I started attending sporting events around 1980. As a sign of my increasing chronological existence I have fallen into the stereotypical pattern of referencing "the good ol' days." One of my beefs has to do with the cost of tickets to professional sporting events. My complaint is not that the ticket prices have gone, because that is to be expected but it is the disproportional increase in ticket prices that upsets me. Rather than just rambling on about how much better the past was I present some numbers comparing the average income for fans, average baseball ticket and average salary for a professional baseball player. I have chosen baseball as for a long time it took pride in offering an affordable family entertainment option (i.e. ample availability of "cheap seats" often less expensive than movie tickets).
1980: average income $13500, average baseball ticket $4.50, average player salary $20000
2018: average income $62175, average baseball ticket $72, average player salary $4.2 million
Increases: average income 4.6X, average baseball ticket 16X, average player salary 210X
Numbers don't lie, sports ticket prices have increased at a rate disproportionally higher than inflation and the cost of living. Old guy theory/complaint: validated. Player salary increases: that's another rant.
Friday, March 1, 2019
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Going to The Game
Going to a professional sporting event as a youngster was special, for me it was the CFL, NHL and MLB if I was travelling. There were fewer teams. We were not flooded with television coverage as all we had was the local channel's "game of the week." Watching a game whether on TV or in person was a treat.
Going to a game meant following your favorite player and/or team. Concession and souvenir options were limited and other than a fan shooting a puck through a hole in a sheet of plywood to win a medium pizza there were no forms of entertainment or distractions. We went to the game because we loved the game, plain and simple.
Today the quality of the game is diluted because of the increased number of teams and subsequent demand for less talented players. The myriad of sports programming on cable/satellite TV makes it easy for the viewer to yawn and move on because it is just another game. Those in attendance at a game may not be fans and need noise and shiny things to keep their attention while true fans sit at home often unable to afford the egregious ticket prices. Games are more about the sizzle than the steak.
On the flip side of the coin more teams and more television exposure gives greater opportunity to develop a new/expanding fan base. More television options allow fans to follow their team if it is out of market. If you are interested in international sports they are now more readily available to watch. Haveing team ambassadors shoot t-shirts into the stands is more entertaining than watching the zamboni flood the ice.
Hats off to European soccer fans. The big time European soccer experience is more on the old-school side. Fans are in their seats while the game is on. No popcorn/soda sales people walking up and down the isles. No fans going to the bathroom during play. Concessions and souvenirs are limited. Fans are at the game to watch and cheer. While the frills are limited the passion is high.
Going to a game meant following your favorite player and/or team. Concession and souvenir options were limited and other than a fan shooting a puck through a hole in a sheet of plywood to win a medium pizza there were no forms of entertainment or distractions. We went to the game because we loved the game, plain and simple.
Today the quality of the game is diluted because of the increased number of teams and subsequent demand for less talented players. The myriad of sports programming on cable/satellite TV makes it easy for the viewer to yawn and move on because it is just another game. Those in attendance at a game may not be fans and need noise and shiny things to keep their attention while true fans sit at home often unable to afford the egregious ticket prices. Games are more about the sizzle than the steak.
On the flip side of the coin more teams and more television exposure gives greater opportunity to develop a new/expanding fan base. More television options allow fans to follow their team if it is out of market. If you are interested in international sports they are now more readily available to watch. Haveing team ambassadors shoot t-shirts into the stands is more entertaining than watching the zamboni flood the ice.
Hats off to European soccer fans. The big time European soccer experience is more on the old-school side. Fans are in their seats while the game is on. No popcorn/soda sales people walking up and down the isles. No fans going to the bathroom during play. Concessions and souvenirs are limited. Fans are at the game to watch and cheer. While the frills are limited the passion is high.
Friday, February 15, 2019
Back to the Future
As a sports fan I find the older I get the more my thoughts go back to "the good ol' days." If I try to be objective I need to ask whether things really were better back in the day or are they better now Let's compare the past and present of a sports fan.
Ticket prices: As a high school student earning roughly $5 an hour I could buy a "fun zone" ticket between $10 and $15, the equivalent of two to three hours of work. Today a student earning a $15 an hour wage would have to work four to five hours for a $60-$75 "cheap seat." Winner: the good old days.
Brand identity and loyalty: With a few exceptions team when I was growing up rosters had minimal change from year to year. Each team had two sets of uniforms. You knew the players and had a loyalty to the team and its players. With free-agency, more teams in the league and a different uniform each game day currently it is tough to keep track of your team. If you like team identity and loyalty the winner is the gold old days. If you like fluidity and change the winner is today's sports world.
Food: Back in the day you could get luke-warm coffee, flat sodas, hot dogs and stale pop corn. Current sports venues offer food fare rivalling exotic and gourmet restaurants. The clear winner is the present era.
Concessions and souvenirs: Selection of sports merchandise in the past was limited to two t-shirt styles (in adult and youth sizes), two cap styles, pennants and a mini hockey stick/baseball bat. Today you can purchase anything and everything for you, your car, your home and your pet. Clear winner is the present.
Stadiums and arenas: Many of the old venues had limited amenities and would violate current safety and accessibility regulations, but they had character. Modern sports venues are architectural wonders with all the amenities one could imagine but one could argue they often lack character and atmosphere. You decide the winner, do you want character and heart or do you prefer beauty and amenities?
