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08/25/2015 12:00 AMProfessional sports can bring out a vast array of emotions and experiences for fans. Whether it is basking in the afterglow of a big win or sulking in the agony of defeat, people react to results. The venue through which the public sees these contests is a strong variable, though. So ultimately, what’s a more enjoyable way to watch a sporting event: as a fan in the stands or by hanging at home?
I’ve been a fan of pro sports for 16 years and, in that timeframe, I’ve certainly attended my share of live games. Unfortunately, some of them didn’t result in the best experience.
Back in 2002, I went to a matinée between the Yankees and Baltimore Orioles with my father and uncle in The Bronx. Following our lengthy car ride through Connecticut and New York traffic, the game was interrupted by a rain delay and so it didn’t wrap up until 8 that night with us getting home around 11.
Earlier that season, my dad and I watched the Yankees host my beloved Minnesota Twins for the middle matchup of a three-game set. The night before, the squads had played a 14-inning marathon that lasted five hours and 45 minutes, which the Bronx Bombers won 13-12. This led to then-managers Joe Torre and Ron Gardenhire giving many of their top sluggers the day off for the game my father and I took in, leaving both of us disappointed.
Of course, both of these days could have gone worse, but while recently reflecting upon them, a question popped up in my mind: With the advent of so many sports packages on TV that offer wall-to-wall coverage of all the major sports (and beyond), is that driving down the desire to be a face in the crowd and watch the game live?
“If I can watch the game live at home, that’s a huge factor,” said Hand girls’ basketball Coach Tim Tredwell, who roots for the out-of-market Chicago Cubs. “Admittedly, nothing beats good seats to a live game. But if I’m in the comfort of my own home with a nice HD TV, a reachable fridge, and a bathroom just steps away, that’s tough to beat.”
TDs on the TV
Let’s start with the biggest cash cow in American sports: the National Football League. For a long time, the only regular season games you could watch each week were the ones offered in your local market, plus a few select nationally televised matchups—most notably Monday Night Football. Then in 1994, along came DirecTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket, an out-of-market sports package service that allows fans to see virtually all of the league’s Sunday afternoon clashes via satellite. Since its inception, the service has expanded to where it’s now offered on numerous media mediums for those without DirecTV satellite, including computers, tablets, smart phones, and even video game consoles. According to iStock Analyst, 21.6 of people who subscribed to DirecTV between July and September in the last three years were driven by NFL Sunday Ticket.
If you don’t want to spend quite as much money, you also have the NFL Network and its RedZone, an all-day Sunday show launched in 2009 that provides live look-ins when teams are about to score, in addition to showing highlights of every play on which a team does score. So if you’re a casual Giants’ fan, you might be less inclined to trek to New Jersey when you can not only watch Big Blue play on Channel 3, but can also flick to the RedZone and see key plays of a Dallas Cowboys’ game that impacts the Giants’ playoff hopes.
“I have no desire to watch an NFL game in person. I’ve gone to a handful of them and it’s much better to watch on television. If I can afford to go to a game, then I’ll go because I’d rather be in the environment live. I just love being able to say I was there, yet it’s become a huge investment to go to a game,” said Guilford boys’ basketball Coach Jeff DeMaio, a fan of the Cleveland Browns, plus the New York Yankees, Knicks, and Rangers. “Aside from the money, you have to deal with injuries and star players getting days off. You may go to one game and not see any of those guys play, so there’s a risk there.”
The three other major pro sports also provide ways for fans to catch the action from around the country. Major League Baseball has its Extra Innings package that features nearly 100 out-of-market games per week for $29.99 a month for four months or one fixed payment of $119.96 for the whole year. The NBA has a similar League Pass that costs $199.99, although for the first time in the 2015-’16 campaign, single games will be offered at $6.99 a pop, along with an individual-team package deal for $119.99—meaning the consumer can select solo live games on any given day or simply follow one of the league’s 30 teams for the whole 82-game regular season. Finally, the NHL and its Center Ice Service features up to 40 out-of-market games each week at $159.99 with a single-team package of $105, yet that team offer is restricted only to the Internet and is not available on cable or satellite.
“MLBtv [included within the Extra Innings deal] allows me to see/hear all the Cubs’ games on any device you have,” Tredwell said. “Since they are rarely on live TV here in Connecticut, it’s a great way to see them play.”
