The following post was provided by Zak Johnson:
With the shape of the nation’s current economic state, how do you feel about sports teams opening new stadiums/arenas? Do you think it is fair to increase prices (tickets, merchandise, food, etc…) just because the team/owner needs to make money; in order to fund or pay for the stadium?
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http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=091005yankeestickets
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I love the new Twins stadium, but I hate how much I have to spend to go. I think it is wonderful for the Twin's orgnaization, but it is tough with this economy. The Yankees "legends" tickets are ridiculous. I really don't think that people need all that at a baseball game. The Twins have a similar seats and they seem to be getting sold, but I would have to say that I am going to have to going to less games this year than I ever have because of the prices. I still think our world is backwards... professional athetes making more than doctors and the president... I just don't see how we got here.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately owners and teams don't care about the average American and are in it to make money. It doesn't surprise me that new stadiums are being built and that ticket prices are sky-rocketing. I don't agree with it, but it doesn't surprise me. Seats have been more empty than normal, but on the other hand, people are still paying 1000-2000 dollars on a game ticket. The article that you provided was shocking and sad and I have to agree with Stacey that im not sure how we got to this point. A prime example of this that has happened in my life deals with my uncle. My uncle Teddy was born and raised in Dallas, tx and has had Cowboys tickets for the past 10 years. The cowboys just built a new stadium and this is the first time in a decade that he hasn't bought season tickets,, due to the rise of ticket prices. Its ridiculous.
ReplyDelete" The rich get richer and the poor get poorer"
ReplyDeleteThis could possibly be the failure of sports! Many teams buy these new multi million dollar stadium to entice fans to come to more games. However, with the cost of building a new stadium the price of admission, beer and parking goes up. If enough teams do this I think that we might be faced with a huge decrease in sports teams. Not mention these new high definition televisions and the new 3D Tv's that make you feel like you are in the game I wont even touch on that subject.
I just feel as like this is the wrong time to be building new stadiums. They should invest that money into helping their fans and community with new jobs.
I think the amount of money we are willing to spend on stadiums is absurd. We spend millions of dollars to build a stadium for billionaire owners who could afford to build their own stadiums (think Jerry Jones, the owner of the Cowboys. The increased ticket prices are not the only price consumers pay for stadiums, their taxes are also used to pay for the stadiums. Therefore, those who cannot afford to buy a ticket are still paying for the stadium. Similarly, those who don’t even like baseball are forced to pay for the stadium. While proponents of using taxes to pay for stadiums argue that it will create jobs, they are often seasonal, part-time, minimum wage and offer no benefits. Additionally, the same amount of money could create several full-time jobs or be invested in education or health care instead.
ReplyDeleteI could not agree with Byron's comment more. Sport has become such a money driven business that continues to grow and will continue to do so. "What can we do that is bigger and better than the the current trend?" And even with our struggling economy, this has worked because people are making the sacrifice to experience these things. However, it has become a circumstance that is begining to realisticly appeal to the wealthy or 'Joe Schmoe' who got lucky and won them on the radio.
ReplyDeleteAgain, to repeat the above comment, as a sports fan this is the scary part...
"This could possibly be the failure of sports!"
I can agree with everyone on here. I think of the Dallas Cowboy stadium and wonder what is the need for that type of facility? I can not think of one. Football is not that big nor important in order to spend that much money on a stadium. Just like stated previously it is only going to get worse. People will start owners and builders will start to get greedy and make it to where they are constantly trying to out do each other. This is a problem on all levels with the american society. People always want the biggest and the best.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of the statements about the absurb amount of money that is being spent on stadiums. There are tons of reasons why these new stadiums are not necessary, but the thing that bothers me the most is the amount of money that the state government and tax payers are asked to pay to build them. Like many people said, owners have plenty of money to spend and if they want a new stadium for their team, then they should fork out the money. I'm pretty sure that the owners are the ones making all the money off of these teams, not the state or tax payers.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Coach Thomas, now is not the time to build new stadiums. With the economy in its current conditions using billions of dollars to entice the public to spend their money at a new staduium seems unfair.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I can attest that the new Twins staduim is quite wonderful and has made me follow the team far more than ever before. I had a great experience at the new staduim and realize how much effort went into building it. I can image that it had created a increase in jobs/ revenue within the metro area. But was now the right time? When is the right time then? The new Twins stadium has taken my money just like thousands of others in the area.
Great responses so far.
ReplyDeleteI myself have been to the Target Field on a few occasions. A couple of games where we sat in the "nose bleeds" and right behind the Twins dugout when they held the State High School Baseball Championship games there. Target Field is a wonder place, everyone is saying that it is. And to tell you the truth, I'd sit anywhere in there. But I don't agree with selling tickets almost double of what they were at the Dome. Like most others, I will not be going to see the Twins as much anymore due to the high cost. Parking has even gone up. Wonder how the Pohlad's feel now, having owned most of the parking venues adjacent to the Dome. I'm sure they own a few around the new stadium also. So I'm not too worried that they're not making enough money.
The article about the Yankees really points out, like everyone has said, how ridiculous sports are becoming. Do we really need fine wine and champagne at baseball games? Or meals that should only be served at 5 star restaurants? I think it's safe to say that most people go to the stadium to see the teams play and to enjoy the stadium to an extent. I don't believe that they go spend money on a ticket so they can then eat a meal at the stadium.
