Interesting new stadium stuff... video

[theebs]

Wfaa had this last night. Pretty interesting. I know it will be a sad day in my house when I am no longer a season ticket holder next year.

http://www.wfaa.com/video/index.html?nvid=213788
http://www.wfaa.com/video/index.html?nvid=213716


Are Cowboys new ticket prices inciting fan backlash?

[SIZE=-1]
11:26 PM CST on Thursday, January 31, 2008

[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]By BRETT SHIPP / WFAA-TV[/SIZE]

Tom Fox / DMN
Construction of the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium on November 6.

DALLAS - Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has called his new stadium, which is set to open next year, "exciting" and "magical."
However, a growing number of once loyal fans are using different words to describe the stadium's new ticket prices. Among those words overheard have been "outrageous" and "forget it."
Now, early indications are that Jones may be paying the price.
While February 1 was the original announced deadline for Cowboys season ticket holders to commit to buy Club Level seats in the new stadium, News 8 has learned the Cowboys are extending that deadline at least ten days.
Despite claims otherwise, the 15,000 Club Level seats may not be selling as well as they had hoped, and Jones may be experiencing a backlash.
Jones said the $1 billion stadium is architecturally significant and will be one of the most visible buildings in the world.
"This building is about the role of technology in sports," he said in the stadium's marketing video. "It's about the role of mediums in sports."
While it's exciting to imagine and magnificent to watch as it's crafted, fans are starting to fear they will never be able to afford it.
While the current price is $129 at Texas Stadium, lower level Club Seats, which extend from end zone to end zone, all cost $340 per ticket.
But before one can buy a luxury seat, they also have to purchase a Personal Seat License, which start at the price of $16,000 and go up as high as $150,000. Those numbers are by far the most expensive P.S.L. in the N.F.L. Currently, the most expensive seat license is $12,000 at the Carolina Panther's Stadium .
But for those having trouble coming up with that kind of cash, the Cowboys will finance it at 8 percent interest.
That has some of the Cowboys' most loyal fans saying, 'No thanks." Among those passing is jewelry store owner Morris Hasson of Dallas. A 15-year season ticket holder who lives for the "Boys," Hasson drives a Cowboys' silver and blue Lincoln to every game.
Hasson said he planned to buy seats in the new stadium until he saw the price tag, $32, 000 for two seat licenses and nearly $7,000 a year for tickets and $750 a year for parking. He said Jones is courting the wealthy.
"The rest, he couldn't care less,” he said. “It's strictly a business. Football should be something that the average guy can go to and they've priced them out."
Current season ticket holder Brian Glasscock said he predicts fellow tailgaters will become extinct.
“They are not going to be able to afford it; there's no way,” he said.
Robert Baade, of Lake Forest, Illinois, is one of the most respected sports economists in the country, and said Jones, a gambler by reputation, may be taking his biggest risk yet.
"And so, Jerry Jones is not only risking alienation of fans in Dallas, which I'm sure he is with these prices, but he's also risking other NFL owners," he said.
Baade is referring to owners whose modest stadiums and team revenues can't begin to keep up with Jones.
So, how does Jerry Jones respond? He didn't. Jones didn't reply to News 8's attempts to contact the Cowboys owner.
However, Cowboys Marketing Vice President Greg McElroy did respond.
“So far, we haven't seen a negative reaction," said McElroy when asked if the Cowboys expected such a strong response to ticket prices.
McElroy said Club Seat sales are robust and that 70 percent of those prospective season ticket holders who heard the sales pitch at the stadium marketing center in Arlington bought a P.S.L.
But, what does that mean?
News 8 learned that the 70 percent number cited by the Cowboys translated to less than 1,800 seats sold. What's more, according to marketing materials, the Cowboys envisioned that every seat in the stadium would require the purchase of a seat option.
“That decision has not been made yet," McElroy said.
The Cowboys said it's wrong to suggest fans are being priced out of the new stadium when 65,000 seat prices have yet to be announced.
But in a world where luxury, technology and class are the goals, many still want to know, is there room for the fans?
"Just don't shut us out,” Glasscock said. “That's all we are saying."
E-mail mailto:bshippz@wfaa.com?subjec...s_stadium_price

 

[big dog cowboy]

I'm almost glad I don't live close enough to Dallas to attend more games.

Hasson said he planned to buy seats in the new stadium until he saw the price tag, $32, 000 for two seat licenses and nearly $7,000 a year for tickets and $750 a year for parking. He said Jones is courting the wealthy.

That is just unbelievable. :thumbdo:

 

[iceberg]

hmmmm....and i've been saying for awhile football is pricing itself out of reach due to escalating salaries for the most part. i get less flack when i say that than when i first started.

 

[Cowboys22]

I don't think you should expect to have similar seats in the new stadium for a similar price. Get less expensive seats or watch from your couch. I know it sucks but thats the way the world works. Jerry feels he will be offering a much improved game day experience. They may have gone a little overboard on the pricing, but I feel a hefty increase should be expected.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

hmmmm....and i've been saying for awhile football is pricing itself out of reach due to escalating salaries for the most part. i get less flack when i say that than when i first started.

Of course .

But they are only charging what the market will bare.

If folks start refusing to pay exhorbant prices then by simple deductions, prices will fall.

