It takes a lot to shock me these days in the world of sport. But shocked I was when I read this article on Fox Sports today (click on the post title above to go to it). Apparently, certain NFL clubs have over-extended themselves financially to such an extent - through the construction of new stadia, for example - that they are now explicitly asking fans to foot the bills. Specifically, this entails selling fans a 'personal seat license' (PSL) for said stadia, the cost of which sometimes runs into six figures. And what does this get you? Well, the chance to hand yet more money over for tickets to each game. Yup. No kidding. According to the Fox article - and the many comments from readers following it - you can pay $150,000 for a PSL for the Dallas Cowboys, then still have to pay $800 per ticket per game to actually sit there and watch them live! This is, of course, absurd. But some very wealthy fans will pay up, probably through corporate accounts, and the rest of us will be consigned to the pay-to-view drinking establishment...
Or, as one respondent pointed out, you could go and watch live USA Rugby for free. Not too fast though, or a new stadium will be needed to seat everyone, and you know what'll happen next...
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It was the 2007 Rugby World Cup that finally did it for me.
Not only was it impossible for us or our kids to watch any rugby games on television without 'paying to view' or - worse - going to a sports bar or pub (at $20 per person), we couldn't even get video highlights over the internet after the match!
This feels like the culmination of a process that has been underway for some time - the gradual lifting of popular competitive sports away from the people. At the same time, we see burgeoning levels of lethargy and obesity, including in children. How can we expect kids to participate in playing sport if they are unable to participate in watching it - at least, not without their parents shelling out, yet again...? Something is very wrong here!
Hence the Campaign for the Democratisation of Sport.
We don't want much, just the chance to enjoy our favourite sports again - to be awed by excellence, to share the highs and lows with our friends and families, to inspire our kids to 'try it for themselves'.
To this end, we are campaigning for:
1) greater consideration to be given to ACCESS issues by sports associations, broadcasters, sporting franchises and their regulators, when they agree commercial rights;
2) much greater investment in community sports, including the significant investment of time, money and ideas by the big sporting brands and their boards;
3) greater consideration of and input from the fans in club board decision-making.
This feels like the culmination of a process that has been underway for some time - the gradual lifting of popular competitive sports away from the people. At the same time, we see burgeoning levels of lethargy and obesity, including in children. How can we expect kids to participate in playing sport if they are unable to participate in watching it - at least, not without their parents shelling out, yet again...? Something is very wrong here!
Hence the Campaign for the Democratisation of Sport.
We don't want much, just the chance to enjoy our favourite sports again - to be awed by excellence, to share the highs and lows with our friends and families, to inspire our kids to 'try it for themselves'.
To this end, we are campaigning for:
1) greater consideration to be given to ACCESS issues by sports associations, broadcasters, sporting franchises and their regulators, when they agree commercial rights;
2) much greater investment in community sports, including the significant investment of time, money and ideas by the big sporting brands and their boards;
3) greater consideration of and input from the fans in club board decision-making.
About Me
- eazibee
- I am an optimist and look for the best in everyone I meet. I believe we can make the world a better place with good ideas and passionate application!
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