June 19, 2013

Browns will not raise ticket prices for 2013; cell service issues to be rectified

Cleveland Browns season ticket prices will remain flat for the 2013 home schedule, the team announced today.

This marks the fifth straight year in which the price of Browns season tickets has not increased, representing the second-longest current streak in the NFL. In addition, with the current pricing structure, the average cost of a Browns ticket is the second-lowest cost in the NFL. Since the opening of FirstEnergy Stadium in 1999, there have been select sections which did not require a PSL for season ticket purchases. That has now been expanded to comprise all locations in which season tickets are still available.

“Our fans have exhibited tremendous loyalty over the years and we want to continue to reward that loyalty through affordability and by putting a team on the field of which they can be proud,” said Browns CEO Joe Banner. “To maintain that affordability, it was important that we keep the status quo on ticket prices for the fifth consecutive year and also extend the sections of the stadium that do not require a PSL.”

In addition to the lack of an increase on ticket prices, the Browns have also announced a “significant upgrade” to their game day experience, including an improvement in the lack of cellular network service inside of the venue.

“This year we are going to work on improving all aspects of our game day experience, including cell phone service, which will undergo a significant upgrade starting in 2013,” Browns President Alec Scheiner added. “We hope to create an environment that will be enjoyable for all of our fans and difficult for our opponents. We are fully committed to having a team that will be successful on a consistent basis, and providing our fans with a compelling game day experience.”

[Related:  The Browns’ dive into analytics will be a subtle revolution]

Cleveland Browns Tickets are Deemed Cheapest in NFL

The ever-useful Team Marketing Report released its annual exposé on NFL ticket prices as well as items included within the “fan experience.” The Cleveland Browns, in 2012, will have the lowest average ticket price in the entire league

The Browns, coming in with an average ticket price of $54.20, are joined by the Buffalo Bills ($58.36) and Jacksonville Jaguars ($59.54) among the league’s most affordable. Similar to the Browns, their MLB counterpart the Cleveland Indians boast some of the most affordable tickets in the league. Unlike the Browns, the Indians have had a long-running struggle with attendance issues.

Team Marketing Report claims that 10 teams raised ticket prices by at least one percent this year, a slight bump from the nine who did so last season. ESPN’s Darren Rovell does add that the Browns, despite having the cheapest face value on their tickets, do counter this with the most expensive hot dog ($6).

[Related: WFNY Tickets Has Your Browns Tickets

Post-Draft Browns Ticket Sales Jump 119 Percent

With the dust following the 2012 NFL Draft having settled, Cleveland Browns tickets on StubHub — one of the world’s most popular secondary ticket markets — have seen sales improve by 119 percent, the second-largest jump in the National Football League.

From CNBC’s Darren Rovell, the Browns have seen their sales improve dramatically following the additions of Alabama running back Trent Richardson and Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden in the first round. The 119-percent spike is only second to the Philadelphia Eagles, a team which spent the bulk of their weekend bolstering their defense. Threatened by blackouts several times over the course of the last few years, the Browns desperately needed an injection of excitement in to a fan base which has witnessed a combined record of 14-34 over the past three seasons.

Rounding out the mix are the Cincinnati Bengals (103 percent) and Miami Dolphins (102 percent) with the AFC North team having one of the more commended drafts in the league and the Dolphins adding their hopeful quarterback of the future in Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill.

Browns season-ticket-holder renewal payments are due today for those who opt to pay in full.

[Related: Offensive Line gives Cleveland reason for optimism in 2012]