Today’s Ravens-Patriots game in New England is officially a sellout, but that doesn’t mean the stadium will be full.
In fact, Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com reports that the Patriots are urging fans to arrive at Gillette Stadium early today, amid concerns that TV viewers will be treated to the unsightly display of an unfilled stadium for a playoff game.
The Patriots say they’re encouraging fans to avoid security delays, but Curran reports that a large number of season-ticket holders declined to buy playoff tickets.
The team may be hoping that a plea for people to arrive early will at least mean that there won’t be too many empty seats when the standard TV shot panning the stadium before kickoff is shown on CBS.
Four days ago we noted that there were still plenty of good seats available for today’s game.
No team over the last decade has given its fans more to cheer than the Patriots. But that doesn’t mean every fan is going to spend big money on playoff tickets, and in New England, there may be some empty seats today.
CUT BACK ON PRESEASON START SEASON 2 WEEKS EARLY …MAYBE WILL NOT BE SO DAMN COLD AT SEASONS END …
What an idiotic fan base. They are crap for how many decades and now that they’ve had about a decade run of good ball they’re too damned spoiled to bother with buying Playoff tickets?
Nuts, just nuts.
Its not the ticket prices its the fear of being that close to a murder Ray Lewis
The guy should be behind bars not trying to take out one of the greatest QBs of all times
Ravens are going down
The way the club house seats are always empty because the “fans” are watching other games on the telly and keeping warm with food and drink in the clubhouse always gives the impression that half of the stadium is empty. Kraft ought to kick these people back to their seats after halftime, but they aren’t real fans. Just corporate types who could care less. To me, it’s a big disadvantage to the Pats.
Wow… and I thought New England had a crappy fan base before reading this.
Who the F cares!!!
or they just want the fans to avoid security hold ups…like they said….
I think the fans are worried about freezing to death during this period of global warming.
One of the worst fanbases in football. Completely fair weather. But whatever.
I’d say this is more a commentary on the economy than the fan base.
Maybe the fans aren’t so sure the team will do more than one and done. Its cold, Welker is on IR, Brady is banged up, and Pats are not a sure thing this year.
Bigbluefan, you’re ten years behind the on the facts. Maybe Mom will let you out of the house now.
(Disclosure: I’m a Ravens fan who hates the Patriots and their wussy-boy QB.)
There’s a simple reason they’re having a hard time selling out–we’re in a depression. It’s not a knock on NE sports fans at all, they’re actually as loyal as anybody I’ve observed.
When upwards of 17% of working-age adults are unemployed (as per U-6), and most of the remainder are seeing furloughs and wage cuts, and aren’t sure they’ll have a job in 6 months, it’s pretty tough to shell out hundreds of extra $ for football.
Maybe they just feel that this team isn’t worth watching in the cold without magical elf boy running around the slot. Pretty bad when you’re tired of playoff games, or have to assess whether it’s worth going. If only we had that problem in Buffalo.
Move them to LA!!!
“Bigbluefan says: January 10, 2010 10:58 AM
Its not the ticket prices its the fear of being that close to a murder Ray Lewis”
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Here’s an old PFT Haiku, updated, just for you:
Raven Ray Lewis
Patsy fan scared he is bad
Stabby, stabby, stab
They are afraid of the Boston Massacre 2
Ravens 27 Patsies 24
JoeSixPack
I’d say this is more a commentary on the economy than the fan base.
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I can understand that..but if you buy season tickets you have the money to buy playoff tickets. After not makin g the playoffs last year it is rediculous that they would have seats available.
before they started winning superbowls I had never met a patriot fan in my life..Ever bar in manhattan has some jerk in a pats jersey who couldnt tell tony eason from drew bledsoe..maybe this is the beginning of the end.
Well, when american companies are allowed to outsource their jobs to India, this is going to happen. Alot of Indians could afford it if you want them there.
Pats fans are such diehards.
“I’d say this is more a commentary on the economy than the fan base. ”
Right, because the economy is bad only in Mass. Meanwhile attendance at the Cowboys game last night was ~93,000.
London Patriots
and the wheels are coming off the bandwagon
Its going to be league wide problem, prices have got too high. From parking to Concessions to ticket prices to souveniers. The NFL and its teams have priced us fans out of the stadiums league wide. I was a Raider season ticket holder for 14 years, decided it was much cheaper to watch ALL the games at home. And you can still watch your local Blacked out team on the computer with the Directv Sunday Ticket Superfan.
.VoxVeritas says: January 10, 2010 11:29 AM
“Pats fans are such diehards.
“I’d say this is more a commentary on the economy than the fan base. ”
Right, because the economy is bad only in Mass. Meanwhile attendance at the Cowboys game last night was ~93,000.”