Furthermore, The Cowboys are an extremely hot ticket. Even with a sinking Economy, I wouldn't be suprised if people get themsleves further into debt by taking on Second Mortgage or high interest loans to finance their seats.

 

[CF74]

Well those Club seats are for the super rich anyways, hurry up and let us know what the regular nose bleed seats are going for Jerry...

 

[WoodysGirl]

I can't wait until all the prices are out. Of course, tickets are going to be more expensive. I'd be more interested in seeing how much they're really going to cost before getting to pessimistic.

I usually try to do a couple games a year, so hopefully, I'll still be able to do that.

 

[Temo]

hmmmm....and i've been saying for awhile football is pricing itself out of reach due to escalating salaries for the most part. i get less flack when i say that than when i first started.

That's not how salaries in the NFL work. The players get a percentage of revenues, so their salaries are determined by whatever you're willing to pay, not the other way around.

 

[SultanOfSix]

LOL. The Mecca comparison was a strange one.

 

[Rampage]

I don't think you should expect to have similar seats in the new stadium for a similar price. Get less expensive seats or watch from your couch. I know it sucks but thats the way the world works. Jerry feels he will be offering a much improved game day experience. They may have gone a little overboard on the pricing, but I feel a hefty increase should be expected.

thats just it. jerry trys to turn a gameday into a circus event. people go to see the cowboys play football plain and simple. not for the fireworks or any of that crap.

 

[iceberg]

Of course .

But they are only charging what the market will bare.

If folks start refusing to pay exhorbant prices then by simple deductions, prices will fall.

Furthermore, The Cowboys are an extremely hot ticket. Even with a sinking Economy, I wouldn't be suprised if people get themsleves further into debt by taking on Second Mortgage or high interest loans to finance their seats.

if prices fall, and salaries go up - what is going to offset that revune?

 

[iceberg]

That's not how salaries in the NFL work. The players get a percentage of revenues, so their salaries are determined by whatever you're willing to pay, not the other way around.

sorry - i'm talking about the overall picture and situation. piece by piece it will come together and will fall.

 

[WoodysGirl]

thats just it. jerry trys to turn a gameday into a circus event. people go to see the cowboys play football plain and simple. not for the fireworks or any of that crap.

Honestly, I go for the game and the fan experience. Have you been to an actual NFL game? Not being funny either.

There are alot of TV timeouts during a game. And while fans at home can watch commercials and do other things, it's no fun sitting in your seat watching the players stand around. Jerry's right to try and bring something interesting to the fans while they wait.

 

[Cajuncowboy]

Say what you want but this is one of the reasons that NASCAR is probably the greatest fan sport there is. It doesn't cost a fortune to go to a race, you have close access to the drivers and you generally have a great time AND you can make it a 1, 2, 3 or 4 day event and still be relatively cheap.

I love football and the Cowboys but by my calculations with the above equations it looks like if you add in the PSL, the parking and the seats themselves, it would cost nearly 4000.00 to attend a game based on 10 home game (2 preseason).

 

[Cowboys22]

thats just it. jerry trys to turn a gameday into a circus event. people go to see the cowboys play football plain and simple. not for the fireworks or any of that crap.

Not totally. Many people go to sporting events or other events to be entertained and to be seen. Most people expect more than just the game. Part of the enhanced experience I was refering to were things like those 60 yard high def jumbotrons or just the fact that you will be at the biggest, most advanced stadium in the world. You have to pay extra for those things.

 

[Rampage]

Honestly, I go for the game and the fan experience. Have you been to an actual NFL game? Not being funny either.

There are alot of TV timeouts during a game. And while fans at home can watch commercials and do other things, it's no fun sitting in your seat watching the players stand around. Jerry's right to try and bring something interesting to the fans while they wait.

yeah ive been to several games at the meadowlands and i went to the buffalo game this past season. idk i just never cared for all the other stuff. i go to watch a football game. i get enough "fan expeirence" when i watch a game in person.

 

[cobra]

I'm trying to convince my wife to let me buy a couple seats. As I understand it, they are only open right now to people who had them at Texas Stadium, and I do not. I'd like to grab some lower level around the 20-25. I wonder if there will still be some left when they are opened up.

My wife is using it as leverage tho. It appears the negotiation is going to come down to that I have to relent and give her a baby if I get tickets.

 

[WoodysGirl]

yeah ive been to several games at the meadowlands and i went to the buffalo game this past season. idk i just never cared for all the other stuff. i go to watch a football game. i get enough "fan expeirence" when i watch a game in person.

I can understand that and respect that the "fan experience" isn't your thing. But I gotta say, that they have to do something with the fans to keep them excited and happy during the multitude of TV timeouts.

Without the dorky fan stuff, what do you think they could offer during those dead periods?

 

[dmq]

those cheerleader outfits better be skimpier than ever.

 

[Rampage]

I can understand that and respect that the "fan experience" isn't your thing. But I gotta say, that they have to do something with the fans to keep them excited and happy during the multitude of TV timeouts.

Without the dorky fan stuff, what do you think they could offer during those dead periods?[/quote]
lol why is it dorky stuff? but off the top of my head i really don't know. During timeouts and the end of quarters i'm either A:racing to the bathroom,B:going to get something to drink/eat, or C: discussing the game(what we need to do,what we are doing wrong,what we are doing right,just taking in seeing my favorite players that close to me and stuff like that.