This week a high-ranking NFL executive predicted that average league attendance would drop for a third consecutive year, falling to levels last seen in 1998.
(Attendance so bad in Jax that Jags regularly sell tarps over seats as ad space)
Michael McCarthy of USA TODAY reports executive vice president of NFL Ventures and Business Operations Eric Grubman attributed the downtown to the struggling economy and the improved home-viewing experience - but not ticket prices.
NFL ticket sales are projected to drop 1% to 2% this season with season ticket sales getting hit the hardest, losing 5%. Though single-game ticket sales, partial season ticket plans and online ticket brokering is expected to make up some of the shortfall.
That downtrend probably isn’t coincidence considering that while the national unemployment rate nears 10%, Team Marketing Report recently noted that the NFL’s average ticket price rose 4% to $75 last season.
But while average in-game attendance is falling off, television viewership is taking off. USA Today:
For the 2009 season, the league drew its biggest audiences in 20 years. Regular season games were watched by an average 16.6 million viewers, up 2 million from the season before, and the highest number since the pre-Internet days of 1990.
But fans are often caught in a Catch-22 with the league’s blackout policy. If an NFL team’s game isn’t sold out, the NFL blocks the network telecast from airing in the corresponding city.
That cruel cycle resulted in 22 blackouts last season - more than double the number (8) from the 2008 season.
As the home-viewing experience becomes more sophisticated - and lucrative - for the league, one wonders if a rollback of the NFL’s long-held blackout policy might gain consideration in future years.
Though most owners would probably still scoff at the notion, if in-game attendance is really that integral to the NFL’s business plan, why isn’t the league rolling back ticket prices in a proactive effort to bring fans back to the stadiums?
8:00 pm on September 2nd, 2010
People like to blame the economy, but I throw back to football fans what they’ve thrown at baseball fans for years. The game is painfully boring nowadays.
Get rid of field goals. I’ve never been to a Chicago Bears game and I’m 15 minutes from the stadium. Wanna know why? I want to see touchdowns, and explosive moves on the field.
Not the Lovie Smith, 3 runs straight in a row in the same spot up the middle, and then punt on 4th.
Yawn.
8:05 pm on September 2nd, 2010
Wait till the drop off next year
8:09 pm on September 2nd, 2010
If the NFL isn’t careful, they will become just like horse racing. Why go when I can get a better product on TV.
Ticket prices may have only gone up 5%, but look at parking, food, drinks, etc. It is NOT CHEAP to go to a game. At home…parking is free, beer is cheaper, no waiting at the bathrooms, and the seats are more comfortable.
Wake up NFL, stop charging for pre-season and appreciate your season ticket holders, ie: reduced parking fees.
Raider Season Tix Holder (for the last season)
8:25 pm on September 2nd, 2010
Redzone channel >>>>>>> at the game
6:38 am on September 3rd, 2010
Ask fans of the NY giants and jets what they think of ticket prices. The prices have pushed out the middle class fan that used to go every week to the game. The teams have gotten so greedy its ridiculous.
9:48 am on September 3rd, 2010
In some state its 12% unemployment, it always surprised me how the detroit lions even got over 5k people in the stands, with that team and that economy.
10:22 am on September 3rd, 2010
If they have a lockout next year, they will see a major dropoff!!
I for one will have watched my last football game. Just as I did with MLB and Basket ball!! They had a hard time recovering from the last one-some folks just don’t learn!!
12:02 pm on September 3rd, 2010
The ticket prices are a factor, combined with the fact that I don’t want to sit a mile up in the nosebleeds on a 30 degree day. I’ll roll out of bed at 1pm and have some delicious food in my warm living room.
11:49 am on September 4th, 2010
While HD may be the savior of pro hockey it may be doing a lot of damage to the NFL.
Plus the ever escalating prices at the game don’t help.
-$30+ for parking still 3/4 mile from the stadium
-Pricey tickets even for nose bleeds
-PSLs required for season tickets
-$9 for a 16oz beer
-$6.50 for a 24oz soda that costs the stadium 10 cents
Plus at most stadiums you’re subject to a patdown when entering worthy of entering a prison.
I’m still going to 5 or 6 games a year, but its not as fun any more.
12:13 pm on September 4th, 2010
I agree on all of this, especially the pat downs. I went to my last Seahawks game after I got patted down going into the stadium by some black rent-a-cop who seemed to really enjoy getting to hassle all the rich white people. Add to that the ridiculous prices for tickets and everything else and I say FUHGETABOWDIT. I’ll watch at home on my big screen LCD. If they want to black out the games to the local audience then go for it. See how much that does to get people through the gates.
8:51 pm on September 4th, 2010
Teams just don’t need to reduce prices. Most of their expenses and salaries are paid for by big NFL checks from divided up TV deals and merch. Tickets are mostly profit. If the team is blacked out, they still get their money. Why reduce ticket prices 10 or 20% to get 5% more fans in the stands?
9:48 pm on September 4th, 2010
I just go to a local sports bar these days since I can’t afford the ticket prices. I get to socialize with other sports fans and I pay $5 a beer instead of $10. Rather than paying $30 for parking, the roundtrip train fare to my favorite sports bar is $4.25.
I wish the teams would reduce prices, but I have more of a chance wishing for world peace, an end to hunger, or a cure for cancer.
Oh well.
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