Read the article on ESPN Outside the Lines:
Seats of Gold . Attending a Yankee baseball game is not an inexpensive experience. What impact is luxury seating having on professional sport? Is it “good for business?” Why? Does it change the experience? Do you need a luxury seat to enjoy a game? Share your thoughts on this topic.
After reading the article it amazed me that people spend that kind of money for seats at a baseball game. I suppose the seats are good for business when people are buying them but when they are as empty as they are in the picture then I dont see how they can be. I think that it would definately change the experience of watching the game. Having people tend to you constantly, having free food and all the other perks would clearly be a change in the experience from sitting in a "normal" seat. Being a big baseball fan I dont think that you need luxury seats to enjoy a game. I have never had the chance to watch a game from luxury seats but have always had an enjoyable experience while attending baseball games.
ReplyDeleteReading this article still makes me think the same way I always have. People are absolutely nuts for spending the money for these seats. I guess yes, if you have the funds to do it, go ahead but you probably could spend the money in a better way. This may be a good thing for corporations to purchase to treat their employees or clients but even most companies can't afford it cause they are in the same situation as the rest of the country. I can say this though. The rest of the seats at Yankee Stadium aren't exactly cheap either. The prices aren't exactly like here at the Twins stadium. People eventually, i think, will stop paying for these tickets if the prices keep rising. Yes, some say it is for the experience but if you are financially hurting, how can you pay to enjoy the game. Especially with technology these days, you can enjoy a game right from the comfort of your own home.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article it kind of hit me that it is NOT just going to a baseball game anymore. Going to a place like Yankee Stadium is an event, which could take a whole day of your time. People no longer want to show up during the national anthem and leave in the 9th inning to beat traffic. Why would they? When there are so many perks and new things to check out, it may be worth $2500 when you factor in everything that people in these seats receive, such as the pre-game spread and the service from employees, along with the wine and other fine dining experiences. It definitely changes the type of experience you get. It is fun to watch games from home and normal seats, but being treated like a king while watching your favorite sports team play is a dream come true for some people.
ReplyDeleteI think that luxury seating is further pushing the common person out of enjoying a professional sports game. It is just making it look like you have to make six figures plus to go to a game anymore. Plus as you can see they are having trouble selling these luxury seats so what good are they sitting empty? I would think that the Yankees would be losing money on those seats since they could probably sell them at a lower cost to other fans without all the perks and fill them up. Instead they have a few people sitting there which in my opinion looks awful. I wouldn't think that this luxury seat changes the experience of watching a baseball game at all. Sure it would be cool to sit there once in my life and get waited on and receive all those perks that come with the ticket, however I do not believe that it is worth $2500.
ReplyDeleteThis article kind of makes me sick. Seeing the crazy cost’s and vast luxuries that are associated with these seats are ridiculous and only hurt the true meaning of sport. Sports have two very simple components players and fans. These seats of gold are not for fans they are for people looking to throw their money where ever the wind blows and hope they get seen on TV at the Yankee’s game. Pro sports are loosing their touch with middle class consumers. Teams are being run to keep players rising contract demands possible, and they do this by luxury seating. True fans don’t need sushi or a bottle of champagne when they go to a game. They are there to be around people with a common bond, to relax, and to have fun. These seats hurt middle class fans and are evolving sports, especially professional sports into a place for only the rich and corrupt. This is however good for business, because when it comes down to it, most people go to where/who has the $$$$$.
ReplyDeleteEric Mareck
I would say luxury seating is good for business. It attracts a different demographic of people and brings in money. I think it does change the experience as these people are usually going to the game for other reasons other than just the game. They are usually far away from the action and watch the game on the television and are there for the commodities. You can definitely enjoy the game while not in luxury seating as it is a different experience and appeals to a different audience
ReplyDeleteAll of the new stadiums being built are incorporating in luxury seating. If the Yankees can fill their Legend Suite it would be good for business but they have not been able to and had to lower the prices of each ticket. Baseball is suppose to be "Americas Past time" but the high ticket prices are driving away the middle to lower class fans. 75% of people cannot responsibly afford to attend a professional sporting event anymore. I do not need luxury seating to enjoy a game. I just like the atmosphere and I think luxury seating would change that.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is ridiculous to spend that much money on a game which is going to last about 3 hours. There are better things to spend $1,200 dollars than seats to a sporting event. With ticket sales so high and new stadiums being built, it is harder for people to attend sporting events. I think that a $40-$50 dollar ticket is pretty reasonable to spend on a sporting event but any higher than that is just a waste of money. If someone offered me great seats I wouldn’t turn them down but I would never spend that much money to attend an event for 3-4 hours.
ReplyDeleteLuxury seating is good for business because it seems like there are always people out there willing to buy the seats/suites if they can afford it. If it is just to enjoy for themselves or for clients of a business I think they are good for the stadium to have them. Im sure it would change the experience if you were able to afford the seats since you are pretty much catered to, but if you like to watch the game and are a fan then nothing will change depending on where you sit.
ReplyDeleteLuxury seating is good for business in the sense that it can generate a large amount of revenue for a sports/stadium venue. As the book says, several markets have become saturated with luxury seating so that means there are not enough companies or affluent fans to purchase them. I think the Yankees have gone about things all wrong, in the sense of over pricing their seating in general, and especially when a lot of the seats go empty for games. That is where reselling those tickets plays a good part because it allows the corporate seatholder the opportunity to get some money back (maybe not all) for the time the seats go empty.
