The Browns yesterday announced that season-ticket prices for 40% of the seats in FirstEnergy Stadium will "decrease this year with the rest remaining the same." In Akron, Nate Ulrich notes Browns prices "won't be raised for the eighth time in the past nine years." The Browns are "expected to rank either 31st or 32nd in the NFL for season-ticket prices per game this year." Prices will "remain the same for lower bowl and mezzanine seating," but more than 90% of the prices in the upper bowl will "decrease by $5 to $15 per game depending on location." Meanwhile, more than 50% of the prices in the Lake Club and BMW City Club will be "reduced with the cost for sideline seats dropping and the cost for corner seats remaining the same" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 2/9).
QUESTIONABLE MOVE? In Chicago, Bob LeGere notes the Bears are "raising prices for most tickets" next season after two years "without any increase in ticket prices." All sections of Soldier Field will see price adjustments in '17. Most will receive a 1-4% price increase, while "some will see a price decrease." The overall average increase for '17 season tickets is 2.6%. Non-club seats will see an average increase of 2.9% and club seats an average increase of 2%. In '14, the Bears approved an overall average increase of 4.1%. Fans "showed their displeasure last season as each of [the] final four home games was played before at least 10,000 empty seats at Soldier Field" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 2/9). Also in Chicago, Rick Morrissey writes the Bears are "not tone-deaf." Morrissey: "They do hear you, the fans. They simply don’t care what you are saying." The "truth is that the Bears absolutely take the fans’ passion and loyalty for granted" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 2/9).
RAMS KEEPING PRICES FLAT: In L.A., Gary Klein notes the Rams yesterday sent a letter to season-ticket holders informing them that ticket prices for '17 home games at the L.A. Coliseum would "not go up." The letter also stated those who "renew would be in the first group to have an opportunity to choose seats at the Inglewood stadium," scheduled to open in '19. Prices are expected to "increase dramatically" in '19 when the $2.6B stadium opens, which will include the cost of PSLs (L.A. TIMES, 2/9).
