It's Not The Economy Or Trivial Boycotts: Bengals Need To Lower Ticket Prices To Broaden Spectrum Of Availability

by Josh Kirkendall on Dec 7, 2011 1:00 PM EST

The explosive nature of Cincinnati's that the team just can't sell games out, even with a young, fun, guns leading this team to a winning record through 12 games, came to a head on Tuesday after the team officially announced that Sunday's game against the Houston Texas was going to be blacked out. As it does a majority of the time (but the intensity was amped up more on Tuesday), one would argue that Cincinnati fans "suck" because there's no way that this team shouldn't be selling out, instantly forcing other Bengals fans into a defensive posture due to the generic nature of such an attack.

Some cite the economy, using as an argument for or against the attack on Cincinnati's fanbase. Others remain battle-hardened against the Mike Brown empire -- the same empire that's cohabitating an indoor practice facility with the University of Cincinnati (this season), acquired two first round picks after trading Carson Palmer and in short order put together a young base with a strong foundation surrounded by effective veterans acquired in free agency. Still the position is as long Mike Brown remains in power, then they'll remained locked up in their tower.

Do I rip them? No. That's their belief and we have as little right to demean their beliefs that they're fighting the good fight as someone else does demanding that you spend money for $65 tickets (cheapest through the team's website) when you simply don't have that money to spend -- especially with the mongol corporation empire ogling at their annual "make me effing rich campaign" formerly known as Christmas. Yet, I recently just watched Fight Club again. Great movie.

I don't blame fans for the lack of ticket sales. It's hypocritical and borderline immoral for anyone to give private citizens grief on how they spend their own money.

"Why don't you get an American car? Because foreign cars are better made. Well, you're not a true fan of America. Jerk."

A rough version of a comment made during Tuesday's discussion from me goes like this:

Take the economics of the locale out of the discussion, or broaden it further. Open the doors for more fans, lower class fans that definitely can't pay $65 for a ticket, much less multiple tickets, parking and concessions -- the less privileged that work two jobs.

My point of view, my perspective, is that it’s a damn shame that the Bengals (the front office themselves), hasn't done everything that they can to get more people at Paul Brown Stadium to cheer for the team. I’m not talking about putting a winner on the field — that much they have done and we all acknowledge their efforts in that regard.

Lower the prices, make parking cheaper, offer deals more than a free goddamn bag of popcorn. Other teams do it. The 7-5 Detroit Lions, who haven't struggled with sell outs this season, offered $42 for their cheapest ticket through their website. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers is as low as $35. The Rams cheapest tickets when they host the Bengals later this month is $45 and Thursday Night Football's game with Cleveland hosting the Steelers, fans can still purchase tickets for $46.50. These prices are obtained through team's respective websites.

Should teams be forced to persuade fans to come to the games. Absolutely. Teams should know the fans' pulse and their situations, know what they’re dealing with and how to compensate for that. Yes, fans are responsible for coming to games but the team has work every week, every day and every hour to the bone to make sure that happens. Make it feasible for everyone, rich and poor, and make everyone believe that their entertainment dollar will be vastly rewarded. Not just with victory, but more than the luxuries of sitting at home -- which is vastly cheaper and incredibly more convenient.

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Comments

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how not going to games is construed as not having a fan base.

What if every TV in Cincinnati was tuned to the Bengals game, but only 40 people were at the game?

What if the Colts sell out (as they currently are due to season tickets) but 10% of TVs in Indianapolis are tuned to the Colts game?

Bengals fans are not as good as Colts fans b/c they didn’t sell out? I don’t think this argument has any merit.

But in general, I also agree w/ you, lowering ticket price would help get fans into the stadium.

Change gone come mane! Trust me! Cause i Bleed tigerblood!--Jerome Simpson

by Grizzlyfox on Dec 7, 2011 1:08 PM EST reply actions

+1

by Diesel2405 on Dec 7, 2011 1:18 PM EST up reply actions

RE:

Bengals dominate local ratings when they play.

Managing Editor at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Josh Kirkendall on Dec 7, 2011 1:31 PM EST up reply actions

Cincy does do very well in local TV market, 7th a few weeks ago agaisnt the Titans

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/11/10/nfl-midway-point-local-ratings-on-record-pace/110315/

Change gone come mane! Trust me! Cause i Bleed tigerblood!--Jerome Simpson

by Grizzlyfox on Dec 7, 2011 2:00 PM EST up reply actions

I might go to every single home game

if tickets could be had for $35.

"I thought, 'Ball, please get down and into my hands.'"
-AJ Green

by Jaegner on Dec 7, 2011 1:20 PM EST via mobile reply actions

+1

by Diesel2405 on Dec 7, 2011 1:21 PM EST up reply actions

Some real good points.

Seems you’ve convinced me that it’s the ownership’s responsibility to lower ticket prices to bring in the fans! Afterall, every business finds it necessary to put items on sale to move their goods. I still wish we could fill the stadium to give our boys the advantages other home teams enjoy. Thanks Josh for providing some levity to the arguments.

by BengalsTom on Dec 7, 2011 1:37 PM EST reply actions

How have they "put a winner on the field"?

