Season Tickets

Sadly, after following the Pats since 1960 and sharing part of a season's ticket (front row 40 yd line) with a friend since 1985, I'm droping out.

The parking situation has reached a point that I really cannot stand the hassle. $40 to park across the road and walk over 20 minutes to the game. Wait with the motor running an hour or more just to get out onto Rt 1. Each year one of my old favorite easy access spots would get eliminated. Patriots Place and the demise of P2 was the final straw.
Drive >90 minutes to get home; that's without the tieups on 495N or 95N.
The increasing number of night games with arrival home way too late for this geezer.
Too many 4 o'clock games; miss the 1PM tailgate experience.

I drove through unplowed major highways to get to last December's Miami game and swore that if I got there and back without spinning out into an accident like those arround me I'd never do it again. I'm not going to buy a 4WD SUV just to get to a couple football games.

At $179 per seat. I'll leave the seats to the corporate brown noser of the week who sucks up for the company tickets. Expect less noise from the 'fans'.

bresna said:

Unless the Pats use a system that's very different from the Celtics, this will only give the person your seats for this season. The renewal will go back to you for next season. I can't believe that the Pats would allow season ticket "transfers" with a huge waiting list. It would be totally unfair to the ones waiting in line (with a $100/ticket deposit).

With the Celtics during the 80's, I was a "season ticket holder" for eight years with the invoice and tickets going to the "real" season ticket holder during that whole time. He even tried talking to the Celtics ticket office about it, and they told him, you give up your tickets, they go into the pool. You could not "transfer" season tickets on the Celtics waiting list. Eventually, as they started to stink, we were able to add my brother to the account as a co-owner and eventually take the original owner's name completely off, but by then, we didn't want the tickets either.

Click to expand...

Transferring to a family member is possible but pretty expensive. It's easy enough to do "under the table" though. Bill gets sent to Gainzo, buyer sends money to Gainzo, Gainzo gets tix and sends them to buyer. As long as Gainzo is willing to continue the practice it could continue indefinitely. Well, until, you know...

I sold my tix for 5 games this year to one of my friends for the first time. The financial realities of 4 kids on one income are slowly starting to surface.

PatsWickedPissah said:

Sadly, after following the Pats since 1960 and sharing part of a season's ticket (front row 40 yd line) with a friend since 1985, I'm droping out.

The parking situation has reached a point that I really cannot stand the hassle. $40 to park across the road and walk over 20 minutes to the game. Wait with the motor running an hour or more just to get out onto Rt 1. Each year one of my old favorite easy access spots would get eliminated. Patriots Place and the demise of P2 was the final straw.
Drive >90 minutes to get home; that's without the tieups on 495N or 95N.
The increasing number of night games with arrival home way too late for this geezer.
Too many 4 o'clock games; miss the 1PM tailgate experience.

I drove through unplowed major highways to get to last December's Miami game and swore that if I got there and back without spinning out into an accident like those arround me I'd never do it again. I'm not going to buy a 4WD SUV just to get to a couple football games.

At $179 per seat. I'll leave the seats to the corporate brown noser of the week who sucks up for the company tickets. Expect less noise from the 'fans'.

Click to expand...

You hit the nail on the head. They expect people who work for a living to get no sleep to attend those night games. My Aunt lives in Foxboro so we park at her house and get a ride to RT1. If we had to pay and deal with the traffic I'm not sure we would still have the seats. Other cities are much, much easier.

I"m sorry to hear about all these folks wanting to give up their tickets, but I have to say: I Can't Blame Them!

It costs an outrageous amount of money to see a game. The traffic situation could be the worst in the NFL. The parking situation is horrendous! On top of it all, you're not even guaranteed playoff tickets for being a season ticket holder, so what's the point?

I think we're all starting to understand why the crowd is always so quiet. The real, hardcore fans are being forced to stay home.

Bostonian1962 said:

On top of it all, you're not even guaranteed playoff tickets for being a season ticket holder, so what's the point?

Click to expand...

You're guaranteed tickets to all home playoff games. That's a key benefit to me.

Bostonian1962 said:

I"m sorry to hear about all these folks wanting to give up their tickets, but I have to say: I Can't Blame Them!

It costs an outrageous amount of money to see a game. The traffic situation could be the worst in the NFL. The parking situation is horrendous! On top of it all, you're not even guaranteed playoff tickets for being a season ticket holder, so what's the point?

I think we're all starting to understand why the crowd is always so quiet. The real, hardcore fans are being forced to stay home.

Click to expand...

Complain all you want.....the only valid complaint is if these tough economic times have you by the short hairs, otherwise STFU.

There is no place I would rather be on an NFL Sunday then sitting in my seats watching Tom Brady & company play football.

Are you kidding me??

If you like professional football - what could possibly compare to what we have had going, right here, this decade?

NFL is still a relative bargain compared to NBA and MLB. Those tickets are similarly priced per game, but each game has so much less significance.

