Luxury Suites, Transforming Venues

Within the past two decades, luxury suites have changed the way that fans watch games and how stadiums are built as well. These premium seats have recently emerged as a major portion of the revenue for these sports organizations. Back in 1990, premium seats, including club, only made up 3% of the seats in a given venue. Today, that number is closer to 25%.

These luxury accommodations are exclusive, enclosed areas within an event that offers the highest level of service and an entire social experience for the viewer. These do come at a hefty price however. If you were interested in having 50 yard line seats for a top market such as New York or Los Angeles, you should be thinking about spending close to half a million dollars per season. While these seats are not affordable for the every day consumer, there is a market for it. In fact, sports organizations rely on these luxury seats as they make up roughly 50% of their ticket revenue every year.

In many situations, venues have been torn down and rebuilt solely for the fact that they did not offer enough premium seating. Many of the new stadium projects that are being built take this into account during the early planning phase to ensure that the seats will offer a great return on investment. Impressing clients with fine dining and comfortable chairs for a sports event seems to be the way that the trend is going.

Businesses and corporations are using premium seating to treat clients and get more business too. As being a luxury event, many businesses use box seats as a sales strategy to impress potential clients because of the perceived value of such accommodations. Indeed, this event is not just a way to watch the game from a different perspective. It totally redefines entertainment from a high class and elite standpoint.

Sports Suites Still Evolving

Since premium seating first came to light in 1990, it has come a long way. The traditional model of sitting high up and away from the action has been a profitable endeavor for many years. Wealthy individuals and groups are willing to pay the high price to have a luxurious experience. But, lately, the non-social and closed off atmosphere has been a turnoff for many potential buyers. It seems as though fans with the money want to be able to have the experience of being around other fans, albeit in a much more exclusive manner.

This is why sports teams are toying around with different layouts and seat structure patterns for future stadium construction projects. For example, many premium suite viewers actually want to be closer to the action and see what is going on, not just stay far away. This has created a new business model for the stadiums as this is still widely unexplored territory. Since luxury suites and amenities bring in about 50% of the ticket revenue for many of these stadiums, it is worth investing into doing a little more research.

The key seems to be customization and flexibility all rolled into one. If stadiums can adapt quickly and shift their private premium seats into normal ones, it can be another way to salvage losses if they don’t actually sell the premium ones. Also, fans want a much more customized experience more than ever. If they can have the choice of where to sit, how the seats will be organized and such, then it is an asset that they are willing to pay a much higher price for. And it is the new franchises that have been the most bold in adapting their needs to the fans as quickly as possible. With the pressure of hitting quotas from ticket revenue and upper management, exploiting the popularity of premium seats is one sure fire option that is still evolving.

Yankee Stadium Offers High End Luxury Seating

Amazing amenities and sophisticated seating is what the luxury suites at Yankee Stadium are all about. Guest interaction is a must as fans can cruise through the newly built bar area with granite countertops and rich wood paneling. The spacious lounge area has nice leather couches and sliding glass windows so that fans get the most for their entertainment experience. However, this would not be complete without the personal experience of service with a variety of food and beverage selections from an amazing dining selection. The Yankee standard of excellence is surely met as some of the biggest celebrities come every year to watch the famous team play.

The sizes range from 11-22 guest capacity as do the prices. With a variety of seat selection options and a private restroom, there are no disturbances from these suites. The exterior heating and forced air circulation makes sure that the temperature and air quality is always the best. Other amenities such as preferred parking and state-of-the-art technology like Sony HDTV’s and Wi-Fi make it a great hangout as well. There is also a private entrance, elevator, concourse and preferred parking for guests who do not want to walk very far to their car.

The price of luxury suites surely comes at a high cost. If you are looking to entertain 20+ of your friends on the opening day game, be ready to spend $23,000 dollars. If you are bringing a modest crowd of only 12 people, be ready to spend at least $12,000 dollars. As the season goes on and some games are not as widely anticipated you can expect much more reasonable prices. For example, if you are looking to bring 12 of your friends to a regular season game at the value game price, you can get away with spending as low as $3,300. However, this does not include food, drink and of course the expected 20% gratuity.

Luxury NFL Suites Sell Like Condos

With names like executive box seats, corporate box suites and luxury suites, the emergence of premium seating has set off a wave of commercialism similar to the real estate market in terms of use and legal contracts. The premium seats located among primarily NFL stadiums are usually at the 50 yard line and high above view from the average viewer. These seats are leased by contract on a yearly basis to the highest bidder. The potential for return on these is very high though. While some games can yield an average of $5,000, some game seats are worth up to millions of dollars. Typically, box owners try and avoid leasing or selling tickets out on a per-event basis as this offers more stress and headache for the owner.

But this also does have a negative effect on general seating conditions. Fans have been documented complaining that because the seats are placed way up on the upper decks and in the air, they are forced to sit much farther than the fan sitting on the same seat across the field. Some venues like Ford Field and Philips Arena have addressed these concerns by placing box seats exclusively on one side or the other.

By far, the NFL has used these seats the most to generate revenue. According to the NFL’s revenue sharing agreement, a large portion of the returns generated from these premium seating locations must be redistributed to the other teams. This is a way to provide sure fire financial assistance to teams struggling and to fund the creation of more of these seats in order to generate even more revenue. Either way, the luxury seating market has boomed within the last 20 years and is looking to expand even further as seat owners and stadiums are experimenting more and more with placement.

