The Washington Commanders will be on their third team name of the past four seasons beginning in 2022, but one constant remains. The Commanders will continue to play their home games at FedEx Field.
The problems with FedEx Field are endless. Whether it’s a pipe bursting, a railing collapse, or the invasion of Washington’s home stadium from opposing fans, FedEx Field is anything but a home-field advantage for the Commanders.
For many years, one of the biggest complaints was ridiculous ticket prices. However, after years of losing and off-field controversies, ticket prices are the least of Washington’s concerns.
A study by Action Network evaluated ticket prices over the previous 15 years, from 2006-21. The study revealed the ticket prices in 2006 compared to 2021 and which teams had the highest percentage of an increase.
Surprisingly, the Commanders are near the bottom of the list, ranked No. 29.
Here are the NFL ticket price increases over the past 15 years via @ActionNetworkHQ. pic.twitter.com/buqq4vRJJf
— Mark Lane (@therealmarklane) July 12, 2022
Are you surprised? Probably. But there is a reason.
In 2006, Washington’s average ticket price was $79.13 — No. 2 in the NFL behind Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.
In 2021, Washington’s ticket prices averaged $110.07, a 39% increase over 15 years. Seeing those numbers from 2006 — when the team finished 5-11 — shows how out of touch owner Daniel Snyder and his team were.
The Cowboys, who have the state-of-the-art “JerryWorld,” rank No. 26 with a 50% increase. You can still score Dallas tickets for an average of $99.50. The Giants rank No. 25, while the Eagles rank No. 12. Philadelphia has seen an 84% increase during the time period.
It’s no surprise the Las Vegas Raiders are No. 1. The Raiders, who were in Oakland in 2006, have seen a 147% increase in ticket prices.
As for the Commanders, it’s a positive they are lower on this list. Unfortunately, they have no choice. The current regime, led by team president Jason Wright, has done an outstanding job over the past year of engaging Washington fans and offering deals to encourage more season-ticket holders. Sadly, they are still digging out a massive hole that only consistent winning can help.
It’s a time of transition for the Commanders. RFK Stadium, the team’s home from 1961-1996, saw many wonderful moments. It will be no more in 2023. At the same time, the franchise is struggling to even find a place to build a new stadium, meaning FedEx Field could be Washington’s home for much longer than the team would like.