According to a source close to the Bengals organization, the team was able to work a deal to sell out the game against the Detroit Lions.
The source, who wasn’t talking to me, basically said, “It will sell out. We already have deal in place, but we just want to sucker more people into buying tickets.”
Nice.
I know those comments were not meant for our ears and a part of me, as someone who cannot afford to go to this week’s game, doesn’t want to report it just in case the “suckering of fans” was part of this deal. However, not reporting this would irresponsible on my part.
So, this is what is going to happen. The Bengals will reach the 1 p.m. deadline and you will hear nothing. Eventually 3 or 4 o’clock rolls around and miraculously the Bengals and Fox 19 and whoever else make a deal that will allow you can watch the game at home.
By no means is this a reason to stay home. Again, if I could fit a pair tickets in my budget and be able to fit it in my schedule this week I would. The Bengals are 8-3 and playing for a bye and at least one home game in the playoffs. The weather is also supposed to be nice, sunny, 40 degrees and a slight breeze.
That all being said, the Bengals need to change the way they do business. First, the team should lower the prices for its upper level tickets. In section 300, which I admit are not awful seats, tickets run from $64 to $72. In sections 100 and 200, tickets go for $64 to $82. Why in the world would you price the nose bleeds the same as or very near the price as someone sitting in the front row?
Let’s make a quick comparison, let’s say you are in New York City this Sunday and want to take in the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets game at Madison Square Garden. I don’t know why you would, those teams are just awful. I also know it is a different sport, but the difference in ticket pricing is staggering. The price of the worst seat you can buy (which is still available for Sunday’s Bengals’ game at Paul Brown Stadium for at least $64) is $10 at the Garden. However, the price of the most expensive ticket at MSG is $3,004.50 while the most pricey ticket at PBS is $82 (not counting the club fee).
Maybe the team should increase its entire lower level tickets by $5 and decrease its top 10 rows to $30. I know that might anger many of you season ticket holders, but why would someone have the urge to buy a ticket for the same price as you to have the worst seat in the stadium? Especially, why would they do that to see the lowly Lions?
Lowering the ticket price for the worst seats at PBS would help the Bengals with this sellout problem.
Anyways, if you can swing it, you can buy tickets on the Bengals Ticket Hotline at 866-621-TDTD. The hotline will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. today (Friday) and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. You can also buy them online at any time at this link.
According to the team, the Bengals have between 3 to 4,000 tickets available.
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Know what’s irresponsible? Reporting a fabrication like this. You really can’t be serious with this.
Tom, it is the truth. I don’t know why it upsets you unless you work in the front office.
What’s really irresponsible is how the Bengals organization has manhandled and continues to manhandle the people of the Greater Cincinnati area, most specifically Hamilton County. The fans and residents of Hamilton County should thank people who are looking out for them, not call them “irresponsible”. Irresponsible for reporting news that is helpful to the common people? Give me a break. Who are you?
Thanks to Bengal Stripes for reporting coverage that the fans need to hear. By the way I think you were a little too nice. Suggesting we buy tickets from an organization that clearly could give a crap less about the fans or their diminishing pocketbooks?
I urge anyone in Cincinnati to roll the $70 you would spend on a Bengals ticket into your 401k. It’d be better for your future. Trust me, you’ll thank me in 10 years.
How exactly is someone GOING to a game.. suckering them into something? they get tickets TO THE GAME.
wow. as if this site wasn’t a big enough joke already.
Tom,
You represent everything that is wrong with Mike Brown and his people–especially their business practices. The Stripe’s suggestion is a lot more reasonable than the current structure of the ticket prices. I would attend a lot more games if I could buy cheaper ticket for “less-great” seats. I would sand-bag my money so I could upgrade seats for a Baltimore or Pitsburgh game.
Your retarded?
It should be you are retarded or you’re retarded.
Anyways, the idea behind why the Bengals don’t tell you about the sellout is that they hope you buy a ticket because you are worried it won’t be on television.
I hope that makes it clear.
Obviously, there is something seriously wrong with you.
I agree with the price changes. It doesn’t seem fair to have to pay that much for the nose bleeds. I know they are doing thier part to cover the cost of the new stadium, but $72 is a little extreme. If they did lower prices they would get more people in the seats, and the “threats” of blackouts true or not would cease.
I went to the Brown’s page…and tickets there range from 32 – 85. I know they have issues selling out games as well, but that has more to do with the Browns than “Big Business”. Another example would be the Dallas Cowboys stadium…they just built the most expensive stadium to-date, and you can still get a seat at $29 and it’s climate controlled!!
So why must we pay $72 bucks, plus food and beer money to freeze our butts off perched in the clouds, forced to watch our beloved Bengals with binoculars?? I’d rather watch it in a cozy bar, with $2 pitchers…so the Bengals aren’t making any money off me. If they lowered prices I would be more inclined to go, and probably purchase a fuzzy Bengals fleece and mittens to match, as I won’t be thinking I got “hosed” on the ticket price…think of the economic surplus they are missing out on!
So I agree…cut us die-hard fans a break; the Bengals will still profit from us. However, with the season going well this year, the demand for seats will increase so don’t expect any lowering, and then of course when the Bengals go through one of their eventual lows the owners will get nervous and seats won’t sell and the price will remain high as they want to get every penny possible. So my predicition is Bengals fans will have to endure and wait for sales on NFL Direct.
And to “Your Retarded” if you truly think this website is a joke, you don’t have to read it. Feel free to remove it from your bookmarks, and when you have something educated to say we will gladly listen.
It is between 3 and 4.
Just like the post above told you, “Eventually 3 or 4 o’clock rolls around and miraculously the Bengals and Fox 19 and whoever else make a deal that will allow you can watch the game at home.”
Bengals.com has the details up.
“This Sunday’s 1 p.m. Bengals home game against Detroit is officially a sellout, the club’s ticket office announced today. The game is the club’s 51st consecutive sellout in regular season and postseason play, and it will air live on Fox19 (WXIX-TV) in Cincinnati.”
“Fox19, Fifth Third Bank and Kroger led the way in helping ensure the blackout would be lifted, and the Bengals purchased tickets for distribution to local military families. Additionally, Bud Light, JTM and Ohio Casualty played key roles in assisting with efforts to allow the game to be aired live.”
The site also said that seats are still remaining to purchase.
Way to call it Mr. Stripe!
Nice job breaking the news. You might lose your source but it was cool to post verbatim.
I tend to agree that fans that buy tickets are not suckered, but I also think the prices are a bit steep. I will never call anyone out for not justifying the purchase, if you can’t afford it then I root for a sellout so you can watch.
I only take issue with all the boycott BS, but that is a fight I have been having for a while.
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