FromThisSeat Blog

 

Welcome to the FromThisSeat Blog.

Here our editors will bring you plenty of news coverage on tickets, ballparks, stadiums and arenas as they pertain to the NFL, NHL, MLB and NBA.  If you have any questions or suggestions pertaining to the articles, feel free to 'Contact Us' via the navigation bar.

Photo of the playing field at Fenway Park during a Boston Red Sox game.

Image Credit: Stadium Journey

There used to be a time when sports fans stumbled into stadiums and arenas blindly. We knew very little about the Fenway Park's and the Madison Square Garden's of the world. Maybe we had seen Google images of them or knew only what we could see on TV. But we all had heard the countless stories told by our friends who had visited those places and our interests were stimulated. Those days of the unknown, my friends, are over. Founded in 2009, Ann Arbor native Paul Swaney has launched 'Stadium Journey' into the most comprehensive stadium review site on the web. Additionally, the website is complimented by a monthly magazine he also publishes including it's March installment of "Iconic Venues of College Basketball".

Photo of the Gate 34 entrance at Target Field. Home of the Minnesota Twins.

Image Credit: Eric Kilby (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Even if you're a casual sports fan or concert goer, you may have heard about the oncoming of 'paperless ticketing', a concept implemented primarily by ticket giant Ticketmaster. What exactly is paperless ticketing?

Photo of the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit, Michigan. 

Image Credit: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)

It has become common knowledge in the world of sports that new stadiums and arenas rarely yield the economic impact forecasted. Take for example, Paul Brown Stadium, home of the Cincinnati Bengals which created a debt Cincinnati taxpayers will have looming over their heads for years to come. And although the city of Detroit still has a fragile economy, hockey town's Joe Louis Arena has began to show it's age after it's 33rd season.

Photo of downtown San Francisco, California. 

Image Credit: Mike McBey (CC BY 2.0)

Many basketball franchises have begun to keep up with the Jones' when it comes to the need for a new arena and the Golden State Warriors are next on the list. By 2017, the Golden State Warriors will have a new arena located on the scenic San Francisco waterfront in a neighborhood known as Piers 30-32. The construction costs for the new arena are expected to range anywhere from $450 million to $500 million making it one of the most expensive arenas in the NBA. 

Photo of downtown Seattle, Washington.

Image Credit: Ken Lund (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Economists suggest that there is little evidence suggesting that the construction of sports venues create a positive impact on a city's economy. However, Seattle is choosing to ignore that theory and has finally reached an agreement on a new multi-purpose arena in the SODO section of town.

Photo of a game between the Phoenix Coyotes and the Detroit Red Wings.

Image Credit: JPowers65 - Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

May has been a historic month for the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes. Shortly before edging out the Nashville Predators for a Western Conference Final berth,  a well-credentialed businessman has agreed to purchase the franchise that filed for bankruptcy three short seasons ago.

Photo of a Colorado Avalanche game versus the San Jose Sharks. 

Image Credit: Matt Boulton (CC BY-SA 2.0)

See how much money it cost to build your favorite NHL team's home arena. 

 

1. American Airlines Center - $420 (M)

2. Staples Center - $375 (M)

3. Prudential Center - $375 (M)

4. PPG Paints Arena - $321 (M)

5. Bell Centre - $270 (M)

Photo of the field at Busch Stadium. Home of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Image Credit: Oakley Originals (CC BY 2.0)

See how much money was spent on constructing your favorite Major League Ballpark. 

 

1. Yankee Stadium - $1.5 (B)

2. Citi Field - $900 (M)

3. Nationals Park - $611 (M)

4. Rogers Centre - $570 (M)

5. Marlins Park - $550 (M)

Photo of the court at the Staples Center during a Los Angeles Clippers game.

Image Credit: Winni3 - Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0)

See how much money was spent on constructing your favorite NBA arena. 

 

1. Barclays Center - $1+ (B)

2. Amway Center - $480 (M)

3. American Airlines Center - $420 (M)

4. Staples Center - $375 (M)

5. Air Canada Centre - $265 (M)

Photo of Gillette Stadium during a New England Patriots game. 

Image Credit: MA Office of Travel Tourism (CC BY-ND 2.0)

NFL Stadiums. They're the largest venues in professional sports though they're structures are all very similar in dimension and capacity. Here is a list of the 31 NFL stadiums and their construction costs. See how much it cost to build your favorite football team's home stadium.

 

1. Metlife Stadium - $1.6 (B)

2. AT&T Stadium - $1.3 (B)

3. Lucas Oil Stadium -$720 (M)

4. Soldier Field - $632 (M)

5. Lincoln Financial Field - $512 (M)

Photo of the Toronto Maple Leafs bench during a game.

