[Mikey]

All right guys, y'all did such a fine job coming off the bench to pinch hit last time that I'm calling on you one more time. In my last paper, I identified "the sports consumer." In this last one, due next Tuesday, I am identifying how much money sports consumers drop on their teams every year, and yes - you Canucks and your Loonies count, too!! This survey's a little more comprehensive.

So, here's the docket this time, and in this case, only use your primary team of rooting interest - the one you invest the most into.


1. What is your favorite team?
-

2. Where do you live? How far is it from your team's home?
-

3. Give me an estimate: how much money do you spend each year on team apparel and collectibles?
-

4. What is the most unique team/player collectible you have ever purchased? How much did you pay for it?
-

5. Do you purchase any supplemental television or internet packages to watch your team through the season? If so, how much do you spend on it?
-

6a. On average, how many games per year do you attend involving your favorite team? Who goes with you? What would you estimate is the ticket price for your seats? Do you pay for these seats or get them as freebies through other means?
-

6b. How many games per year do you attend involving other teams? Who goes with you? What would you estimate is the ticket price for your seats? Do you pay for these seats or get them as freebies through other means?
-

7. How much travel cost would you estimate you average per year by attending your favorite team's games? What costs does this estimate cover? (Airfare, lodging, rental car, gas, etc.)
-

8. Have you ever organized an out of town trip for the sole purpose of going to see your team play? If so, tell me a good story. How quick did you make the plans? How much did you spend on tickets, travel, souvenirs, etc.? Did your team win? Would you do it again?
-

9. Do you have any other interesting stories regarding spending inordinate amounts of cash on sports? If you do, please share!
-



Again, you guys are awesome and I can't thank y'all enough for helping out.

[The Jewish Cunthead]

1. What is your favorite team?
Mets

2. Where do you live? How far is it from your team's home?
I live in San Diego – I think it’s the farthest you can be from Queens without actually leaving the continental United States.

3. Give me an estimate: how much money do you spend each year on team apparel and collectibles?
$200 although it used to be higher

4. What is the most unique team/player collectible you have ever purchased? How much did you pay for it?
In late 2008, my wife spent about $50 on a brick from the then-soon-to-be-demolished Shea Stadium. It’s one of the best gifts I’ve ever received.

5. Do you purchase any supplemental television or internet packages to watch your team through the season? If so, how much do you spend on it?
I spend $120 a year on mlb.tv. You get HD quality, can watch up to four games at once (which is great for fantasy baseball purposes), can pause/rewind the game, and most importantly for me, you can choose the tv feed. Being able to hear Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez, and Ron Darling for 162 games has been the highlight of the worst Mets season I’ve witnessed in 25 years.

6a. On average, how many games per year do you attend involving your favorite team? Who goes with you? What would you estimate is the ticket price for your seats? Do you pay for these seats or get them as freebies through other means?
On average, I attend 4 Mets games per year. They’re in San Diego for 3 (sometimes 4) games and my wife and I usually head up to LA or SF to catch another game. We tend to splurge on tickets (roughly $50-60 per ticket) for these games since we don’t attend many.

6b. How many games per year do you attend involving other teams? Who goes with you? What would you estimate is the ticket price for your seats? Do you pay for these seats or get them as freebies through other means?
On average, I attend 3 non Mets-related games per year. The Yankees-Angels games are fun to see from an outsider’s point-of-view: you have the typical arrogant “Kiss the Rings, bitch” Yankee fan vs. the Thunderstix-clapping, Rally Monkey-waving Angels fan. Since these games don’t really mean much to me, I’ll only spend about $10-20 on seats. In the past, I’ve gotten free tickets for Padres games as a result of donating blood on a regular basis.

7. How much travel cost would you estimate you average per year by attending your favorite team's games? What costs does this estimate cover? (Airfare, lodging, rental car, gas, etc.)
It’s roughly a 30 minute drive from my house to Petco Park, 45 minutes to Angels Stadium, and up to two hours to Dodger Stadium so the only cost is gas. On the rare occasions we head up to SF to see the Mets, we’ll get a couple of cheap airline tickets that will total about $120.

