The faltering economy has humbled many American icons this year, but not the Dallas Cowboys.
The team announced Monday that it has sold nearly 85 percent of the season tickets for next year's inaugural season in Arlington and that the remaining tickets are now available to the general public. The sales figures seem to back up owner Jerry Jones' financial decision to charge record-high seat options, which cost as much as $150,000.
About 9,500 of the 61,000 seats are still available after nearly a year of sales, said Cowboys spokesman Brett Daniels. He said the economy is probably having an effect, but it's hard to quantify.
"Certainly we're aware of the economic uncertainty in the marketplace, but at the same time, the fans view this as a long-term commitment," Mr. Daniels said. "This isn't a one-year decision. This is a 20- or 30-year commitment that they are making, and so I think that has an impact on their thought process."
Monday's announcement coincided with the opening of season ticket sales to the general public. Previously, season tickets for the new $1.1 billion stadium were only available to current season ticket holders or fans who paid for a spot on a waiting list.
The stadium's 80,000-seat capacity comes from the 61,000 reserved, club and loge seats as well as suites and standing-room-only tickets in the end zones. Temporary seats and additional standing-room-only tickets in the end zones could boost that to at least 100,000.
Sean Pate, a spokesman for ticket reseller StubHub.com, said the 85 percent mark for season ticket sales is impressive, but it shouldn't be a surprise. He said that this year the team has been the hottest NFL ticket on his company's Web site and is regularly at the top in ticket demand.
Combine that with the lure of a new stadium, Mr. Pate said, and the team has a strong sales pitch.
"The stadium itself for a number of years is the attraction," he said. "It's the place to be. It's the cool factor."
Mr. Pate said the Arizona Cardinals were able to sell out their new stadium despite a poor record and long playoff drought.
The Cowboys also revealed Monday that 240 of the stadium's 300 suites have been sold. The Cowboys originally planned to build 200 suites but increased that number this year in response to strong sales.
Those suites originally cost $100,000 to $500,000 annually and require 20-year contracts. Mr. Daniels said most of the remaining suites are priced between $150,000 and $350,000.
For season tickets, the one-time seat options for remaining tickets cost between $4,000 and $150,000. Ticket prices range from $89 to $340 per game.
Many of the cheapest seats have sold out for the 2009 season. All of the upper-deck corner seats, which cost $59 per game and don't require a seat license, are gone. Some of the other upper-deck seats, as well as many in the end zone, have also sold out. Club and loge seats are still available in every price range.
"They are pretty evenly dispersed across the reserved seats and the club," Mr. Daniels said about the available tickets.
He said the team hasn't calculated what percentage of Texas Stadium season ticket holders bought seats in the new stadium.
He said the team's plans to expand season ticket sales to the general public by the last half of this season is on schedule. That gives the Cowboys until late next summer to reach its goal of selling out the stadium with season tickets.
It's not clear whether any single-game tickets will be available through the Cowboys.
"We still have nine months to go before our opener, and we're down to this few tickets," Mr. Daniels said.
Source: Dallas Morning News
