NFL season ticket waiting lists
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[edit] NFL Season Ticket Waiting Lists
The National Football League has enjoyed success in selling out many of their venues from season ticket sales alone. Some teams have legendary waiting lists that number thousands of names and stretch into decades long waits.
[edit] Personal Seat Licenses (PSL's)
Personal Seat Licenses (PSL's) is a license which grants the holder the right to buy season tickets for a particular team. PSL's were first used in the NFL by the expansion Carolina Panthers in 1993 to help finance their new stadium. Since that time, several teams have used the mechanism to finance new stadium projects including the Chicago Bears remodel of Soldier Field and more recently the Dallas Cowboys. The New York Jets and New York Giants are considering a PSL program for the New Meadowlands Stadium. [1]
[edit] Criticism Related to Waiting Lists
In 2003, the New York Jets changed their waiting list policy to require a $50 annual maintenance fee to remain on the waiting list. However, due to the long list of names and high renewal rates among existing ticket holders, there was uncertainty about the fees a person may possibly have to pay if they remained on the list for many years. After attention from the media and the New York Attorney General's Office, the Jets agreed to cap the maintenance fees at $500, allow the transfer of the waiting list position if the person moved out of state and provide at least 80% of non-renewed season tickets to waiting list members. In 2008, the Jets sent notices to those on the waiting list that the $50 annual maintenance fee would be waived and any money already accrued would be either refunded or credited toward the purchase of Jets merchandise.
In 2004, the New England Patriots, who have a substantial season ticket waiting list received media attention for not allowing the son of a deceased season ticket holder to retain his father's season tickets. Some teams, like the Patriots, have no transfer policies, while others allow transfers to direct family members and while other teams allow transfers to anyone. [2]
The NFL requires that season ticket purchasers not only purchase the regular season games, but also typically two preseason games whether they want the exhibition games or not. The legality of requiring the purchase of the preseason games has been challenged all the way to the Supreme Court but it has not resulted in a change of policy for the NFL. [3]
[edit] Legendary Waiting Lists
The Green Bay Packers have the most famous waiting list with names well past the 70,000 mark. Turnover is generally low with as few as 70 tickets becoming available each year. It is a common custom in Green Bay to put a baby's name on the list as soon as the birth certificate is obtained. [4]
The Washington Redskins have the most number of names on their waiting list at over 150,000. The New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Denver Broncos historically have also maintained long waiting lists for season tickets. [5]
[edit] Current Waiting Lists
| Team | Year Current Waiting List was Started | Approx. Number of Names on Waiting List | Approx. Wait Time | Personal Seat License |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | 2006 | 6,000 | 2 years | No |
| Atlanta Falcons | 2002 | 60,000 | ?? | No |
| Baltimore Ravens | ?? | 3,000* | ?? | Yes |
| Buffalo Bills | NA | No Waiting List | None | No |
| Carolina Panthers | NA | No Waiting List | None | Yes |
| Chicago Bears | ?? | 3,500 | ?? | Yes, Some non-PSL season tickets are sold |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 2006 | ?? | 2 years | Yes |
| Cleveland Browns | NA | No Waiting List | None | Yes |
| Dallas Cowboys | 2007 | ?? | 2 years | Yes (New Stadium Only) |
| Denver Broncos | ?? | 23,000 | 12 years | No |
| Detroit Lions | ?? | 3,000 | 2 years | No |
| Green Bay Packers | 1960 | 74,000 | 30 years | No |
| Houston Texans | 2002 | ?? | ?? | Yes |
| Indianapolis Colts | 2006 | 23,000 | ?? | No |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | NA | No Waiting List | None | No |
| Kansas City Chiefs | NA | No Waiting List | None | No |
| Miami Dolphins | NA | No Waiting List | None | No |
| Minnesota Vikings | 2007 | 750 | 1 year | No |
| New England Patriots | ?? | 50,000 | 20 years | No |
| New Orleans Saints | ?? | 35,000 | 2 years | No |
| New York Giants | 1976 | 70,000 | 25 years | No |
| New York Jets | ?? | 10,000 | 6 years | No |
| Oakland Raiders | NA | No Waiting List | None | No |
| Philadelphia Eagles | ?? | 70,000 | 25 years | Yes |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 1972 | 65,000 | 19 years | Yes |
| San Diego Chargers | 2007 | 1,000 | 1 year | No |
| San Francisco 49ers | NA | No Waiting List | None | No |
| Seattle Seahawks | ?? | 2,000 | 2 years | Yes |
| St. Louis Rams | NA | No Waiting List | None | Yes |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1998 | 35,000 | 4 years | No |
| Tennessee Titans | ?? | 22,000 | 5 years | Yes |
| Washington Redskins | 1966 | 155,000 | 30 years | No |
(*): Baltimore Ravens Waiting List Capped at 3,000.
[edit] References
- ^ Jets and Giants Fans May Pay for the Right to Pay for Tickets - New York Times
- ^ Pass interference - The Boston Globe
- ^ Angelo F. Coniglio v. Highwood Services, Inc., 495 F.2d 1286 (2d Cir. 1974-04-17).
- ^ SI.com - Writers - Rick Reilly: If you put your name on the waiting list for Green Bay Packers season tickets today, you'll have them by the year 3074. Luckily you'll still catch Brett Favre's last season. - Tuesday October 9, 2007 8:12AM
- ^ Toughest NFL Waiting Lists - Forbes.com
