Comments on: John Henry thinks Red Sox fans don't understand economics

By: embroidered shirts

embroidered shirts — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:56:04 +0000

what do you think was the best halftime show ever do think Sunday’s “The Who” was good. what do you think was the best halftime(I personally like Janet’s wardrobe malfunction), what did you guys like?

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:57:15 +0000

Ticket prices spiral because people are lemmings. College football is a great example. Instead of skimping on the baby formula and buying those generic batteries for your pacemaker to afford tickets to the game, whatever game, try staying home a bit more and watch what happens to ticket prices. It’s a market economy. Flex your muscles.

By: JL

JL — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:26:00 +0000

I think a merging of “John Henry” with “The Jolly Banker” might be an appropriate folk song remix in this case.

By: JBerardi

JBerardi — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:14:16 +0000

As high as Red Sox tickets prices are, the team still has them well below their true value in the marketplace. If you don’t believe me, just ask the scalpers in Kenmore Square… those guys will teach you a thing or two about economics.

By: jwb

jwb — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:30:34 +0000

Silly people! When the White Sox cut their player payroll by 20% last season, the prices of tickets, concessions, parking, and in-stadium souvenirs all went down by 20%!
Of course they didn’t.

By: RobRob

RobRob — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:47:01 +0000

Revenue drives payroll. Demand drives ticket prices.
For anyone who disputes this, ask yourself why ticket prices are so high at places like StubHub. None of the people selling those tickets have to pay players’ salaries. None of them have to pay any more than the original face value of the ticket. None of them have to worry about back-loaded contracts, or paying down stadium debt (HA!). Yet, prices at StubHub are routinely many percentage points (if not many times) higher than the face value.
Ask yourself why on Earth, if someone can sell something for $50, would they ever sell it for $40? If the Red Sox sell out every game at $75, why would they ever ask for $65?
PS: Craig, you are obviously ignoring the multi-million dollar salaries of guys like Jim Tressel. Obviously, if they could get some dumb schmo (like me) to coach for a tenth of Tressel’s contract, those OSU ticket prices would come way way down.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:13:36 +0000

I’m not sure that the average fan does understand economics. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people rail against high player salaries as the reason tickets are so expensive. The argument doesn’t make any sense, but it seems widely accepted among a certain segment of baseball fans.

By: Chris Simonds

Chris Simonds — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:05:20 +0000

I’m trying to re-write an old folk song.
“John Henry was a deal drivin’ man, Lord, Lord… ”
or maybe
“John Henry was a real jivin’ man… ”
But I get to the part where John Henry dies on the job (of terminal hot air perhaps) and try to picture new wife Linda Pizzuti as PollyAnn, drivin’ steel, er, deals, like a man Lord, Lord and I have to give up.