Holy Crap! Play-off games might be blacked out!

[dmcowen674]

The Colts will be OK. The lack of tickets sales is due to a combination of cost, weather, and the holidays. They'll sell out, I'm sure.

 

[Jeff7]

Who cares about why they don't sell out? I'm more concerned about why the ability to televise the thing is tied to what's happening with ticket sales. The licensing bullshit with the NFL is maddening and I don't understand how it's all legal. Somehow directv is the only place to get Sunday Ticket, so there's no price competition and they can do what they want... But it doesn't count as a monopoly because it's a license issue.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_Broadcasting_Act_of_1961

The NFL is a non-profit organization, one that takes in a lot of money, and which gets plenty of government assistance and tax breaks.

Just let that sink in for awhile, that that is legal.

This broadcasting thing is not surprising.

 

[Pulsar]

It looks like the FCC is moving towards banning the NFL blackouts (and other sports TV blackouts):

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-s...sports-blackout-rules-nfl-211321820--nfl.html

Yeah right.

This is the same FCC who is in the process of allowing ISP's to charge companies different rates for their internet traffic so that they discriminate and drive companies out of business. (AKA, comcast putting huge fees on Netflix).

The NFL carries the biggest advertising and money stick in all of entertainment. There's no way in hell the FCC is going to dick around with the Golden Goose like that. This is nothing more than the opening salvo in getting the NFL, MLB, NHL, and the NBA to pony up more money for something that the FCC wants. The FCC will end up getting a huge chunk of money for something and they'll meet in the middle.

Costs are out of control in almost every entertainment industry. In some places movie tickets are approaching $20 a piece. I went to an NHL game 4 years ago where our tickets were over $300 a piece. I couldn't have paid it for my family if a company hadn't picked up the cost.

I'm an engineer by trade an I'm fairly well paid, but when I look at putting money away for retirement, setting aside money for my kids education, and living day-to-day, paying $500 for an NFL game is insane. MLB still has it right: I can pay $15 a ticket and go have fun with my kids.

 

[Ns1]

Who cares about why they don't sell out? I'm more concerned about why the ability to televise the thing is tied to what's happening with ticket sales. The licensing bullshit with the NFL is maddening and I don't understand how it's all legal. Somehow directv is the only place to get Sunday Ticket, so there's no price competition and they can do what they want... But it doesn't count as a monopoly because it's a license issue.

so much this.

 

[MrSquished]

Who cares about why they don't sell out? I'm more concerned about why the ability to televise the thing is tied to what's happening with ticket sales. The licensing bullshit with the NFL is maddening and I don't understand how it's all legal. Somehow directv is the only place to get Sunday Ticket, so there's no price competition and they can do what they want... But it doesn't count as a monopoly because it's a license issue.

you know the NFL is considered tax exempt? You just may get even more mad. Which I agree with all your points.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9342479/examining-nfl-tax-exempt-status-challenged-us-senator-tom-coburn

 

[zinfamous]

Who cares about why they don't sell out? I'm more concerned about why the ability to televise the thing is tied to what's happening with ticket sales. The licensing bullshit with the NFL is maddening and I don't understand how it's all legal. Somehow directv is the only place to get Sunday Ticket, so there's no price competition and they can do what they want... But it doesn't count as a monopoly because it's a license issue.

pretty much. This is one of the many NFL practices that need to be abolished. I don't think there is anything that can be done legally, though, because it's the practice of several private entities. The NFL is something of a monopoly in their sport, but they aren't providing a necessary service to anyone.

In the end, fans just have to vote with their wallets. While this is practically impossible, it would take fans from around the league to drop season tickets, leave many, many games unsold for weeks on end, forcing this blackout business for nearly the entire league, and then forcing advertisers to flee when the NFL can't broadcast their product to anyone.

The NFL is really the only entity with the power to change this, and they aren't doing anything as long as the fans keep slurping at the trough.

