Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Are They Out Of Their Minds...?


Not many things make me really mad now days, but when I did a little research on the cost of going to a Houston Texan's game...I was totally blown away!

In a time when so many families are having a hard time paying the bills, buying food and keeping the family in clothing...I just couldn't believe that some folks are actually paying these kinds of prices to go and watch a ball game that they can see at home for free! Even if it is only on pay-per-view, the cost is around $10 a game.

Now get a load of this story from the Houston Chronicle.


Texans raise ticket prices almost 7 percent

By JOHN McCLAIN
Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle
Jan. 19, 2010, 12:30AM

After posting a 9-7 record and their first winning season in team history, the Texans are increasing ticket prices by an average of 6.67 percent.

The average ticket next season will cost $71.86 compared to $67.37 last season.

The Texans, who have sold out all 80 games in franchise history, including preseason games, didn't change the price for 20 percent of the tickets at Reliant Stadium. They lowered ticket prices for more than 550 seats in the Gridiron section.

Next season's home schedule includes games against Indianapolis, Tennessee, Jacksonville, Dallas, the New York Giants, Kansas City, San Diego and Baltimore.

john.mcclain@chron.com


Now what this article does NOT tell you, is that the cost of stadium parking is $40.00, a hot dog cost about $5.00, and if you want a beer...be prepared to fork over $8.75 each!

Now, don't get me wrong! If you have this kind of money to spend on going to a game every week, and can do so with a clear conscience...then I say "go for it!"

What comes to my mind, though, is how many cans of food and other prep items I could buy with that money. For the cost of going to four games a month, around $600.00, I can add to my preps in a BIG way!

Sorry, but for me it's a No Brainer! Besides, I figure that I can make hot dogs and beer at home for a lot less money and even have some left over for friends that may come over!

Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit outside for a bit. Want a hot dog...?

23 comments:

JoJo said...

Good Morning My Special One, I have to agree with you on this. I know it costs plenty to keep these stadiums running but maybe if these guys didn't get paid so much to play it would lower the costs some. Their salary could feed a few family's for a while. But hey who am I to say.
Please pass the pot but I will pass on the hot dog its a little to early for me. :)

Anonymous said...

I'm with you my friend. I looked into doing some Colts tix as a giveaway for my students and it would have cost me 1/2 of my marketing budget for two crappy seats and that was for a game against a low ranked team. Ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

I agree as well, paying that much to watch 'a game' to me is ridiculous. I got bills man. $40 for a parking space - Jeezy Pezzy!

Anonymous said...

Ji, just passed an award on to you. Visit NR II http://netherregionoftheearthii.blogspot.com/ to pick it up.
AV

Anonymous said...

We live around many of the people who are buying these tickets. They are not buying cans of beans.

For most, unless they have lost a job, they are continuing as normal. It is extreme denial. I see no change of behavior. Well maybe a little. For example, they may have vacationed in the US instead of Europe.

Most do not stock up b/c they don't want clutter. They run to Whole Foods or Central Market and get food...IF they plan to eat at home. One of my neighbors is a doctor. He cut his hand in a home accident and came to my house to get medical supplies for his wound. If we are ever caught in the city during a SHTF time - will be bad. I think burbs are almost the same. You can prep, but when those around you don't......

Enjoy your coffee. Sweet tea time soon. It is getting warm so I think I'll make a batch today.

Anonymous said...

Big Business. As long as people are dumb enough to pay it this will continue.

Pepsi has deceided not to advertise on the Super Bowl. Could be a sign of the times.

$600.00 a month would be one hell of a land payment.

See Ya

vlad said...

Russian troops asked to paciify America.
http://vlad-unclevlad.blogspot.com/

HermitJim said...

Hey JoJo...
That's what I mean about folks being out of their minds! How, in good conscience, can these people spend this kind of money when others are going hungry?

just goes to show how blind some folks are to what's going on today!

We may have to give up on trying to educate them, for sure!

Hey, sweetie, thanks so much for coming by today!


Hey Ranger...
Makes you wonder whatever happened to good, ol' common sense...doesn't it?

I'm gld to see that a lot of people agree with me on this! I was beginning to worry that I was the only one!

The world in general is totally out of control, I think! Priorities are all screwed up, that's for sure!

I sure do appreciate you dropping by today!


Hey AV...
I really appreciate the award, my friend! What never ceases to amaze me is the fact that so many folks like to come by and visit for a bit!

I'm honored to have you come by and I thank you for the visit!


Hey kris...
Sad that people like the doctor don't even have enough preps at home to work on a cut!

Sort of scary when you think of what would happen during a real emergency, doesn't it?

Definitely coming up to iced tea weather...but then, like coffee, I can drink it all year long!

I really appreciate you coming by today, my friend!


Hey Tony...
I can certainly get a PRIME piece of land for tht kind of money!

I don't understand why anyone would spend that kind of money to watch a game, but then I guess some folks feel the same about how we can spend what we do on food and arms!

To each his own, I reckon!

Thanks for coming by today. buddy!


Hey Vlad...
I wonder if even the big "O" is dumb enough to actually do this? I would hope he surely isn't, but you never know!

If nothing else, it would push a lot of folks right over the edge!

