PreferredSeat.com Blog

Sports mortgages are being talked around the country by both college teams and pro teams as a way to pay for upgrades to current stadiums,  and to help build replacements for aging venues. “Equity seat rights” as they are being called according to the Mercurynews.com, will cost Kansas City Jayhawks fans upwards of $105,000 will get the same seats for 30 years, at 2010 prices.

For UC Berkeley, the cost soars to $225,000 for 50 years. But you better pay cash, because just like a home mortgage, with interest that could double in the thirty years it would take to pay it off.  The Sacramento Kings are said to be looking into the same program, but the cash strapped fans of Sacramento can barely afford the old Arco Arena, much less a new improved, overpriced arena.

The University of Delaware football season ticket holders are incensed over the recent donations being asked for parking in addition to the cost of the parking itself. Throughout the NCAA Division 1 football it seems to be common for preferred seating and parking to be marketed to the higher-end donors.

The Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees and New York Mets have some of the most expensive ticket prices in sports to help pay for the new stadiums that they have built in recent years. And the best seats are so expensive the average fan is stuck at the top, while the wealthy and corporate customers sit in the best seats.

Many of these seat programs come with added perks, access to a private club, cushioned seats, private restrooms and catered food. But for the average fan, who may have had a chance to sit in a great seat at a decent price, those days appear to be over. If you want a nice new stadium, there may be now other way though.

Whether it is for a sporting event, concert or even many theatre events, the price of tickets and perks for the wealthy is growing so fast, it’s no wonder fans are choosing the big screen rather than the crappy seat in the upper level.