Ravens Money Grab - Shafts PSL Holders

[Haloti92]

So?

How is any of this Bisciotti's fault?

I think he is implying that a very small percentage of the 13,000 seats designated to the Ravens organization (to do with what they wish? still not sure if there are any league-mandated rules regarding each team's allocation) are 'given' to season ticket holders (cost: face value) by way of a lottery. Again, not saying he is right or agree with the premise, but I think that is the gripe.

In short how many of the 13,000 tickets does everyone believe are put into the Ravens PSL 'lottery?'

10,000?
7,000?
2,000?
500?

etc

I haven't a clue.

[ManfredHanover]

while i understand the frustration...if you're going to scold/lecture someone, the least you could do is spell his name correctly.

Just saying...

you are correct. Auto-correct changed the spelling. Sorry.

[JohnBKistler]

NOTE: THE RAVENS GET 17.5 PERCENT OF THE TICKETS AT THE SUPERDOME. That is around 13,000. The other 35 percent of the tickets goes to the other NFL teams. 1 percent to a lottery held for anyone (see NFL.com). The balance to corporate sponsors.

Sponsor: a person or an organization that pays for or plans and carries out a project or activity.

Yes, while us PSL holders pay for our season tickets, I can guarantee you that the corporate sponsors of the Ravens pay much, much more. So they get the tickets.

Again, I am not arguing the morality of basically shutting out the common fan from the game, but the Super Bowl (at least after #3) was never set-up to be something for the common fan and never will be. That's business and that's the way of the world.

[ManfredHanover]

The tickets are allocated 17.5 to each team in the SuperBowl and then 30 percent among the other thirty teams. 1 percent in a yearly open to all lottery. The balance is for corporate sponsors such as FORD, ANESHEUR BUSH, CHRYSLER, ETC. So given the BILLIONS in TV contracts, it would be illogical for the tickets to have come from any place other than the Ravens allotment. There is one simple way to clear the issue up, have the Ravens be transparent about how many tickets there were, and who got them. How about a list of lottery winners by section of the stadium.

[JohnBKistler]

Im pretty ignorant on the whole idea but wasnt there a commercial of four dudes that never missed a superbowl? If its all lottery process, whether by team or nfl, how the hell did that happen?

This from an article a few years ago:

Thomas Henschel is a Steelers fan who has lived in Chicago, Miami Springs and now in Tampa. The Super Bowl fever struck him when he was an airline ticket agent at Chicago's O'Hare Airport.

``I worked at the airport in the daytime and at night I was a part-time bartender,'' Henschel said. ``And outside of O'Hare was this bar called Some Other Place and all these flight attendants would flock there.

``So in came these ballplayers chasing these women and I met a lot of these ballplayers. I got tickets to the Cubs games, the Bears games. I got tickets given to me for the first couple of Super Bowls.''

He was hooked. And once he attended five, 10 games, there was no choice but keep going.

``There were years we had to pay scalpers,'' Henschel said. ``I'm talking about $1,200-1,400 apiece for tickets.

Fortunately, the last 14 years, the NFL found out about us and has been sending us the invoice for tickets at face value.''

http://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/83632877.html

[ManfredHanover]

Then why not be transparent and post exactly how many people got tickets, and what sections they have their PSL for all to see, just how fair the lottery was.

[JohnBKistler]

Then why not be transparent and post exactly how many people got tickets, and what sections they have their PSL for all to see, just how fair the lottery was.

What do you think was unfair about the lottery? The Ravens clearly stated that suite holders get 1:1 rights for tickets, club seat holders get more weight in the lottery than the outside seat fans.

They never stated that every season ticket holder had the same chance to win the tickets. You may have implied that...but how is that their fault?

