Chiefs BRC is no longer a "real" fan. - Page 10

**BigRedChief** · 06-09-2008, 03:42 PM

Edited version of my email to the chiefs........................

After being on the season ticket waiting list for 4 years I finally became a season ticket holder in 1996. Back then 3 season tickets cost me $1,113. This year’s bill was $2,604. By the time you tally in parking, gas to and from the games the yearly bill easily exceeds $3,000. That doesn’t even include tailgating supplies or anything bought inside the stadium. With that kind of money I could plan a major family vacation, house improvements, and provide additional funds for college etc.etc. Spending $3,000 for something that has lost its value just doesn’t make sense to me anymore.

I’m sure that the season ticket prices will continue to go up at a rate higher than inflation and with the re-opening of the “new” Arrowhead really escalate in price. I’m not having a financial hardship. I’m still way over paid for the work that I do. There is no reason to doubt that in the future that my pay scale will continue upward. So I can afford the season tickets even the club level seats if I so chose to do so. It’s just that I don’t think it’s a good value for my family anymore.

When I have to pay for 2 pre-season games (close to $500.00) that are glorified practices it reduces the value of being a season ticket holder. I’m now unable to sell my tickets at face value to anyone. Sometimes I can’t even give them away for free. That decreases the value of being a season ticket holder.

When I try to upgrade my seats to a better location I’m told that there are no real upgrades available. I feel this is because of the Wolf pack Club program that saves lower level seats and premium upper level seats for new season ticket holders. You can pay $400 - $500 a year to join the “club” and you jump in front of me. 12 years of season tickets are worth $400 to the Chiefs. How many $1,000’s have I spent on pre-season games and down year games? Again this has de-valued being a season ticket holder.

I love tailgating. I love seeing old friends and meeting new ones on game days. The game day experience no matter if the Chiefs win or lose is always an excellent time. Year after year I have seen some hard core long time season ticket holders give up their tickets. This has taken a toll on the fervor of the fans inside Arrowhead.

These hard core fans have been replaced by people seeking social time with friends and family, co-workers and businesses rewarding employees. They love their pre-game tents with the no fuss ready to eat buffets. They will really love the new club level. Nothing wrong with this new social dynamic except that a by product of this is that they are not as committed to the team and making Arrowhead the loudest stadium in the NFL as were the fans that they replaced. And that decreases the value and fun of being a season ticket holder.

Maybe if I had no faith in King Carl to rebuild our team I’d still see a value in being a season ticket holder. King Carl deserves to be in the KC Chiefs HOF. He is directly responsible for making the Arrowhead game day experience one of the best if not the best in the NFL. But his arrogance has also brought the Chiefs down to levels that have been shameful and very distasteful to experience as a Chiefs fan.

King Carl has had 19 years to get this right but he still can’t admit mistakes. His failure to evaluate talent is why we are in the current re-building mode. His time as GM should have been up a long time ago. I feel that he has stayed on as GM because of the great business skills he has and the profit he makes for the franchise. I believe King Carl wants to win as much as any of the NFL GM’s, he just doesn’t know how. After 19 years its time to give someone else a chance.

One of the benefits of being a season ticket holder is keeping the same tickets for playoff games. One playoff game at Arrowhead in 10 years doesn’t increase the value of being a season ticket holder.

I’m optimistic about the future. The last 2 drafts have given us fans hope. I’ll still go to the games. I’ll just cherry pick the games. Home opener, Broncos, Raiders etc. Maybe in a couple of years from now when we are good again I’ll see the value in being a season ticket holder. I can just buy the rights to someone’s seat with the $6,000 that I saved from not giving that money to the Chiefs front office for 2 years. I’ll always be a Chiefs fan and shall cheer no other. It’s just that the majority of the time I’ll be doing that cheering in front of a big screen TV.

xfactor · 06-13-2008, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

I know you get a lot of grief about the spandex and beeing an attention whore.

But I know all about the charity work that you do and the people that you have helped when you wern't in the spandex. Just let them be haters and keep up the charity work.

I'll see you on opening day or at Red Friday!

