Skins sell ticket straight to scalpers

[Skinny Tee]

...Snyder say whaaaaa?

'Skins sold seats directly to scalpers | ProFootballTalk.com

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Comical comment below the article:

"Redskins? Scalpers?
I detect just a hint of rascist, profiling glee in your article."

[charlied72]

I would never go to the stadium if I didn't have tickets and I would not buy then from a dude walking around.

[DCtoAZ]

between EBAY and STUBHUB .. isn't everything scalped these days

[Warpath]

Originally Posted by DCtoAZ

between EBAY and STUBHUB .. isn't everything scalped these days

I was thinking the same thing. The article also doesn't say anything about what they did illegal. I would guess this happensall the time especially in a market like DC where there are so many people that want to go to games. I also dont expect the sale to brokers to stop anytime soon.

[Defensewins]

Originally Posted by Warpath

I was thinking the same thing. The article also doesn't say anything about what they did illegal. I would guess this happensall the time especially in a market like DC where there are so many people that want to go to games. I also dont expect the sale to brokers to stop anytime soon.

I think the issue is there are people (loyal fans) on the waiting list for years that were passed up in favor of selling many of the highly sought after 100 level seats to brokers, who in turn sell to anyone including Steelers fans.
If true then what is the point of the waiting list? The whole ticket broker business seems crooked. There must be a lot of secret handshake deals. How is that the brokers get all the good seats for most events?

This article was more disturbing:
Selling to Brokers, Suing Fans (washingtonpost.com)

The billion dollar Redskins sue a guy who can no longer afford to pay for his tickets? WTF? This guy gave the Redskins a heads up that they would like to cancel. Not very good PR.

[Lotus]

The article is not about the Redskins organization engaging in an illegal practice. It is about workers in the ticket office who make some extra cash for themselves by selling tickets to brokers rather than to the people on the ticket waiting list. The Redskins organization as a whole wants the tickets to go to those on the waiting list but apparently some unscrupulous folks in the ticket office have subverted the ideal scenario. So when we read that these individuals have been "disciplined," it is fair to guess that this means "fired."

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by Lotus

The article is not about the Redskins organization engaging in an illegal practice. It is about workers in the ticket office who make some extra cash for themselves by selling tickets to brokers rather than to the people on the ticket waiting list. The Redskins organization as a whole wants the tickets to go to those on the waiting list but apparently some unscrupulous folks in the ticket office have subverted the ideal scenario. So when we read that these individuals have been "disciplined," it is fair to guess that this means "fired."

Unfortunately this clarification doesn't sell in the media, instead you will see many outlets (and fans) referring this as "the Redskins are doing this..."

[souperbad]

Originally Posted by Lotus

The article is not about the Redskins organization engaging in an illegal practice. It is about workers in the ticket office who make some extra cash for themselves by selling tickets to brokers rather than to the people on the ticket waiting list. The Redskins organization as a whole wants the tickets to go to those on the waiting list but apparently some unscrupulous folks in the ticket office have subverted the ideal scenario. So when we read that these individuals have been "disciplined," it is fair to guess that this means "fired."

Correct, the article is not about the Redskins engaging in an illegal practice. Nothing they are doing is illegal...its their tickets and they can do whatever they want. But the article is not blaming this on a couple of rogue ticket sellers...the intent of the article is to blame the Redskins Organization as a whole. The article points out that these sales to brokers where handled by the Vice President of Premium ticket sales.

Really, the article is just saying the famed Redskins waiting list is pointless and meaningless.

[Pocket$ $traight]

Originally Posted by Lotus

The article is not about the Redskins organization engaging in an illegal practice. It is about workers in the ticket office who make some extra cash for themselves by selling tickets to brokers rather than to the people on the ticket waiting list. The Redskins organization as a whole wants the tickets to go to those on the waiting list but apparently some unscrupulous folks in the ticket office have subverted the ideal scenario. So when we read that these individuals have been "disciplined," it is fair to guess that this means "fired."

Don't believe any of the spin coming from the organization. This sounds like Countrywide executives saying that they had no idea why subprime borrowers were given loans that they could never pay.

Everyone from the top down not only knew what was going on, but profited from it.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Defensewins

I think the issue is there are people (loyal fans) on the waiting list for years that were passed up in favor of selling many of the highly sought after 100 level seats to brokers, who in turn sell to anyone including Steelers fans.
If true then what is the point of the waiting list? The whole ticket broker business seems crooked. There must be a lot of secret handshake deals. How is that the brokers get all the good seats for most events?

This article was more disturbing:
Selling to Brokers, Suing Fans (washingtonpost.com)

The billion dollar Redskins sue a guy who can no longer afford to pay for his tickets? WTF? This guy gave the Redskins a heads up that they would like to cancel. Not very good PR.

