Looks like Jerry Jones wants to price regular fans out of the game

[Michael82]

If you want to watch Tony Romo throw a touchdown pass from a seat on the 50-yard line in the lower bowl of the new stadium, be prepared to shell out big bucks.

It will cost Dallas Cowboys season-ticket holders from $16,000 to $50,000 just for a personal seat license, which gives them the option to buy a $340 club seat ticket to see that play in 2009. That doesn't include parking -- $750 for a premier season parking pass -- or the beers and hot dogs during the game.

The NFL team announced Tuesday that it will begin contacting about 5,000 season-ticket holders with lower-bowl sideline seats about purchasing comparable club seats in the new stadium. Under construction in Arlington, the $1 billion, 85,000-seat stadium is expected to be ready for the 2009 season.

The 15,000 club seats -- in the lower three seating levels along the sidelines from end zone to end zone -- will have access to exclusive dining, lounge and bar areas, and will feature gourmet food and video walls for watching the game.

"This will be such a totally different experience than Texas Stadium, which was built 35 years ago for $35 million, to this stadium which is going to cost $1 billion," said Greg McElroy, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Cowboys.........

For the 5,000 season-ticket holders in the lower bowl of Texas Stadium:

Brochures will be mailed out early next week explaining the purchase process.

The team will offer comparable tickets in the new stadium.

Tickets will cost $340 a ticket per game, or $3,400 for the 2009 season. The price does not include premium parking, which will cost an additional $750 per season.

Ticket holders will have to purchase a personal seat license, which gives them a 30-year option to buy a season ticket. For the 15,000 club seats, about half will have PSLs of $16,000 per seat. Others will be offered for about $35,000 and $50,000, depending on the seat location. The team will offer 30-year financing for the PSLs with an interest rate at about 8 percent.

"If any team could afford to do this, as far as market, fan support, etc., it's the Cowboys," Greenberg said.

http://www.star-telegram.com/330/story/315970.html

[PromoTheRobot]

Re: Looks like Jerry Jones wants to price regular fans out of the game

The NFL expects regular fans to watch on TV and buy merchandise. Game tickets are for high-rollers only.

Having said that, I think it's only fair to have ticket buyers finance stadiums rather than taxpayers. BUT buying a seat license ought to secure you an ownership share in the facility, much like buying stock. You should own your seat and be free to sell it to anyone at any price, for any event held there. Anything less and you are getting screwed.

PTR

[Michael82]

Re: Looks like Jerry Jones wants to price regular fans out of the game

The NFL expects regular fans to watch on TV and buy merchandise. Game tickets are for high-rollers only.

Having said that, I think it's only fair to have ticket buyers finance stadiums rather than taxpayers. BUT buying a seat license ought to secure you an ownership share in the facility, much like buying stock. You should own your seat and be free to sell it to anyone at any price, for any event held there. Anything less and you are getting screwed.

PTR

It's sad. The regular fans are the loyal ones and the ones that buy the stuff. If they can't go to games anymore, why would they want to spend all that money on the stuff?

Also, I agree with you about having the ticket buyers finance the stadium, but Jerry Jones wants it both ways. According to the article, they have raised the tax a bit in that area to get the stadium and are paying $350 million towards it.

[Mr. Pink]

Re: Looks like Jerry Jones wants to price regular fans out of the game

Hey...supply and demand.

If Jerry can get that per seat, more power to him.

After all this is a business and the objective is to make some money, right? At least from an owner's perspective.

[Historian]

Re: Looks like Jerry Jones wants to price regular fans out of the game

Greed is bringing this whole country down...not just the NFL.

[rocketman]

Re: Looks like Jerry Jones wants to price regular fans out of the game

At some point, even the "high-rollers" will recognize that it is not worth it to attend games at those prices. Why else would they be willing to finance the seat license over a thirty-year term?

Mark my words, this has future collapse written all over it.

Rocketman

[YardRat]

Re: Looks like Jerry Jones wants to price regular fans out of the game

Why else would they be willing to finance the seat license over a thirty-year term?

Smart business. Jones has just elbowed his way into the banking industry via the NFL. 8% over thirty years is going to create a helluva lot more than 16k and if someone doesn't keep up the payments he just yanks the PSL, pockets the amortized interest, and re-sells it.

Just another nail in the coffin.

[Michael82]

Re: Looks like Jerry Jones wants to price regular fans out of the game

At some point, even the "high-rollers" will recognize that it is not worth it to attend games at those prices. Why else would they be willing to finance the seat license over a thirty-year term?

Mark my words, this has future collapse written all over it.

Rocketman

Exactly! Good post!

[Typ0]

Re: Looks like Jerry Jones wants to price regular fans out of the game

the league wants poor people to stay home and watch the games on sunday ticket.

[don137]

Re: Looks like Jerry Jones wants to price regular fans out of the game

It sounds like another form of investing for people like real estate or the stock market but only for the people with lots of money. The owners of these tickets could sell these tickets on stubhub and make a lot of money or resell the PSL in a few years at a higher or lower price (doubtful).
Here in Charlotte people in the lower section bought PSLs for something like 5K eleven years ago. They are now selling them for 20K. I bought my PSL two years ago in the upper deck at the 15 yard line for 2K each seat.They are now worth 3K a seat.

[hurls]

Re: Looks like Jerry Jones wants to price regular fans out of the game

Hey...supply and demand.

If Jerry can get that per seat, more power to him.

After all this is a business and the objective is to make some money, right? At least from an owner's perspective.

You and Yardie have it right. It's all about business, and timing. When you have a 10-1 team, you can attract a lot more investors than say, when the Bills a few yrs back were trying to attract people to their upgraded suites and such. If the Bills were 10-1 and could seemingly get better, I don't think there'd be a hard time getting rid of box seats, much less talk of the Bills possibly moving. Greed is the root of all business, to blame Jones you must blame all CEO's of big business.

[Michael82]

Re: Looks like Jerry Jones wants to price regular fans out of the game

the league wants poor people to stay home and watch the games on sunday ticket.

Good point, but even Sunday NFL ticket is getting too expensive. I think that the Jones, Snyders, and Krafts of this league are going to price all regular fans out of the game and chase them away. It's a shame too.

[hurls]

Re: Looks like Jerry Jones wants to price regular fans out of the game

Good point, but even Sunday NFL ticket is getting too expensive. I think that the Jones, Snyders, and Krafts of this league are going to price all regular fans out of the game and chase them away. It's a shame too.

I was just talking to my Uncle tonight about the Sabres doing the same thing. No way an avg Joe can take 2-3 kids and a wife to a Sabres game like my Dad used to when I was younger. Unless you want to see the worst of the worst from the back row on a wintery Tuesday night.

[Mitchy moo]

Re: Looks like Jerry Jones wants to price regular fans out of the game

Good point, but even Sunday NFL ticket is getting too expensive. I think that the Jones, Snyders, and Krafts of this league are going to price all regular fans out of the game and chase them away. It's a shame too.

They just want big spenders sitting there buying everything in sight, it's going to end up hurting the league. You never push out your best customers.

[Michael82]

Re: Looks like Jerry Jones wants to price regular fans out of the game

They just want big spenders sitting there buying everything in sight, it's going to end up hurting the league. You never push out your best customers.

But they don't understand. The clientel that are buying those PSLs and spending the ridiuculous amounts of money for box seats, are wearing shirts and ties and don't even care about the game, they are just there to relax. They arent the one buying the hats, beer glasses, jerseys, tshirts and all that. The regular fans are.