8. Have you ever organized an out of town trip for the sole purpose of going to see your team play? If so, tell me a good story. How quick did you make the plans? How much did you spend on tickets, travel, souvenirs, etc.? Did your team win? Would you do it again?
In 2009, my friends and I organized a trip to see the Mets play the Cubs at Wrigley Field. As soon as game tickets were purchased, the plans were made quickly. My wife and I cashed in some frequent flyer miles and the hotel was a gift from the in-laws so most of my money went to Dunkin’ Donuts for their sweet nectar known as coffee. Including game tickets and souvenirs, we spent about $200. As for the game itself, much like the other 161 games they played in 2009, the Mets did not win but it wouldn’t stop me from doing it again. Wrigley Field is a MUST SEE for any baseball fan.

9. Do you have any other interesting stories regarding spending inordinate amounts of cash on sports? If you do, please share!
With little notice or planning, my soon-to-be-wife and I flew from California to NY for the 2000 World Series. As soon as the Mets and Yankees won their respective pennants, we tried to see what it would take to fly back for just one game. Airfare wouldn’t be a problem but getting tickets to the Subway Series would be. After we tried to get tickets online, she called the Shea Stadium ticket office and gave them a little song and dance about how she recently injured her knee and if there were handicapped seats available. Luckily for us, her story worked and we were able to score two decent seats on the third base line. We both called in sick to our jobs and flew out to NY. I swallowed my tongue after Jeter led off the game with a home run but Piazza answered with one of his own. The Yankees won the game and eventually the series but it’s an experience that will always stay with me and one I would do again in a second. Total cost: $600-$700.

[Outback Frito Pendejo]

1. What is your favorite team? Red Sox
-


2. Where do you live? How far is it from your team's home?
- Westchester County, New York - about 150 miles away.

3. Give me an estimate: how much money do you spend each year on team apparel and collectibles?
-$0

4. What is the most unique team/player collectible you have ever purchased? How much did you pay for it? None. Although I think my souvenir bat from the late 60's is still at my parents house.
-

5. Do you purchase any supplemental television or internet packages to watch your team through the season? If so, how much do you spend on it?
- No

6a. On average, how many games per year do you attend involving your favorite team? Who goes with you? What would you estimate is the ticket price for your seats? Do you pay for these seats or get them as freebies through other means?
- I see them at Yankee Stadium every couple of years. last time was in bleachers so pretty cheap ($20?). Once I got corporate seats about 8 rows from the field near 3rd base through a friend. I usually go with a friend and we each bring our sons, which is cool.

6b. How many games per year do you attend involving other teams? Who goes with you? What would you estimate is the ticket price for your seats? Do you pay for these seats or get them as freebies through other means?
- Went to a Met game a couple years ago after winning tickets in a raffle, and used to go every few years when I lived in NYC, with that same friend but before we had kids.

7. How much travel cost would you estimate you average per year by attending your favorite team's games? What costs does this estimate cover? (Airfare, lodging, rental car, gas, etc.)
- $20 for train/subway.

8. Have you ever organized an out of town trip for the sole purpose of going to see your team play? If so, tell me a good story. How quick did you make the plans? How much did you spend on tickets, travel, souvenirs, etc.? Did your team win? Would you do it again? No
-

9. Do you have any other interesting stories regarding spending inordinate amounts of cash on sports? If you do, please share!
- The same friend is a Knicks season ticket holder. He got them back when Ewing was playing and so he started out with nosebleed seats, and for years he could only move up a little each year. During the Starbury era his seats got notably better every year. If I had the spare cash I'd be tempted to buy season tickets for some New York teams while the economy is hurting sales.


As a general comment, between work and family stuff I'm lucky to get to watch regular season games on TV (I benefit from the networks liking Sox games) , and I think the same is true for a lot of guys my age. I do enjoy baseball more than any other sport on the radio, and I can tune in the Sox in my car fairly well. If I lose the signal, my fall-back is to tune in the Yanks and root against them while mocking their announcers.

