Just confirmed - lower bowl ticket prices will increase this year

[joe]

You conveniently left out that you got a 55.7% discount on your upper deck seats for the past two years. The REAL increase to your upper deck seats is just 6.3%. And yes, I understand that you were forced to move to "better" seats because they removed the endzone seats.

The staggered pricing in the lower level has been long over due. It made little sense for my seats in the end zone to cost the same as the 50 yard line. Not saying I like what is happening. But it is consistent with pricing in other larger NFL markets. Not like the Redskins are the only team with high ticket prices. Heck, even tickets to concerts are ridiculously expensive. I'm getting close to being priced out also. Soon I will be sitting in front of my HD TV with sideline views for home games.

My upper deck seats were not moved out of the endzone until last year. The year before, they were moved, but remained in the endzone. So I did not get to take advantage of a percentage discount of over 50 percent for two years, only one. Besides, the fan who was able to take advantage of that discount goes by the name of Highway66 on this site. He bought my tickets from the classifieds on this site, and ANYONE could have taken advantage of that discount. I sold them at cost. I posted about the move when I became aware of it.

[Mark The Homer]

Not sure I follow you.

First of all, it's more clear to include taxes when you talk about cost. That removes confusion, since the taxes are part of the cost. The $150 per game price tag for midfield LL tickets in 2013 includes taxes. Last year those tickets were $108.90, let's call it $109, or easier yet $110. Multiply that by 40% and we have $154. So the hike to $150 is slightly under 40%

Re the UL tickets, you say they were in the endzone up high, and cost $44. Yes, but that excludes the tax. Now you say the seats are in 126. Do you mean 426? If so, then, yes, the price was $79 before taxes, but that's only below Row 16. So essentially you've received two upgrades - one for moving from the endzone to the sidelines, and another for moving from above row 15 to below row 16.

Section 126 seats have been above $100 (including taxes) for quite some time.

[joe]

Yes, section 426, sorry.
Here is the story of my upper level seats. For the record I steadfastly refused to take part in the seat relocation program because I was happy to get in to the stadium inexpensively or be able to sell them to someone else on this site inexpensively.

They started out in section 416, row 16, and cost me $440 per seat plus tax of $44. That was in 2010. In 2011 they moved me to section 421, row 16 and the cost was the same. My initial invoice from 2012 had the seats in the same location, but I was then notified that I was moved to section 426, row 14 at the same cost. At that time, I checked on extremskins to see what type of a discount I was getting and it looked like they should have been $79 plus tax. That was the cost that I paid for the playoff tickets to the Seattle game (that I also sold at cost on this website).
My 2013 invoice has them at $84, plus tax. I know that that is really only a $5 increase and I frankly expected it.

And yes, the increase in the lower level is only about 40%. I only had the raw numbers and my old-guy memory to work with there, as the invoice goes to my cousin. They cost me about $110 per seat last year and about $150 (actually $152.70) this year.

[Mark The Homer]

There is something I wanted to mention regarding this hike of the four midfield sections.

I'm not a sports fan psychologist or anything like that, but it seems to me it's possible the team might be penny-wise but pound-foolish with this recent price hike of the four midfield sections. One of the benefits of being a loyal season ticket holder for years and years is the upgrade system. Although we have to pay for major upgrades, there is also a built-in benefit for loyalty in that we are slowly moved to better and better seats every few years. And often this is done with no price increase because the upgrade is within the same price zone. But is it wise to have such a steep cost associated with mid-field seats? If the price is significantly more to move from say, section 105 to section 104, is it really an upgrade? Or better put, is the upgrade really a benefit? Same argument for moving from 102 to 101. Is moving to Section 101 really something you want, when you can barely afford section 102?

It seems to me, what is happening is - rather than rewarding fans for loyalty, they are sort of being segregated into classes.

My point is, the reward for loyalty is disappearing, or at least being diluted. What it comes down to is, the fans with the most money - not necessarily the fans with the most loyalty - will be sitting in the best seats.

Assuming this trend continues, could it be the midfield seats - and the LL sidelines seats too - will eventually be replaced with winers and diners - you know - the ones that aren't really interested in standing and cheering for their team (as in my view the Club is now)?