[ManfredHanover]

It is his fault because the fish rots from the head down. If he is such a great owner, why aren't the Ravens tranparent on this? How did the lottery work? How many tickets were issued? Why not post on the web the winners by section. Remember this is the man who in a Jameson Hensley interview when asked about why the Ravens increased the price (this was three years ago - I know they have not been raised in three years) was that the Ravens did "market" analysis by looking at craigs list, e-bay, stub-hub and saw what tickets are going for. Well Mr. Bisciotti the reason Ravens tickets go for more than face value is the face that Ravens ticket holders don't sell their tickets, making a shortage of tickets pushing up the cost. So when he said something like this is the past, why wouldn't I believe that this is what he is doing now....using the market to set the price.

[Loco Ravens Fan]

Keep in mind that each player, coach, and probably other Ravens' workers get the opportunity to buy Super Bowl tickets. Wouldn't these tickets have to come out of the Ravens' pool of tickets leaving the remaining tickets for the psl lottery.

[ManfredHanover]

So where is it published on any website anywhere what the rules are? That is my point. I have never seen anything that says that Suite Owners get a ticket every time. Why is it fair that persons that got tickets to Tampa get this again? Remember, I have paid a lot of money to this team. $7,400 for 4 PSLs and now my season tickets are $3800 a year. In 17 years, I figure that I have paid the Ravens over $40,000. What is that "chopped liver"? There is no way that the tickets posted on their travel agent website (on their website) did not get the tickets from the Ravens allotment.

[Loco Ravens Fan]

So where is it published on any website anywhere what the rules are? That is my point. I have never seen anything that says that Suite Owners get a ticket every time. Why is it fair that persons that got tickets to Tampa get this again? Remember, I have paid a lot of money to this team. $7,400 for 4 PSLs and now my season tickets are $3800 a year. In 17 years, I figure that I have paid the Ravens over $40,000. What is that "chopped liver"? There is no way that the tickets posted on their travel agent website (on their website) did not get the tickets from the Ravens allotment.

The two lottery winners that I know personally have seats in the lower section and the other in an upper section. Someone I know who has club seats did not get SB tickets and they have paid a pretty penny for all these years. All in all it looks like there just aren't enough for every psl holder to get Super Bowl tickets after ticket commitments are filled for the Ravens' organization. Also there are several ticket brokers who have many tickets are psl holders and were eligible for the lottery.

[Brinmill76]

"Lucky' to win the lottery here. Trying to figure out if I can make it work and get down there. I went to Tampa and its obviously something I will never forget.

I am a PSl owner who did not win the lottery, if you cannot go and would like to sell your tickets please let me know.

[JohnBKistler]

So where is it published on any website anywhere what the rules are? That is my point. I have never seen anything that says that Suite Owners get a ticket every time.

Bolded below. http://www.baltimoreravens.com/gamed...ite-level.html

20 or 24 tickets to all Ravens home games, depending on suite location
Four (4) premium parking permits located in our on-site parking lots
Option to purchase two (2) additional parking permits for the season
Option to purchase up to ten (10) Additional Suite Tickets for each Ravens home game
Option to purchase up to ten (10) Suite Guest Passes for each Ravens home game for guests who already have tickets to the game
Opportunity to have up to six (6) guests join a pre-game guided tour on the Visitors sideline prior to each Ravens home game
Invitation to private VIP events including the annual Suite Owners Away Trip, State of the Ravens with John Harbaugh and Ozzie Newsome, and VIP Day at Training Camp
$400 in Ravens Bucks to be used toward the purchase of concessions or merchandise for guests over the course of the season
Exclusive discount to the Baltimore Ravens Team Store for all your apparel needs
Option to request Away Game Tickets
Priority option to purchase up to eight (8) Super Bowl Packages including hotel, airfare, and tickets when the Ravens are in the Super Bowl

More info: http://www.baltimoreravens.com/gamed...t-lottery.html

The Baltimore Ravens held a random lottery for Super Bowl tickets in which selected PSL Owners had the opportunity to purchase a limited number of Super Bowl tickets. All PSL Owners were included in this lottery and entered once for each PSL owned. The lottery was also weighted so Club Level PSL Owners had a greater opportunity to be selected. Selected accounts received the opportunity to purchase two (2) tickets and were notified via email and by checking My Ravens Ticket Account once the game was guaranteed.

