In Indianapolis, Michael Boren noted Broncos QB Peyton Manning returning to the city for Sunday night’s game against the Colts is “bringing out some of the highest ticket prices for an NFL game this season in the secondary market.” Data from ticket search engine SeatGeek showed that the average price on the secondary market has “shot up to $334 a ticket.” It is the “third-most expensive NFL game this season” behind Broncos-Giants and 49ers-Seahawks (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 9/15).
NORTHERN EXPOSURE: In Buffalo, Tim O’Shei notes between 19-25% of fans attending Bills games at Ralph Wilson Stadium “come from Southern Ontario.” Bills Exec VP/Strategic Planning Mary Owen said that 12-15% of Bills season-ticket holders are Canadian, a number that has “doubled since the Toronto series began” in ’08. The team now aims to "help other Western New York businesses expand their own interests in Toronto.” The Bills are “teaming with the Buffalo Niagara Partnership to hold a business symposium in Toronto the day after the team’s Dec. 1 game” against the Falcons at Rogers Centre (BUFFALO BUSINESS FIRST, 10/11 issue).
THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS: In N.Y., Brian Costello writes MetLife Stadium’s “main issue is a problem many franchises are facing across sports -- many true, rabid fans have been priced out of the stadium entirely, or at least the good seats, thanks to PSLs and high prices on everything from parking to a bottle of water.” In their places are the fans whose “wallets are bigger than their knowledge of Jets history.” When building the stadium the Jets “put a higher priority on the bottom line than making sure the place was loud when the opponent was on the goal line” (N.Y. POST, 10/16).
NOISE ORDINANCE: In light of Chiefs fans setting a decibel record for the loudest crowd during last Sunday’s game against the Raiders, K.C.-area audiologist Jim Robertson said that Arrowhead Stadium’s noise “may help the Chiefs, but it’s probably hurting your ears.” He said, “I cannot stress enough that hearing protection devices must be used at Arrowhead if these dB levels continue as they surely will with this winning season.” Univ. of Kansas physician Hinrich Staecker said that on Monday his office “received calls from Arrowhead fans who found their ears still ringing" (K.C. STAR, 10/15).