Do you know the prices of land/homes compared to Texas? Look it up. The cost of living in mass is a large amount more than Texas. That makes it harder to spend money on extra things like a playoff game
LA Patriots
The Brady Bunch fits right in.
but BB will need a more stylish hoodie
People…..it has nothing to do with the fan base…and everything to do with the economy and that the Patriots are making season ticket holders buy a set of playoff tickets (In case by some miracle…the Patriots win two games and end up hosting the AFC Championship.) Also, the fans support this team 100% but not everyone has money to pay for tickets……and not everyone is going “all in” on a team that we all know is too injury riddled to go deep into th eplayoffs. People are being realists. There’s no winning with you Patriot Haters though…if we were standing her beating our chests and buying tickets fo rthe AFC Championship game..you’d be bashing us as arrogant………
This is a non story
I had season tickets from 95-2007, before moving out of NE. I still get back for a game or two each year, but I think the turnout will be fine. I will admit that the that following things have happened in recent years:
1) The fans have gotten a bit spoiled – lost some of the hunger to tear it up week after week.
2) The fans got a bit older. When I bought my tickets, it was in the Parcells lot and the place was loaded with 20 and 30 somethings. 15 years later those guys are a lot older and dont go as hardcore as in the past, but since they own season tickets it impacts the week to week enthusiasm for the tailgate and inside the game. People still go, but arent as fanatical.
3) The new stadium, while being great in a lot of ways is inferior for creating a raving fan atmosphere. The club level sucks – you rarely see more than 1/3 of those seats filled and a lot of folks watch the game inside. The open end zone portion down by the lighthouse hurts a bit too. Jacking the 3rd level up to dizzying heights makes it seem quieter/emptier in games as well.
4) Expenses – its gotta be top 3 most expensive ticket in the NFL at this point and at what 50 bucks to park it aint cheap. Given playoff money is due in December right before Christmas and the tough economic times, it is easy to see why some folks might have chosen/been forced to pass this time.
5) Also, people like to stay in the parking lot and get fouled up. There is always a crush for playoff/big games when people ride a big crowd wave to the gates and then get stacked up for 15-20 mins or so when all is said and done. Walking up the ramps to the third deck, taking a leak, grabbing 2 beers and finding seats etc.
Anyway, with the highest ticket prices (avg 117 per game, parking that is at least 50 bucks per playoff game etc) it is somewhat easy to see the finances impacting some season ticket holders. Still, I think its a lot of things.
Of course. 90 % of Patriots “fans” only became so 10-11 years ago.
They are the perfect example of the term bandwagon fans. And now that they see the that the end of their fraudelent years of success is over, they are jumping on other teams bandwagon.
Isn’t the entire idea of renewing season tickets based on the hope of a home playoff games? I mean why else buy season tickets? Why support the team during the regular season and then pass on playoff tickets? Doesn’t make any sense…
I’m not sure how it is in other cities but for New England when you have season tickets and playoffs come around they require you to purchase tickets to both potential playoff games. If it turns out there is only one game, the money for the second one gets credited to your account.
All you morons that say it’s because we are fair weather fans..get a clue. 4 seats, $120 (minimum) a ticket x 2 games. Money is due to the Patriots one week before Christmas. That’s a lot of money to throw around for a team that is going on the road next week.
Boston/New England has one of he most intense fan bases of anywhere. People here forget more about football than most of you dopes can remember. At some point hopefully you people see that you sound like jealous little twits and grow up.
Pats 24-14
Right, because the economy is bad only in Mass. Meanwhile attendance at the Cowboys game last night was ~93,000.
What else is there to do in Texas on a Saturday night?
… other than dorking your cousin in the squeak hole or cleaning up the outhouse …
NE has nothing on Daniel M. (Midget) Snyder. He charges for things Kraft hasn’t dreamed of. At least Kraft puts a competitive team on the field.
The attendance at ‘Skins games dropped off this year after 10 years of the “marketing genius” giving up all the draft choices for “big names” that can’t or won’t play, 7 head coaches, and 1 former bingo caller.
I like the comment above ‘they aren’t real fans just corporate types that could careless’……really, I didn’t know there was a definition for ‘real fans’. They paid their money and should be able to enjoy the game as they please. If it was all about the game, these new stadiums would have all the other non-game related activities…it has become about the game day experience.
The NFL is competing for our entertainment money. If the Pats fall to the bottom, why should folks throw good money away on bad entertainment? How else can a fan show their disgust other than not buying tickets and merchandise?
Ken1313 – You are a complete idiot. This is a huge story – Pats fans are fair-weather!
Bunch of crybabies just like their coach and QB.
MAKES ME SICK……..
This is a tough one to figure out. Smashmouth is right about the economic factor, but madsqgrdn makes a good point about season ticket holders being to afford a playoff ticket, except if you don’t buy playoff tickets you don’t lose your seats like if you don’t keep your season tickets. Still, you’d think diehard fans would squeeze the money out of their budgets. Could this be a sign that the economy is headed for a double dip? “Dot” Vox point is well taken, although the recession has hit many places harder than it hit Texas, which also benefited less in the balloon economy (and ranks third in federal revenue received). The only argument that I don’t buy is that it’s the injury to Welker. Brady won a lot of trophies throwing to one hit wonders. Maybe it’s “All of the above”x “Damn it’s cold!”
@ Ken1313:
“you’d be bashing us as arrogant”
You left out “rude and obnoxious” but its a cultural thing in the NE region so you wouldn’t have realized it.