 

[Blackjack200]

In the end, fans just have to vote with their wallets. While this is practically impossible, it would take fans from around the league to drop season tickets, leave many, many games unsold for weeks on end, forcing this blackout business for nearly the entire league, and then forcing advertisers to flee when the NFL can't broadcast their product to anyone.

Yes, and that's why it doesn't bother me too much. I do feel bad for football fans that have grown up loving the sport and now cannot afford it.

What does bother me is the ESPN subscription fee that virtually ever cable user is forced to pay (as a component of their cost of service). I get that cable isn't a necessity either, but I think it's total bullshit that non sports fans are forced to pay $5 a month for ESPN.

 

[Howard]

I'm really happy that a certain member isn't posting in this thread because of a recent vacation. A lot of the posts here would be tantalizing bait for him.

 

[RPD]

There are some things you just can't replicate from home. The emotions, crowds, chanting, cheering, etc. from watching a game in person is just so different. For example, the memories I have of being at Candlestick when the 49ers beat the Saints in the playoffs a couple years ago could never have been replicated by watching it in at home.

Sometimes I'm sad I didn't decide to purchase seats for the new 49er stadium.. but my wallet is $12k (just for PSLs) happier and I have a feeling games in Santa Clara just won't be the same as those in SF. They'll be much more "corporate". I don't go to a stadium to be wowed by its wifi.

I watched a majority of football this year at home and sold most of my tickets. Its not bad watching it in HD with better camera angles, replay, not having to worry about a beer limit, etc. Shit, and I can watch it in my underwear.

FWIW, I would have bought tickets for the game at Lambeau this weekend if airfare was more reasonable. $750+ to fly out to MKE is rediculous.

I was seriously looking into season tickets with the new stadium but I was immediately turned off by not the ticket prices, the fact you have to pay, I think $5k a year just for the PRIVILEGE of having season tickets. So not only do you buy everything else you just pay some fee to say you are a season ticket holder. I was pretty amazed at that, but I've never looked into season tickets for any other sport.

 

[Blackjack200]

I was seriously looking into season tickets with the new stadium but I was immediately turned off by not the ticket prices, the fact you have to pay, I think $5k a year just for the PRIVILEGE of having season tickets. So not only do you buy everything else you just pay some fee to say you are a season ticket holder. I was pretty amazed at that, but I've never looked into season tickets for any other sport.

Are you sure about that? Everytime I hear someone claim this it turns out that it's a deposit to get on the season ticket waiting list, and that the money gets credited to your season tickets when it's your turn.

That being said, they are holding your money, perhaps for years, without paying you any interest (at least I don't think so), so it's still BS.

 

[davmat787]

Only 8K tickets left for GB-SF? Usually some local station or other party will purchase the extra tickets. I assume since that cost is less than the ad revenue they would receive airing the game.

 

[RPD]

Are you sure about that? Everytime I hear someone claim this it turns out that it's a deposit to get on the season ticket waiting list, and that the money gets credited to your season tickets when it's your turn.

That being said, they are holding your money, perhaps for years, without paying you any interest (at least I don't think so), so it's still BS.

Not sure, it was a year or so when I was looking. After I asked a few other people they seemed to confirm that you pay a yearly fee on top of everything else just to have season tickets.

 

[Blackjack200]

Wow.

Edit:

http://49ers.savesantaclara.org/SBLs.php

Looks like they originally billed it as a "Stadium Builder License" fee, to suggest that the STH were paying for the new stadium. The fee for the most expensive club seats was $20k, $30k, or $80k. For regular seats the fee seems to range from $850 to $2,000.

Holy Shit.

 

[Imported]

I was seriously looking into season tickets with the new stadium but I was immediately turned off by not the ticket prices, the fact you have to pay, I think $5k a year just for the PRIVILEGE of having season tickets. So not only do you buy everything else you just pay some fee to say you are a season ticket holder. I was pretty amazed at that, but I've never looked into season tickets for any other sport.