I really don't pay much attention to that stuff BRC, I chalk it up to sterotyping, jealousy or just not being educated on why I do it. You know why I do it along with thousands of others and I do it for the kids anyways not the adults and I've never heard a kid say that. In the same breath you keep moving mountains in the community also, in the end of the day that is what matters most anyways. I will see you loud and proud at Red Friday!!! Thanks for always being a great friend!! Hopefully you will join us again on a full time basis at Arrowhead.

StcChief · 06-13-2008, 08:13 AM

I gave up 2 years ago (2006 season), probably should have done it 2 years before that....

apparently enough "true real fans" (lower bowl) are doing it now to really get their attention....

Had we done it before Carl would already be gone, but they may not have renewed the lease.....at Arrowhead.

Mile High Mania · 06-13-2008, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Thats what I'll miss most is the tailgating and friends built up through the years.
Weirdwolf
FirstDownElvis
Nzoner
Brock
JSPChief
and now me

Thats some seriously hard core Chief fans that have given up their tickets.

Wow... all those guys gave up their tickets? Wild.

**Manila-Chief** · 06-13-2008, 09:45 AM

BRC ... you are a HERO!!!! This is the only way Clark will be induced to make needed changes.

I know it is a big step ... if they start winning you may have to go to the back of the line to get season tickets ... but, on the other hand, what have they really won since the SB win???? CP has proven he is more interested in the bottom line than the goal line and as long as he is there we will not get close to a SB. We might would have had a chance had CP spent money on the right defensive player for DV???

So, a great big VIRTUAL HIGH 5 from me!!!!

**CosmicPal** · 06-13-2008, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buehler445

At least you got some response. "Account Executive" sounds pretty low to me, but hopefully your message was received by more than him.

He's the one that handles all the ticketing sales: individual and group season tickets. It's what I used to do when I was living in KC. I was an Account Executive for a couple of sports teams there. Handled all the season and group ticket sales.

He's working the stadium to see if he can make BRC happier by suggesting the opportunity of having your friends all sit in the same area- something that could not possibly be done without an insurmountable glob of luck in the late 80's and 90's.

My father was a season ticket holder since the Chiefs moved to KC. He and his friends were very fortunate to have been able to sit with each other for so many years. But, they have all ended their season tickets after so many years.

I was surprised 'cause my father had always been a Chiefs fanatic. But, he did bring up a good point, and that is- "I've got a wall-size high-definition TV now, I'm closer to the action than ever before."

And this is the thing that is actually hurting a lot of teams. More and more men these days are creating theater seating rooms in their homes and "tailgating" at home. Add in the fact, a team suffered a few bad years on the playing field and you have a recipe for disaster.

So, the Account Executive is trying his best by offering available seats so his friends can all sit together like my father and his did for so many years. Yah, they had to endure the 70's, but when the team got to be really good and the stadium was electric- those seats were golden to them.

**Bearcat** · 06-13-2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Got this response so far.....Buy another ticket and we will move you to some better seats.

Good afternoon. Thank you for your continued support of the Kansas City Chiefs! I would like to introduce myself as your Kansas City Chiefs account manager.

It has come to my attention that there are seats available next to your LowerLevel season tickets. Do you know anyone who would be interested in sitting next to you for the 2008 season?

If so, I can secure those seats for you or we can relocate all of your seats to a better location with the addition of 1 or more season tickets.

Thank you once again for remaining a part of the Chiefs family. If I can help you in anyway, please call (edited by BRC) or email (edited by BRC) and I would be happy to assist.

All the best, Steve

Steve Eberle¦ Account Executive

What a load of canned auto-reply crap.... and to ask for more money after such a detailed explanation of why you won't be giving them anymore...

I wonder if they outsource to Sprint.

little jacob · 06-13-2008, 10:07 AM

so what finally pushed you over the edge BigRedChief. was it the state of the team or the price increase?

**Nzoner** · 06-13-2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Got this response so far.....Buy another ticket and we will move you to some better seats.

Good afternoon. Thank you for your continued support of the Kansas City Chiefs! I would like to introduce myself as your Kansas City Chiefs account manager.