12+81=7 says:
Do you know the prices of land/homes compared to Texas? Look it up. The cost of living in mass is a large amount more than Texas. That makes it harder to spend money on extra things like a playoff game
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Of course, I’m sure you looked up median income figures in those areas as well.
Maybe security really is being beefed up, as the team said. Didn’t some guy shutdown an airport recently, and didn’t some guy sneak on an airplane with explosives, causing a national security uproar?
GO RAVENS
It’s ridiculous that people keep spelling the word ridiculous wrong. Rediculous?? Ridiculous..Christ
This is such a STUPID topic….
Again, anyone can say anything about the Patriots & it’s now gospel……..you people that actually believe what the media shovels your way are just sad…..GROW A BRAIN STEM!!!!!
My buddy’s family has 20 seats. They showed up to buy 10 playoff tickets which is what they could afford. Patriot’s box office told them they needed to buy 20 or none. They didn’t have the money and bought none. Thank you Mr Kraft.
Patriots fans are the biggest bandwagon fans in sports. You couldnt find a Patriots fan in the 90′s then they win a super bowl and all of a sudden they are all over the place and selling out their stadium.
where were all these fans when the team was bad? thats when you know someone is a true fan
bunch of frauds
I wouldn’t want to publish my comments in this thread either. The truth doesn’t make you look very good. So feel free to keep them hidden.
I went to the last home game and the line to get by security was atleast 15-20 minutes long (thanks Bin Laden). There was a number to text a complaint to and so I did. I am sure I wasn’t the only one. Therefore, the Pats sent out a message to arrive early. Would have loved to be there today but unfortunately there are millions on welfare that count on me to work on some weekends, otherwise, I would have bought tickets.
HughJassPhD says: January 10, 2010 11:07 AM
I think the fans are worried about freezing to death during this period of global warming.
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Seriously, the whole world is freezing and they still try and sell us on this whole “global warming” crap.
The sheep need to wake up.
Stupid PFT trying to create a story out of nothing.
This blog post didn’t bother to mention the Patriots told fans to arrive early for some special pre-game festivities.
I’m hearing a pyro show.
Quit blaming the economy. The Chargers playoff game NEXT weekend has already been sold out for a week. Seems the Cowboys didn’t have trouble filling their stadium yesterday either. Lets call a spade a spade. Patri*t fans are nothing but a bunch of bandwagon homers.
There is no excuse for this. It’s just the lack of a true fan base. Most of the people who go to those games are in their small New England towns wearing the sox cap, wondering why they signed Beltre to 3B.
That area (of Foxboro) can absolutely afford tickets to every game.
stadium looks full. going to correct yourself PFT? probably not.
Economy?
Cincy was packed last night and the state of Ohio has been economically dead forever. Has nothing to do with the economy. Pats fans just suck.
If the United States was to have an enema, Boston is where the tube would go.
I don’t get the argument that the economy doesn’t mean much because other teams are selling out. Other teams also charge less money for tickets, and other teams also have different policies regarding the purchase of tickets. If your playoff tickets are twice as much or more than others there is going to be a lot less demand considering unemployment in this country is 10%.
The reason the patriots made this announcement had nothing to do with fear the stadium would be empty. They brought out Wes Welker for the coin toss and wanted fans to be there to give him an ovation.
The way NE is getting whipped like a rented mule, the NE fans will start resembling empty seats pretty darn quick.
I can tell you that would never happen in Lambeau!
I know you guys meant the Jaguars of Jacksonville is having problems selling out the stadium. NO, I had to double take when I read this.. I thought Jacksonville was the only city that could not support their team….Are you sure.. The economy is not a good enough excuse for Jacksonville so why is it for New England….
As someone else said..LA wants a team..move there..no cold weather to be the excuse, but wait, LA use the economy too..California is the brokest state in the Union…
Joe in Toronto, Canada says:
January 10, 2010 12:40 PM
HughJassPhD says: January 10, 2010 11:07 AM
I think the fans are worried about freezing to death during this period of global warming.
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Seriously, the whole world is freezing and they still try and sell us on this whole “global warming” crap.
The sheep need to wake up.
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Joe/Hugh; You’re the same guy, right?
Where is Hayward whatshisname?……..Telling us about the “intestional fortitude” of Pat’s fans……Jackass……Like the entire region is suddenly hard pressed to buy tickets….Please…..Nothing but a bunch of Bandwagoners…..Dallas had 90 some odd thousand people at their game yesterday, economy my ass…..They know they have no shot at the SB, so their lame ass fans show how lame ass thay are……..
What do you all expect from the worst, most bandwagonista fans in all of sports? The same jackasses who were just booing their HOF QB in the first quarter…..
Can’t sell tickets. Move them to L.A., Toronto, or London. If they can’t sell out, they must not be able to support an NFL team. What a bunch of horse crap.
I listened to the Patriots and went to the stadium early, only to sit in a security line for 45 minutes and miss kickoff. What a joke of an operation Kraft is running at Gillette these days.
The real fans were priced out long ago. Wait and see what happens to both NY teams next year.