[salmonjunkie]

1. What is your favorite team?
- San Diego Chargers

2. Where do you live? How far is it from your team's home?
- Seattle. 1250 miles

3. Give me an estimate: how much money do you spend each year on team apparel and collectibles?
- $30-100

4. What is the most unique team/player collectible you have ever purchased? How much did you pay for it?
- $50 for a Tomlinson replica jersey

5. Do you purchase any supplemental television or internet packages to watch your team through the season? If so, how much do you spend on it?
- no, but I'll be buying an XM receiver to listen to the games while I'm on the road.

6a. On average, how many games per year do you attend involving your favorite team? Who goes with you? What would you estimate is the ticket price for your seats? Do you pay for these seats or get them as freebies through other means?
- When I lived in LA, 2 per year. I have yet to go to a Charger game since moving to Seattle, but plan to this December. I go with either my brother, my sister, my best friend, or a combination of us and some of our extended friends. We usually will spend $50-100 a ticket.

6b. How many games per year do you attend involving other teams? Who goes with you? What would you estimate is the ticket price for your seats? Do you pay for these seats or get them as freebies through other means?
- In the past, I've gone to about 1 Dodger game and/or 1 Padre game a year, 1 or 2 LA Kings games, 1 or 2 LA Clippers games, and 1 or 2 LA Lakers games a year. I'd go to 1 UCLA Bruins football game a year. Since living in Seattle, I've been to one Seahawks game a year and one Mariners game last year (but none this year).

7. How much travel cost would you estimate you average per year by attending your favorite team's games? What costs does this estimate cover? (Airfare, lodging, rental car, gas, etc.)
- When living in LA, just the cost of gas to drive to San Diego and back. I haven't flown down to San Diego explicitly to go to a Charger game yet.

8. Have you ever organized an out of town trip for the sole purpose of going to see your team play? If so, tell me a good story. How quick did you make the plans? How much did you spend on tickets, travel, souvenirs, etc.? Did your team win? Would you do it again?
- no. I would love to one day, though.

9. Do you have any other interesting stories regarding spending inordinate amounts of cash on sports? If you do, please share!
- outside of gambling, no.

[Habs]

What is your favorite team?
Boston Bruins

Where do you live? How far is it from your team's home?
315 miles (I did the conversion for you)

Give me an estimate: how much money do you spend each year on team apparel and collectibles?
25$ (un t-shirt and a cap every other year)

What is the most unique team/player collectible you have ever purchased? How much did you pay for it?
Got nothing unique, although I did go to games at the old Boston Garden and still have the ticket stubs

Do you purchase any supplemental television or internet packages to watch your team through the season? If so, how much do you spend on it?
Nope

6a. On average, how many games per year do you attend involving your favorite team? Who goes with you? What would you estimate is the ticket price for your seats? Do you pay for these seats or get them as freebies through other means?
When I lived in Montreal, I would usually go and see the Bruins once or twice a year when they came and visited. I would go with a friend that usually provided the ticket or with colleagues since my love of the Bruins was well knows and management would usually let me go once a year to a game. I did purchase playoff ticket via scalpers once (about 150$ each about 15 years ago)

6b. How many games per year do you attend involving other teams? Who goes with you? What would you estimate is the ticket price for your seats? Do you pay for these seats or get them as freebies through other means?
I usually go to at least one hockey game a year, and when I was in Calgary I purchased ticket via scalpers again to see a Calgary Edmonton game at the Saddledome. When with a friend,and paid for the tickets myself.

7. How much travel cost would you estimate you average per year by attending your favorite team's games? What costs does this estimate cover? (Airfare, lodging, rental car, gas, etc.)
It usually doesn’t cost much. My lodging in Montreal is always taken care of (friends or business) so only tickets and beer I guess. So around 150 to 200$ per game (that when I pay for the tickets. Montreal tickets are expensive).

