Fixing the Fan Experience

[catiii]

I dislike that stayjum and it's corporate name> Can't see anything anyway - much too far away even in expensive seats. Best seat is the one on your screen at home.

 

[MikeB80]

Don't waste your time.

The fans here do not care. The organization knows that and that is why they structured their ticketing that way. They know a majority of tickets go to out of town fans, out of town visiting fans, in town fans who root for the visiting team, corporations who buy them and the front runners.

The real die hard fans are few and far between. My entire section was filled with die hards and they all sold off their tickets. I can not even sell my PSL.

as far as parking goes, there used to be inexpensive parking until 2016. During the 16 season all the small lots that were 10 to 15 dollars doubled and tripled their prices near the end of the season. They never brought them back down. So now you will pay 35 to 40 dollars to park in the lots of the dentists office and other offices around the stadium.

The in game experience is not great because the stadium is over run with mostly morons. The fans here cheer when we are on offense and have to be begged to cheer on defense. The fans here in general and the ones who come here for games are not good. This is a common problem around the league to be fair though since so many teams have built new stadiums and forced psl's on the ticket buyers.

Everything about this organization stinks. From top to bottom.

 

[MikeB80]

The 5,000-10,000 fan appreciation tickets would be purchased for 10 and scalped for 60 at least, same with parking. 1995 tickets would be scalped for twice what they are purchased for. Whether you like it or not, Jerry went after the secondary market with his pricing. He still didn’t go high enough, I’m a season ticket holder and can resell for a decent markup depending on the game. Law of supply and demand. We live in a capitalistic economy.

This speaks directly to how much the fans in North Texas suck. 99% of ticket holders are just in it to scalp the seats and could care less about the game and the atmosphere reflects that.

 

[Bullflop]

Speaking for myself, Bob, I'd, firstly, like to say I love and respect what you're trying to do here but I fear it's in vain. Jerry and Stephen are both so mired in the money aspect of their business that they appear hopelessly insensitive to most of us fans. They've been plenty fortunate to have many fans as their supporters, that's a fact. When it comes to showing overdue appreciation for it, however, that's where they've fallen woefully short.

I suspect they're perfectly content to be the fat cats that they are and will continue to gouge their fans for whatever they can overcharge in the ongoing future. That's what millionaires do when, as Jimmy Johnson put it -- they're just rich a-holes who do what they do because they can. Let's hope I'm sorely mistaken but it pains me to say, I doubt it. Folks like you and I will be obliged to watch their games on TV and like it.

 

[JoeKing]

As has been agreed upon by consensus, the live game experience for fans isn't changing. For those of us that only experience the Cowboys from their favorite chair on their home screen, the best way they can improve the fan experience is simple... just win!

 

[Whyjerry]

With the TV contracts that kick in 2023, they will be fine till 2033. Still the top rated shows on TV every year.

Top rated TV show not the same thing as it used to be. The reality was that the SB was down big. Advertisers will adjust. In a couple years when the stadiums are half full the cat will be out of the bag.

 

[GMO415]

Here's why watching the Boys at home, far exceeds the stadium experience:
1. Quality of food is better
2. Liquor prices are far cheaper
3. They serve your favorite beverages
4. No lines
5. No obnoxious AHs
6. Bathrooms are readily available and cleaner
7. Best view available
8. If your Boo's with you, there's lap dances at halftime.

 

[gjkoeppen]

I’ve been a fan of the Dallas Cowboys almost my entire life. I went to my first Cowboys game when I was 6 when my Dad took me to see the Cowboys play the Browns in 1964, at the Cotton Bowl. Got see the great Jim Brown and all the early Cowboys greats like Bob Lily, Dandy Don, Don Perkins, etc. I loved going to Cowboys games as a kid.

In fact, I was lucky enough to see multiple games at the Cotton Bowl and Texas Stadium, and I’ve seen one at AT&T. By far, my favorite experience as a fan was at Texas Stadium. My Dad took my brother and I to see a game at Texas Stadium in 1971, the year it opened and several others over the years. You felt close to the field and it would get really loud. It felt like a real home field advantage.

To me, it’s harder to be a fan who comes to Cowboys games the last decade or two. BUT- I’m NOT one of these old guys who thinks everything was better in the past. Some things are better these days. The video screens, the access to restrooms, seating room, etc are certainly better today.

