Recent reports that said the least expensive PSLs would be $3,900 were both right and wrong — the number was accurate for the seats mentioned, but Oakland Raiders President Marc Badain says fans will have more affordable options.
Today’s Las Vegas Stadium Authority Board meeting was chock full of stadium construction updates, tax revenue reports and other procedural actions, but perhaps the most informative piece came when the Raiders updated — and clarified — recent reports about the pricing of PSLs for season-ticket holders in the new home to Las Vegas’ soon-to-be NFL franchise.
Team president Marc Badain pointedly made it clear there will be more affordable options for fans to buy tickets when more become available for sale.
“I do want to clear up a couple of things,” Badain said of reports on PSL pricing this week. “Some of the information out there is accurate and some of it needs some clarification. What you saw out there was not the lowest priced PSLs.”
Badain said PSLs are sold in three phases and the current phase is the second in the sales cycle. The final cycle will begin during the course of this football season and he stated: “… there will be price points at every possible level imaginable on par with what you’ve seen of other recent projects.”
“Some of the information out there is accurate and some of it needs some clarification. What you saw out there was not the lowest priced PSLs.”
While he didn’t give specific numbers yet, Badain’s explanation seems sound and in line with what sources have told us this week. While this week’s story in the Las Vegas Review-Journal included documents and pricing information for PSLs, what it did not take into account was the remaining 50,000 or so yet to be put on sale. So far, less than half of that have been released, meaning pricing on the majority of seating areas for the common fan have yet to be revealed.
To date, tickets on sale now reflect just about half of the reserved seating available via PSL, as Badain told us today.
Silver and Black Today has learned the team will offer thousands of seat licenses for less, including perhaps as low as $500. That means the fees will be higher in some areas than recent new stadiums in the league and will be on par with some of them, too.
“There will be a significant amount under $1,000,” Badain confirmed.
When this site broke the news on the first true glimpse into PSL pricing in March, it was clear the Raiders were charging a premium for club level and VIP seats. This isn’t surprising to anyone familiar with ticket pricing in NFL markets. Las Vegas, being a new major league town, seems to have a bit of sticker shock. Even legacy fans from Oakland, who have purchased tickets in a dilapidated stadium for years, have a bit of sticker shock, too, although it isn’t slowing down the pace of sales.
“We understand there’s some hesitancy and some people don’t like it (PSL fees) but we try to have price points that address that and will have ticket prices reflective of every possible budget.”
While some rail against the PSL fees as being “unjust” or a “rip-off,” no one requires people to pay it. Those who want season tickets in a new stadium must. A good investment? I guess that’s relative to people who can afford such luxuries. Still, anyone who seems shocked by it hasn’t paid attention. Even those familiar with the structure and use of PSLs are railing against it here in Las Vegas.
“I think people understand it’s a way (PSL sales) to help fund the stadium,” Badain said. “We understand there’s some hesitancy and some people don’t like it (PSL fees), but we try to have price points that address that and will have ticket prices reflective of every possible budget.”
Despite the view of PSLs being the necessary evil for a city to play in the pro sports game, others agree it strayed far from its original intent. The inventor of the PSL, Max Muhleman, agrees it has taken on a completely different intent than when he came up with the idea. What was originally meant to be a perk, has turned into a business unto itself.
Still, PSLs and season tickets to attend NFL games is not a necessity of life, and if people refused to pay them, they wouldn’t exist. But our insatiable appetite for pro sports means we will so these for-profit businesses do what they need to remain in the black.
For those philosophically opposed to the concept, the cost isn’t the issue. For the majority of fans who want a piece of the NFL in Las Vegas, it’s a game you have to play.
The good news is there are more affordable options, and that at least makes it attainable for more people than some were led to believe.