Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

...Snyder say whaaaaa?

[URL="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/09/01/skins-sold-seats-directly-to-scalpers/"]'Skins sold seats directly to scalpers | ProFootballTalk.com[/URL]

-----

[B]Comical comment below the article:[/B]

"Redskins? Scalpers?
I detect just a hint of rascist, profiling glee in your article."

re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

I would never go to the stadium if I didn't have tickets and I would not buy then from a dude walking around.

re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

between EBAY and STUBHUB .. isn't everything scalped these days

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=DCtoAZ;582998]between EBAY and STUBHUB .. isn't everything scalped these days[/quote]

I was thinking the same thing. The article also doesn't say anything about what they did illegal. I would guess this happensall the time especially in a market like DC where there are so many people that want to go to games. I also dont expect the sale to brokers to stop anytime soon.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

This really isn't a surprise to me, hell I figured it was standard practice.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=Warpath;583049]I was thinking the same thing. [B]The article also doesn't say anything about what they did illegal.[/B] I would guess this happensall the time especially in a market like DC where there are so many people that want to go to games. I also dont expect the sale to brokers to stop anytime soon.[/quote]

I [B]think [/B]the issue is there are people (loyal fans) on the waiting list for years that were passed up in favor of selling many of the highly sought after 100 level seats to brokers, who in turn sell to anyone including Steelers fans.
[B]If[/B] true then what is the point of the waiting list? The whole ticket broker business seems crooked. There must be a lot of secret handshake deals. How is that the brokers get all the good seats for most events?

This article was more disturbing:
[url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/sports/redskins-tickets/index.html]Selling to Brokers, Suing Fans (washingtonpost.com)[/url]

[B]The billion dollar Redskins sue a guy who can no longer afford to pay for his tickets? [/B] WTF? This guy gave the Redskins a heads up that they would like to cancel. Not very good PR.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

The article is not about the Redskins organization engaging in an illegal practice. It is about workers in the ticket office who make some extra cash for themselves by selling tickets to brokers rather than to the people on the ticket waiting list. The Redskins organization as a whole wants the tickets to go to those on the waiting list but apparently some unscrupulous folks in the ticket office have subverted the ideal scenario. So when we read that these individuals have been "disciplined," it is fair to guess that this means "fired."

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

From what I understand. People sign a 10 year contract with the Redskins for club level seats and the yearly prices just keeps going up 25% each year and there is little they can do because they signed a contract. So, you start out with a contract for $10,000 a year for some seats and after a couple of years you are paying $25,000.

The whole way the Redskins sell tickets is quite a mystery and I am surprised there is not a whole section or special forum on this website helping fans navigate this enigma.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[QUOTE=Lotus;583093]The article is not about the Redskins organization engaging in an illegal practice. It is about workers in the ticket office who make some extra cash for themselves by selling tickets to brokers rather than to the people on the ticket waiting list. The Redskins organization as a whole wants the tickets to go to those on the waiting list but apparently some unscrupulous folks in the ticket office have subverted the ideal scenario. So when we read that these individuals have been "disciplined," it is fair to guess that this means "fired."[/QUOTE]

Or the Redskins & their Ticket Operations department got caught and are now 'blaming' a handful of rogue tickets sales people (fall guys).

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=Lotus;583093][B]The article is not about the Redskins organization engaging in an illegal practice. [/B] It is about workers in the ticket office who make some extra cash for themselves by selling tickets to brokers rather than to the people on the ticket waiting list. The Redskins organization as a whole wants the tickets to go to those on the waiting list but apparently some unscrupulous folks in the ticket office have subverted the ideal scenario. So when we read that these individuals have been "disciplined," it is fair to guess that this means "fired."[/quote]

Unfortunately this clarification doesn't sell in the media, instead you will see many outlets (and fans) referring this as "the Redskins are doing this..."

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=DCtoAZ;582998]between EBAY and STUBHUB .. isn't everything scalped these days[/quote]

And this site. You're correct!