But let’s be honest- going to a Cowboys game today is an extremely pricey affair. I’m a middle class retired educator, and taking my family to a Cowboys game like my Dad did is simply not realistic for me. I went to a Cowboys home game back in 2018 vs Tampa Bay with my father in law and son and it was not a great experience. The cost of parking, the cost of food and drinks, not to mention the exorbitant ticket prices and shopping mall feel to the stayjum made it much less enjoyable.

The saddest part of all this is I think too many Cowboys fans are being priced out of the experience. Being at an NFL game is so different than watching on TV.

So....here are some things the Cowboys organization could do to make going to a Cowboys game much more accessible and affordable to the average fan:

• Create a special section for about 5,000-10,000 Cowboys fans at much more affordable prices. Fans could apply to get tickets through a lottery system. They could have a lottery selection for each game that would determine who gets those tickets. It could be called the “Fan appreciation section” or something like that. Prices could be set much lower than other tickets.
  
• The Cowboys should buy some property for additional parking space at much lower prices- like $10. This would also include a shuttle service. There are several areas of property around the stayjum that could be purchased. The Cowboys can afford it! The parking and walk to the stayjum is one one of the worst in the entertainment experience IMO. Parking for nearby Texas Rangers games are waaaaay more accessible.
• Have a designated “throwback game” once a season. Tickets, parking and vendor costs could all be set at 1995 prices- the last time the Cowboys won a SB. It would give fans a special game at throwback prices.
  
• Have a fan appreciation game where there are special giveaways like jerseys, hats, etc. where “the first 10,000 fans who enter the stadium”...Baseball, basketball and hockey all do this and it’s very popular.

What else? These are just a few ideas. And before someone says, “They will never do this because it gives up too much”, the Cowboys can certainly afford this. Besides, fans are under appreciated. The Cowboys are making money faster than it can be printed. Surely they can afford to thank the people that have made this organization be where it is today.

Where as some of your suggestions would be nice, a lot of them have an impact on all the other owners. Prior to last season for the obvious reasons, when teams had lower ticket prices the other owners would pressure those teams to raise them because the visiting teams gets 40% of the tickets and live gate for each game. Any reduction in ticket prices would also have to be available for the visiting team and the other owners won't like that because it affect their bottom line. As far as the vendor cost, companies bid for the right to sell concessions at the stadium and have contracts and teams can't dictate to them to lower their prices for a game.

I agree that the NFL has already price the cost of going to games beyond what the average Joe can pay. The wealthy still go to games and businesses buy up tickets to give out as perks to employees and potential clients and Jones has bought up some remaining tickets and given them to charities to distribute to keep the games sold out, but as more and more average Joe's stop coming to games and more and more unsold seats are there by the cutoff time, the NFL/owners sooner or later will realize that they're going to have to do something to fill up the seats again.
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[cowboyec]

that'd be awesome.
i'd love to know if they've ever considered it.
my guess would be no...why would they...business has been booming for them for a long time.
but it'd be cool if they did something like that.

 

[gjkoeppen]

Someone will always pay the current prices and rates.
For every fan that "boycotts' for prices, there is someone else to pay it. Rather tickets, parking, food/ beer at the game, or a jersey being sold in a mall.

Also the parking services is contracted out, so purchasing extra land may not be feasible. As well, what is that property asking price just because it is near the stadium.
Now Jerry makes his money on parking, and probably is in on the rates as to increase or decrease. But the concessions and parking are contracted out. So there is more involved than Jerry saying what the prices are. Though I am sure he is part owner of these vendors.

Yes the average family is priced out, unless as a planned vacation, but they have been far longer than any current owner, since before the 2000's started actually. It is not just Jerry, it is ALL sports venues, as well as concerts. Heck take a family of 4 to the movies, see those costs lately.

Try taking a family of 4 to Disney. Cheaper to go to a ballgame. But not as good of an experience, unless winning the SB.

I very seriously doubt that Jones has any ownership in any of the private companies that bid for the parking, concessions and store in the mall because every company that didn't win a contract and found out that Jones was a part owner in the companies that got the contracts and took Jones to court the courts would toss out those contracts as being rigged.

I live in an NFL city and about 4 years ago I met the guy who has had the concessions contract for several years and he told us that originally he got a loan from a family member to get the contract and paid them back and he and his wife and oldest boy are the ones that own and run the concessions business.
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[CouchCoach]

Do we really think Booger cares about the average fan? If you are not a customer, you are not important.

