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Post by Lark11 on Oct 23, 2014 14:45:37 GMT -5
I think getting people to go to the games is part of issue as well. Baseball is so much more engaging when you are actually at the ballpark. Because the MLB season has ten times more games per season than the NFL, any individual game is only 10% as meaningful. However, the average MLB ticket is one-third the price of an NFL ticket ($28 vs. $85). So the ratio of price vs. how meaningful the games are seems to be out of whack. What would happen to MLB attendance if tickets averaged just $8.50 per game? That's a non-starter. The owners will let supply and demand establish the equilibrium point for ticket prices. The owners don't want to make less money. By what measure do you think fan interest is a problem?
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Post by schellis on Oct 23, 2014 14:47:23 GMT -5
I believe attendance would jump considerably if a family of four could attend a game with mid-level to good seats for under 200 dollars (this includes food parking and ticket)
I haven't been to a game in over a decade in part because of ticket price. I'm around two hours away and will only go with very good seats. If I can't see the players, smell the grass and hear the crack of the bat clearly I rather just stay home and watch it on tv.
Another issue is that baseball is becoming far easier to follow on tv. Most games are on now. Food is cheaper, lines to the bathroom far shorter, and the seats are more comfortable.
Yes you do lose the field of dreams effect by staying at home though. You just don't get the smells and all the sounds from a live game. Baseball like hockey is just better live.
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Post by scottscudder on Oct 23, 2014 22:34:44 GMT -5
I think getting people to go to the games is part of issue as well. Baseball is so much more engaging when you are actually at the ballpark. Because the MLB season has ten times more games per season than the NFL, any individual game is only 10% as meaningful. However, the average MLB ticket is one-third the price of an NFL ticket ($28 vs. $85). So the ratio of price vs. how meaningful the games are seems to be out of whack. What would happen to MLB attendance if tickets averaged just $8.50 per game? That's a non-starter. The owners will let supply and demand establish the equilibrium point for ticket prices. The owners don't want to make less money. By what measure do you think fan interest is a problem? Letting supply and demand establish the equilibrium point for ticket prices is both misguided and shortsighted: 1) It doesn't consider the concessions, parking, or souvenir revenues that accompany higher attendance. Look at any grocery store - they have low prices on milk to get people in the store, and then they generate massive sales as shoppers put additional items in the basket. 2) It ignores the concept of building a loyal customer base. A more loyal customer that attends three games at $8.50 per ticket will spend more overall than a one-time customer at $28 per ticket. With regard to fan interest being a problem, I'd say this is pretty indicative: www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/nfl-pittsburgh-steelers-news/2014/10/23/7045055/tv-ratings-world-series-monday-night-football-texans-steelers
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