As the NFL juggernaut continues to plow forward year after year, the constant abuse of the fans is usually unnoticed. Whether we are talking about exclusive video game licensing deals, holding programming for ransom on DirecTV, or the inclusion of pre-season game tickets at full price in season ticket packages, the NFL gets away with abusing its fanbase a whole lot. Now there is a new practice starting this year in Kansas City that looks to further exploit fans of the biggest pro sports league in the United States.
When Kansas City welcomes two of the NFL’s most popular franchises to their city, the fans buying single game tickets will feel like season ticket holders as they are forced to buy pre-season seats as well.
When single-game tickets go on sale to the public on July 31, fans wanting to buy tickets to the Oct. 11 game against Dallas must buy comparable tickets to the preseason game against the Houston Texans on Aug. 15.
Likewise, anyone wanting to buy tickets to see the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 22 must buy an equal number of tickets to the exhibition game against Seattle on Aug. 29.
I find it amazing that the NFL is capable of these kinds of ploys. While every other form of entertainment is shaking in their boots trying to protect revenue and attract straying eyeballs, the NFL basks in its dominance by poking fans in the eyes.
The Browns haven’t made any noise that they might start adopting this practice, but you have to think that it could turn out to be a money maker for the Chiefs. As we all know, when something starts making money for one team, it eventually gets adopted throughout the league. And as it has been pointed out in Browns town for a lot of years, NFL fans generally don’t revolt and stop consuming. So what incentive does the NFL and its franchises have to stop gouging?
Author: CraigLyndall
Craig Lyndall has been writing about all the Cleveland sports teams at WaitingForNextYear since September 2008. When he isn't, you can find him selling insurance or playing music. Follow WFNYCraig on Twitter.Craig Lyndall has written 338 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
Is there a worse live product than the NFL? 3 plays, punt, timeout. 3 plays, punt, timeout. touchdown. extra point. timeout. kickoff. timeout.
Wait, there is something worse – preseason football. Wouldn’t it be great if they played these games in smaller venues (a local college stadium or a state-of-the-art high school stadium) so fans could get closer to the action and players?
Here’s hoping this new scheme doesn’t pick up momentum and spread.
This is the kind of thing that I can see a spurring a lawsuit against the Chiefs. This is just obscene.
The only way to stop this is if the fans say No. But fans have shown that they’ll sometimes put up with gouging. Personal seat licenses represent one of the great rip-offs of our time, and yet there’s a waiting list.
The NFL is evil.
@ #3: I have said no for years. Doesn’t seem to work.
This is just plain wrong. I’v never heard of a business telling you if you want to buy one of their products, you’re also required to buy one of their other crappy products at the same price. This is the kind of crap Goodell should be waving his magical indefinate suspension wand at. Stop letting the NFL treat fans like Ben Roethlisberger treats Vegas concierges.
Knew it was only a matter of time…
@#6:
I’v never heard of a business telling you if you want to buy one of their products, you’re also required to buy one of their other crappy products at the same price.
Sounds like Microsoft.
“Stop letting the NFL treat fans like Ben Roethlisberger treats Vegas concierges.”
TRON FTW!!!
Classic close, Tron.
There is no chance this is legal. I mean you HAVE to buy tickets to another game just to go to one? That makes NO sense at all. In this economy? In Missouri? I don’t see them selling much. What a joke, I’m pretty pissed and this isn’t even the Browns. IF the Browns tried this, I doubt people would sell out the stadium especially considering the product on the field.
Speaking of ugly….
http://photos.tmz.com/galleries/andrea_mcnulty
If you’re a two time Super Bowl champion QB and you’re going to Sexually assault someone, make sure she’s not a 0.0
I hope for his sake he was blasted drunk at the time.
How are fans going to react to the lockout in 2 years? That will be the interesting part. Seems like they’re on the same self-destructive path as all the other major sports.
What if they do lockout? The NBA becomes the #1 sport in America…
@13
Or what if Mangini actually has something with this team, then we get a lockout? I wouldn’t doubt it based on this city.
From my buddy who works in the ticketing industry:
I completely disagree with this article- I preach bundling all the time. Bundling is commonly used to off set differences between market prices and face value prices. In every industry, bundling is commonly used. Think Nintendo Wii- when those were flying off the shelves, some stores added 3 games and 2 extra controllers to it making the price $515.00 instead of $250.00. This isn’t exploitation at all. What fans fail to realize is that they are are not fans, they are customers, and they are being provided with a service. The amount you love a team doesn’t make your pockets deeper, and because NFL stadiums can’t fit an entire city, then those who choose not to purchase tickets can watch at home for free. Those who cry and complain about market prices, feel free to write your local congressman/woman and Adam Rosen will respond with “Please go back in time and argue free market economics with Adam Smith”
This is called bundling, and is commonly used to off set high demand games. When the Cleveland Cavaliers made the playoffs, you could purchase tickets only if you signed up for a season ticket package for the upcoming season. Nintendo Wii uses bundling at Christmas time too- they package it with three games and 2 controllers to off set huge demand.
