Goodell: Stadium experience needs to be better than home

[Dpantherman]

Posted by Michael David Smith on March 28, 2010 9:42 AM ET

NFL TV ratings soared in 2009 while ticket sales were sluggish, which raises a question: Do fans prefer watching games at home to watching games in person?

As someone who has multiple high-definition televisions, DirecTV with the NFL Sunday Ticket Superfan package, a comfortable couch and a wife who brings me snacks, I don't particularly see going to a game as improving my football-watching experience.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell acknowledged at the annual league meetings that plenty of fans feel that way, although he stressed the importance of the in-stadium experience to the league's long-term health, and he insisted that the coziness of home can't match the thrill of the stadium.

"It may be more comfortable, but it's not more exciting," Goodell said, per the Florida Times-Union.

The Times-Union article is headlined, "Are broadcasts too good? Roger Goodell admits it's a concern as blackouts loom." It notes that among the Jacksonville Jaguars' problems in selling out their stadium is the fact that even if the Jaguars are blacked out eight Sundays a year, fans in Jacksonville can still have a great day of watching football from their living rooms, especially if they have DirecTV or a cable system that offers the RedZone Channel.

That's why Goodell says he's so concerned with making the experience of going to a game better.

"We as a league are focused on it, and it's one of our priorities," Goodell said. "Our challenge is to continue to make it exciting for people who come to our facility. And that comes from a lot of different perspectives. You start with fan conduct. We talk about making sure people feel safe and they have a positive experience when they come to our stadiums. You talk about how to entertain them when they come to our stadiums. We have to do more with technology."

At some stadiums, that technology will involve giving fans hand-held TVs showing the RedZone Channel. Just like they can watch at home.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/03/28/goodell-stadium-experience-needs-to-be-better-than-home/

What do you guys think?? I know theres nothing like the stadium experience. But we just got the HDTV and Direct TV. and Im ready for football season.

[RedMage138]

There are some sports that are better being there and some that are better at home. If its the nhl or any kind of college type atmosphere I want to be there but the nfl is just better at home. Ticket prices are too high, its hard to really see what's going on, food and drinks are over priced, its a pain in the ass to get to and leave the stadium, you have to battle the elements etc... give me the home experience

[jakesthemistake]

if they made every stadium like the cowboys one they wouldn't have these problems

i hate the cowboys but thats a hell of a stadium

[Guest Jacob3-89]

Stadium is like home to me.

But it is a bitch to leave the damn thing. I feel the need to tackle the other teams fans when they bump bye me

[Jbro]

What about bar experience?

[cookinbrak]

If Goodell and the author of that story think people stay home because of TV quality, they're beyond stupid. Maybe the economy has a bit to do with it. I went to the Eagles game on opening day last season, knowing that there was a chance I was getting fired from my job. Had I known that I'd still be jobless 6 months later, I would have saved that 400 dollars and spent it elsewhere.

[Lumps]

I have a 40 inch, full 1080p HD TV with all the extras and a giant leather couch that you you melt into like butter. It doesn't matter. I go to almost every game every year. Nothing is like going, especially with good seats. I wouldn't go with the crappiest tickets you can buy but anything better and I am there, most of the time by myself. It is something to enjoy.

My #1 thing about the stadium is the beer choices and the prices. That beer they sell is crap what would really enhance my stadium experience would be a Heineken. I would have to say that would be my only reason for wanting to stay home.

Bar experience usually sucks IMO, your keeping all the stadium morons without the exiting atmosphere. Bigger games are more fun in bars.

[grateflday]

No matter what I have at home, being AT the stadium is ALWAYs my first choice. There is nothing like being there on Sunday to me!! Even when its my wife's turn to use our tickets, I go to the stadium and scalp.

I think the real issue with empty seats at stadiums is many season ticket holders, etc arent really fans. They just have tickets so they can say so and be there when its a big game, etc. They are the ones who dont go many times due to weather, something else to do on Sunday, team not to good, rather stay home today. So the problem then does come down to "cost" because the fan like me who just loves being at the stadium for many the price to go is to high so then end up staying home.

[88 Bronco]

$6 per Miller lite or $25 for a case of Sam Adams. Hard plastic or Lay-z-boy. $4 one Hot dog or $4 for a pack of hot dogs. Standing in a long line to piss 1 foot away from a total stranger during halftime or pause the game to go to your own toilet and listen to wife bitch you didn't put the seat down.

I know the game atmosphere is something you can't get at home and I try to make a couple games a year, but I do love watching the game from my recliner.

[Bobby]

The Panthers sold out every game anyway.

I know people are looking for answers everywhere, but there is another possibility: That people in Jacksonville don't care as much about the NFL as other cities.

[88 Bronco]

The Jaguars also aren't that good. A young mediocre franchise isn't exactly something that make people scream "I can't wait to eat excessively over-priced processed food and drink soda that cost considerably more than the gas I put in my car to get to this suckfest!"

[Snake]

For me home really is better. You don't have to deal with sweater vest people and its like sitting at the 50 yard line. I guess if I was super rich and could afford box seats with all my friends there it would be great but when people huff and puff about cheering and standing up its not worth it.

[CBDellinger]

Our stadium experience blows in comparison to others around the league!

[cookinbrak]

The Jaguars also aren't that good. A young mediocre franchise isn't exactly something that make people scream "I can't wait to eat excessively over-priced processed food and drink soda that cost considerably more than the gas I put in my car to get to this suckfest!"

Throw in "that never has first round draft picks because they trade them away" and you describe another team....