They have surprised everyone with a 7-5 record, but still can’t compete with the perennial AFC powerhouses of Pittsburgh, Baltimore, New England and Indianapolis (save for this year). These cities are of similar economic background of Cincinnati, charge a relatively high amount for their tickets and still sell out every home game (Indianapolis being the exception in 2011). Hell, Steelers fans travel better than any fan base and sell out opposing games—one of the Bengals only sellouts this season at PBS was the Steeler game. They (other teams’ fans) aren’t in much better financial shape than Cincinnatians, but still make an effort to go to their teams’ games because their ownership shows that they care about their fans and they put a CONSISTENT winner on the field, year in and year out. Bengals ownership does neither of these things.

While I agree with your points about lowering ticket prices, Josh, I’d argue that a lot of fans that are staying away from PBS this year, would shell out the same amount of money for tickets to a Bengals game if they were a consistent winner and ownership showed compassion to fans—even if they’re in the exact same financial position. It’s a shame that this fun, overachieving squad isn’t playing in front of sellout crowds for their playoff push, but ownership has brought that upon itself with its past two decades of ineptitude.

CincyJungle Writer
Follow me on Twitter: @CUIBengalsFan

by Anthony Cosenza on Dec 7, 2011 1:41 PM EST reply actions

Its a mix of both.

A lot of people didnt renew season tickets this year, because the team was expected to suck, and brown was doing nothing about it. Now, people are still saying, “three winning seasons in 20 years doesn’t show me anything”. So a lot of people are staying away because of this organization. On the other hand, tickets are over 60 dollars, I went to a browns game, with dog pound tickets, for 60 dollars. Obviously ticket prices are considered when for 2 people to go its 130, instead of 80. Lower ticket price of course attendance increases. Go to the playoffs 2 years straight and win a game there, of course attendance goes up. It’s not just one thing.

by JCompton41 on Dec 7, 2011 2:11 PM EST via mobile reply actions

+1

I might be a buyer of Bengals tickets, one or two times a year at 40-50 bucks.

If they were playoff bound, I might buy a ticket to boo the sqeelers at current cheap seat prices.

by keithster on Dec 7, 2011 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

business school day one

If the Bengals were 12-0 right now…..The ticket prices would most likely rise next year…..

The Bengals are hovering at average after an abysmal and embarrassing off-season….shouldn’t the prices go down…..

MY POINT IS: Ticket prices should fluctuate based on the product and demand….not only “rise or stay the same”…..doesn’t make business sense….period

by ticalcaldwell on Dec 7, 2011 2:32 PM EST reply actions

Business school, day two

You charge what the market can bear, to the point where a reduction of price does not create more profits in increased demand/volume.

Simple example: If the Bengals charge $60 a ticket and get 45,000 fans, they’re making $2,700,000. If they lower ticket prices by $10, they lose $450,000 with the same number of fans. Which means, at new ticket prices, they’d have to pull in 9000 more fans to break even. Is that a definite? Don’t you think, as I do and as many others in this thread have posted, there are people staying away for other reasons other than price?

If the organization believes it won’t make up in new ticket sales what they’d lose in ticket value price reductions – and there’s credible evidence to suggest that would be the case – then the business has made the right move.

"This is the St. Louis Cardinals we're talking about. They suck. Screw them. With a shovel. The sharp metal end. And then set them on fire." - crolfer

by rorschach1979 on Dec 7, 2011 2:53 PM EST up reply actions

That argument may be flawed.

If you’re taking seats that aren’t selling at all and lower prices you’re gaining revenue. Would you have to adjust the other prices? Perhaps. But you can offer season ticket holders other things. Like VIP tours, parties with players and cheerleaders, and all of that to a greater degree. Throw in a jersey. The overall point others are making is that thousands of “cheap” seats are going unsold and the 300 level is a ghost town on the sides most games. Hell they should just tarp them for the rest of the season as a sign of good will. You’re not just selling a team. You need to sell an experience. It’s sorely lacking in that area.

by Jcon77 on Dec 7, 2011 3:04 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

I don't think anyone is arguing for them to lower the prices of ALL their tickets.

The CHEAPEST tickets are 65 bucks a pop. That really needs to be lowered based on the fact that the stadium isn’t selling out. Keep the mid range tickets the same, maybe even charge more for the higher end tickets. There are ways to play with the numbers to make it work better than it is now with empty seats all over the place for every home game… If the best money guy the Bengals have is saying something like

$60 a ticket and get 45,000 fans, they’re making $2,700,000. If they lower ticket prices by $10, they lose $450,000 with the same number of fans. Which means, at new ticket prices, they’d have to pull in 9000 more fans to break even.

then they really need to hire someone else to be thinking about that kinda thing.

by Luke on Dec 7, 2011 4:14 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

brown has no imagination and is stupid greedy...

