Recent Season Ticket Holders: Your situation

[Dave Gray]

I had season tickets for several years in a row.  I was broke, so I got upper deck seats.  Over time, through the loyalty of renewing, I moved up to the front row of the upper deck.  I was happy there and went to just about every game for more than 5 years, even when our team was total garbage (which it usually was).

Then, they changed the pricing schedule so that you paid not only by section, but how high up you were in that section.  In essence, I felt like I was being punished for my loyalty.  In order to keep my same seats, my costs went up something like 35 percent, and this was after a losing season.  I said "forget it" and walked, on principle, rather than pay the same amount to go 30 rows higher.

And that's business...whatever.

But once I got in the home environment, I learned to appreciate it and now I have no interest in going back for season tickets.  I'll catch a few games a year here and there, but nothing steady.

For those of you that have or have recently had season tickets: Do you plan on continuing to renew, how do lockouts weigh in to your decision, winning/losing/direction of team, etc?

[Brian Fein]

I had season tickets with Dave for a while and, even after he quit, I went in myself and still had the tickets (but in a different section).

But, after that season, like Dave, I bailed for a few reasons.  Most prominently, it is too damn expensive.  My seats were 480 or so in the 3rd row of the upper deck.  They went up after that season, which made it over a grand for 2 seats.  Its way too much.  Instead, I put my money towards the Florida Panthers where I get 22 games for nearly half the cost, parking is free, and the stadium is down the street from my office and home.  Much better value for my money.

Like Dave, I don't foresee me going back to the Dolphins.  I typically will go to 1-2 games on a single-game ticket each year.  But, to me, its not worth wasting my entire Sunday and spending that much money to sweat.  I cheer at home, in front of my 50" HDTV with all the free beer and food I can want.  And air conditioning!

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

I have been a season ticket holder with the Cardinals going on 11 years. It was dirt cheap to sit and sweat our asses off in Sun Devil (Arizona State University) Stadium and watch the Cardinals get their asses kicked every week. They moved to the new Stadium which was indoors and air conditioned so of course they charged more. In Sun Devil Stadium we sat in the bleachers in the South EndZone about 25 rows up. We loved the atmosphere of the group we sat with in the end zone so most of us agreed to sit in the same place in the new stadium which we all did just much closer as I am now only 10 rows from the field. The cost continues to rise which I guess I kind of understood as they have finally had a trip to the Superbowl and a couple of winning seasons. Last year they sucked and most likely this year they are going to suck as well. They did ask for our money already which we kind of told them to fuck themselves on because there was no guarantee of a season and I was not going to pay for my tickets and let them crooks collect interest off of my money until we were sure we were going to get a season. They told us we would lose our seniority and possibly our seats if we did not pay right away. This almost had me walking away completely. I love my big screen TV and sitting at home watching games.......but not near as much as my all day event of going to watch the game with my buddies. From the tailgating and fucking around to the game itself I can not get give that up. We all decided to pay a small potion to hold our seats and agreed to pay in full when the lockout was lifted and the organization agreed. So I have renewed and will continue to do so even at these ridiculously inflated prices as long as I can!!!!!

[MikeO]

The only voice the fans (in all sports) have these days is to speak with their pocket book. If an organization (not just Miami, speaking in general terms) screws you over...walk!

For Dave to stick with that team through the horrible years, and move his way up to Row 1 of the Upper Deck and for them to then raise your prices to the point you had to move back, its insane. It's bad business.  If we were the Giants, Cowboys, Steelers and there was a list of fans dying to get season tickets, OK...I get it. Supply/Demand that whole thing. Hell even if we were a GOOD team that was always in the playoffs and a top NFL team, I would get it. In those cases the organizations can screw you and still make money. It's not right, but I would understand.

But the Dolphins have been one of the worst NFL Franchises for about 10 years now on par with the Browns, Lions, and those teams. For them to screw over their own fans show they have no friggin clue what they are doing. They ought to be begging fans to come to the games instead they are pushing them away.