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=Defensewins;583105]Or the Redskins & their Ticket Operations department got caught and are now 'blaming' a handful of rogue tickets sales people (fall guys).[/quote]

Maybe. But I see no gain for the Redskins as an organization by ignoring the waiting list and selling to outlets. If the organization wanted more per ticket, it could simply raise the price. And in these rogue sales, the organization loses control over pricing and distribution, which would be quite foolish in terms of the interests of the organization. The whole scenario only makes sense if the problem really is rogue ticket sellers.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=Lotus;583093]The article is not about the Redskins organization engaging in an illegal practice. It is about workers in the ticket office who make some extra cash for themselves by selling tickets to brokers rather than to the people on the ticket waiting list. The Redskins organization as a whole wants the tickets to go to those on the waiting list but apparently some unscrupulous folks in the ticket office have subverted the ideal scenario. So when we read that these individuals have been "disciplined," it is fair to guess that this means "fired."[/quote]

Correct, the article is not about the Redskins engaging in an illegal practice. Nothing they are doing is illegal...its their tickets and they can do whatever they want. But the article is not blaming this on a couple of rogue ticket sellers...the intent of the article is to blame the Redskins Organization as a whole. The article points out that these sales to brokers where handled by the Vice President of Premium ticket sales.

Really, the article is just saying the famed Redskins waiting list is pointless and meaningless.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=Lotus;583116]Maybe. But I see no gain for the Redskins as an organization by ignoring the waiting list and selling to outlets. If the organization wanted more per ticket, it could simply raise the price. And in these rogue sales, the organization loses control over pricing and distribution, which would be quite foolish in terms of the interests of the organization. The whole scenario only makes sense if the problem really is rogue ticket sellers.[/quote]

The gain is that they sell their club level seats. In these broker deals, the broker agrees to buy club level seats so they can buy regular seats as well. If they went thru the wait list.....then they could not sell the club level seats.

I wish they sold club level seats one game at a time. I would pay the extra money to see one game in club level....but I could not afford a ten year contract.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

The post article points out some things that just add to the reasons I think fedex sucks overall. A few years ago Va. Tech's AD said during the expansion of Lane Stadium that they didn't want to make it "too big" because they wanted to keep demand high.

There's something to be said for that. with 91,000 seats & a mediocre team at best (since fedex opened) it's hard to keep demand up. Yet the Skins have been saying for years that it is & they have a waiting list, etc.

My dream scenario to happen within the next 10 years; the Skins make a deal w/DC to come back where they belong (RFK site?), build a stadium that seats about 70,000 & features some of the great things that RFK had. Ticket demand goes up again & the Skins are playing where they belong. Of course, we win a super bowl once we're back in dc!

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

btw, expect JJ & his cowpoke stadium to experience all of this in the coming years. The novelty of the new digs will wear off & he'll be trying to sell high end tickets to pay the financing on 1.2 bill.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

Well, one thing JJ did that was "clever" was he made the technical capacity around 80000, but it can be expanded to 100000, so he does not need to really sell out 100000 seats, unless the event calls for it. Not quite sure of the mechanics of it.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

I get my tickets from Marion Barry at a discount. :pimp:

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

I really feel like this robs the season ticket holders of the stadium experience. this never happened in RFK. Now I understand why there always seems to be an army of opposing team supporters. very frustrating.

I'm also annoyed by the terrible menu options associated with the Tailgate Club. Why does it feel like the skins are always trying to fleece the fan?

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=Defensewins;583090]I [B]think [/B]the issue is there are people (loyal fans) on the waiting list for years that were passed up in favor of selling many of the highly sought after 100 level seats to brokers, who in turn sell to anyone including Steelers fans.
[B]If[/B] true then what is the point of the waiting list? The whole ticket broker business seems crooked. There must be a lot of secret handshake deals. How is that the brokers get all the good seats for most events?

