“PSLs”: How Come Snyder Didn’t Think of That?
The hot topic on sports-fan message boards up in the Meadowlands is the steep prices that the New York Giants will be charging their fans for Personal Seat Licenses (PSLs). The Giants, you see, are building a new $1.6 billion stadium with a heated field, to open in 2011.
And to pay the price, the franchise is fleecing the fans. If you want to see the 2007-2008 World Champions live, you'll have to not only pay the season ticket cost, but first, you'll have to pony up for the PSL, a one-time charge that'll run you up to $20,000. No PSL, no season tickets.
The Star-Ledger's Steve Politi called PSLs one of the "great rip-offs in sports, a one-time fee for the privilege to cough up more cash to buy tickets."
I say they're not one of the great rip-offs in sports. Full disclosure here: I am not an expert in professional sports rip-offs, though I have been suckered by them now and again. I just refuse to believe that any revenue-producing gimmick that's not authored by Redskins owner Daniel Snyder is among the great rip-offs in sports. Only schemes that originate with Snyder can claim such bona fides.
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1:20 pm
Most big -time college football programs do this too. I'm surprised the NFL hadn't thought of this sooner.
2:30 pm
oh, but dan snyder did think of this! he just didn't buy the team in time to use seat licenses on the stadium seats, which were already sold when he took over in 1999...so, he started the "Tailgate Club," in which people could get off the season ticket waiting list by paying a seat license fee-- i think it's $1750 now -- for a seat at a picnic table at bbqs before games.
3:03 pm
PSLs are mostly used and most effective when moving into a new stadium or facility. Wait a few years until the DC goverment coughs up development rights around RFK to a brand-new Snyder development company (Red Crane?) and you'll see PSLs become part of getting a seat at the "new" FedEx field.