Little side story: I know a guy who was a season ticket holder for the NY Giants for some 40+ years. He had 4 seats 8 rows up on the 40 yard line at the Meadowlands from the day it opened and he had season tickets before the meadowlands for the Giants. When they recently moved, of course to keep his seats he needed to pay a PSL that was more than his net worth as a person. Combine his house, cars, bank account, everything. Of course he couldn't pay. And after having prime seats for all of thsoe years he didn't want to move to the upper deck in the nosebleeds. So he wasn't going to keep the tickets he was done going to games. The Giants were calling him trying to get him to renew. Calling over and over and over. Because he was like Top 10 senority wise on their list and by him not doing anything it was holding others up, even though he said he wasn't renewing his seats. One day he actually got to talk to one of the owners of the Giants John Mara.  John Mara called him at home. My friend who happens to be in his 60's told the Giants owner, I don't care if your father  Wellington Mara comes back from the dead, pops open his casket, climbs up through 6ft of dirt, walks to my house and begs me to renew, I will never go to a NY Giants football game ever again. You have screwed over me one of your most loyal fans and many others in my situation. You lost me as a paying fan. John Mara was speechless, finally he says well for your loyalty these many many years let me send you a Giants gift bag thing with a hat, t-shirt, whatever. My friend said you lost me as a paying fan with the seats, and you now insult me with a t-shirt and hat after paying for season tickets for 40+ years...now you just lost me as a fan.

My friend is still a Giants fan even though he hates to admit it, but he doesn't root for them like he used too. And be all super crazy into them. They ruined it for him.

[CF DolFan]

Please keep the personal attacks out of here!

As some of you know I was a season ticket holder for a while. I had decent seats on about the goal line lower bowl. I was still in may seats when we came back to beat Buffalo, down 20 in the fourht quarter. I say this because there wasn't very many of us. I was at the game when we beat Baltimore in overtime to secure our one victory under Cameron. But when they raised the ticket prices to support bringing in pop stars I bailed. I currently buy a few games and might quit doing that if I switch to Direct TV. I do miss live football and especially the tailgates, but it is nice to sit in the AC laid out without having to deal with the drive home!

[Dave Gray]

I think that selling the big-money extravagant experience is fine.  It's part of the lure of football, especially in South Florida.  I think where they are missing the mark is that they're doing this at the expense of the normal, everyday fan.

I sat in the Upper Deck and was fine with it.  I came to every game, was there when it started, didn't leave until it was over, I paid attention and I cheered when appropriate and shut the F up when it wasn't.  I wasn't there to be seen, to take a date, or to get drunk and party.  I watched football, sometimes while I listened to the play by play on radio.  I was the hardest of hardcore.  I don't expect EVERYONE to be like me.  But I do feel like they ran me out, and I think it was a short-sided and unwise decision.  If my tickets hadn't gone up (or at least not structurally and dramatically), I'd still be going.  ...but the people who are sitting in them now will wane.  I think that they could've appealed to both, but have lost that opportunity.

[bsfins]

I'm sorry for the hijack here....(sorry for the lack manly-ness of this question)

I've only been to a few games,only 1 Dolphin Game,so I'm coming from a different experience.While reading your guy's answers I wanted to ask...

So for the guy's like Brian,Dave,and Cf, that don't go to every home game anymore,do you feel like the games that you do attend to be more of a
special event,rather than just going to the game like you used too?

For me,Going to the game I remember almost everything,what I ate,where I sat,the experiences in the parking lot with other fans.I don't remember play,by play things of the game as much,because of my point of view...The Dolphins/Rams game...Alot of the game was played at the other end of the stadium,but meeting Stl,and Beefstewart (and his Mrs.) at half time,seeing so many Dolphin fans in one place with all different jersey's and memorabilia,etc,etc...Made the game much more special to me,rather than the Dolphins vs  Rams...