A Hefty Investment
Granted, the prices of these services are hardly a drop in the bucket, but if you look at how much it costs to follow your out-of-market team for a whole season from home compared to the cost of watching them play one live game in your area, they’re a pretty good deal—particularly if you’re taking your family to the game. That’s because ticket prices have gone up across the board. The average NBA ticket has increased by 3.4 percent to $53.98, according to the 2014-’15 Team Marketing Report (TMR) NBA Fan Cost Index (FCI). The FCI price comprises the cost of four average-price tickets, two cheapest beers, four cheapest soft drinks, four hot dogs, parking for one car, two game programs, and two least-expensive, adult-sized hats. The average FCI number for taking a family of four to an NBA game is up 2.6 percent to $333.58. In the NFL’s most-recent TMR for 2014, the average ticket is $84.43, a 3.5 percent rise from the previous season. The average FCI price is $478.52, marking a 4.2 percent increase from 2014. For the MLB, its ticket price rose 3.3 percent to $28.94, this season—the steepest increase in six years—and the FCI went down slightly from $212.46 in 2014 to $211.68. For hockey, only eight of the NHL’s 30 squads saw decrease in the price tag of an average stub between 2012 and 2014 and, looking to its most-recent available TMR report in October 2014, the average ticket rose 4.4 percent to $62.18 for the 2014-’15 season, while the FCI price went up 4.7 percent to $363.58.
“It’s a huge investment to go to a game, especially if you want to bring your family. Tickets for four, food, drinks, the inevitable souvenirs for the kids, and anything else that pops up can really add up quickly,” said Tredwell. “It’s unfortunate, but it’s the system we’ve created. Players make massive salaries and owners aren’t downsizing their yachts and somebody is going to pay for all this. Nobody gets into business in an effort to make less money.”
Through the Turnstile
Aside from money, there are other gambles when attending live. For one, your favorite team could suffer a blowout loss, prompting you to leave early. There’s also the chance that you may travel all the way to the game, only to see it get called due to weather. Then there’s the inevitable long lines for the bathroom and concession stands, which might cause you to miss the game’s pivotal play. And once you get in your seat, other things could arise—like fans constantly moving in and out of the aisles who obscure your view—unlike at home, where you are in full scope of the tube.
“In most cases, I’d rather just watch the game at home. The only draw for me would be if I was going to a game with a bunch of friends and make a day of it. I won’t go to the game for simply the game,” said Hand baseball Head Coach Travis LaPointe. “You also have to consider travel. Being in Connecticut, if there was a pro team here, I would go more often. I’m sure if I lived in say New York, I’d go to plenty of games.”
Another agitating aspect of attending a live game are the often-unavoidable encounters with rowdy fans.
“I went to a Minnesota Vikings-Buffalo Bills game in Buffalo last year. I wore the opposing team’s jersey and I was ridiculed beyond all belief,” said Will Cote, an East Haven resident and Vikings’ fan. “Some of the heckling is all in good fun, but then you have some fans that take it out of control. The TV packages are a big factor because, while the arena has a lot to offer with experiences, sometimes you are better off watching it at home and it might be more comforting.”
The Bottom Line
So taking into account all these factors, the big question remains: Will attendance at professional sporting events dwindle? Tredwell feels that despite the ever-climbing costs, fans will continue to hand out the green to their teams.
“I’d like to believe there will be a breaking point, but I can’t imagine it ever happening,” said Tredwell. “People will always want to go to sporting events, owners and players will continue to make obscene amounts of money.”
On the other hand, Cote isn’t so sure that big head counts in the stands will continue.
“It depends on how loyal the fan bases are and also the economy,” added Cote. “If people can’t afford the luxuries that come with going to a game, then it might be a possibility that they will stay at home.”
DeMaio explained that in this day of major statistical analysis on the field, executives will crunch the numbers to work toward a favorable scenario for their organizations off the field.
“I don’t think there will be some big drop in attendance because you have some smart people running these organizations. They study what they can charge and, as soon as there is some sort of attendance backlash, they can make the adjustments,” said DeMaio. “I don’t see people staying away. You may not have as many sellouts, yet the stands will still fill up.”