New Jersey Devils Set the Standard for Sports Suites

When it comes to offering the most luxurious sports suites on the market in North America, the New Jersey Devils have certainly not fallen short. The Prudential Center is home to some of the best suites available and deliver an amazing entertainment experience. These suites are among some of the most spacious available to any sporting event. While all in the privacy of your own box, guests can expect granite countertops, tabletop dining and custom seating designed for maximum comfort.

The best view is also available from the side as three rows of exceptional seats are laid out for viewing pleasure. If that is not enough, their exceptional catering options offer some of the most amazing dining options as any 5 star restaurant. If you are interested, you can browse through their selection to find prices for different suite sizes and events. You can purchase a season pass, yearly pass or even a single game day pass depending on your needs.

If you are looking to enjoy the game from the comfort of your box without looking out on the ice, they offer state of the art HDTV’s along with a spacious lounge area. For your viewing pleasure, alcoholic beverages and other mixed drinks can be ordered from the courteous waiting staff that Prudential Center has to offer. Be sure to check out the menu for some of the best dining you will ever have. Prudential center is so confident that you will have a great experience that they are promising to exceed your expectations on every level. Surely, the New Jersey Devils have set the bar very high when it comes to hospitality for NHL games. Fans are no longer bounded by chilling seats close to the ice where they are packed in by hundreds of screaming fans. Now, the modest NHL fan can enjoy the close to the ice experience while still having luxury suite amenities.

Luxury Suites, Cost and Value

Private luxury seating has become an increasingly common sight in sports stadiums today at the college and professional level.  There are very few venues with at least a little skybox seating and the fact the Rose Bowl and LA Coliseum completely lack such amenities is cited as a reason Los Angeles hasn’t had a professional sports team since the Rams and Raiders left in 1995.

Other sports see this trend as well, but the NFL is particularly ambitious about bringing luxury seating into their stadiums.  Many have spent millions of dollars to rebuild or renovate their venues.  The Cowboys Stadium and the MetLife Stadium both cost over a $1 billion.  It’s easy to see why when luxury boxes sell for anywhere from $5,000 to $1,000,000.  Individual seats cost upward of $500 and even standing room only tickets still cost hundreds of dollars.  It is a booming market for both stadium construction and ticket sales.

The NFL itself is largely responsible for this trend.  One of the motivations is the long standing blackout rule that states a game can only be televised locally if the stadium seating sells out 72 hours prior to kickoff.  This makes it an easy choice for stadium owners to rip out the tightly packed general seating in favor of more expensive luxury seating, ensuring there are fewer official seats to fill and doing so at a much higher rate.  The current profit sharing laws of the NFL also exempt the revenues from luxury boxes from being redistributed.  The issue to be determined is whether or not the seat-filling fans tolerate an increasing number of exclusive areas in their previously social game viewing experience and if those in the luxury seats find their own experience to be worth the considerable cash laid out for comfy chair and catered snacks.

Luxury Suites and All They Entail

Nearly everyone would be immediately on board when they hear they can go to the game, sit in a spacious box in a comfortable seat, watch the live action as well as the televised commentary and statistics, and have food and drink catered professionally.  They might slow down a bit when they see the hundreds of dollars per seat price tag and realize they’re either going to have to know somebody who has a box leased or drift more into the thousands of dollars to lease one themselves.

A luxury suite at a sporting event isn’t just about the fancy seating though.  There are any number of other perks that most stadiums happily offer along with your high end patronage.  It isn’t uncommon to get season tickets to your team, for instance.  You are also often put on a priority list for buying tickets to other events that happen at the venue.  Luxury suites almost always come with a VIP parking space and often have special entrances and concourses within the stadium that make it easer to get where you want to go.  There are usually restrooms specifically intended for suite holders which means they aren’t far from your seat, they aren’t nearly as crowded, and they are cleaner and more comfortable than general access bathrooms.

And of course if you hold a lease on a luxury box, that isn’t just a sinkhole for your hard earned money.  It is perfectly reasonable for you charge others to use your box when you aren’t there, or to join you when you go.  It also makes a great venue for business meetings or entertaining guests.  You will definitely be the hero in the office or for family gatherings when you can treat your friends and relatives the finest accommodations on game day.

Luxury Seating, An Experience Above the Rest

Whether as a personal gift, a business tool, or a treat to yourself, tickets to a favorite sporting event never miss.  The energy of a crowd, the excitement of a game unfolding before your eyes, the drama and action and intensity of live athletics with tens of thousands of like-minded people all focusing on the same thing, the entire package combines to create an event that energizes and excites in a completely unique way every time.  Friends, family, coworkers, clients, and employees are all pleased and impressed when you hand over a good set of tickets or invite them along to spectacular seating.

But there is another level.  Luxury seating has been around for decades, ever since the Astrodome was built in Houston, Texas in 1965.  At first they were a curiosity and a somewhat poorly executed attempt to lure in a higher class of spectator.  Over the years they have evolved into a common and far more pleasurable experience.  What were once restrictive boxes that cut you off from the action as much as raised you above the crowd are now the best way to become totally immersed in the game while enjoy all the luxuries of home, and more.

Luxury boxes tend to enjoy prime locations and offer the very best viewing angles.  They also protect you from the elements, if you so choose, and provide less crowded, more comfortable seating options.  Suites tend to be spacious and include a seating area and lounge area, providing adequate room for several guests and a variety of mingling options.  Food and drink is usually provided during the game by a professional catering company, as part of the cost, and private or suite level restrooms make what was once the most terrifying part of game day as quick and painless as if you were in your own home.

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