ReplyDeleteLuxury seating is exspensive, but I think it is good for sports. It brings people o sporting events and it allows them to have an experience that they will never forget. The money spent on luxury seating allows people to get the best service and quality from the organization. Most luxury suites are used by corporations that have some connection to the organization or the the facility through sponsorships. I think luxury seating is good for business, because people will remember their experience and will encourage others to have that type of experience.
ReplyDeleteThis article really opened my eyes up to what some people actually get to experience. The $2500 dollar tickets (before the prices were slashed) aren't just for a baseball game, they are for an extravagent experience. The game is just something that is going on in the backgound compared to everything else. In my opinion if people have that kind of money to spend on that kind of experience, then more power to them. Who wouldn't want to get to experience that?? As for Luxary seating and business, I'm not sure if it really affects the outcome of their deal. Sure it impresses them, but in the end I'm not sure how big of impact it would make. Like one buyer said if he got taken to a Yankees game and got to experience Legendary Seating, he would feel as though he owed him something. Point is, you don't need all that to get a good experience from a baseball game, but who would turn it down??
ReplyDeleteLuxury seats are obviously a larget part of the revenue generated for ticket sales at different sporting events/venues. I think it is good for buisness as far as each of those sports venues is concerned, but it is WAY overpriced in my mind for the average sports fan. Even if you are an extreme fan of a team, most average people dont have $2500 to spend for a game. You could do a lot of things with that kind of money and although the experience would be one of a kind if you went to the Yankees game in a suite, I still think you could enjoy the just as much from a general admission seat.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I don't doubt sitting in the legend suites would be a fun experience, I do not think I could ever rationalize spending that kind of money. I think luxury suites are a good source of revenue. I also feel the amount of money it takes to sit in one drastically limits who can access those special seats. Personally I enjoy sitting anywhere to watch a baseball game. I do not think you need a luxury suite to enjoy a ball game.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine paying $2,500 for a seat at a baseball game. Yes you do get many amenities, but is that really the point of going to the game. Its not just good old fashion baseball anymore. Its become something more, something many people can no longer afford. I think if the prices continue to rise the seats will continue to be empty, and I don't think that is what anyone wants...it certainly won't be good for baseball. I don't have a problem with the luxury seating becasue I do think it does help pay for other expenses, but I think it has really gotten out of hand. If you truely came to the game to watch baseball you don't need to sit in luxury seats to enjoy the game. I think you get a much better game experience in the regular seats, however I have not had the oportunity to sit in a luxury seat.
ReplyDeleteAs of right now in my life no way would I even consider spending a large sum of money for a luxury seat, I mean if I was loaded and had the funds and excess money to spend then I would. For sure it enhances the experience and you get special treatment and ammentities that you otherwise wouldn't receive. I am a huge fan of the game and by that I mean I like to be close to the action and not many of the luxury seat venues offer that close to the action feel you get by being in the first few rows of the game. On the business side I totally think its smart and a great way to make money and its created another revenue source for facilities and franchises.
ReplyDeleteLuxury seating is having a huge impact on baseball and professional sport. It is influencing the way sports are marketed and how the game is percieved. As tickets raise in price so will the luxury seats and they will be become more unattainable to the general public. I would say it is good for business as long it is regulated and doesn't get way to overpriced. This is because the prices for normal seats will rise as the prices for luxury seats rise. The luxury seats can improve the experience but I would rather have seats on the glass or field. I don't think you need luxury seats to enjoy the game.
ReplyDeleteI cant say i would ever turn down a ticket to sit in the "Legends" section, however, i can say that i would never pay that kind of money to watch a baseball game. I believe those prices are way over priced, and seeing as how they have had to shrink the section, those prices are obviously too high. Especially looking at the picture of the empty seats and the rest are filled. I believe that luxury seating can benefit a stadium if it is priced correctly. I dont feel that you need luxury seating to enjoy a game. For example, when Mauer hits a homerun to win the game and you turn and slap hands with everyone sitting around you wheather you know them or not. Whose hand are you suppose to slap when you are sitting in the "Legends" and no one is around you?
ReplyDeleteI too am amazed that people are willing to pay the money for these seats. I think it would be boring sitting in the luxury seats of Yankee stadium, no "riffraff" would make the experience more dull in my opinion. Cheering loudly and getting excited about your team is what being a fan is all about. The business side of things is interesting. It sounds like the Yankees made a big error in deciding to build their stadium based on current economic conditions. I'm not surprised by the article, the state of the economy today tends to magnify overspending on things like lavish stadiums i.e. Yankee Stadium, Jerry Jones new house, etc. Who knows though? Maybe in 10 years when the economy is roaring again(or so they say) they'll be talking about this topic completely differently and business will be back to normal.
ReplyDeleteAll I have to say is WOW! WOW! and WOW! Are people nuts? What happened to just going to watch the players play the game? When did that not become not enough? I have a hard time spending money on clothes that I need non the less a sporting event ticket. These prices are just absolutely ridiculous! Yea its good for business I suppose, but is it worth taking the value away from the game? If tickets were lower in price there would be a LOT more fans at these games. Of course that would be a different kind of experience, but one that I would not prefer. It takes the attention away from the game itself. Obviously I believe they are not needed.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone in class is pretty much in agreeance that this article and the people that buy these tickets are crazy. I dont see how anyone could pay $1,200 to go to a baseball game. I also dont see why the yankees would charge this much for those seats. I realize that they are getting much more than just a baseball game, but I would think that yankee owners would want it to look like there are alot of people at the game. Those pictures make it look like there is nobody behind the plate. With these seats being probably the most seen seats when a game is on tv you would think that the Yankees would want to make them look ful. I dont think they would have to lower prices too much and those seats would fill up.
ReplyDelete