Is anyone else sick of hearing the saying "we built it for the fans." Really? Did they ask any of you what your opinion was? I know they never asked mine? So what part did they build for the fans? Yes the fans use the stadiums, but don't tell me that is why you built it. If that were the case, then the prices should have stayed the same or even lowered.
The fact of the matter is all sports are a business and from an owners standpoint they are going to do everything they can to make as much money as they can. People don't get to be millionaires and billionaires by using their own money to build new stadiums when they know full well another state will do that for them using tax payer money. If you look at Minnesota the last couple of years we have had a new stadium for the University of MN football team and the Twins. The Vikings want a new stadium also and if they don't get one, they will eventually leave the state for some other state who will give them a new stadium. Do I think we need all the new stadiums? NO I don't but I am also realistic in that if you want major league sports in your area (which I do) you are going to have to pay a price for it (whether is through taxes, higher ticket prices, higher parking costs, or higher hotel rates to stay near the stadiums). Its not fair (by now we all know life is not always fair) but its the cost of doing business if you want major league professional sports.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone want to "chime in" on the economic impact analysis studies that are done to support the construction of such facilities (from PESS 658)
ReplyDeleteI agree that the costs associated with these new stadiums are rapidly pricing many fans out of the market. For me, however, it's a simple matter of supply and demand. As long as fans and corporations continue to buy the product, the owners, being business people, will price it in a way to maximize profit.
ReplyDeleteLike some of the others here, I've been to Target Field a couple of times and really enjoyed it. That being said, I won't go nearly as often as I went to the Metrodome, just because of the prices. As the novelty of the new stadium wears off, it will be interesting to see what happens to the demand for Twins tickets in the next several years.
It is not a matter of fairness, they owners can charge whatever amount they want. As stated above it is all supply and demand. If the prices are too high and demand falls off, the prices will drop. It is fiscally irresponsible to sell your tickets/food and a price below equilibrium of supply and demand.
ReplyDeleteWith that being said, issues can arise if the stadium is funded (fully or part) by public money.
I guess I don't totally agree with the argument that increases are due to supply and demand. Partly yes, but not totally. We always hear of ticket prices rising, but rarely do we hear them falling.
ReplyDeleteI know this is a fictional example, but take the movie Major League. The owner wanted to move the team to Miami and she stopped at nothing to make sure that happened. Putting a team on the field that couldn't compete, not even with a descent college team. Her main goal was to make sure that attendance fell far enough so she could move the team with no problems and no questions asked.
I'm not saying that the teams who build new stadiums or teams who even raise the prices are doing this solely to move the team to a more desirable place. But it is possible for a team or owner to raise ticket prices enough where attendance would drop off and then could move or do whatever they wanted. Owners often have ulterior motives as to why they are doing certain things.
As for fairness. "Life's not fair!" Why should sports be any different. If prices are set and people pay them great. If they rise and people stop coming, don't blame it on the fans. Don't moan and groan, "if we only had more fan support we could do this or that." Owners and teams set the price, they have to deal with it just as all of us have to deal with it.
New stadiums become higher commodities or become a luxury item so more people are willing to pay for the added experience. So if people are willing to pay the extra price to go to a game then it should be fine. However, an argument to build during poor economic times is the ability to negotiate prices and get lower bids. Since, most construction companies had fewer jobs they would be willing to lower their price and the stadium would also be able to entertain more bids increasing competition. Looking into the long run by building the stadium cheaper and knowing the economy will be turning around at some point the cost benefit analysis seem to be in favor of building during down times and enjoying a longer run in ticket revenue; the opening season and at least a couple after that will be sold out due to the intrigue of a new stadium and as the economy rebounds people will have more money to spend on going to games.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a problem with them raising the price of tickets and food at the stadiums. The market dictates what they get. I don't like that taxpayers have to pay for new stadiums. I think the owners should have to pay for them. The new twins stadium is a great example...funded by taxpayer dollars and it is awesome,but the cost of going has risen dramactically. In the metrodome we could afford to go to 4 or 5 games a year. Now it is 1 game a year. Plus the atmosphere is more about status now than it is about going to the game. It is about being able to say, I know the new twins stadium is expensive but I still have to ability to go and enjoy how nice it is.
ReplyDeleteJust a quick question for all you that have responded or that have gone to the Target Field.
ReplyDeleteAre you or did you go because you wanted to see the new stadium? Or, because you actually wanted to watch a game? Target Field is or was offering tours and private tours of the stadium for around $20 or so (not sure on the exact price, just kind of what I've heard). Do you think that is a fair price just to check out a field? I mean your not getting anything else, no game, no concessions; just a tour of the new stadium.
I'm curious to see how many people are taking the tours of Target Field, rather than just going to watch a game. I know when I went I wanted to go check out the new stadium but I was unable to because everyone wanted to do the same thing.
I wanted to see the field. The game was fun to watch also, but I really wanted to see the field. My grandpa does not like crowds so we took him on the tour and he loved it! He was thankful that they offered such a thing so that he could enjoy looking at the stadium even for a small price without having to deal with the crowds.
ReplyDeleteTo Alli's post, I agree with you. I think the right time is when our economy gets back on our feet, and taxpayers can afford more deductions from their paychecks.
ReplyDelete