The Bills have sold 58,500 season tickets heading into the '16 season, the "second-largest total in the team's history," but sales are down 2.6% from the "record-setting 60,102 packages sold last year," according to James Fink of BUFFALO BUSINESS FIRST. The Bills last season were "riding a buzz from the hiring of Rex Ryan" as coach, and the drop-off was "anticipated following last season’s finish" of 8-8. This year’s total is nearly 24% greater than the '14 season-ticket total (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/29). In Rochester, Leo Roth writes Bills fans "just can’t stay away" despite the team "failing to make the playoffs for 16 consecutive seasons, the longest drought in North American pro sports." Before last season, the team's season-ticket sales record "was 57,500 during the height of the Bills' four-year Super Bowl run." The top two years for season-ticket sales in team history "have now occurred" under co-Owners Terry and Kim Pegula, and Ryan. Last year's sales "produced a waiting list as the team capped sales in the 60,000 range." Bills President Russ Brandon said that the renewal rate was at 91% at one point. While a total of 8,000 season-ticket holders "chose not to renew by a spring deadline, a total of 6,433 were gained back by people on the waiting list and through a public sale." There "remains a 1,300-person waiting list for some prime seat categories" (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 8/30).
DOWN BY THE BAY: 49ers ticket prices on StubHub for games at Levi's Stadium "are low compared to previous years." The team's December afternoon game against the Jets "proves to be the cheapest option." StubHub shows that the 49ers' "priciest option" is a $198 ticket for the Oct. 2 game against the Cowboys (CSNBAYAREA.com, 8/29).