Image Credit: Mark Mauno (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Cities like Seattle, Quebec City, Hartford, Hamilton and Long Island have long been pursuing funding to build a new hockey arena. Surprisingly, the newest NHL arena could be erected in a city that already has a franchise. The Toronto suburb of Markham has just approved the construction of a $300 million arena which may or may not lure an NHL franchise in the future.

Photo of the NFL logo painted on a football field.

Image Credit: Erin Costa (CC BY 2.0)

Few NFL fans are probably aware that the NFL Ticket Exchange is a formed partnership between the NFL and ticket giant Ticketmaster. Since it's founding in 2008, the partnership's profits have multiplied extensively. So much that the NHL ticket exchange has also been launched.

Photo of a couple and their dog at a baseball game.

Image Credit: Cathy T (CC BY 2.0)

Once upon a time, the only canine that could be found at a baseball stadium was Schottsie at Riverfront Stadium. Schottsie was the lovable Saint Bernard, owned by Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott. And back then, that was a pretty odd sight. No wait a minute, a goat at Wrigley Field...now that's an even odder sight.

Photo of the field at the Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome. Home of the Minnesota Vikings.

Image Credit: Bjorn Hanson (CC BY-ND 2.0)

With the Minnesota State Legislative session nearing it's end, the Minnesota Vikings are homeless and in dire need of a new NFL stadium. Upon the expiration of the franchise's lease with the Hubert Humphrey Metrodome last season, the Vikings are expected to share TCF Bank Stadium with the University of Minnesota's Golden Gophers until a new stadium is constructed. 

Photo of a man holding a StubHub gift card.

Image Credit: Mike Mozart (CC BY 2.0)

When browsing various forums and online help services, it became obvious to me that not every sports fan is hip to the online ticket resource StubHub. I say resource only because Stubhub is not a ticket broker. Founded in 2000 by two former Stanford MBAs, Stubhub is essentially the middle man marketplace between the ticket seller and the ticket buyer. 

Photo of Cincinnati Reds GM Walt Jocketty. 

Image Credit: Monowi - Flickr (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Cincinnati Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty once stated that to be successful in baseball, a team must have a core group of players and then you add to the mix free agents and minor league prospects. Within the past two weeks, the former St. Louis Cardinals GM is making it obvious just who the Reds consider their core. After outfielder Jay Bruce's contract was extended thru 2016 last year, Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips will now both likely play in Cincinnati for the rest of their careers. 

Photo of the Seattle, Washington skyline.

Image Credit: Sarah Keleman Garber (CC BY 2.0)

When hedge fund guru and Seattle native Chris Hansen expressed his plans to bring two additional sports franchises to Seattle, the city was filled with excitement. Hansen's group of investors would foot most of the bill for the construction of a new multi-use arena while the city would contribute it's share.

Photo of Mario Williams of the Buffalo Bills standing on the sidelines during a practice session. 

Image Credit: TropicAces - Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

It's been six short years since Houston Texans GM Charley Casserly made one of the boldest moves in NFL draft history. Reggie Bush, Matt Leinhart and Vince Young were can't miss prospects and former college football royalty. Instead, the Texans opted for the physically gifted Mario Williams out of North Carolina State University.

Photo of Colisee Pepsi in Quebec City. Former home arena of the Quebec Nordiques. 

Image Credit: Riclaf (CC BY-SA 2.0)

It's been 17 long years since professional hockey was played in Colisse de Quebec; former home of the Quebec Nordiques. When attendances dwindled and the Canadian dollar began to weaken, the franchise fell upon hard times because the players' salaries were paid in American dollars. Almost two decades later, it looks as if the city has a legitimate shot at reclaiming their former franchise via an expansion or relocation. A relocation would be much cheaper for all parties involved.

Photo of quarterback Tim Tebow of the Denver Broncos.

Image Credit: Jeffrey Beall (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The NFL's most talked about player will begin play in the league's largest stadium this fall. What Tim Tebow brings to the New York Jets isn't exactly out of this world talent, but instead, a fan base that's going to be intrigued by his name on the roster. As of 2012, there is currently a waiting list to become a New York Jets season ticket holder which means that there are more than 80,000 season ticket holders for Jets games. 

Photo of pitcher Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Image Credit: Ksebruce - Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0)

With more than $100 million already committed to 8 Phillies players in 2013, it will be very unlikely that the Philadelphia Phillies will be able to extend the 2008 World Series MVP. At the age of 29, it is imperative for him to get every dime he can get out of the ball club. It's not that the Phillies don't want to keep Cole Hamels in a Phillies uniform. This is a numbers game and both Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay are inked in for more than $20 million next season.