8. Have you ever organized an out of town trip for the sole purpose of going to see your team play? If so, tell me a good story. How quick did you make the plans? How much did you spend on tickets, travel, souvenirs, etc.? Did your team win? Would you do it again?
When to the old Boston Garden for back to back games (Saturday and Sunday) when I good friend of mine was studying around Boston. The Bruins where facing the Senators (on their first year back in the league I think) and the Nordiques. The Nordiques had a good team that year so our ticket where with obstructed view, meaning we didn’t get to see half of the ice because of a column. We were sitting in the bleachers with the real fans. In the third period, the Nordiques score and the guy in front of us stands up to cheer. The guy right in front of him, stood up, turned around and just wacked him in the face with a jab that that would have made Apollo Creed proud. Blood was spilled; guys were thrown out, Bruins won! AWESOME night! We probably spend 300$ each for tickets, gas, motel and food.

9. Do you have any other interesting stories regarding spending inordinate amounts of cash on sports? If you do, please share!
Not yet

[Spinch]

1. What is your favorite team?
The Utah Jazz. Yes, we have an NBA team in the mix!

2. Where do you live? How far is it from your team's home?
Lawrenceville, GA. The shortest route (by car) is 1,897 miles.

3. Give me an estimate: how much money do you spend each year on team apparel and collectibles?
Between twenty and thirty bucks, tops. Fat guys don't look good in replica jerseys.

What is the most unique team/player collectible you have ever purchased? How much did you pay for it?
I paid $1 in grade school for a classic Mardi Gras colored Jazz pennant. It's kicking around at my parent's house somewhere.

Do you purchase any supplemental television or internet packages to watch your team through the season? If so, how much do you spend on it?
I don't purchase that. If they're playing, I might head to a bar to watch and hope the game is on, so I guess the cost of drinks might count?

6a. On average, how many games per year do you attend involving your favorite team? Who goes with you? What would you estimate is the ticket price for your seats? Do you pay for these seats or get them as freebies through other means?

I try to see the Jazz play every year, but it's rare that I make it. I used to fly solo, but I'm gonna drag my girlfriend out with me this year. When I lived in Utah, I generally got nosebleed seats— $15 or so a piece. Sometimes I'd get them free from work. I'll probably spring for better ones this coming season.

6b. How many games per year do you attend involving other teams? Who goes with you? What would you estimate is the ticket price for your seats? Do you pay for these seats or get them as freebies through other means?

I would say probably six or seven... said girlfriend is a diehard Colorado Avalanche fan (and I'm a big fan, too... I just like the Jazz a teeny tiny bit more than the Avs) and we see them play the Thrashers each year. We'll catch another game or two from the Thrashers and a few minor league hockey games (Gwinnett Gladiators). The estimated price for Thrashers tickets is somewhere in the $50 range, and the Gladiators tickets? Eight bucks.

7. How much travel cost would you estimate you average per year by attending your favorite team's games? What costs does this estimate cover? (Airfare, lodging, rental car, gas, etc.)
-

Since I can't really make it back to Salt Lake that often with my schedule, I generally spend about two bucks in gas to get to the MARTA station and three in train tickets. Oh, and a buck for parking. Six dollars.

8. Have you ever organized an out of town trip for the sole purpose of going to see your team play? If so, tell me a good story. How quick did you make the plans? How much did you spend on tickets, travel, souvenirs, etc.? Did your team win? Would you do it again?
Not yet, although I'm in the preliminary stages of planning a trip to Denver to see the Avs (and Broncos, if I can swing it) to surprise the girlfriend with. (I hope she doesn't see this post.)

9. Do you have any other interesting stories regarding spending inordinate amounts of cash on sports? If you do, please share!

None yet!

[Lou]

Sept 29, 2009 9:04:33 GMT -5 Mikey said:

All right guys, y'all did such a fine job coming off the bench to pinch hit last time that I'm calling on you one more time. In my last paper, I identified "the sports consumer." In this last one, due next Tuesday, I am identifying how much money sports consumers drop on their teams every year, and yes - you Canucks and your Loonies count, too!! This survey's a little more comprehensive.

So, here's the docket this time, and in this case, only use your primary team of rooting interest - the one you invest the most into.


