The Cleveland Browns are all set to begin building not only a sports venue down in Brook Park just south of Cleveland, but an entire complex with hotels, restaurants, and other entertainment options.
But
the centerpiece to all this, is the new dome stadium.
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There are so many decisions that need to be made in all aspects of any project. Various NFL clubs have already built similar complexes where fans can fly in, take a shuttle to their hotel within the complex, eat, drink, party, and tailgate within the confines, then walk to the stadium. None of this involves any type of automobile travel, parking fees, or traffic jams getting to the arena or leaving.
One of the decisions that the management of the Browns is considering is a potential Personal Seat License (PSL) program.
PSLs are a paid license that allows the holder the right to buy season tickets for specific seating within the stadium. The PSL holder can also sell the seats or use them for game day. The Browns would be able to alter the prices of PSLs depending on location, so not all PSLs would have the same value attached.
In new stadiums, PSLs are a staple. They assist in paying for a portion of the debt incurred by the team itself, despite any other funding the stadium may have obtained. Obviously, the presence of PSLs is not fan-friendly, and opponents view this as another way to increase ticket prices, which many see as already too high. Especially considering the fact that a good majority of tickets are bought in bulk by dozens of secondary ticket firms, who then raise the value of each seat.
In professional sports in North America, five MLB teams sell PSLs, four NBA teams, two NHL clubs, zero MLS franchises, and the majority of all NFL clubs.
The Browns recently sent out a survey to season ticket holders. In the inquiry, it sought out feedback and offered various price points for certain sections of the new stadium. Obviously, the most expensive and lucrative areas that offer the most perks would become the more expensive PSLs.
This instrument from the Browns did not confirm or deny that PSLs would become a reality. But if they don’t, Cleveland would become the first to not install the program.
It’s not like the Browns have any issue with selling tickets. There is a wait list for their season tickets that is about 2.5 seasons long if a fan were to sign up today with a deposit.
LINK: BROWNS SEASON TICKET WAIT LIST
Proposed prices range from $500 per seat to $149,300 per seat. And then the cost of the tickets would be tacked on.
Upper deck level PSLs could be about $800 per seat, with a yearly season ticket set at $1,750 per seat. That means a family of two would spend $5,100 for two seats for eight or nine games in the nosebleed section. This may work for working-class Browns fans to go in with two or three other families and split the costs, then see only a couple of games annually for each set.
And perhaps to keep costs down, eat before the game and just endure the beverage prices while inside.
A PSL on the 50-yard line is estimated to be $149,300 per seat with a season ticket price of $22,500.
The Browns state they are monitoring whether PSLs will actually happen or not, and have added a “could be” to their inquiry. Would Browns fans accept the added costs? Cleveland’s management would have to implement this system right out of the gate instead of adding it later.
Obviously, this all comes down to supply and demand. Right now, the team hasn’t placed a good product on the field since the new Browns entered the NFL in 1999. Sports bars and watching the game at home just may become better options with climate-controlled areas, unobstructed views, instant replay at the touch of a button, raiding the fridge, and low cost of beer and soft drinks.
What would be fair is for the team to offer a percentage of refunds to fans who witnessed poor performances or outright losses.
The team guarantees player contracts, right? Why not guarantees in fan contracts as well?