Depends on location. My seats along the 5yd line/goal line in the second tier on the home side were $5k a seat for the license to buy tickets. That cost is one-time for the life of the stadium.. no need to re-pay every year. Tickets were then around $130-160 each and the price is locked in for the first 3 years so they could (would) go up after that.

They had SBLs from $2k (upper deck corners and behind the end-zone) to $80k (on the 50yd line) but I believe all the $2k ones have been sold out now. 10 years to pay them off if you finance it at 8% interest or something.

The worst part of season tickets is having to buy pre-season tickets at full face. I couldn't even sell mine this year for over $20 a piece when they're $100 face value.

Oh, and I don't know what happens if you buy the license but not the tickets.. I should look at the license agreement. Edit - If you don't buy the season tickets you lose all rights for future seasons. :O

 

[midwestfisherman]

show me where in the constitution it says you have a right to free or cheap entertainment by professional sports.

I believe that falls under the 'pursuit of happiness' clause.

 

[RPD]

Depends on location. My seats along the 5yd line/goal line in the second tier on the home side were $5k a seat for the license to buy tickets. That cost is one-time for the life of the stadium.. no need to re-pay every year. Tickets were then around $130-160 each and the price is locked in for the first 3 years so they could (would) go up after that.

They had SBLs from $2k (upper deck corners and behind the end-zone) to $80k (on the 50yd line) but I believe all the $2k ones have been sold out now. 10 years to pay them off and if you finance it, its 8% or something.

The worst part of season tickets is having to buy pre-season tickets at full face. I couldn't even sell mine this year for over $20 a piece when they're $100 face value.

Oh, and I don't know what happens if you buy the license but not the tickets.. I should look at the license agreement.

Hmm, so there's no other fee after that for season tickets? Man I was pretty certain it/there was a yearly fee. Thanks for clearing it up.

 

[Imported]

Hmm, so there's no other fee after that for season tickets? Man I was pretty certain it/there was a yearly fee. Thanks for clearing it up.

The yearly fee would be the ticket costs themselves I suppose. And the 10% of the SBL and any interest if you financed the SBL cost.

 

[Ns1]

My god being a sports fan is expensive. I'm glad I have cheaper hobbies like hookers and blow.

 

[midwestfisherman]

If the game is blacked out just go here to stream it live.

http://firstrowus1.eu/

BTW, make sure you have ad block plus installed on your browser. I normally use Chrome.

 

[Dman8777]

Just to put this in perspective...

One of the most successful soccer teams in Europe (FC Bayern) has season tickets starting at ~130€. They're practically impossible to get but that's yearly for ~16 home games.

 

[Blackjack200]

Just to put this in perspective...

One of the most successful soccer teams in Europe (FC Bayern) has season tickets starting at ~130€. They're practically impossible to get but that's yearly for ~16 home games.

That can't be typical.

ManU tickets look like they range from 700 to 950. Still a lot more reasonable that American ticket prices.

 

[Dman8777]

I only know that because we have some friends with season tickets and when they can't go, we sometimes get them. They used to be standing room tickets but they filled in the old standing area with seats. The prices may have gone up accordingly but I doubt they're more then 200€ or so.

 

[chimaxi83]

Thanks Obama! Damn communist.

 

[Imported]

Holy crap. -30 wind chill for Sunday at Green Bay.

https://twitter.com/Mark_Baden/status/418836268282155008

 

[Jeff7]

...
show me where in the constitution it says you have a right to free or cheap entertainment by professional sports.

Nothing in the Constitution or Bill of Rights, but more about how something like the NFL got itself categorized as a non-profit, or how they get special treatment versus other businesses.


Besides, I think that most of what they care about are the high-priced private booth sales, and not members of the pain-in-the-ass general public, who can't afford to pay $80,000 - $900,000 for a year's pass to a luxury suite.

Corporations are a major consumer of luxury seating, using sports events as opportunities to impress potential clients and close business deals.

Ah yes, the tried-and-true way of making bad business decisions at best, and unethical ones at worst.