Bears season-ticket prices will increase by an average of 4.1% for '19 after they "increased only once over the last four years," according to Colleen Kane of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. However, after a 12-4 season and playoff appearance, the team is "raising the cost" by an average of 5.6% for non-club seats and 1.6% for club seats. The Bears "follow a demand-based price model, with each regular-season game assigned a pricing tier, to be announced along with the NFL schedule in April." Bears President & CEO Ted Phillips said that the increase was "based on analysis of renewal trends and secondary-market data." He added that the '19 season will "hold special meaning as the team celebrates its 100th season." The Bears will also "go to only mobile-ticket entry" in '19, as printed tickets "won't be issued" to season-ticket holders or individual-game buyers (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/2).
Average attendance for Browns games increased this season thanks to the team's improved playGETTY IMAGES
NEW ERA: The Browns announced that a segment of season-ticket prices for '19 will increase "for just the second time in 11 years." In Cleveland, Dan Labbe noted prices for 43% of Browns season tickets "will not change or will decrease." The Browns' average ticket price will increase about 7%, though the team is "still expected to rank near the lowest per game ticket price in the league." The "majority of pricing changes" are in the lower bowl, upper prime, end zone mezzanine and select premium clubs. More than 68% of the upper bowl "will remain unchanged" and 92% of seats in the upper bowl are less expensive than in '15 and '16 (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 2/1). Prior to '19, Browns ticket prices had "gone down or stayed flat in nine of the previous 10 seasons." Average attendance at FirstEnergy Stadium in '18 increased 5.4%, as six of the eight regular-season games sold out (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 2/1).