The past had its glory, but also its weaknesses. As times change so does the sports and entertainment world. The only choice we have is to cherish the past and embrace and enjoy the present.
Ticket prices: As a high school student earning roughly $5 an hour I could buy a "fun zone" ticket between $10 and $15, the equivalent of two to three hours of work. Today a student earning a $15 an hour wage would have to work four to five hours for a $60-$75 "cheap seat." Winner: the good old days.
Brand identity and loyalty: With a few exceptions team when I was growing up rosters had minimal change from year to year. Each team had two sets of uniforms. You knew the players and had a loyalty to the team and its players. With free-agency, more teams in the league and a different uniform each game day currently it is tough to keep track of your team. If you like team identity and loyalty the winner is the gold old days. If you like fluidity and change the winner is today's sports world.
Food: Back in the day you could get luke-warm coffee, flat sodas, hot dogs and stale pop corn. Current sports venues offer food fare rivalling exotic and gourmet restaurants. The clear winner is the present era.
Concessions and souvenirs: Selection of sports merchandise in the past was limited to two t-shirt styles (in adult and youth sizes), two cap styles, pennants and a mini hockey stick/baseball bat. Today you can purchase anything and everything for you, your car, your home and your pet. Clear winner is the present.
Stadiums and arenas: Many of the old venues had limited amenities and would violate current safety and accessibility regulations, but they had character. Modern sports venues are architectural wonders with all the amenities one could imagine but one could argue they often lack character and atmosphere. You decide the winner, do you want character and heart or do you prefer beauty and amenities?
The past had its glory, but also its weaknesses. As times change so does the sports and entertainment world. The only choice we have is to cherish the past and embrace and enjoy the present.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Incredible Amazing Season
The Saskatchewan Roughriders hosted the 101st Grey Cup. As good fortune would have it they also played in the game verses the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. One of the story lines through the week was the number of players/coaches on each team that had at one time been a part of the other. The Riders established the tone of the game by early in the second quarter. The Tiger-Cats did manage to pull within two scores late in the third quarter but the final outcome was never in doubt. Final score: Saskatchewan Roughriders 45, Hamilton Tiger-Cats 23.
The aerial view of the game showed a sea of green. Tom Hanks and Martin Short were two of an almost non-existent fan base.
There are many teams that are known for their fans and for having a unique fan experience at their games, but nothing compares to the Rider Nation. The Riders are the largest draw as a visiting team and games involving the Riders get the highest television ratings. There have been away games where Rider fans have outnumbered the home team fans. I have attended games where 25,000 (yes pre-stadium expansion days) were louder than some NFL games I attended. There are no words that completely describe the emotion for Rider fans witnessing such a great win at home against a team filled with so many "turn-coats." The effects of the win will resound throughout the province until next seasons Grey Cup game. The Roughriders are a part of the fabric that makes the province. The Riders are a way of life. I have met former CFL players and when I mention Saskatchewan the immediate response is that the fans are dedicated, knowledgeable, and crazy. Either you are a Rider fan, or you wish you were.
Congratulations Roughriders and congratulations to the province of Saskatchewan! Enjoy the spoils of victory and soak in the rewards of being champions.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Roughriders Going to the Grey Cup
The Saskatchewan Roughriders will be hosting the 101st Grey Cup. After defeating the Calgary Stampeders in the Western Finals the Riders will be attending this dance along with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The two teams had similar records and stats. To add to the drama Henry Burris, Andy Fantuz, and Luca Congi all played for the Riders in the past. Hamilton coach Kent Austin was the Roughrider quarterback in their 1989 champion season (against Hamilton) and was their head coach in the 2007 championship run. Over the past two seasons the host team played in and won the Grey Cup. Let's hope that trend continues.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Riders, Texans, and Longhorns
The Roughriders won another game this past Saturday. While the offense sputtered the defense was fantastic. The goal line stand with less than two minutes left keeping the Eskimos from tying the score was incredible.
It was a terrific weekend for the Houston Texans if you are of the "Get Rid of Kubiak" camp. The greater the losses and the greater the number of losses the greater the chance for Gary to get fired. The season is not a total loss at this time and a coaching change could salvage the season. The team is solid player wise, they just need to be put in better positions to win. I do not think Matt Schaub is a super quarterback but he is not as bad as some would have you think (look at his numbers over the past years). It would be tough for any quarterback to win if not put in a good postion. At this juncture of the season it would be nearly impossible to get another quarterback that is a "higher calibre" than Schaub. To save the season the team needs to make the decisions that will allow the team to be in the best position to win.
Other than a blown kcik-off coverage the University of Texas Longhorns had a fantatic win over the University of Oklahoma this past weekend. Simply put the Longhorns looked more motivated, better prepared, and better coached than the Sooners. It may be time for Coach Brown to move on (coaches do get stale after a while) but continued play from last week will help the team move back into the upper crust of the college football world.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Big Win in BC
This past weekend the Roughriders got a big win in BC. Not only did they end a four game losing streak but they beat a West opponent on the road. The key to victory was the return of Kory Sheets. Having the threat of a strong running game helped open up other options but the team also had a very strong defensive performance, won the turn-over battle, limited their penalties, and had a fair special teams game. Similar performances for the rest of the season should result in more wins.
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