Sadly, buying tix at face value is next to impossible, unless, of course, you know someone and their particular situaton well enough to inquire. I know quite a few people who share Season Tickets, but they're never available because someone in the group always goes. It's better that way to ensure they don't get confiscated after an incident caused by an outsider who doesn't appreciate the privilege. Unfortunately, that leaves me the option of dropping over a grand to see a game in person or stay and watch it in HD from the comfort of my living room. I'm not complaining about it, I'm just recognizing the choices. That's the market. As BB would say, "It is what it is"! But if anyone needs to sell at any time, even preseason games, PM me. I'm going to take my son to more than just TC this year, one way or another.

fgssand said:

Complain all you want.....the only valid complaint is if these tough economic times have you by the short hairs, otherwise STFU.

There is no place I would rather be on an NFL Sunday then sitting in my seats watching Tom Brady & company play football.

Are you kidding me??

If you like professional football - what could possibly compare to what we have had going, right here, this decade?

Click to expand...

You are correct. I see being a season ticket holder as my hobby. There are tons of hobbies that cost $2k-plus or so over the course of a year. Yeah, the price of my hobby just went up, but I love it too much to just walk away. Like some of you here I suppose I could reason, rationalize, and talk myself into being negative enough to quit after 14 years, but I know that come September, I'd regret it. I spoke with a Patriots ticket rep today who told me that the renewal rate (so far) is the same as last year, and the waiting list is 40,000. If you love pro football like I do, you've got to appreciate how amazing it is to be at the sport's epicenter here in New England.

Tunescribe said:

You are correct. I see being a season ticket holder as my hobby. There are tons of hobbies that cost $2k-plus or so over the course of a year. Yeah, the price of my hobby just went up, but I love it too much to just walk away. Like some of you here I suppose I could reason, rationalize, and talk myself into being negative enough to quit after 14 years, but I know that come September, I'd regret it. I spoke with a Patriots ticket rep today who told me that the renewal rate (so far) is the same as last year, and the waiting list is 40,000. If you love pro football like I do, you've got to appreciate how amazing it is to be at the sport's epicenter here in New England.

Click to expand...

That's how I feel. I really don't spend much money on myself in any other ways. As long as I'm able to afford the games, I'll continue to keep the tix and go when I can. I'm not going to stop just to spite Kraft or to make a statement. Life is too short to rob myself of the pleasure (or pain, depending on the game). Obviously it's a different story when one can't afford the tix.

Patjew said:

That's how I feel. I really don't spend much money on myself in any other ways. As long as I'm able to afford the games, I'll continue to keep the tix and go when I can. I'm not going to stop just to spite Kraft or to make a statement. Life is too short to rob myself of the pleasure (or pain, depending on the game). Obviously it's a different story when one can't afford the tix.

Click to expand...

It's hard for me to believe that anyone here can honestly claim the ticket price increase has suddenly exceeded their threshold of affordability. Anyone budgeted that tightly probably shouldn't be buying football tickets to begin with. Like I said, it's easy to get all negative about it and talk yourself into walking away, but that seems like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

I too am a long term season tix holder (sec.123) and like everyone else gave some thought to renew or not. Yes it's a good sum up front and yes, parking does crap (for the championship game we paid $70!). But this something that i do derive real enjoyment. The game itself is of course why I go, but getting together with people who I call friends and literally and figuratively break bread with is important enough that I'll need to cut back on something else.
To also put some perspective on this, a buddy of mine shares 4 Red Sox season's tix with someone else. At $125 per seat that's $40,500. As my friend said in his email earlier this week "ouch"

I take BB and the Patriots' management 'value' approach to evaluating the STs option...

A 40% price hike for...
1. A constantly deteriorating access and parking situation that subtracts from gameday before and after

2. More night and late afternoon games, resulting in next day misery

I'm taking the 'Asante Samuels' decision...not worth it.

Hopefully give 'em up to the next younger generation of fans but I really think that the corporate folks will get the seats.

YMMV.

Tunescribe said:

It's hard for me to believe that anyone here can honestly claim the ticket price increase has suddenly exceeded their threshold of affordability. Anyone budgeted that tightly probably shouldn't be buying football tickets to begin with. Like I said, it's easy to get all negative about it and talk yourself into walking away, but that seems like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Click to expand...

I think you are missing the point.

My tickets went from around $3,800 to over $5,000 (3 seats). Two of the ten games are for pre-season. So for 8 games that would be over $208 per seat ($624 a game + parking, etc). And don't forget the bad weather games. And mind you my seats as well as others were already the most expensive in the NFL.

Perhaps you liked being ripped off, me I don't. It is not always about the money, there is something called principle. I can pay for the tickets but choose NOT to. As I said in a prior post, I have an aversion to being bilked -- especially considering I don't even have a chance at a SB ticket.

I have been a season ticket holder since the early '70's so please don't tell me I am not a Pats fan. I sat through some really UGLY seasons and never wavered in my support. And the team will always have my support. The TEAM. Not Kraft. I never liked the guy and never will.