This article was more disturbing:
[URL="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/sports/redskins-tickets/index.html"]Selling to Brokers, Suing Fans (washingtonpost.com)[/URL]

[B]The billion dollar Redskins sue a guy who can no longer afford to pay for his tickets? [/B]WTF? This guy gave the Redskins a heads up that they would like to cancel. Not very good PR.[/quote]


I'm not sold on the 160,000 people waiting for season tickets. I have received around 5 things from the Skins to get back my season tickets I gave up over a year ago. If they had so many people on this waiting list why are they waisting so much money trying to get back people who gave up their season tickets and I only had mine for one year? It just does not make sense. For the guy the sued he did sign a 6 year deal and signed a contract so they had every right to sue the guy. It also probably points out that if they had such a waiting list why not just sell the tickets to the next guy in line? It probably because they don't have anyone else in line for tickets. They sell these things to brokers because it guarantees that they will sell the ticket. I'd rather see them hold on to more of these tickets and sell them off for each game and not as a season package deal. I know I would buy tickets to a few games every year but I do not want to buy a full season. Also with season ticket sales they also force you to buy the preseason games which they would take a big hit on if they did not package them into the season ticket package.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=souperbad;583123]Correct, the article is not about the Redskins engaging in an illegal practice. Nothing they are doing is illegal...its their tickets and they can do whatever they want. But the article is not blaming this on a couple of rogue ticket sellers...the intent of the article is to blame the Redskins Organization as a whole. The article points out that these sales to brokers where handled by the Vice President of Premium ticket sales.

Really, the article is just saying the famed Redskins waiting list is pointless and meaningless.[/quote]

I disagree- not with your point about the legality- surely the redskins are acting within their rights. However, I do believe its disingenuous to sell to brokers rather than directly to fans (who have reportedly been waiting for years for tickets). I see no reason why they can't set up a site that affords waiting list members the ability to buy individual game tickets according to their rank. The sheer number of opposing team fans present at FedEx each and every week speaks volumes about the pervasiveness of the system (i know regular owns sell their tickets too). Moreover, for all the Hoopla the redskins try to sell us about the "12th Man" our stadium isn't that loud, and we aren't THAT supportive (subjective I know). There is certainly something unsettling about the skins bragging and encouraging the crowd to get loud (best fans in the NFL!), yet at the same time not doing all they can to ensure an overwhelming Pro-Redskins environment. I'm not against the skins making money (i'm a capitalist) but for years i've lamented the loss of RFK's je ne sais quoi, and now i know why.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=Trample the Elderly;583146]I get my tickets from Marion Barry at a discount. :pimp:[/quote]

Crack rocks for tickets? Sounds like a deal to me.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=DCtoAZ;582998]between EBAY and STUBHUB .. isn't everything scalped these days[/quote]
Spot on there.

Sort of unrelated, but familiar territory. I have a little girl at home who simply had to go see the Cyrus kid in concert. So as soon as ticket go on sale I try and get some. Well they sold out 2 shows in 8 damn minutes. 8 MINUTES! Tickets were a couple hundred bucks a piece.

Then looked at eBay and the same seats I was looking at were selling for 4 figures each.

And that is what happens a lot, brokers buy huge masses of tickets in one fatal swoop, then offer them through other outlets (such as eBay) at 300-400 percent profit.

There needs to be a law, seriously.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=freddyg12;583135]btw, expect JJ & his cowpoke stadium to experience all of this in the coming years. The novelty of the new digs will wear off & he'll be trying to sell high end tickets to pay the financing on 1.2 bill.[/quote]
Are there any $29 admission fees at FedEx?

Because in the new stadium at Dallas you can get a "party pass" for 29 bucks. See the game, drink some brew for just under 30 dollars. Not too shabby.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=firstdown;583155]I'm not sold on the 160,000 people waiting for season tickets. I have received around 5 things from the Skins to get back my season tickets I gave up over a year ago. If they had so many people on this waiting list why are they waisting so much money trying to get back people who gave up their season tickets and I only had mine for one year? It just does not make sense. For the guy the sued he did sign a 6 year deal and signed a contract so they had every right to sue the guy. It also probably points out that if they had such a waiting list why not just sell the tickets to the next guy in line? It probably because they don't have anyone else in line for tickets. They sell these things to brokers because it guarantees that they will sell the ticket. I'd rather see them hold on to more of these tickets and sell them off for each game and not as a season package deal. I know I would buy tickets to a few games every year but I do not want to buy a full season. Also with season ticket sales they also force you to buy the preseason games which they would take a big hit on if they did not package them into the season ticket package.[/quote]
I see this argument and my question is this: Are you sure they're trying to get you to buy general admission tickets? Not Club Tickets. There's a difference. Club tickets aren't sold as season tickets.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=sandtrapjack;583162]Are there any $29 admission fees at FedEx?

