Despite an 8% average ticket price increase this year
at FedEx Field, the Redskins do not have the NFL's most
expensive ticket for the first time since '96, according to
Eric Fisher of the WASHINGTON TIMES, who wrote, "How the
Redskins fell behind new No. 1 Tampa Bay is far from a
straightforward answer." A Team Marketing Report (TMR)
survey had the Redskins, ranked second this season with an
average ticket price of $64.66, with the most expensive
average ticket prices for the past three years. But
Redskins execs "disputed TMR's methodology for calculating
the average ticket price and convinced the publication to
lower the average from ['99's] $74.28 -- even after
considering this spring's price increases." The move by
Redskins execs, coupled with a 4.4% increase in the Bucs'
average ticket price to an average of $67.49, "bumped the
Redskins off the top in this year's survey." Fisher called
the Redskins' objections to TMR's calculations "curious," as
the team did not dispute its ranking last year, but
responded to the survey by "touting its considerable efforts
to improve in-game entertainment and amenities at the
stadium." Redskins Senior VP/PR Karl Swanson: "We didn't
think the number (TMR) had last year was right. They were
including luxury suite prices on top of club seats. ... This
year, we just told them we wouldn't cooperate unless we got
this right. This new number we have no problem with."
Other team sources "countered Swanson's claim" and said that
last year's ticket price data provided to TMR "in no way
included suite costs." TMR "does not seek suite prices"
when compiling its ticket price surveys (WASH. TIMES, 9/16).
