The NFL Accused of Fixing Ticket Prices

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WhatInThe

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The NFL has been accused of fixing ticket prices on the resale market and is under investigation for anti-trust violations by the New York Attorney General. The NFL wants to control the minimum price which keeps prices higher.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...said-to-be-subject-of-antitrust-investigation

Also NFL season ticket holders could lose their seats if they are found selling on a non NFL approved or preferred site.
 

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Congress has been threatening these big sports concerns for may years with ant--trust violations. They should have taken away their protection years ago and allowed the free market to set prices, just like most everything else. Who knows, seat prices may go up, but they also may come down. One thing is for sure, if not price fixing, price gouging should be considered. Most, if not all of the baseball, football and basketball franchises sell what they call a seat licenses, which allows the consumer to purchase tickets for a seat and depending where the seat is located, the license can be hugely expensive. After the consumer buys the license, then they then have the right to purchase the ticket(s) for that or those licenses.

My cousin owns two seat licenses and tickets for the Cleveland Browns home games, which is, I believe for 8 games. He pays a total of almost $3000.00 per seat, or $6000.00 for two seat licenses and tickets, plus taxes. The only upside to this is that the seats are in a very good location.
 
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Ah yes the seat license. I know people who have that fee tied up unable to find a buyer. And the dirty little secret of NFL season tickets-contracts on average 5-10 years. And they don't care if you they push one into bankruptcy collecting their yearly fee. Now the fans who sign these contracts are voluntarily signing them under the false premise their team will keep winning, the concession prices will be the same and their job/finances will never change. Every now and then if a season ticket holder goes to press the team will release them from their contract but they tend to collect. These contracts also fester the illusion that the sport is so popular that there are waiting lists for tickets in some cities and keeps ticket prices artificially high because they don't have to drum up new business until those contracts expire.
 

Pro Sports, is, and has always been an expensive diversion for those who can afford the price. That's why the athletes and owners are making millions. If that's what "floats" a persons boat, that is their choice. About the only affordable such activity....at least in our area...is a regular season baseball game. Once the playoffs start, that quickly ends. The football prices are always high....IF you can find a ticket. Even the college football games can put a serious dent in a persons wallet. With such a market, it is only logical that those in charge will be trying to charge ridiculous prices...and get away with it.
 
I wonder how many season ticket holders pay by cash, check or money order. The people I knew racked up 10s of thousands of dollars in credit card debt paying for season tickets. They save their cash for food and lots of over priced drink. One could pay off a car and monthly utility bill with the amount of debt that is racked up with a season ticket contract bill. But it's the consumer that voluntarily made that choice. As is it a choice for the consumer/viewer that watches the game on tv. Actually the gamblers propel the tv sector as much anyone.
 
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