It has come to my attention that there are seats available next to your LowerLevel season tickets. Do you know anyone who would be interested in sitting next to you for the 2008 season?

If so, I can secure those seats for you or we can relocate all of your seats to a better location with the addition of 1 or more season tickets.

Thank you once again for remaining a part of the Chiefs family. If I can help you in anyway, please call (edited by BRC) or email (edited by BRC) and I would be happy to assist.

All the best, Steve

Steve Eberle│ Account Executive

This response tells me all I need to know about how well season ticket sales are going.

**Nzoner** · 06-13-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Otter

Wow! I had no idea, like you said, that's a lot of core players.

Tell you what, I'm glad to see it happen though. The people running the show at One Arrowhead Drive have been the General Motors of the NFL for way to long and speaking with your wallet is the only way they'll listen.

There may be light at the end of the tunnel after all.

Here's my little rant from '05 when I finally said fock it

StcChief · 06-13-2008, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nzoner

This response tells me all I need to know about how well season ticket sales are going.

yep. fully expect blackout's for non-conf/non-division home games.
this sounds it could be a good poll come Sept 2008

**Dartgod** · 06-13-2008, 10:48 AM

I'm confused and I don't have time to read through the entire thread.

I thought you had already renewed your seats BRC?

**BigRedChief** · 06-13-2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by little jacob

so what finally pushed you over the edge BigRedChief. was it the state of the team or the price increase?

Neither. It was lingering resentment of King Carl and no value in being a season ticket holder.

**BigRedChief** · 06-13-2008, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dartgod

I'm confused and I don't have time to read through the entire thread.

I thought you had already renewed your seats BRC?

A lot of the pages are posters bagging on Herm Edwards play calling.

Yes, I renewed initially and then changed my mind. So I'll lose a hundred or two dollars but get to keep from spending another thousand or so plus get my thousand back.

**Dartgod** · 06-13-2008, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

A lot of the pages are posters bagging on Herm Edwards play calling.

Yes, I renewed initially and then changed my mind. So I'll lose a hundred or two dollars but get to keep from spending another thousand or so plus get my thousand back.

That's too bad. I was planning on bringing you margaritas at every game.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 06-13-2008, 11:49 AM

So there's a group of 5-6 seats together in the lower part of section 110, yet I'd bet if I called right now and asked for the best seats available, they'd try to give me something in the upper deck corners about 30 rows up.