Please keep in mind, you are customer, not a fan. You are provided with a service.
Provided with a service – I laugh out loud at this. If talking about the NFL in general, MAYBE. If talking about the Chiefs and Browns – that’s a HUGE stretch.
Anyways, you probably also defend service fees and convenience fees.
The thing that is the most crazy about this whole thing is that Roger Godell has come out and said that the preseason games are useless. I have called the Browns and asked them if they would adjust their ticket prices with what he has said and they said that no they will not adjust their tickets for the preseason games.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4179841
I hope that everyone is in for a very long strike/lockout and a very different NFL. I feel their run is coming to an end because you cannot keep treating the customers like crap and have them keep coming back.
You can make a lot of sweaters from one lamb but you only get lamb chops once. Choose wisely.
I find 2 problems with #15 and #16.
It’s not called bundling, it’s called extorsion. Most of us can’t afford season tickets (and the PSL) and aren’t lucky enough to have it passed down from generations before. I know, personally, if I’m going to a game, I’d rather go to a game where a good team is going to be in town, rather than watching 2 horrible teams after paying for tickets, parking, and God forbid if I get hungry.
I also think it’s possible to be both customer AND fan. After all, if you’re not a fan of a product, you wouldn’t be a consumer, would you?
I know what it is called. I know that other products do it. That doesn’t mean I have to like it.
They do it because they can. I hate it and I think it sucks but for 8 Sundays a year 72,000 people pay money to watch…..wait for it…..the Browns. I love watching them from my living room but sometimes think my life would be better had they never came back.
I have to question whether the Houston/ KC game is the actual sweetener and in that Dallas package.
Weinberger, as a Cavs season ticket holder (and Browns, unfortunately) you are full of crap. The Cavs bend over backwards to support their ticket base…….they didn’t raise prices this year and did in fact have playoff tickets available to the public (hard as they were to get, as would be expected). The program you are referring to GUARANTEED playoff tickets to new season ticket purchasers, what in the heck is wrong with that? Please don’t even begin to try and compare what the Chiefs (and NFL in regards to exhibition game tickets) are doing, it’s assinine.
I’ll be posting my Browns seats in their entirety on Viaggogo for a variety of reasons, first and foremost Randy Lerner and his team of Mangini and his flunky GM. The exhibition thing makes a bad product/program even worse. But, has nothing to do or comparison to the Dan Gilbert Cavs…….please.
I kind of laugh when people still say there is a waiting list for the Browns, because if there is, it might be about 2 weeks, max. They are advertising for season tickets just about everywhere in Cleveland at least.
For those that complain about the 72k that show up, maybe you should check out a game sometime. Besides the PIT game, I can’t remember a game in the past several years where there weren’t TONS of orange seats visible. Maybe Dallas, NYG last year, but beyond that, there are ALWAYS 5-10k empty seats scattered around. Even more than that after November and during the pre”season” which I haven’t been to, ever. Nor will I. Yes “paid” attendance may technically be a sellout, but plenty do the talking with their feet, which I encourage everyone to do with any of “their” teams.
As for this, my guess is it also has something to do with keeping the place from being overrun by Pukers and Cowgirls fans, as well as boosting the Preseason numbers.
@15
Seriously? When a Nintendo Wii bundle is offered, the things that come with it are offered as apart of a bundle for a reduced price. The preseason tix are NOT.
When this is offered, the Wii system is also offered as an individual as well. The Chiefs tix are NOT. Same applies to Cavs tix argument, a certain amount are released to non season ticket holders or people who are signing up.
What they are doing is just plain wrong and I hope the Chiefs fans let that stadium stay empty.
The NFL knows its product has become watered down and boring. 4-12 teams one year go 12-4 the next. It has basically turned into the Big Ten in terms of boredom. The Browns are a circus as well. So what is the point?
wow, that chick is hit.
Colleges do this all the time. This year if you want to go to the Nebraska Cornhuskers @ Kansas Jayhawks then KU is making you buy 3 additional games. It’s practice pretty common is sports. It’s a smart business practice that the Chiefs are doing. Why not take advantage of people wanting to go to that game. Also, if they didn’t do this then brokers would just buy up all these tickets and charge $200 or more per ticket so I don’t mind paying for two games. I will be there cheering on my Chiefs vs. the hated Cowboys!!! GO CHIEFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is why I no longer buy tickets or gear for pro-sports. I may spend a few hrs watching on TV, but that’s all the blood they will get out of me. Yall want cheaper tickets? Quit creating demand.