NFL could install variable ticket pricing by 2014

Among the topics discussed at the NFL owners meeting earlier this month was the implementation of variable ticket pricing for the 2014 season, according to Peter King of Sports Illustrated.

Currently, a team’s tickets are of one standard value from game to game, regardless of quality of opponent. A change to variable pricing would increase the cost of big-game tickets and lessen that of less important games, including preseason contests.

While the total cost of a season ticket would likely remain the same, the price point of individual games within that package would be varied. King uses the following example:

It is possible that a team charging, say, $750 for a full-season ticket (eight regular-season games, two preseason games) would still charge $750 next season. But the team could put a face value of $50 on the two preseason games, $100 on the most attractive two home games and $75 on the six remaining regular-season games.

Any pricing changes will be up to the individual teams, as the NFL will not mandate a cover-all policy change. It seems as though a significant portion of the league is seriously considering the shift, with one source telling King that at least half of the 32 franchises are thinking about instituting it next season.

“I think you’ll see teams experiment with different price points the next couple of years,” said one team executive. “Then I think you’ll see the real final product in two or three years, when teams find out from their fans what they want the most.”

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