1. What is your favorite team?

Texas Ranges
-

2. Where do you live? How far is it from your team's home?

For most of my life I'd lived in Ft. Worth, about 15-20 miles from The Ballpark. Now, I live in Arlington, about 5 miles away.
-

3. Give me an estimate: how much money do you spend each year on team apparel and collectibles?

Between $50 to $100 a year. Hats and t-shirts.
-

4. What is the most unique team/player collectible you have ever purchased? How much did you pay for it?

I had a Nolan Ryan painting until about 2 months ago. It was among the many things that didn't make it out here to Arlington with me. I paid $25 for a painting of another former Ranger. I put that one out on the curb for whoever wanted that piece of trash about 5 1/2 years ago.
-

5. Do you purchase any supplemental television or internet packages to watch your team through the season? If so, how much do you spend on it?

Nope.
-

6a. On average, how many games per year do you attend involving your favorite team? Who goes with you? What would you estimate is the ticket price for your seats? Do you pay for these seats or get them as freebies through other means?

About 4 or 5. I used to go to more, but it seems the older I get the more I'd rather watch the games on tv. I usually get freebies, but when I do buy tickets, I spend around $40.
-

6b. How many games per year do you attend involving other teams? Who goes with you? What would you estimate is the ticket price for your seats? Do you pay for these seats or get them as freebies through other means?

None. I've been to a few Cowboys games, and I may try to catch a game this year to check out the new stadium. That all depends if someone is going to offer me free tickets.
-

7. How much travel cost would you estimate you average per year by attending your favorite team's games? What costs does this estimate cover? (Airfare, lodging, rental car, gas, etc.)

Not much. Like I said, I live pretty close.
-

8. Have you ever organized an out of town trip for the sole purpose of going to see your team play? If so, tell me a good story. How quick did you make the plans? How much did you spend on tickets, travel, souvenirs, etc.? Did your team win? Would you do it again?

Back in the mid 90s, when the Rangers still had spring training in Port Charlotte, a buddy of mine and I went down there to catch some games. And to check out other teams. I honestly don't remember what I spent. Maybe a grand for the whole trip.
-

9. Do you have any other interesting stories regarding spending inordinate amounts of cash on sports? If you do, please share!

Nope.
-

[BC]

Sept 29, 2009 9:04:33 GMT -5 Mikey said:

1. What is your favorite team?

- Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2. Where do you live? How far is it from your team's home?

- Northern Virginia. So, a thousand or so miles.

3. Give me an estimate: how much money do you spend each year on team apparel and collectibles?

- I don't spend much. Maybe a new hat each year or so. I'll say $24 a year.

4. What is the most unique team/player collectible you have ever purchased? How much did you pay for it?

- Hard to get "original" Tampa stuff around here. So , I'd say a Warrick Dunn jersey. I think it was $40.

5. Do you purchase any supplemental television or internet packages to watch your team through the season? If so, how much do you spend on it?

- No

6a. On average, how many games per year do you attend involving your favorite team? Who goes with you? What would you estimate is the ticket price for your seats? Do you pay for these seats or get them as freebies through other means?

- 0

6b. How many games per year do you attend involving other teams? Who goes with you? What would you estimate is the ticket price for your seats? Do you pay for these seats or get them as freebies through other means?

- I go to a few baseball games, either Major League or Minor League each year. Usually I go with my father or uncle. The prices range from $6 for a minor league to I believe $20-something for Major League.

7. How much travel cost would you estimate you average per year by attending your favorite team's games? What costs does this estimate cover? (Airfare, lodging, rental car, gas, etc.)

- $0

8. Have you ever organized an out of town trip for the sole purpose of going to see your team play? If so, tell me a good story. How quick did you make the plans? How much did you spend on tickets, travel, souvenirs, etc.? Did your team win? Would you do it again?

- Never been to Tampa.

9. Do you have any other interesting stories regarding spending inordinate amounts of cash on sports? If you do, please share!

- fifteen years ago I spent all of my "allowance" on a vacation on football jerseys at one store that had a lot of them.

Again, you guys are awesome and I can't thank y'all enough for helping out.

Anytime Mikey

[Eric O'Mac]

1. What is your favorite team?

North Carolina Tar Heels (I'm including both football and basketball. If that's not ok, let me know and I'll pick one.)