[tshile]

That's my thoughts on it Mark. I was looking forward to getting closer to midfield, but it appears I'm as close as I can get without jumping up to the ~130/seat price point.

Maybe one day I'll be able to look at that and say yes - I want to pay that much to be there. As of right now I can't.

There is no more reward for holding on to the tickets for so long anymore. It's pretty much gone with the latest move. There's not even really a reward to being a ticket holder anymore. It's getting harder and harder to justify it every year. Maybe if the team is a 10+ win team for the next 4-5 years we'll feel there's a payoff to being a season ticket holder.

[hail2skins]

Assuming this trend continues, could it be the midfield seats - and the LL sidelines seats too - will eventually be replaced with winers and diners - you know - the ones that aren't really interested in standing and cheering for their team (as in my view the Club is now)?

How are the lowers that much of an upgrade anymore anyway? Unless you're fortunate enough to be in the 200s (or in the endzones), you're now paying $130-150 to stand all game. I can cheer and scream quite loudly while sitting, thanks.

[tshile]

How are the lowers that much of an upgrade anymore anyway? Unless you're fortunate enough to be in the 200s (or in the endzones), you're now paying $130-150 to stand all game. I can cheer and scream quite loudly while sitting, thanks.

2012 was my first year in the lower levels. You're absolutely right - you're going to be standing the whole game (although the endzones don't seem to have that problem)
I'm also a 'people should sit unless it's a big moment/play' person

but I can tell you I got used to it. by the end of the season it no longer bothered me. I still prefer to sit... but I'm over it at this point.

there are only two things I miss from the upper level
- being over the play gives you a viewpoint and understanding of what is going on you just can't get from the lower level
- walking down the ramps after a win, singing hail to the redskins and high fiving people where the two ramps meet, was one of the more amazingly fun things to do

I absolutely love my new seats and wouldn't trade them for anything at this point in time. but i'll always miss those two aspects of the upper level

[TD_washingtonredskins]

Is this different than other stadiums? It's not a snarky question, but a real one. I think maybe the ticketing model has just shifted since the days of holding onto tickets and slowly inching closer to the 50 and the field. I could be wrong though...I've never been a STH.

[HOF44]

Is this different than other stadiums? It's not a snarky question, but a real one. I think maybe the ticketing model has just shifted since the days of holding onto tickets and slowly inching closer to the 50 and the field. I could be wrong though...I've never been a STH.

Most other stadiums now have PSL's. No upgrades with those so it's not really a worry.

---------- Post added February-11th-2013 at 02:55 PM ----------

Unless you're fortunate enough to be in the 200s (or in the endzones), you're now paying $130-150 to stand all game. .

I'm in the 200's and LOVE it. Best seats in the stadium in my opinion.

[RFKFedEx]

There is something I wanted to mention regarding this hike of the four midfield sections. It seems to me, what is happening is - rather than rewarding fans for loyalty, they are sort of being segregated into classes.

My point is, the reward for loyalty is disappearing, or at least being diluted. What it comes down to is, the fans with the most money - not necessarily the fans with the most loyalty - will be sitting in the best seats.

Assuming this trend continues, could it be the midfield seats - and the LL sidelines seats too - will eventually be replaced with winers and diners - you know - the ones that aren't really interested in standing and cheering for their team (as in my view the Club is now)?

Welcome to the HOK stadium/arena/ballpark era.

IMO just about anybody who held upper level Skins STs from 1996-1997 can relate to your sentiment today, especially those on the home sideline. The LL midfield GAs have been lucky all of these years in Landover; having reaped the benefits of tenure and loyalty like no other. The economic reality has finally caught up to the entire stadium in 2013.

There may come a day when NFL teams regret pricing out their most loyal of customers, but you wouldn't know it now.

[tshile]

Uhm.... I just renewed my seats and definitely saw nothing about the auto upgrade program. Did I screw something up? Have others renewed and gone through the selection for the auto upgrade?

[chipwhich]

There is no more reward for holding on to the tickets for so long anymore. It's pretty much gone with the latest move. There's not even really a reward to being a ticket holder anymore. It's getting harder and harder to justify it every year. Maybe if the team is a 10+ win team for the next 4-5 years we'll feel there's a payoff to being a season ticket holder.

