The Patriots already had the highest ticket prices in the league. They proceed to add on to that number with an average price of over $100.00 a ticket. I honestly think this is an outrage. My 3 seats go from $375 to $507 per game. Let's see, someone tell me why??? How much money do you think Kraft makes from 2 playoff games and a SB???
I know some of you will start on me, but I don't care. I have had my season tickets since the mid-70's. I went to every game rain, snow, every game. The prices relative to the economy allowed me to continue to keep my tickets even when I moved to places where I could not attend every game.
There is no one more dedicated to the Patriots team than me. I live, bleed and die Pats. The TEAM.
But I have never liked Kraft since he bought this team. Before he bought the team we used to park across the street, get there early and tailgate for hours. When it was time to leave, we knew we had to wait a while. But, right away it became clear he was not going to let an independent make money. The state troopers never let us out until the end. Bottom line move to his lot or pay the price - grief.
In addition, security went over the top and you were looked at weird if you even got into the game. My sister was visiting and I took her to a game. As we were walking down the steps, we sat down as the play was going on so as to not block the view of others. Some security guy came up and pushed her in the back and screamed at her to get moving.
Then there is this whole issue of reselling tickets. If I remember correctly, a guy that sold his tickets on EBay once -- a 25 year season ticket holder that had only missed that one game in years lost his season tickets. That was another outrage. The reason this reselling issue bothers me is that the season ticket holders support the team, but they have almost zero chance of going to a SB. When we went to the SB in 1986 every season ticket holder had an opportunity to go. Not a lousy 2000 tickets, the balance going to Kraft. An outrage.
I have a friend who has one of our star players sister working for him in Boston. I will not give names. He went to every SB this decade, doesn't have season tickets -- just has them given to him. Me, never won the lottery, and no I will not spend $10000 to go to a SB.
And as far as Kraft saving this team, that is bull. The New England market is huge, there would have been another buyer. In fact I think Parcells was interested in buying the team with a bunch of other guys. Darn I wish he had.
And what really bothers me is that when I was a kid, my father took us to football and baseball games all the time. All of us. We came from a middle class family. What middle class family can afford to spend $1000 to go to a football game. None that I know of. None. This is what really bothers me.
My $125 seat was already the most expensive in football. There is no justification for such a price increase, none. Except greed. Pure and simple.
Why will this hurt football and the team? It's pretty simple, only the wealthy will be able to attend games with their children. I became a die-hard fan because my father regularly took us. There is no experience like it. Nothing like seeing a game on TV.
Unfortunately, it is just the way of the world today. I wish we were Green Bay and the FANS owned the team.
I will be a Pats fan until I die. That will never change. But even though I can afford to pay for my tickets I am not going to. Greed is ugly. And no, I will not resell them to someone else, in this case I choose to make a statement. And I am absolutely, positively sure I am not the only one that feels this way.