Why is it fair that persons that got tickets to Tampa get this again? Remember, I have paid a lot of money to this team. $7,400 for 4 PSLs and now my season tickets are $3800 a year. In 17 years, I figure that I have paid the Ravens over $40,000. What is that "chopped liver"?

Well...in the scheme of things...it is.

Consider, the cheapest club level seat (corner endzones) are $1700 per season. If you are suite holder and you are paying for at least 20 seats, that is $34K right there, for one season....buying the cheapest seats, and the minimum number. I bet you there are suite holders that drop over $100K on the Ravens in a season. And yeah, if that is me, I better be getting the option to purchase a SB ticket.

[wickedsolo]

Just curious...but you figure if they got 13,000 tickets and there are what...close to 80,000 seats at M&T?

I have no idea how many PSL owners there are at M&T, but let's just figuratively say that every seat is owned and each PSL owner has 4 seats. So, that is 20,000 PSL owners (give or take). It is probable that every player and coach gets a couple of tickets...probably 4-6 tickets per player/coach...so that is probably close to 2,000 tickets right there. That isn't including facilitators, front office, upper management, etc.

After all of that, you're probably looking at maybe 5,000 tickets actually available for PSL owners. Even if 1 PSL owner received 1 ticket, that is still 15,000 PSL owners who don't get a ticket. It is more probable that they give two tickets for each PSL owner who wins the lottery, so that is actually closer to 18,000 owners who won't get tickets.

[HoustonRaven]

Keep moving those outrage goal posts.

Still trying to figure out how any of this Bisciotti's fault.

[JAB1985]

This from an article a few years ago:



http://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/83632877.html

well there you go, thanks for the article.

[mmi16]

Tickets to the Super Bowl are not for Joe Fan - they are for Corporate Expense Account fat cats.

$850 face value is ridiculous when it comes to someone working for a living; but when you can put it on a expense account for a company and then that company writes the whole thing off as 'deductable' entertainment expense - now you are talking!

[ManfredHanover]

I just want the record to show that the URL posted by the Ravens about the ticket lottery was posted today 1/22/13 (go to the webpage, and go to properties to view the posting date) NOT BEFORE THE DRAWING and after my complaint letter to the Ravens. I would also note that when I bought my original PSL I was specifically told by the Ravens ticket staff that everyone would have an equal chance at getting a SB ticket if we made it. My tickets in Section 121 are $110 a game so why does someone paying $1,700 rather than $1,100 get a better shot and why if they won the ticket lottery in 2001 they get another ticket chance? Where was this in the PSL contract we signed? Again all I am asking the Ravens is for transparency. How many tickets did you get, and specifically how were they allocated. A list of lottery winners by Section would be nice to see.

[RavensDomination]

Would you take someone from here who was also a member of the Baltimore Marching Ravens band?

Of course I would, I love the band!

[B-more Ravor]

Just curious...but you figure if they got 13,000 tickets and there are what...close to 80,000 seats at M&T?

I have no idea how many PSL owners there are at M&T, but let's just figuratively say that every seat is owned and each PSL owner has 4 seats. So, that is 20,000 PSL owners (give or take). It is probable that every player and coach gets a couple of tickets...probably 4-6 tickets per player/coach...so that is probably close to 2,000 tickets right there. That isn't including facilitators, front office, upper management, etc.

After all of that, you're probably looking at maybe 5,000 tickets actually available for PSL owners. Even if 1 PSL owner received 1 ticket, that is still 15,000 PSL owners who don't get a ticket. It is more probable that they give two tickets for each PSL owner who wins the lottery, so that is actually closer to 18,000 owners who won't get tickets.

Exactly. Once you factor in tickets for the owner and upper level staff, the FO, the coaches, players and corporate sponsors, there's likely very little left..........then, the Suite holders, then the club level, then the "regular" PSL holders.

There's simply not that many to go around.