Thanks for tossing in that perspective. I’ve always wondered about the allure of being in a stadium, other than a once-in-a-lifetime treat type of thing. Nicely stated. Makes sense.

Have only seen one pro game live: Giants-Eagles in the freezing rain in ’75 @ Yale Bowl, while Jints Stadium was being built. Fun game; miserable experience. Couldn’t tell the teams anymore after the first qtr., due to the mud, where runners would fall and slide six yds. Football in the slop. Very satisfying. Very cool. Rain was a drag, though.

Otherwise, I’ve followed Titans/Jets for decades on radio and TV. So I’ve never felt the call of actually being in the stands, while I know those of you who do go are extremely passionate about it. I’ve always been happy at home or in a team-fan bar. Spent SB III in a student center in my small college in MD, where the student pop. was 1/2 guys from the NYC area and 1/2 from the Balt./DC area. Best time of my football life.

But this is just insane, IMHO. These prices are just nuts — and that’s the reduced price! The “original” prices, which should return as soon as the economy improves a bit, are astronomical.

Harvlis has a good point, too. They’ll keep charging silly prices only so long as there is someone silly enough to pay them. I can see buying a Jets uni with a number and no name. Or your own name. That’s a constant, and a keeper. But how many guys are now stuck having paid a C-note+ for a Mawae shirt or a Chad or Vilma or, worse, a Packer Guy shirt. And you know there are a couple of Barton or Elam shirts out there. The shirt of someone who spent their whole career w/ the Jets is cool. A Namath, Harper, Walker shirt is always a tribute. A Farrior shirt just doesn’t carry the same ummmph, y’know? But they’ve got your money, either way.

I’m certain that there are 3 or 4 guys somewhere, now tearing through the backs of their closets looking for that Miller/22 shirt they paid $100+ for.

BTW, welcome back, Ed(itor), figured you’d be back…

The day isn’t far off when there will no actual fans in the seats, but merely the beneficiaries of corporate largess.

I don’t blame the owners or players for taking advantage of a system geared towards corporations. It’s our lawmakers who are to blame. Without the tax write-offs, this problem wouldn’t exist and both ticket prices and salaries would fall to reasonable levels.