Comments on: Big time soccer involves big time prices

By: wfjackson3

wfjackson3 — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 20:21:20 +0000

It is a free market system for cities. Whoever does the best sales job and offers the best package gets the privilege of having a major pro sports team in their city.

By: mvktr2

mvktr2 — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 20:11:23 +0000

One correction. ‘Kickbacks from government’, aren’t a part of a free market system or capitalism. Such activity is properly called corporatism… ie the problem with the US system whereby large corporations and those termed ‘too big to fail’ are given competitive advantages squashing competition creating unbalanced/unfree markets which are the opposite of free, captive.

How else other than ‘captive’ would one describe major sports franchises which hold various cities hostage to their terms or they’re taking their franchise and going home?

By: charliej11

charliej11 — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:55:52 +0000

Market driven, not much you can do. Charge $10 a ticket, fine I will buy all 60k and sell them at $100.
That happens all the time by the way.

It is insane, but you writers are making your living off of the insanity. We all should care less about sports….we don’t.

I will say all of the people clamouring for MLS to grow big/better, etc….enjoy it while it lasts. Part of that is great seats for $22 a game.

I used to go to Sounder’s games and park next to the CLink for free, the games were about $10 or so. Now park way further away and pay more. In 10 years it will be way worse in many ways….

By: dfstell

dfstell — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:50:19 +0000

I have a hard time getting worked up about expensive ticket prices. It’s a free world: If you think the ticket is worth it, buy a ticket. If not….do something else. I do personally agree that ticket pricing is absurd and that’s why I don’t go to many “big time” sporting events in person. I have season tickets at our local USL-PDL club and I can get a family season pass for like $100. That’s more my speed. For the big time events, I’d rather watch it on my TV anyway where the drinks are cheap, I can pause the game if I want to use the restroom, I don’t have to travel for hours to get to the event, etc.

As for how Arsenal spends their money, doesn’t the data show no linkage between transfer fees and winning, but does show a relationship between wages and winning? So, Arsenal should shovel some money at Theo Walcott. Even if they think he’ll be a little overpriced, they’ll be paying for the prime of his career and it would cost them even more money to get somebody in who is arguably as good.

By: archlobster

archlobster — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:30:58 +0000

Arsenal have the money to spend. They just don’t.

That’s not Chelsea’s fault, that’s Arsenal’s.

By: pensfan603

pensfan603 — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:59:13 +0000

The problem lies in the fact that teams like chelsea with billion dollar owners can buy whoever they want, and then expect to get the money back because, they are such world renown names because they buy all the stars, if arsen wenger ever wants to compete with these teams he has to raise the ticket prices.