Why can't AT&T Stadium show Cowboys away games?

[Red Dragon]

After watching how NBA teams like the Mavericks and Spurs hosted watch parties at their home courts (for Mavs and Spurs road games in the Finals, respectively).................out of curiosity, why couldn't the Cowboys do something similar at AT&T Stadium - host watch parties for all eight Cowboys regular season away games? Especially with that huge Jumbotron?


I think tens of thousands of Cowboys fans might show up to such events, and all the concession stands could be up and running just like at home games. Imagine watching a Cowboys road game at AT&T Stadium on the Jumbotron, surrounded by thousands of fellow fans.

 

[Craig]

You can expect enough people to fill an arena to economically justify opening it that way. You cant do that for a football or even a baseball park.

 

[SDCowboy]

People actually pay money to go somewhere else and watch TV? The heck...

 

[CyberB0b]

People actually pay money to go somewhere else and watch TV? The heck...

Maybe not admission, but $20 cowboyritas add up.

 

[big dog cowboy]

.........out of curiosity, why couldn't the Cowboys do something similar at AT&T Stadium - host watch parties for all eight Cowboys regular season away games?

I'd like to know that answer. Watch parties are fun. I don't know of any other NFL team that does it. There has to be a reason.

 

[Bungarian]

My guess is the league would not allow it.

 

[Beast_from_East]

My guess is the league would not allow it.

I think you are right about that.

 

[viman96]

Probably has to do with TV contracts. If the networks are guaranteed 50% of the games are away then that forces 50% of the fans to watch their broadcasts.

 

[Cebrin]

Hmmm... I've hear that place is haunted...

 

[Red Dragon]

Probably has to do with TV contracts. If the networks are guaranteed 50% of the games are away then that forces 50% of the fans to watch their broadcasts.

How would 30,000 fans watching a Cowboys away game at AT&T Stadium (if the game is televised on the Jumbotron by those networks you mention), in theory, be any different than 30 fans watching that same game, on the same networks, in a restaurant or sports bar? The only difference would be sheer numbers.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

I think it is more of an issue about the cost and I seriously doubt 30k are going to show up to watch a game like that....it's the playoffs in the NBA....big difference. You might get 30k to watch a road playoff game in the stadium. Might. And it would have to be cheap relatively speaking.

 

[davey999]

You want to watch this team on a bigger screen?

 

[Hoofbite]

It would make the stadium unavailable for the day of, likely the day before and the day after.

 

[viman96]

How would 30,000 fans watching a Cowboys away game at AT&T Stadium (if the game is televised on the Jumbotron by those networks you mention), in theory, be any different than 30 fans watching that same game, on the same networks, in a restaurant or sports bar? The only difference would be sheer numbers.

Let's assume your 30,000 is what it would be. 8 weeks a year there is not a bye week. Let's also assume each team did this and 30,000 peopled showed for the away games. The bye weeks there are 2-6 teams off depending on the week. Let's go with 13 as the average. Add those numbers up and you get nearly 7,000,000. That is a lot of people and networks would pay a premium if they were ensured many of them would be watching their broadcasts with their advertising.

16 (teams) x 30,000 = 480,000 x 8(weeks) = 3,840,000
13 (teams) x 30,000 = 390,000 x 8 (weeks) = 3,120,000

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Let's assume your 30,000 is what it would be. 8 weeks a year there is not a bye week. Let's also assume each team did this and 30,000 peopled showed for the away games. The bye weeks there are 2-6 teams off depending on the week. Let's go with 13 as the average. Add those numbers up and you get nearly 7,000,000. That is a lot of people and networks would pay a premium if they were ensured many of them would be watching their broadcasts with their advertising.

16 (teams) x 30,000 = 480,000 x 8(weeks) = 3,840,000
13 (teams) x 30,000 = 390,000 x 8 (weeks) = 3,120,000

The problem is that same number of people would either be watching the game at a bar or at home.

 

[Bill Wooten]

Let's assume your 30,000 is what it would be. 8 weeks a year there is not a bye week. Let's also assume each team did this and 30,000 peopled showed for the away games. The bye weeks there are 2-6 teams off depending on the week. Let's go with 13 as the average. Add those numbers up and you get nearly 7,000,000. That is a lot of people and networks would pay a premium if they were ensured many of them would be watching their broadcasts with their advertising.

16 (teams) x 30,000 = 480,000 x 8(weeks) = 3,840,000
13 (teams) x 30,000 = 390,000 x 8 (weeks) = 3,120,000

Take it a step further. Comcast and all of the big providers are tracking everything you watch and every click you make on your remote to determine usage and advertising patterns. TV networks want you in front of your TV so they can learn how to exploit your $. You can throw the "they would all be at a bar" argument out there, but if my company invested that kind of money in broadcasting your product I'm going to want as many people at home in front of their TVs as possible. That attracts sponsors to buy commercials targeted to the customers. Only a matter of time before TV commercials are like ads on the Web. Targeted to your individual viewing habits.

 

[Proximo]

Jerry hosts a lot of other events at Cowboys stadium, even during the regular season (concerts, etc). I doubt it would make financial sense for them to tie up the stadium every other weekend for an "away game watch party".

 

[Tex]

Just what I always wanted. To go watch a Cowboy game on a TV where I had to walk miles to park and then get to pay 10 for a beer or a hot dog.

I think I will stick to sipping jack daniels at home in front of my big screen TV.

 

[viman96]

The problem is that same number of people would either be watching the game at a bar or at home.

Huge difference between a bunch of people watching one TV and millions at home or a sports bar. Ratings would be lower. Targeted marketing less effective.

 

[jazzcat22]

Probably for many reasons. Some reasons already mentioned. NFL rules, TV contracts, use of the stadium.
Just the logistics of it, maybe people who normally would travel to away games, now wouldn't [though probably not that many to make an impact].
Also, what happens to all the small businesses, that relay on those away games to get people in for business, now they wouldn't have them if everyone is at the stadium. not that owners may be concerened, but it may play into it.