He's selling out and will continue to raise prices as long as that continues. The supply and demand are the factors in that, not the quality of the games or team.

Until he sees a reason to change, he will not. And people who see a trip to the game as exorbitant are not his target audience.

Personally, I would not go to the games if it was free and for the first 6 years the stadium was open had free tickets offered and never went. First off, I swore to never give him a dime when he bought the team and that's not possible spending 4 hours there even if the ticket is gratis.

At some point, and I am not really sure when this happened, I crossed the time/pleasure line. Is the pleasure derived worth the time invested? Just the time, not the money. I apply this to anything I am considering doing because to be in the middle of it and realize it was not worth the time investment actually makes for a worse effect on the pleasure.

The time involved in getting to and from the game and once there to the game itself is more than I am willing to invest. I can watch anything I want while those poor people are stuck in traffic or walking to the game after paying $75 to park their vehicle. If the game sucks, I can do something else. I am not trapped. I also have tinnitus and loud noises are a problem and the opposing fans at the Cowboys games are always so noisy.

Owners want more money, players want more money, making the game affordable for the average fan isn't on the agenda. That ship has sailed long ago.

And every movement in society now is into the home. Big screens, media rooms, video games, sound systems and control in the hands of the end user has become the new entertainment and it's only going to grow.

 

[jazzcat22]

I very seriously doubt that Jones has any ownership in any of the private companies that bid for the parking, concessions and store in the mall because every company that didn't win a contract and found out that Jones was a part owner in the companies that got the contracts and took Jones to court the courts would toss out those contracts as being rigged.

I live in an NFL city and about 4 years ago I met the guy who has had the concessions contract for several years and he told us that originally he got a loan from a family member to get the contract and paid them back and he and his wife and oldest boy are the ones that own and run the concessions business.
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Good point. Didn't think of that.

 

[Bobhaze]

Do we really think Booger cares about the average fan? If you are not a customer, you are not important.

He's selling out and will continue to raise prices as long as that continues. The supply and demand are the factors in that, not the quality of the games or team.

Until he sees a reason to change, he will not. And people who see a trip to the game as exorbitant are not his target audience.

Personally, I would not go to the games if it was free and for the first 6 years the stadium was open had free tickets offered and never went. First off, I swore to never give him a dime when he bought the team and that's not possible spending 4 hours there even if the ticket is gratis.

At some point, and I am not really sure when this happened, I crossed the time/pleasure line. Is the pleasure derived worth the time invested? Just the time, not the money. I apply this to anything I am considering doing because to be in the middle of it and realize it was not worth the time investment actually makes for a worse effect on the pleasure.

The time involved in getting to and from the game and once there to the game itself is more than I am willing to invest. I can watch anything I want while those poor people are stuck in traffic or walking to the game after paying $75 to park their vehicle. If the game sucks, I can do something else. I am not trapped. I also have tinnitus and loud noises are a problem and the opposing fans at the Cowboys games are always so noisy.

Owners want more money, players want more money, making the game affordable for the average fan isn't on the agenda. That ship has sailed long ago.

And every movement in society now is into the home. Big screens, media rooms, video games, sound systems and control in the hands of the end user has become the new entertainment and it's only going to grow.

As I read this, I realize how much I feel the same way about going to a game now. The traffic hassle alone is a soul-sucking experience. The game I attended in 2018 was with gifted tix, and my oldest son, Bro-in-law, nephew and I also took my father-in-law who is 92 (89 at the time) and wheel chair bound. I don’t even have the energy to tell you what an incredibly bad experience it was trying to get him safely in and out.

My oldest son who went to the game used to be a Cowboys fan, but because of the endless mediocrity and playoff drought, he’s stopped caring. After that game, even at 35 he says he’s done with ever attending a Cowboys game again. He loves the Mavericks, Stars and Rangers though. Collectively those 3 DFW teams have given fans 2 world championships and 7 conference championships to contrast to the Cowboys not even winning a division playoff game in that same time.

Sitting at home watching a game today even allows us to watch it later through DVR magic and even FFWD through the insufferable beer and truck commercials.

So yeah Coach...come to think of it, this couch looks better all the time.

 

[cowboyec]

As I read this, I realize how much I feel the same way about going to a game now. The traffic hassle alone is a soul-sucking experience. The game I attended in 2018 was with gifted tix, and my oldest son, Bro-in-law, nephew and I also took my father-in-law who is 92 (89 at the time) and wheel chair bound. I don’t even have the energy to tell you what an incredibly bad experience it was trying to get him safely in and out.