To me there has never been a reward to being a ticket holder at Fed Ex, even with the "upgrade" benefit for being a long time season ticket holder. It's all psychological and what I have coined the feeling of being the Season Ticket Elite.

That said, I do think the tickets even with the bump in price are fairly priced. I have sat in lower level Wizards seats that cost more than than. Lower center Caps tickets are in that mix as well.

I know the price increase might feel rough at this point, but the pricing seems pretty fair to me.

[tshile]

To me there has never been a reward to being a ticket holder at Fed Ex, even with the "upgrade" benefit for being a long time season ticket holder. It's all psychological and what I have coined the feeling of being the Season Ticket Elite.

That said, I do think the tickets even with the bump in price are fairly priced. I have sat in lower level Wizards seats that cost more than than. Lower center Caps tickets are in that mix as well.

I know the price increase might feel rough at this point, but the pricing seems pretty fair to me.

Yeah - I know at the end of the day they're still lower than some local teams (caps, and according to you wizards, I wouldn't know about the wizards) and many other teams in the league.

I guess the counter to that is I don't really care what those prices are, I'm not interested in owning tickets to those teams But yeah, being compared to other teams it's not that bad.

---------- Post added February-11th-2013 at 03:11 PM ----------

Uhm.... I just renewed my seats and definitely saw nothing about the auto upgrade program. Did I screw something up? Have others renewed and gone through the selection for the auto upgrade?

I called the ticket office. Apparently they're getting lots of calls about this. I don't know if it was on the invoice that was mailed, but their website has old/incorrect information.

Because of the price structure change/increases, they're revamping the system. As long as you've paid in full by April 1st, or you're caught up on your payment play (which would be the first two installments, march 1st and april 1st), you'll be eligible for upgrades. When the system is ready the team will send out letters/emails on how to proceed with setting up your upgrade preferences.

Maybe that post will fall under the category of 'informative.'

[capcrunch98]

Yeah - I know at the end of the day they're still lower than some local teams (caps, and according to you wizards, I wouldn't know about the wizards) and many other teams in the league.

Just to clarify, season ticket holder prices for the Caps range from $70 - $122 per ticket in the lower bowl (excluding the first 2 "VIP" rows). Gate price is higher. And regarding my two biggest deterrents against renewing my Skins tickets (preseason and parking): the Caps charge half STH price for preseason games, and there are a lot more viable options for getting to Caps games than paying $40 to park (a la the Skins).
Of course for the Caps, being a STH means committing to 41 games, although that is partially offset by the fact that the secondary market (as measured by ability to recoup STH cost or greater for your tickets) has been stronger for Caps tickets than for Skins tickets over the past few years.

I'm not saying the Caps aren't working towards pricing fans out of the preferred seating sections (they've slowly bumped up prices for the past several years). But I think the Skins are doing it more. Just my opinion.

[LCA77]

There is something I wanted to mention regarding this hike of the four midfield sections.

I'm not a sports fan psychologist or anything like that, but it seems to me it's possible the team might be penny-wise but pound-foolish with this recent price hike of the four midfield sections. One of the benefits of being a loyal season ticket holder for years and years is the upgrade system. Although we have to pay for major upgrades, there is also a built-in benefit for loyalty in that we are slowly moved to better and better seats every few years. And often this is done with no price increase because the upgrade is within the same price zone. But is it wise to have such a steep cost associated with mid-field seats? If the price is significantly more to move from say, section 105 to section 104, is it really an upgrade? Or better put, is the upgrade really a benefit? Same argument for moving from 102 to 101. Is moving to Section 101 really something you want, when you can barely afford section 102?

It seems to me, what is happening is - rather than rewarding fans for loyalty, they are sort of being segregated into classes.

My point is, the reward for loyalty is disappearing, or at least being diluted. What it comes down to is, the fans with the most money - not necessarily the fans with the most loyalty - will be sitting in the best seats.

Assuming this trend continues, could it be the midfield seats - and the LL sidelines seats too - will eventually be replaced with winers and diners - you know - the ones that aren't really interested in standing and cheering for their team (as in my view the Club is now)?

I agree with this 100%. Kinda sad actually.