The NFL

Seeing the NFL live is an inferior experience

 http://web.me.com/hydra9/Site_5/Blog/Entries/2009/1/5_Seeing_the_NFL_live_is_an_inferior_experience.html

I have seen quite a few news stories about how the Minnesota Vikings had an issue selling out their playoff game (which they lost). Failure to sell out, means that the game is not shown on local TV. Based on the total cost of going to an NFL game between the tickets, parking, food and drink I am amazed that they sell out at all because watching the games at home (or at a bar) is a far better experience. Give me Kezar over Candlestick anytime.

Last year the average NFL playoff ticket was $121. So lets round down to $100. If you were taking a date, it would cost close to $300 for something you could watch far better at home. Two parents taking their two kids would be close to $500.  Your team advances and has home field advantage?

Watching the game live, I am always wondering what is going on. Plus add the crowd, the elements and the thugs watching at home beats it.

The NFL (and the other major sports) really need to be really careful as they are an indulgent luxury and their place in the circus can easily be replaced.

Next season I can see an issue with the NFL selling out which will lead to more black outs which will lead to lower interest and ad revenue. If a game is blacked out in a local market the NFL typically does not show another game in its place.

I used to be really into boxing in the late 1980's and 1990's but I lost interest due to the lower quality match ups on the pay per view card.

Look at this article about the Tyson Ruddock fight from 1991

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CEFDA1E38F93BA25750C0A967958260

Besides a matchup of two of the top heavyweights, each of the other two fights were worth turning on the PPV card.

Then they started watering down the undercard and then they were bad decisions (such as Holyfield Lewis I) and way too many governing bodies. When they are four heavyweight champions and I could not pick one out of a line up then there is an issue. (OK, the 7 foot tall Russian but I could not name him)

So the connection between the expense and the experience of the NFL and me (and many others) losing interest in boxing is they both did not see the damage of short term gains on long term interest.

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Marcus Zack Ronaldi
http://www.marcusronaldi.com

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