Thanks for the visit today, Vlad!

Felinae said...

Catman does not like sports, so I don't know about the ticket costs for games.

What I/we do know are ticket prices for concerts.

B's follows a lot of rock/punk/emo bands and I've noticed a lot of them have taken to playing smaller venues to keep ticket costs down for their fans. Some of the Country artists are doing the same thing. Which in my opinion is a good thing on their part.

What I find funny is that the older rock bands, ie Aerosmith, Kiss, the Rolling Stones etc. still pull in 90.00+ prices for their tickets. The people pay it!! I would never pay that price for a ticket, it's ridiculous.

To quoute B's
"sure their music is good, but why would I want to pay that much to see some old, wrinkled, skinny guy dance around on stage in tight pants? that's just disturbing"

(sigh) kids, you gotta love them. LOL!

Have a good day, Uncle Hermit
Hugs~Felinae~

The cottage by the Cranelake said...

Suddenly it seemes very cheap to live in the country with the highest taxes in the world :-) :-) I would like to say that those prices are nasty high!

The strangest thing happened yesterday. I could get in to Your blog, but no text showed. I waited for over fifteen minutes and tried several times?? But I have laughed so much now when I read that story :-) :-)
Have a great day now!
Christer.

HermitJim said...

Hey Felinae...
I have to agree about the cost of concert tickets, even though i don't go to concerts (can you say Hermit?) and don't do crowds.

I guess it's a good thing that I don't care for sports myself, because I certainly could NOT afford tickets on my income!

Looks like I'll have to be satisfied with a good book and some old records/tapes/cd's of my favorite music!

Hey, thanks for the visit today!


hey Christer...
I am glad you think those prices are way too high, my friend! At least there are a few of us that think along those lines!

I'm happy you got a kick out of the post from yesterday, but I don't know what caused the malfunction by Blogger. Sometimes it really acts up!

I appreciate you coming by tody!

Ben in Texas said...

I agree wholeheartedly with you about ticket prices. That is the reason I gave up my field box seats for the Texas Rangers. ridiculous.

HermitJim said...

Hey Ben...
I figure that we can all find a better way to spend that kind of money!

Guess I'm just too frugal (cheap) to spend it on something I can't eat, shoot, or drive!

You have a great day, buddy! Thanks for coming by!

Bob Mc said...

If they depended on people like me, those teams would have gone bust a long time ago. To say I’m not a sports fan would be an under statement. If folks are looking for some place to get rid of money they don’t need, the people in Haiti could use some of it about now.

HermitJim said...

Hey Bob...
If I thought for a single minute that any money given for Haiti would actually end up somewhere else than in a politicians sticky hands...I'd be sending whatever I could!

I can do without sports and the high cost involved...that's for sure!

Hy, thanks for coming by today!

Bob Mc said...

And that's the shame of it. Most of the supplies sent over there will end up in government hands, and very little will get to the people who really need them. Life is cheap in a country like that, and it's root hog or die. And don't think for a minute that it couldn't happen right here in this country. If TS ever really HTF, our large cities could become death traps. Better get yourself in motion and move to that place in the country you are talking about.

Kyddryn said...

Alas, Mister Hermit, sir, until people are no longer willing to pay such prices, tickets and stadium foods will keep going up, up, up...

The only sporting events I go to are the ones that are free, or for which some kind soul has given me tickets, and when I can I pack snacks in with me. Otherwise, it's what's on TV or a game in our own back yard.

Hot dogs are free here at Cases da Crazy (although if you want buns it'll cost ya), and all the seats are front row...but you have to bring your own beer.

Shade and Sweetwater,
K

Mayberry said...

They can charge what they want. If somebody is stupid enough to pay, more power to 'em. I'll never go. But then again, I don't care for football....

Rae said...

It sure wouldn't be possible to take a family there unless you wanted to spend a fortune. If the players didn't make such exorbitant salaries there wouldn't be a need to have such high ticket prices. It is ridiculous.

HermitJim said...

Hey K...
No home made buns...? What a bummer! The back yard games are the best, and free is a very good price!

Hey, thanks for coming by today!


Hey Mayberry...
I agree on both accounts, buddy! I'll never go either!

I have too many other things I can spend my money on, like food!

Thanks for the visit today, my man!


Hey Rae...
Certainly couldn't afford to take your family very often anymore!

Better to have a family picnic, I'm thinking! More fun, less cost, and a heck of a lot less folks!

Besides, it's all about the family anyway, right?

I sure do appreciate you dropping by today!

Cygnus MacLlyr said...

I'm thinking, we could sell hot dogs and beer in the parking lot. I'll let 'em go for ~ $2.50 and $4.00, respectively. Still half the charge inside, and I'll make my land payments off of a ten-and twelve-pack...

As long as Joe public continues to swing it, the prices will remain. I mean, how they gonna pay that player $10,000 per minute on two-fer-a-doller Busch?

HermitJim said...

Hey Cygnus...
Have to get K to make some home made buns...better than store bought!

It would be nice, but I wouldn't come back to Houston to do it, that's for sure!

That's a lot of money that could be for preps!

Anonymous said...

Hi! Nice idea, but will this really work?