Cowboys don't want your firstborn, just the college tuition
So you thought you knew a little something about how expensive it is to attend live sports events.
Friend, you have no idea.
The Dallas Cowboys just introduced their fans to some of the prices for PSLs -- personal seat licenses -- for the team's new $1 billion stadium in Arlington, Texas. In short, a PSL gives you the privilege of buying season tickets, which you have to pay for separately.
The highest PSL price for a single seat -- $150,000. Next highest -- $100,000. As far as I can figure from a story in the Dallas Morning News and an accompanying chart, the cheapest PSL in the stadium's so-called lower bowl, from end zone to end zone, is $16,000. The PSL prices move in steps to $35,000 and then $50,000. And, of course, to $100,000 and $150,000. I'll say it again -- that's for each seat. The way I read it, the price of the tickets is locked in for the first five years but those prices are $340 per seat per game (including the two exhibition contests).
Are your eyes watering yet?
The Cowboys make the point that the most expensive PSL seats come with free food and beverage but c'mon, if you can afford 150-large for the PSL, do you really care about free nachos and longnecks? Gimme a break.
Prices for PSLs in the upper bowl have not been released, but the Cowboys say they'll be less expensive. And one more thing, the privilege to purchase a ticket is not in perpetuity, it's just for 30 years.
Image credit: Dallas Cowboys via AP
Comments
How do the Cowboy's PSLs compare with the PSLs for the Ravens and the Redskins?
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Robert,
It's not necessarily a fair comparison but the Ravens PSLs were all originally sold years ago for $250 to $3,000. Today with Ravens PSLs being transferrable, on the secondary market, my guess is that they've tripled in value. But that would put the top PSL in the $8K to $10K range. So compare that with the top Dallas PSL at $150K. The cheapest Dallas PSL in the lower bowl will be $16K. When I wrote a story about PSLs two years ago, 13 of the 32 teams had PSLs. As I recall back then, Redskins PSLs were not freely transferrable so trying to determine value may be moot. That might have changed but I haven't heard that.
-- Bill O
Posted by: Robert | November 29, 2007 3:59 PM
Sounds like Jerry Jones is another Peter Angelos!
I wonder what the PSL for one of the luxary boxes goes for?
Also, I believe the league shares revenue from ticket sales. But, luxary boxes, PSL and parking lot fees are not shareable.
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I don't think there are PSL for luxury boxes. The PSL gives the holder the privlege of buying season tickets for an individual seat -- albeit in this case a comfy one -- for some period of time, in this case 30 years. Luxury boxes, which are actually suites with some number of seats in them, are usually leased on a year-by-year basis for, as you can imagine, megabucks. And that's correct about revenue sharing. Same goes for so-called club seats I believe.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Captain Jack | November 30, 2007 11:43 AM
Hey I live in 120 miles from stadium. and I am willing to pay this price as a season ticket holder. my seats for 35000. for each. and I still thank i can make profit on seats and go to games like i do now. You can sell cowboys tickets for them seats in 1800 range each seat in that club range that they are offering. there is going to be different place like nothing in the world everything bigger here and Jerry wants you in the east and west coast to see it.
Posted by: david presley | November 30, 2007 10:44 PM