The Cleveland Browns, 0-12
By: Hunter Hext
Would you still support your NFL Football team if they were 0-12? Given their record, both now and in the previous few seasons, and their lack of confidence, I know I wouldn’t. The fans of this horrific team have just about given up. Last Sunday, only 25,320 fans were in attendance to watch the Browns take on the Chargers; this is less than half of the fans in attendance during the previous week (51,710). Within the last 29 Sunday games, the Browns have won zero of them. Along with losing so many Sunday games in a row, for the last 9 ½ seasons, the Brown’s record is 38-114. This means for the last 9 ½ years, for every four games the Browns would play, they would only win one. What motivation do the Browns fans have to support their team, if all they do is lose? Even with the fairly new stadium, the demand for seats is expected to decrease dramatically, also decreasing the price for the seats, which equals a decrease in profit.
Social media is also not aiding the Browns too much. On Twitter, the NFL page tweeted a picture of the Brown’s stadium with a caption of “If the Browns finally win a game, but no one is there to see it, does it count?” The NFL Twitter page was trying to get the point across that Cleveland fans are losing hope in their team. In addition, the ticket prices are experiencing diminishing marginal returns, as a user on NBC Sports said “As a season ticket holder I am loyal to the Browns but it really hurts when you can’t go to a game and can only sell your ticket for less than 1/5 of what you paid for it. Not sure whether I’m renewing any more.”
The only good outcome the Browns could potentially gain from the atrocious 2017 season would be the chance to get two top 10 picks for next year’s draft. Since all hope is gone for the Browns to come back and make the playoffs, the coach could view losing the next few games as a dominant strategy to ensure two great players to be added to the roster for next year’s season.
In conclusion, the Browns are a struggling team with now really low ticket prices. With the super low prices, the Browns are hoping to maximize their profit, instead of trying to increase marginal revenue per ticket, it’s their only option. Hopefully, the draft for next year’s Browns team can spark some wins for the players, coaches, fans, and economy.
Works Cited
“2017 NFL Attendance Data.” 2017 NFL Attendance Data, Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2017/attendance.htm.
Florio, Mike. “Browns’ Fans Are Starting to Impact Attendance.” ProFootballTalk, NBC Sports, 21 Nov.2017, www.profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/11/21/browns-woes-are-starting-to-impact-attendance/.
Chad, Norman. “The Cleveland Browns Are Only Good at Being Bad.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 5 Nov. 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/sports/the-cleveland-browns-are-only-good-at-being-bad/2017/11/05/71298b28-c0da-11e7-97d9-bdab5a0ab381_story.html?utm_term=.ac85459a3699.
It's kind of sad to see how little fans the Browns have now because of all the games they are losing. I can't imagine how big of an effect their losing streak would have on the stadium, since ticket sales are dramatically decreasing. Good job connecting this to our previous unit, as losing the next few games could potentially prove to be a good strategy since they would get better draft picks. I think if the Browns started to actually win games, the demand for ticket prices would start to increase.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hannah. This is crazy that the ticket sales are decreasing as much as they are, even though it is obvious why. Also, you mentioned that it is a fairly new stadium and that new luxury could also keep ticket prices higher because they still need to pay off that large amount of money spent on a new building. And yes, if they won more games, the demand may start to increase, but definitely not right away because they would have to earn their fan base and loyalty back, thus eventually increasing sales and maybe revenue - if enough are sold.
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ReplyDeleteBased on your blog post, it is very obvious that most Cleveland Browns fans are simply following the bandwagon. In other words, they are no longer supporting the team due to their lack of success. Since the team has been doing so poorly for so long, it makes me wonder why they would invest in a new stadium at all. Additionally, since a majority of their supporters are no longer present, it's going to be difficult for the stadium to earn money to pay off the building. However, since most of the fans seem to be participating in the bandwagon effect, if the new draft picks help the team to do better next season, the fans will most likely return and begin attending games again.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the Browns will likely get the first pick in the draft, they will need to support these new, hopefully better recruits with the revenue they earn. Up to a certain point where they become a team that is in contention with others in the league, they may not generate much profit despite the extra revenue brought in by a better team. There is also the case that Cleveland has had the first, or close to the first draft pick for many years now and they have made nothing of the opportunity. So who is to say that anything will change in the near future?
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I am not sure how there are still Browns fans left. I bet most Brown fans are older as young people who would potentially be fans couldn't imagine routing for a team that they can't remember winning. I bet these consistent loses have took a big hit financially on the Browns organization and will need to improve their game if they want to continue in the NFL.
ReplyDeleteIt amazes me that the Cleveland Browns still have fans coming to their games. The fact that they are 0-12 this season I wouldn't blame fans for no longer supporting this team or having faith. Thinking economically the Cleveland Browns are in serious trouble as they are losing money from fans more and more each week as the team keeps getting worse. People wouldn't think that them having a losing team would impact the amount of money that they make, but it really does because people don't want to keep watching a losing team. This shows how important it is to having a winning team for professionals sport clubs because of the amount of money they can receive just by having a good season and not a bad one.
ReplyDeleteIf my team was 0-12 I would definitely not be supporting them because I don't support losers. For example after Aaron Rodgers got hurt for the Packers I stopped watching their games as I'm sure some other people did as well. Looking at this from an Econ aspect their is a loss in demand for packers games if the packers lose game. Great topic, and fantastic work Hunter! Boy do you know how to write an article!
ReplyDeleteI was surprised that they still got 25,000 fans even after they keep losing game after game. It must take a lot of work from executives to still get people to show up. Overall I thought this was a great piece.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement, I would not stick with the Browns either. Not only will they continue to lose but they will have less money to sign new players as people do not come to their games.
ReplyDeleteIn professional sports, and football especially, there is a strong sense of loyalty involved. Even in a season where a team such as the Browns is having no success people will find something to get excited about. For example, for the Browns this last week the Wide Receiver Josh Gordon made his first start in 2 years due to drug related suspensions and people are already saying he is back on track to being a top receiver in the league after an 85 yard receiving performance. This bright light combined with the plethora of young talent on the Browns combined with the draft picks they have incoming will be more than enough to keep the Browns faithful around. Not to mention, this is nothing they are not used to as the Browns have not had a winning season since 2007, so one more losing season won't be enough to scare them off for good.
ReplyDeleteI personally am a fan of the Cleveland Browns and am a bit concerned with the direction the team is taking. Each year it seems that the Browns pass up on drafting future prospects, as they keep on drafting "busts". However, the Browns recently fired executive vice president Sashi Brown. As the Browns have the worst record in the NFL, they are lined up to get the first pick in the upcoming NFL draft so hopefully, the Browns can finally turn things around.
ReplyDeleteIn professional sports, there will always be the lifelong fans that will watch their team regardless of a fluctuation in wins throughout the years. The difference between the Cleveland Browns and nearly every other proffesional sports team is that there really has been no fluctuation in wins because the browns have been absolutely horendous for the last decade. It must be frustrating for browns fans to see teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, who a couple years ago were much like the browns, but are now one of the best up and coming teams in the NBA. I believe it is the right choice for the browns organization to continue to lose games because they have no possibility of making the playoffs and guarnting their chance of getting the #1 overall pick in the 2018 draft. Even though fans know they aren't going to win, I think demand for tickets will rise up again regardless of the outcome of the game being almost predetermined as a loss just to see star wide receiver Josh Gordon finally return from his two game suspension.
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