I'm not sold on the 160,000 people waiting for season tickets. I have received around 5 things from the Skins to get back my season tickets I gave up over a year ago. If they had so many people on this waiting list why are they waisting so much money trying to get back people who gave up their season tickets and I only had mine for one year? It just does not make sense. For the guy the sued he did sign a 6 year deal and signed a contract so they had every right to sue the guy. It also probably points out that if they had such a waiting list why not just sell the tickets to the next guy in line? It probably because they don't have anyone else in line for tickets. They sell these things to brokers because it guarantees that they will sell the ticket. I'd rather see them hold on to more of these tickets and sell them off for each game and not as a season package deal. I know I would buy tickets to a few games every year but I do not want to buy a full season. Also with season ticket sales they also force you to buy the preseason games which they would take a big hit on if they did not package them into the season ticket package.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by firstdown

I'm not sold on the 160,000 people waiting for season tickets. I have received around 5 things from the Skins to get back my season tickets I gave up over a year ago. If they had so many people on this waiting list why are they waisting so much money trying to get back people who gave up their season tickets and I only had mine for one year? It just does not make sense. For the guy the sued he did sign a 6 year deal and signed a contract so they had every right to sue the guy. It also probably points out that if they had such a waiting list why not just sell the tickets to the next guy in line? It probably because they don't have anyone else in line for tickets. They sell these things to brokers because it guarantees that they will sell the ticket. I'd rather see them hold on to more of these tickets and sell them off for each game and not as a season package deal. I know I would buy tickets to a few games every year but I do not want to buy a full season. Also with season ticket sales they also force you to buy the preseason games which they would take a big hit on if they did not package them into the season ticket package.

I see this argument and my question is this: Are you sure they're trying to get you to buy general admission tickets? Not Club Tickets. There's a difference. Club tickets aren't sold as season tickets.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by DCtoAZ

between EBAY and STUBHUB .. isn't everything scalped these days

And this site. You're correct!

[sandtrapjack]

Originally Posted by DCtoAZ

between EBAY and STUBHUB .. isn't everything scalped these days

Spot on there.

Sort of unrelated, but familiar territory. I have a little girl at home who simply had to go see the Cyrus kid in concert. So as soon as ticket go on sale I try and get some. Well they sold out 2 shows in 8 damn minutes. 8 MINUTES! Tickets were a couple hundred bucks a piece.

Then looked at eBay and the same seats I was looking at were selling for 4 figures each.

And that is what happens a lot, brokers buy huge masses of tickets in one fatal swoop, then offer them through other outlets (such as eBay) at 300-400 percent profit.

There needs to be a law, seriously.

[Skinny Tee]

Originally Posted by sandtrapjack

Spot on there.

Sort of unrelated, but familiar territory. I have a little girl at home who simply had to go see the Cyrus kid in concert. So as soon as ticket go on sale I try and get some. Well they sold out 2 shows in 8 damn minutes. 8 MINUTES! Tickets were a couple hundred bucks a piece.

Then looked at eBay and the same seats I was looking at were selling for 4 figures each.

And that is what happens a lot, brokers buy huge masses of tickets in one fatal swoop, then offer them through other outlets (such as eBay) at 300-400 percent profit.

There needs to be a law, seriously.

The demand needs to yield itself.

If the consumers decided the prices were too high the brokers would be stuck with tickets and the loss.

The unfortunate part is that the consumer never yields or shows good purchasing practices for entertainment. No price is too high and the market/brokers know that.

[BrunellMVP?]

Originally Posted by Skinny Tee

The demand needs to yield itself.

If the consumers decided the prices were too high the brokers would be stuck with tickets and the loss.

The unfortunate part is that the consumer never yields or shows good purchasing practices for entertainment. No price is too high and the market/brokers know that.

This is certainly true if we are talking about a pure market, I would argue that the redskins should not be selling into open market- at least not if they wish to maintain a legitimate home field advantage. I realize my point may make for an irrational economic argument, but if the Skins are concerned about providing a true 12th man advantage, does it not behoove them to fill the seats with their own fans? Selling to the people on the waiting list (in theory) would accomplish this goal all while improving waiting list/customer relations. In doing so, you are actually providing the fans with utility when they sign up for the list as opposed to just adding a name and waiting. While I certainly do not fault the redskins for making as much money as possible, I find it very disingenuous for them to brag about 12th man superiority (making FedEx the toughest place to play) and then turn around and sell tickets to opposing fans (and yes, I'm aware that skins fans have the right to buy from scalpers too). To me its talking out of both sides of the mouth, not to mention bad customer relations.