When discussing the NFL’s most devoted fan bases, the Detroit Lions’ is among the best. Despite a lengthy history of disappointment and despair, Lions supporters have remained loyal to their team, and now that they are among the league’s top teams since 2023, their devotion is finally paying off. However, the devotion of Lions supporters is about to take a serious hit as season-ticket holders were recently presented with renewal papers that include an average ticket price rise of 24% for the upcoming season. This is the second consecutive year that ticket prices have increased significantly.
Unfortunately, the Lions’ recent success has come with a price tag: higher ticket prices. The Lions had one of the lowest ticket costs in the NFL prior to their ascent. The rises have understandably astonished and irritated many Lions supporters, and some believe they are being priced out of keeping their season tickets.
One supporter commented, “Well good job Lions,” “How to alienate devoted season ticket buyers. Good for two years, then you double ticket prices to exploit your fans. It’s embarrassing. “Whoa. For next year, my season tickets increased by 65%. “Unreal,” a different fan commented. “I have to admit that I’m not sure I can afford these seasonal price increases. I didn’t do anything insane last year, but this is a lot. “Bummer.”
“So, I’ve been sitting in these seats for 22 of my 24 years as a Lions ‘loyalty’ member,” remarked another supporter. Since fans only show loyalty to the team and not the other way around, I use the term loosely. “After two and a half decades of terrible football, never missing a game, paying the 3-5% price increases every year, $14.52 for a beer, $50-75 for parking, and buying merch year after year, the team decided to show how much they care about their fans,” he said. “My section’s pricing went up 57% last year because the team wants to catch up to the rest of the NFL. How, therefore, do they defend the 41% rise I got today?
Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit brought out yet another potential problem with the Lions’ raises, and he worries that it might already be having an effect on the Ford Field home attendance. “I’ve said it a couple times this year, but Ford Field already doesn’t feel as loud as it was last year,” Reisman stated. “It may have been my imagination, the result of ticket price rises, or just lightning in a bottle. However, I do worry that Ford Field may lose its advantage.
This is the regrettable aspect of the NFL’s operations that frequently results in the most ardent supporters receiving the lowest treatment. Even worse, the NFL and the Lions will continue to operate as usual in spite of the increases, which won’t stop major rises in the future.