[CF DolFan]

I would usually go to aboout 4 or 5 a year. It's a 3 hour drive there and a 4 hour drive home so when I go, I make it an event. I will always tailgate with the Phinatic group and/or spend the weekend there at the team hotel and going to the facility and hitting some favorite spots. That's just too far to go to watch a bad game so I always make it more than that just in case. 

I have to take one of my daughters every year as it is a special day for her. At this point I don't think she would let me not.

[Dave Gray]

Hmmm...good question, B.

I'd say that the games aren't more special necessarily, but they are more of a hub-ub.  When I used to go to the games regularly, I was like clockwork.  I got in and out quickly, knew where to go, only had to worry about myself (and Brian, who was also a seasoned veteran).  We didn't have to entertain each other, either, which was nice.  We were both there to hang out and watch football, but it didn't feel like you had to be "on."

Now, when I go, it's usually with a larger group of people and there's tailgating and carpooling and explaining stuff to people who don't normally go, etc.  It's just a different experience.  I still enjoy it very much. 

The hardest thing (now that I'm used to not going) is that it takes up an entire day.  To go to a game and do it right, it's a morning to night experience.  I look back on my weekend and feel like I lost out.  Whereas, when I watch the game (and better yet, if I Tivo the first part, to cut out some commercial time), I get to turn off my TV and enjoy the rest of my day.


As for remembering things -- I have a terrible memory for sports.  I have great for other things, like movies, but I can't remember records, when stuff was, any kind of stats.  I will remember plays, but usually not which team or game they were from or the other specifics.  My brain just doesn't catalog it.   It's funny, my buddy Brian has a really good memory and he'll say something like "remember game 5 in 2004 where yada yada happened" ...and I'm always like "What?  No."  But I can tell you what year E.T. came out.

[Phishfan]

It's a 3 hour drive there and a 4 hour drive home

Isn't it funny how it always takes longer to get home?

[jtex316]

Little side story: I know a guy who was a season ticket holder for the NY Giants for some 40+ years. He had 4 seats 8 rows up on the 40 yard line at the Meadowlands from the day it opened and he had season tickets before the meadowlands for the Giants. When they recently moved, of course to keep his seats he needed to pay a PSL that was more than his net worth as a person. Combine his house, cars, bank account, everything. Of course he couldn't pay. And after having prime seats for all of thsoe years he didn't want to move to the upper deck in the nosebleeds. So he wasn't going to keep the tickets he was done going to games. The Giants were calling him trying to get him to renew. Calling over and over and over. Because he was like Top 10 senority wise on their list and by him not doing anything it was holding others up, even though he said he wasn't renewing his seats. One day he actually got to talk to one of the owners of the Giants John Mara.  John Mara called him at home. My friend who happens to be in his 60's told the Giants owner, I don't care if your father  Wellington Mara comes back from the dead, pops open his casket, climbs up through 6ft of dirt, walks to my house and begs me to renew, I will never go to a NY Giants football game ever again. You have screwed over me one of your most loyal fans and many others in my situation. You lost me as a paying fan. John Mara was speechless, finally he says well for your loyalty these many many years let me send you a Giants gift bag thing with a hat, t-shirt, whatever. My friend said you lost me as a paying fan with the seats, and you now insult me with a t-shirt and hat after paying for season tickets for 40+ years...now you just lost me as a fan.

Bullshit.

[Garrett]

Bullshit.

^^^Awesome!! I have visited this site for about 4 years now at least 3 times a week. I've never felt the need to comment or express my opinion on anything, but I just laughed so hard I cried! THANKS!

[MikeO]

Bullshit.

The ones who bitch the most around here find the need to RUIN the most threads.

Like I have always said, some people need to look in the mirror!!! Another thread de-railed over nonsense!

[Dave Gray]

Welcome to the boards, Garrett!

[phinphan]

I also do not post a lot but I read everything on here.