like the first 20.000 nose bleed seats half or 2/3 price on monday. and let it be known that you can move down to better seats that dont sell after the first half….brown needs to read a book of to on p t barnum …brown would rather sell 3 tickets for a million a piece than 45.000 for $2,700,000 and lose half a million in beer and hot dog money.

by mike111 on Dec 7, 2011 6:45 PM EST up reply actions

I'm sure some people staying away for other reasons besides price

But even if I were in the area, I wouldn’t pay $65 for nose bleeds

by Oregonbengalsfan on Dec 7, 2011 4:38 PM EST up reply actions

charge what the market can bear

The Bengals current market is not bearing anything 20,000 seats a game…

If they lower ticket prices by $10, they lose $450,000 with the same number of fans……but the point was that it would bring in MORE fans……….nice math though….errr

by ticalcaldwell on Dec 7, 2011 4:49 PM EST up reply actions

I can watch the game at home

and not have to be patted down by a guy that looks like he’s fresh out of an episode of “The First 48”.

by Im_a_fun_haver on Dec 7, 2011 3:52 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Question

I don’t live in the county but I know a number of you do. I was wondering if, with the stadium tax, do a number of people feel “I’m already paying too *#@& with that tax!” and that’s another problem?

by spif on Dec 7, 2011 3:52 PM EST reply actions

its called using public money to line private pockets

by mike111 on Dec 7, 2011 6:49 PM EST up reply actions

U talking bout the 1%, Willis?

Our government through collective bargaining caps what a man can earn. Teachers, laborers, goverment worker unions all fight to qualify there own earnings. Pro sports all represented by unions seem to have no cap at all. Salaries are exploding in all sports. I do not promote government interference in our lives, but we cannot stop it in these times.

However, at this point I feel we should cap earnings to mostly degree-less atheletes enforce all sports to lower ticket prices (the smallest portion of direct revenue) and give the game back to the every man. It is he who makes all this possible, he who pays what he has to, to watch his game (tv or venue). Sports success is null without the bottom half of America. We watch because we love them, but their great gain allienates most of those who give them their success. They black out their greatest earner in tv money because not enough people can afford to go to one game let alone all of them.

The girl who gave Cam Newton back his record TD ball asked for her ticket for CHRISTmass. A present she couldn’t afford by herself. They gave her another ball and 4 hats, not season tickets or an actual reward. Cam could have paid half of his game check after taxes for it. She would be $45,000 richer.

by recedingjungle on Dec 7, 2011 4:32 PM EST reply actions

No way

The last thing we need is government stepping in and screwing things up even more. And we certainly don’t need the government determining how much each team can charge for tickets. Very nasty slippery slope there, as they’ll then start to feel they should control prices of other goods and services across this glorious country of ours (cue Star Spangled Banner music in background).

And while I love the Bengals, if Mike Brown is too stupid to realize his methods and his ticket pricing are killing ticket sales, then it will be his fault if he doesn’t fix things and the team goes kaput. And if it happens…it happens.

While it’s sad to see the stadium with so many empty seats with this team playing the way they are, this is the result of ~20 years of Brown’s horrid managing. Sports writers, broadcasters, former players, editors, etc have been clamoring about this problem for decades and nothing has changed. A lot of fans think this (not buying tickets) is the ONLY thing that will get MB’s attention.

We’ve already seen some positive moves on MB’s part, so here’s hoping there are more in the future and those fans who are boycotting will feel they’ve succeeded and it’s time to come back.

by spif on Dec 7, 2011 6:38 PM EST up reply actions

I think it's risky for Brown to lower ticket prices now..

He’s not guaranteed to sell out because some fans still might be mad at him for the last 20 years.

by DTFCPDX on Dec 7, 2011 7:33 PM EST up reply actions

Oddly I haven't heard much about your guy's blackout problem on ESPN this year.....

Sucks that they can’t leave my Jaguars alone smh. Jacksonville hasn’t had one blackout in the past FEW seasons. Yet everyone keeps talking about them b/c no one at ESPN does research. Though I do remember fans kept saying “we’ll go to the games when the team starts winning” the past few seasons…well? The Bengals still have all these blackouts, as did the Buccaneers ALL last year AND the Raiders! But all I hear is Jax, Jax, Jax lol…. #EspnIsAJoke

Not really directed at you guys just funny no one has ANY coverage of your blackout problem yet I’ll probably see a new Jags to LA article on ESPN tmrw…smh

"Sad fact about our generation: Most ppl would rather hear "you look good" than "you are good". We spend thousands a year on cars, clothes, & cosmetics; Forget that. I can give you a Bible for free. Save money, save your soul. Get right with the Savior, Jesus Christ."- Travis D. Holmes

by T.Holmes on Dec 7, 2011 4:47 PM EST reply actions

hay brown! you are an idiot.

the collade kid that sees the game on tv orbuys a CHEAP ticket today will be earning more money in the future to buy the season tickest in the future its called building your fan base..why have all those empty seats without a beer buying ass in them anyway???

by mike111 on Dec 7, 2011 9:31 PM EST reply actions