Because in the new stadium at Dallas you can get a "party pass" for 29 bucks. See the game, drink some brew for just under 30 dollars. Not too shabby.[/quote]


Sure there are- you just need to buy two club level seats for the next 10 years. Should you opt out of that plan, try stub hub, I think that $30 package goes for $100.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=sandtrapjack;583161]Spot on there.

Sort of unrelated, but familiar territory. I have a little girl at home who simply had to go see the Cyrus kid in concert. So as soon as ticket go on sale I try and get some. Well they sold out 2 shows in 8 damn minutes. 8 MINUTES! Tickets were a couple hundred bucks a piece.

Then looked at eBay and the same seats I was looking at were selling for 4 figures each.

And that is what happens a lot, brokers buy huge masses of tickets in one fatal swoop, then offer them through other outlets (such as eBay) at 300-400 percent profit.

There needs to be a law, seriously.[/quote]

The demand needs to yield itself.

If the consumers decided the prices were too high the brokers would be stuck with tickets and the loss.

The unfortunate part is that the consumer never yields or shows good purchasing practices for entertainment. No price is too high and the market/brokers know that.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

Simply don't go to the games. Problem solved. No need to thank me.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=Skinny Tee;583188]The demand needs to yield itself.

If the consumers decided the prices were too high the brokers would be stuck with tickets and the loss.

The unfortunate part is that the consumer never yields or shows good purchasing practices for entertainment. No price is too high and the market/brokers know that.[/quote]

This is certainly true if we are talking about a pure market, I would argue that the redskins should not be selling into open market- at least not if they wish to maintain a legitimate home field advantage. I realize my point may make for an irrational economic argument, but if the Skins are concerned about providing a true 12th man advantage, does it not behoove them to fill the seats with their own fans? Selling to the people on the waiting list (in theory) would accomplish this goal all while improving waiting list/customer relations. In doing so, you are actually providing the fans with utility when they sign up for the list as opposed to just adding a name and waiting. While I certainly do not fault the redskins for making as much money as possible, I find it very disingenuous for them to brag about 12th man superiority (making FedEx the toughest place to play) and then turn around and sell tickets to opposing fans (and yes, I'm aware that skins fans have the right to buy from scalpers too). To me its talking out of both sides of the mouth, not to mention bad customer relations.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=BrunellMVP?;583157]I disagree- not with your point about the legality- surely the redskins are acting within their rights. However, I do believe its disingenuous to sell to brokers rather than directly to fans [/quote]

Agreed. It is quite disingenuous....not just to the people on the wait list but the season ticket holders who have tenure and paying with the hopes of moving up to better seats.

This is my second year in the last row of the upper level. Theoretically I should have moved up. The ticket office called me and said I could move up if I bought 2 more seats. I asked why didn't I just move up automatically. The rep said the seats where a block of 4 and had to be take by a block of 4. I had a friend with 4 seats and he did not move up this year.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

I've been to RFK and Fed Ex.

We've talked about the problem w/ the ticket brokers since the Steeler game, although the post did magnify the problem of it which included some Skins salesmen.

Maybe i'm a little older and a little more frugal now, but I just think the expense and time of going to a game is too much for me. I used to go to one game a year now I'd like to but don't always. I typically have to buy from a broker if i can't get it by other means.

At Fed Ex, the best time for me is tailgating. I'd love to go to tailgate, bring a HD w/ satellite, sit in the parking lot and watch the game. Once it ends, i'm out, and can be at home in 2 hrs or so.

If I go, it's $300+ (if my wife doesn't go) and i don't get home til 830 or 9pm for a 1pm game. That's a 13 hour trip.

