Friday comment contest
The news this week that both the Mets and Yankees will be raising ticket prices for 2008 - with more to come in 2009 at their new stadiums - was depressing, of course.
But I'm sorry that as a free-market type I have trouble getting overly worked up about this stuff. The best revenge in a capitalist society is as follows:
Don't go.
Most of you live somewhere near a minor league park. Hello?
Or watch Derek Jeter on a high def TV for not that much more than the cost for a family of four to sit in the high-rent seats.
Most of all: Take the "kick me" signs off your backs, people.
Anyway, click below to read comment contest winner Sandy's take on all this.
Here it is:
Sports is the only consumer area that I can think of where the customer constantly gets treated like dirt and taken advantage of. Poor quality for costs, pretty much the use of blackmail if you are a season ticket holder (pay by this date or you lose your seat), gametimes changed for no real good reason at all except TV rights pay more than you do. That is why long before I left NY, I decided not to attend games in person anymore (I was a Rangers' season ticket holder beginning in the season that really mattered for 3 seasons until I had enough of the bull.) a) games are covered better on Tv and you see everything b) no idiots to have to deal with c) my beers didn't cost $7 apiece nor my food $5 or up.d) I got to bed early or could sleep later e) I didnt have to miss any other games while in transit.
It would serve all sports franchises right if within a few years there are no paying customers at all and sports becomes something done before no audiences just for Tv, somewhat like horse racing is right now.
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Comments (2)
It's really too bad, because going to games can still be a lot of fun. However, I mostly agree with Sandy here. I live in Baltimore now and some of my friends were amazed that I didn't go to the Jets game in September even though I live walking distance from the stadium. Well, I can watch the same game from the comforts of my house or I can fork over $120 for a Week 2 matchup.
That doesn't even take into consideration anyone trying to go to the Meadowlands this year where parking is apparently a complete nightmare. You're basically giving up your entire Sunday just to go to the game.
Anyway, the gist is that in an era where watching games on television is becoming remarkably easy (I watch soccer games from another contienent on a weekly basis without leaving my house), why people continue to fork over hundreds and thousands of dollars to go to games is tough to understand. Playoffs, etc. I can understand; but the June Tuesday night game against the Reds for $40 a pop, I don't get that one.
Just be careful of the consequences if you don't go. You can lose your team. I lived in Baltimore (crabs and beer for lunch. Perfect!) in the late 1970s and saw people boycott the Colts in disgust over Bob Irsay complaining about the stadium and checking out other cities. He moved the team in the dark of night with permission of Pete Rozelle. I boycotted Cablevision for 10 years when they took over Paragon and moved MSG/Sports Channel to a premium tier. Didn't do any good.