My oldest son who went to the game used to be a Cowboys fan, but because of the endless mediocrity and playoff drought, he’s stopped caring. After that game, even at 35 he says he’s done with ever attending a Cowboys game again. He loves the Mavericks, Stars and Rangers though. Collectively those 3 DFW teams have given fans 2 world championships and 7 conference championships to contrast to the Cowboys not even winning a division playoff game in that same time.

Sitting at home watching a game today even allows us to watch it later through DVR magic and even FFWD through the insufferable beer and truck commercials.

So yeah Coach...come to think of it, this couch looks better all the time.

i miss Coach Landry,man.
soooo much.

 

[12+88=7]

Unfortunately Bob, Jerry is not turning into Bill Veeck.

Jerry wants to get as much to the bottom line as possible. I'm surprised the restrooms aren't pay only.

 

[Bobhaze]

Unfortunately Bob, Jerry is not turning into Bill Veeck.

Jerry wants to get as much to the bottom line as possible. I'm surprised the restrooms aren't pay only.

Shhhhhhh..... Don’t give him any ideas.

 

[Motorola]

Bobhaze - in looking at the big picture, the "fan experience" for the majority of Cowboys followers does not include a game day seat at AT&T, or any other NFL stadium. Sure, many of us plan and save to see the team play in person. But for millions of fans across America and around the world, they don't feel deprived, or have the urge/ need to cheer the Cowboys up close and personal. Be it TV, radio, or through the internet - as long as they have access to view or hear Dallas play weekly from September through January (and hopefully soon to Mid-February) they are just fine and dandy with it.

 

[Mannix]

-----Jerry has absolutely no incentive to cater to the common fan.

Thus, ZERO home field advantage!!!

 

[Diehardblues]

As I read this, I realize how much I feel the same way about going to a game now. The traffic hassle alone is a soul-sucking experience. The game I attended in 2018 was with gifted tix, and my oldest son, Bro-in-law, nephew and I also took my father-in-law who is 92 (89 at the time) and wheel chair bound. I don’t even have the energy to tell you what an incredibly bad experience it was trying to get him safely in and out.

My oldest son who went to the game used to be a Cowboys fan, but because of the endless mediocrity and playoff drought, he’s stopped caring. After that game, even at 35 he says he’s done with ever attending a Cowboys game again. He loves the Mavericks, Stars and Rangers though. Collectively those 3 DFW teams have given fans 2 world championships and 7 conference championships to contrast to the Cowboys not even winning a division playoff game in that same time.

Sitting at home watching a game today even allows us to watch it later through DVR magic and even FFWD through the insufferable beer and truck commercials.

So yeah Coach...come to think of it, this couch looks better all the time.

Bob, so your oldest was still hanging on to his Cowboys fandom until 2018? That was the final turning point?

I understand our local fans have been described as a “ winners town “ but that isn’t a complimentary description. We all understand the frustration of our fan base and rightfully so but totally abandoning our local team cause of mediocrity isn’t very Diehard like.

I was raised and taught that rooting for a loser builds character and appreciation for what little success you had. It’s easy rooting for a winner. Anyone can do that.

 

[Bobhaze]

Bob, so your oldest was still hanging on to his Cowboys fandom until 2018? That was the final turning point?

I understand our local fans have been described as a “ winners town “ but that isn’t a complimentary description. We all understand the frustration of our fan base and rightfully so but totally abandoning our local team cause of mediocrity isn’t very Diehard like.

I was raised and taught that rooting for a loser builds character and appreciation for what little success you had. It’s easy rooting for a winner. Anyone can do that.

Well first of all, no my son wasn’t a “die-hard” until 2018. And he’s not a “fair weather fan” as you seem to imply. I can’t speak for my now 37 year old son’s reasons why he’s fed up with the Cowboys, but I can say it was not a snap 2018 decision, lol. He grew up a Cowboys fan, but like all 3 of my sons, they think the Cowboys have become a joke. They are all grown men now who make their own decisions.

Secondly, while I appreciate the lessons you learned about “rooting for a loser” and the character it can build, you know that the definition of “what it means to be a great fan” is not a one size fits all experience.I appreciate your experience and definition of fandom and applaud the character it built for you. But that’s not applicable to everyone. That’s why this forum exists. Different opinions.