2. Where do you live? How far is it from your team's home?

I live in Wilson, NC. Chapel-Hill is approximately 2 hours from where I live.

3. Give me an estimate: how much money do you spend each year on team apparel and collectibles?

Approx. $250.00. That's including shirts, replica jersey's, and other collectibles like golf equipment, picture frames, etc.

4. What is the most unique team/player collectible you have ever purchased? How much did you pay for it?

I actually have two, and I got both on the same night. At a charity silent auction I attended for my mother's company, there were a slew of sports memorabilia, including signed basketball from the area coaches and players. I ended up bidding (and winning) a signed team photo of the 2008-2009 UNC Men's Basketball team ($150) and a signed basketball from the 2008-2009 UNC Men's Basketball team seniors (excluding Hansbrough) ($50).

5. Do you purchase any supplemental television or internet packages to watch your team through the season? If so, how much do you spend on it?

On our Time Warner Cable Package, I think we get the digital sports tier so we can have ESPNU and other sports channels. I don't actually know how much it is a month, but it rarely affects me watching my team, since they are usually on national TV. If they aren't, I usually just listen on the radio.

6a. On average, how many games per year do you attend involving your favorite team? Who goes with you? What would you estimate is the ticket price for your seats? Do you pay for these seats or get them as freebies through other means?

I usually attend two games per year. One football game and one basketball game. My brother, the former high school football player, goes with me to the football games. My girlfriend usually comes with me to the basketball games. Tickets for both games range from $40-$60 dollars and I usually end up paying for them.

6b. How many games per year do you attend involving other teams? Who goes with you? What would you estimate is the ticket price for your seats? Do you pay for these seats or get them as freebies through other means?

I usually go to about 4 or 5 Carolina Mudcats games every summer, and I attended about 12 games this past year for the Wilson Tobs, a local college summer league baseball team in my hometown. I usually meet up with friends at the Mudcats games - at the Tobs game, I was an employee. Tickets for the Mudcats were about $8-$10. I actually got paid $10 dollars a game to work for the Tobs, and I had the best seat in the house there (Press Box).

7. How much travel cost would you estimate you average per year by attending your favorite team's games? What costs does this estimate cover? (Airfare, lodging, rental car, gas, etc.)

Per year? Up until this year, I'd say about $100 dollars to cover gas. That might change this year. (See Below)

8. Have you ever organized an out of town trip for the sole purpose of going to see your team play? If so, tell me a good story. How quick did you make the plans? How much did you spend on tickets, travel, souvenirs, etc.? Did your team win? Would you do it again?

I'm actually organizing a trip now. Depending on if UNC's football team makes a bowl game, I'm planning for me and my brother to make the trip where ever it is. We're prepared to drive pretty far, and fly if it's REALLY far. We're planning this trip about 3 or 4 months in advanced, and tickets and travel is yet to be known. Although, knowing my luck, the Heels will end up in Charlotte. We traveled to Charlotte last year, and despite having wonderful seats, it didn't really feel like a big trip because we left home, arrived to the bowl city, ate lunch, went to the game, ate supper, and returned home all within 16 hours. If the Heels do go to a bowl, I'm hoping for maybe one in Orlando, Memphis, or Birmingham, just because, while VERY long drives, they are places that I either have never been to, or places we can meet up with some PH peeps, which would be fun.


9. Do you have any other interesting stories regarding spending inordinate amounts of cash on sports? If you do, please share!

I don't know how you are defining inordinate amounts of cash, but seeing how I'm low on money, these seem like a lot of money to me. I've bought 3 jerseys in my lifetime. I bought a Vince Carter jersey on Franklin Street before attending a UNC-NC State Women's Basketball game. That jersey cost about 75 dollars. I bought a Orlando Magic Jersey at NBA City in Orlando during my high school senior trip, and had my nickname at the time ("Big E") put on the back. That cost around 50 dollars. My UNC football jersey has my last name on the back, and Hakeem Nicks number. That ended up costing about 60 bucks. Not a lot of money, but enough to make me think about my purchases.