
4. Don't buy souvenirs at the game. Theyr'e a ripoff.

1. Use the money you'd spend on two games to buy a nice tv.
2. Get mocked by the wealthy for being able to afford one.

rumpelstiltskin: MayoSlather: The super rich no longer adhere to the principles of supply and demand. The arrogance is such that they'd rather seats go unfilled than sell them for less than they believe they are worth.

That sounds like the "middle class", who would rather be unemployed than work for less than they believe they are worth.

Yeah that's a real problem in the middle class...Damn their arrogance. How dare college educated people not take fast food and Wal Mart jobs...How. Dare. They.

MayoSlather: The Dolphins game yesterday the owner had to buy up remaining tickets so the game wouldn't be blacked out locally. From the looks of it on TV there were plenty of lower bowl seats available. I'm sure if they lowered the price they would have made more money. Same goes for concession. Owners would likely make a lot more in volume by lowering the price of 9 dollar beers and 7 dollar hot dogs than sticking by those prices.

But then it becomes a race to the bottom. Why should single game ticket buyers purchase the tickets at full price back in June when then know they can wait until the day of the game and get them for half price or less? So now less and less people by tickets and all play a game of chicken until Sunday.

And your season ticket holders aren't going to sit idly by, shelling out thousands of dollars upfront, while you let everyone else get cheaper and cheaper tickets. They'll vote with their dollars and they are the one's giving you the capital upfront every year that you then go out and spend to make the team better.

Owners have to hold the line and hope that their team wins enough that it's a forgone conclusion that they'll sell every ticket at full price. Giving them away or discounting them heavily to "get butts in the seats" so you can sell a few extra hotdogs is a march down a futile path.

rka: MayoSlather: The Dolphins game yesterday the owner had to buy up remaining tickets so the game wouldn't be blacked out locally. From the looks of it on TV there were plenty of lower bowl seats available. I'm sure if they lowered the price they would have made more money. Same goes for concession. Owners would likely make a lot more in volume by lowering the price of 9 dollar beers and 7 dollar hot dogs than sticking by those prices.

But then it becomes a race to the bottom. Why should single game ticket buyers purchase the tickets at full price back in June when then know they can wait until the day of the game and get them for half price or less? So now less and less people by tickets and all play a game of chicken until Sunday.

And your season ticket holders aren't going to sit idly by, shelling out thousands of dollars upfront, while you let everyone else get cheaper and cheaper tickets. They'll vote with their dollars and they are the one's giving you the capital upfront every year that you then go out and spend to make the team better.

Owners have to hold the line and hope that their team wins enough that it's a forgone conclusion that they'll sell every ticket at full price. Giving them away or discounting them heavily to "get butts in the seats" so you can sell a few extra hotdogs is a march down a futile path.

Yeah I get that logic is there, but they are doing a poor job of estimating demand at the start. The prices are too high from the get go. Some sports franchises are selling different games at different prices, which is a great idea, as you're bound to have lower demand when playing Cleveland than New England.

Also even if you give tickets away for a time it's not a wasted effort. You're building a fan base. People that are more likely to come back and pay because they enjoyed the experience. Then they're more likely to buy apparel, and more likely to be life long fans, which also will increase long term demand. Offer value and you'll build consumer loyalty. So I'd say getting butts in seats is paramount even if it doesn't seem like a great strategy in the short term.

Surprise, surprise, shiatty blog is shiatty. Meanwhile, in TV, where the real money in the NFL is made, TV ratings were up over last year (new window).

Nearest pro stadium is Arrowhead, 3-4 hour drive. Not going to pay to watch a team shiat stomp the chefs.

/Will probably go to an Omaha Nighthawks game this season though.

FTFA: ...or eliminated completely by staying home and watching the game on T.V.

Well, aside from paying for a TV and cable/satellite. Especially if that's all you use it for.

The only thing I've ever really paid for on a regular basis is cable. So the NFL isn't getting any more of my money than they did in 1990.

I take the double flask binoculars. As long as you fill it up to the top it won't make a sound.

http://www.bewild.com/bindoubflas.html

gizmanjr: I take the double flask binoculars. As long as you fill it up to the top it won't make a sound.

http://www.bewild.com/bindoubflas.html

What if they try looking through them?

The ladies I go to games with like to buy the little bottles of wine and put them in their waistbands. Ladies never get patted down.