And think again if you think people on the waiting list will get the tickets. NOT. Friends, family, and business associates of Kraft will get the first pick. After all it is his team, but this is one person's money he will not have.

My large screen HD TV is just fine and it doesn't cost me a cent.

And I for one hope this greedy move on his part comes back to bite him. He needs a little perspective. Actually he needs a lot right now.

Thanks to everyone who expressed interest. I found a buyer and I hope he enjoys the upcoming season.

On the plus side, I get to keep the tickets in my name and then readdress the situation in 2009.

Big props to everyone who renewed their tickets.

pats1yes said:

Perhaps you liked being ripped off, me I don't. It is not always about the money, there is something called principle. I can pay for the tickets but choose NOT to. As I said in a prior post, I have an aversion to being bilked -- especially considering I don't even have a chance at a SB ticket.

I have been a season ticket holder since the early '70's so please don't tell me I am not a Pats fan. I sat through some really UGLY seasons and never wavered in my support. And the team will always have my support. The TEAM. Not Kraft. I never liked the guy and never will.

And think again if you think people on the waiting list will get the tickets. NOT. Friends, family, and business associates of Kraft will get the first pick. After all it is his team, but this is one person's money he will not have.

My large screen HD TV is just fine and it doesn't cost me a cent.

And I for one hope this greedy move on his part comes back to bite him. He needs a little perspective. Actually he needs a lot right now.

Click to expand...

Please spare us this "quitting on principle" baloney. You don't have the passion for attending games anymore, and that's fine. But if you ask me, television is a poor substitute. I called the Patriots today to get the lowdown on the increase and feel satisfied by their explanation. I don't consider my now paying $117 per ticket, which goes up from $89, being "bilked," especially since tix to the Celtics and Bankofamericasox are in the same range. You want a chance at a Super Bowl ticket? Do what I've done for the last three and get them on the open market. Some things in life you just do for the love of it, everything and everyone else be damned. No, I don't like the increase and it will mean sacrifices in other leisure-time pursuits. Three season tickets in the lower bowl is a lot for anybody. Why don't you just drop one of them? If you think throwing your tickets away in a snit is going to tweak Bob Kraft, you're fishing in the dark.

pats1yes said:

I think you are missing the point.

My tickets went from around $3,800 to over $5,000 (3 seats). Two of the ten games are for pre-season. So for 8 games that would be over $208 per seat ($624 a game + parking, etc). And don't forget the bad weather games. And mind you my seats as well as others were already the most expensive in the NFL.

Perhaps you liked being ripped off, me I don't. It is not always about the money, there is something called principle. I can pay for the tickets but choose NOT to. As I said in a prior post, I have an aversion to being bilked -- especially considering I don't even have a chance at a SB ticket.

I have been a season ticket holder since the early '70's so please don't tell me I am not a Pats fan. I sat through some really UGLY seasons and never wavered in my support. And the team will always have my support. The TEAM. Not Kraft. I never liked the guy and never will.

And think again if you think people on the waiting list will get the tickets. NOT. Friends, family, and business associates of Kraft will get the first pick. After all it is his team, but this is one person's money he will not have.

My large screen HD TV is just fine and it doesn't cost me a cent.

And I for one hope this greedy move on his part comes back to bite him. He needs a little perspective. Actually he needs a lot right now.

Click to expand...

If you enjoy going to the games, the only one this will come back to bite is you. I'm pretty sure Kraft will be fine.

If it was me (and it is), I would save my principles for something worth fighting. "Ripped off" is subjective. I don't feel ripped off by this price increase. And "principles" has nothing to do with this. It's not like your boycotting the games because the Pats are owned by a child molester or practice racism. Your "principle" is that you don't want to spend so much money for these tickets. Talk about needing perspective. Maybe you also should stop buying gas and groceries since they have appreciated so much recently. Or coffee because of unfair trading practices. And I really hope you've never bought a diamond. Or anything that contains tin.

I have no problems with people dumping their tickets, but wow...

Why should anyone be surprised tickets went from $125 to $169? Everything else has shot up in price too thanks to inflation. Kraft is a business man, he knows this.

www.shadowstats.com

pheenix11 said:

Why should anyone be surprised tickets went from $125 to $169? Everything else has shot up in price too thanks to inflation. Kraft is a business man, he knows this.

www.shadowstats.com

Click to expand...

Why would people be surprised? It was a $44 increase for goodness sake. Inflation is one thing but a 30 odd percent increase is much higher than the inflation rate.

Do you have season tickets? If not, STFU.

Gainzo said:

Why would people be surprised? It was a $44 increase for goodness sake. Inflation is one thing but a 30 odd percent increase is much higher than the inflation rate.

Do you have season tickets? If not, STFU.

Click to expand...

For some reason I laughed at that last "STFU" line.

This is a very emotional issue.

In my industry the cost of base metals has almost doubled this past year. That has little to do with this issue, but it sure makes doing business a pain in the butt.

Life is getting very expensive.