RFK was more of an experience. Almost all skins fans. Cheaper. Different time. More of a "skins family" type feel that you don't always get at FE.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=FRPLG;583163]I see this argument and my question is this: Are you sure they're trying to get you to buy general admission tickets? Not Club Tickets. There's a difference. Club tickets aren't sold as season tickets.[/quote]
I have received both but I did not even count the club ticket stuff I received. It has gone someting like this over the 4 or so things I received.

1st- Get season tics in the same section as your past tics.
2nd- Good news you prior seats are open so rush today to get them back.
3rd- Combo of 1st and 2nd letter.
4th- We now have tickets in the same section but lower down and closer
to the action.

I posted about this and others here who had let go of their season tickets are getting some of the same mail. I also forgot about the one that came to my home (others came to office which was address I used when I had season tics) that said I finally was up on the list and could call to claim my season tickets. I think that came from something I filled out before I got my season tickets about 5 years ago.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

Who cares? If the fans aren't buying them then they can sell them to whom ever they want. This is what happens when you have a 90,000 + seat stadium. At RFK this would never have happened. I'd rather be stabbed in the eyeballs then go over to Fed Ex Field.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=redsk1;583221]I've been to RFK and Fed Ex.

We've talked about the problem w/ the ticket brokers since the Steeler game, although the post did magnify the problem of it which included some Skins salesmen.

Maybe i'm a little older and a little more frugal now, but I just think the expense and time of going to a game is too much for me. I used to go to one game a year now I'd like to but don't always. I typically have to buy from a broker if i can't get it by other means.

At Fed Ex, the best time for me is tailgating. I'd love to go to tailgate, bring a HD w/ satellite, sit in the parking lot and watch the game. Once it ends, i'm out, and can be at home in 2 hrs or so.

If I go, it's $300+ (if my wife doesn't go) and i don't get home til 830 or 9pm for a 1pm game. That's a 13 hour trip.

[B]RFK was more of an experience. Almost all skins fans. Cheaper. Different time. More of a "skins family" type feel that you don't always get at FE.[/[/B]quote]

Exactly

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

Here's a hypthetical question, that really happens.

What about those Season Ticket holders, that sell off a portion of thier season tickets in order to finance the purchase of the following years season tickets?

Tons of people will buy season tickets, go to 4 or 5 games, and sell the remaining tickets at a marked up price and use the profit to pay for next years seeason tickets.

How do we classify those fans? They literally pay for season tickets for one year, and then all subsequent years are paid for with "house money".

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

Really the scalpers in return will sell them at outrageous prices I am afraid!

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=sandtrapjack;583245]Here's a hypthetical question, that really happens.

What about those Season Ticket holders, that sell off a portion of thier season tickets in order to finance the purchase of the following years season tickets?

Tons of people will buy season tickets, go to 4 or 5 games, and sell the remaining tickets at a marked up price and use the profit to pay for next years seeason tickets.

How do we classify those fans? They literally pay for season tickets for one year, and then all subsequent years are paid for with "house money".[/quote]

Ugh...not so much. Unless you have some of the coveted $99 seats then there's zero chance you're selling the other tickets for enough to pay for next season's tickets. They simply don't fetch all that much. You can get maybe face for the upper bowls in decent games, possibly a little more than face for the really popular games and less than face for about half of the games total. If you break even on the ones you've sold you have performed a minor capitalistic miracle.

For the more expensive tickets you're lucky to get face at all for any games. Just because Stub Hub has tickets listed for $200-$300 doesn't mean they sell.

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

Speaking about tickets: I was offered season tickets for this year in section 221 for $1400. Does anyone know if this is a good deal or not?

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=WaldSkins;583254]Speaking about tickets: I was offered season tickets for this year in section 221 for $1400. Does anyone know if this is a good deal or not?[/quote]

A piece? No. Or at least I highly doubt it. 221 shouldn't be more than $79 or $99 I think. So face on those would be 790-990. Might be wrong though

Re: Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers
 

[quote=FRPLG;583258]A piece? No. Or at least I highly doubt it. 221 shouldn't be more than $79 or $99 I don't think. So face on those would be 790-990. Might be wrong though[/quote]

For the season and with two seats. I always sit in the lower level when i go and really do not know much about the club level. Im just fishing for feedback before i shell out $1400 for seats.