NFL Lockout Watch, Day 17: Majority Of Teams Keep Season-Ticket Prices Flat

Seventeen NFL teams are "not changing ticket prices, nine are raising them, four are decreasing them -- and two are both raising and decreasing, depending on seat location," according to Barry Wilner of the AP. The Chargers, Browns, Cardinals and Buccaneers are the "four clubs reducing the cost of tickets," while the 49ers and Chiefs are "dropping some prices, raising others." The Giants are "not raising ticket prices," but the Jets are "having a 2.3 percent average increase." The Jets have "added a payment alternative that defers 50 percent of the total amount due until a training camp date is announced." The Panthers have "added a fourth payment option for fans: 10 percent of the renewal price due up front and 90 percent due upon the signing of a new" CBA. Wilner noted the Bills have extended their "series of payments by one pay period and adjusted payment terms so that 50 percent of the account balance is not due until the league announces games will be played," and at that point fans will "have a two-month period to make the remaining payments." The Jaguars are "offering more flexibility" in their payments, but a team spokesperson said that it "had nothing to do with the lockout" (AP, 3/25).

TIMELINE UNCHANGED: Cardinals VP/Media Relations Mark Dalton said the team is "proceeding with the expectation that the season will start on time." Dalton added that the team's "timeline for selling season tickets remains unchanged because it needs the time to ensure the process is completed on schedule." He noted that the process "includes collecting deposits, accommodating existing ticket holders who want to change seats, contacting those on the season-ticket waiting list, selling to new customers, collecting final payments and distributing tickets." In Phoenix, Kent Somers noted the Cardinals "don't disclose the number of people on their season-ticket waiting list but say it's in the thousands." The team "did not increase" season-ticket prices for the '11 season and "reduced the price of 3,700 seats by $5 apiece" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/25).