06-09-2008, 03:42 PM
BigRedChief Has a particular set of skills Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: On the water Casino cash: $-561038 VARSITY	BRC is no longer a "real" fan. Edited version of my email to the chiefs........................ After being on the season ticket waiting list for 4 years I finally became a season ticket holder in 1996. Back then 3 season tickets cost me $1,113. This year’s bill was $2,604. By the time you tally in parking, gas to and from the games the yearly bill easily exceeds $3,000. That doesn’t even include tailgating supplies or anything bought inside the stadium. With that kind of money I could plan a major family vacation, house improvements, and provide additional funds for college etc.etc. Spending $3,000 for something that has lost its value just doesn’t make sense to me anymore. I’m sure that the season ticket prices will continue to go up at a rate higher than inflation and with the re-opening of the “new” Arrowhead really escalate in price. I’m not having a financial hardship. I’m still way over paid for the work that I do. There is no reason to doubt that in the future that my pay scale will continue upward. So I can afford the season tickets even the club level seats if I so chose to do so. It’s just that I don’t think it’s a good value for my family anymore. When I have to pay for 2 pre-season games (close to $500.00) that are glorified practices it reduces the value of being a season ticket holder. I’m now unable to sell my tickets at face value to anyone. Sometimes I can’t even give them away for free. That decreases the value of being a season ticket holder. When I try to upgrade my seats to a better location I’m told that there are no real upgrades available. I feel this is because of the Wolf pack Club program that saves lower level seats and premium upper level seats for new season ticket holders. You can pay $400 - $500 a year to join the “club” and you jump in front of me. 12 years of season tickets are worth $400 to the Chiefs. How many $1,000’s have I spent on pre-season games and down year games? Again this has de-valued being a season ticket holder. I love tailgating. I love seeing old friends and meeting new ones on game days. The game day experience no matter if the Chiefs win or lose is always an excellent time. Year after year I have seen some hard core long time season ticket holders give up their tickets. This has taken a toll on the fervor of the fans inside Arrowhead. These hard core fans have been replaced by people seeking social time with friends and family, co-workers and businesses rewarding employees. They love their pre-game tents with the no fuss ready to eat buffets. They will really love the new club level. Nothing wrong with this new social dynamic except that a by product of this is that they are not as committed to the team and making Arrowhead the loudest stadium in the NFL as were the fans that they replaced. And that decreases the value and fun of being a season ticket holder. Maybe if I had no faith in King Carl to rebuild our team I’d still see a value in being a season ticket holder. King Carl deserves to be in the KC Chiefs HOF. He is directly responsible for making the Arrowhead game day experience one of the best if not the best in the NFL. But his arrogance has also brought the Chiefs down to levels that have been shameful and very distasteful to experience as a Chiefs fan. King Carl has had 19 years to get this right but he still can’t admit mistakes. His failure to evaluate talent is why we are in the current re-building mode. His time as GM should have been up a long time ago. I feel that he has stayed on as GM because of the great business skills he has and the profit he makes for the franchise. I believe King Carl wants to win as much as any of the NFL GM’s, he just doesn’t know how. After 19 years its time to give someone else a chance. One of the benefits of being a season ticket holder is keeping the same tickets for playoff games. One playoff game at Arrowhead in 10 years doesn’t increase the value of being a season ticket holder. I’m optimistic about the future. The last 2 drafts have given us fans hope. I’ll still go to the games. I’ll just cherry pick the games. Home opener, Broncos, Raiders etc. Maybe in a couple of years from now when we are good again I’ll see the value in being a season ticket holder. I can just buy the rights to someone’s seat with the $6,000 that I saved from not giving that money to the Chiefs front office for 2 years. I’ll always be a Chiefs fan and shall cheer no other. It’s just that the majority of the time I’ll be doing that cheering in front of a big screen TV.
Posts: 81,251

06-13-2008, 08:13 AM	#137
StcChief Playing for #1 Draft Pick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Just West of Lambs land Casino cash: $10004900	I gave up 2 years ago (2006 season), probably should have done it 2 years before that.... apparently enough "true real fans" (lower bowl) are doing it now to really get their attention.... Had we done it before Carl would already be gone, but they may not have renewed the lease.....at Arrowhead. __________________ sig test for this screwy schema
Posts: 25,901

06-13-2008, 09:45 AM	#139
Manila-Chief Supporter Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Memphis/Miss Casino cash: $10006883	BRC ... you are a HERO!!!! This is the only way Clark will be induced to make needed changes. I know it is a big step ... if they start winning you may have to go to the back of the line to get season tickets ... but, on the other hand, what have they really won since the SB win???? CP has proven he is more interested in the bottom line than the goal line and as long as he is there we will not get close to a SB. We might would have had a chance had CP spent money on the right defensive player for DV??? So, a great big VIRTUAL HIGH 5 from me!!!!
Posts: 2,152

06-13-2008, 10:07 AM	#142
little jacob Bitter Clinger Join Date: May 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	so what finally pushed you over the edge BigRedChief. was it the state of the team or the price increase?
Posts: 1,214

06-13-2008, 10:48 AM	#146
Dartgod Wasted away again... Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: in Margaritaville Casino cash: $3810000	I'm confused and I don't have time to read through the entire thread. I thought you had already renewed your seats BRC? __________________ If you shed a tear for me, please make it a tear of joy. -Joe Tracy (Nzoner) . .
Posts: 52,170

06-13-2008, 11:49 AM	#150
OnTheWarpath15 MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2231115	So there's a group of 5-6 seats together in the lower part of section 110, yet I'd bet if I called right now and asked for the best seats available, they'd try to give me something in the upper deck corners about 30 rows up.
Posts: 60,746