Bengals announce new season ticket prices for 2012 season

CINCINNATI - Even though ratings and popularity are extremely high, the National Football League will see attendance drop for a fourth consecutive year in 2011.

One of the big reasons, according to most fans, is the cost of tickets.

The Cincinnati Bengals, like most teams in the NFL are now forced to re-evaluate ticket prices. In an effort to try and add more fans to games next season at Paul Brown Stadium, the Bengals announced new, aggressive season ticket prices for 2012.

The organization announced Thursday that season ticket prices for next year will not increase and multiple sections of Paul Brown Stadium will actually see price reductions.

“We have a young team trending in the right direction,” said Katie Blackburn, Bengals executive vice-president, “and we are pleased to share this new price structure with our fans in an attempt to make some seats more affordable. We have a great home schedule in 2012 and look forward to it being an exciting season that builds upon this year’s success.”

Season tickets for 2012 will be available for as low as $40 per game. The $40 locations for 2012 are being decreased from a $60 price point in 2011, a 33 percent reduction. More than 14,500 seats will have a reduced price next season, representing more than 27 percent of stadium seating. Season tickets will be less expensive per game than single-game tickets, which will go on-sale at a later date.

The announcement comes as the Bengals prepare to play only their second home game of the 2011 season in front of a sold out stadium. Despite a winning record for a majority of the season and a young, exciting team, the Bengals have had problems getting fans to buy tickets to home games.

The 65,500-seat stadium has been one-third empty for many games over the past two seasons. Last Saturday's blackout against the Arizona's Cardinals was the 10th out of the last 11 games at Paul Brown Stadium.

After selling only 41,273 tickets for the Cardinals game, the team announced a two-for-one offer for season ticket holders this week. Fans responded and purchased enough tickets for Sunday's "win and in" game against the Baltimore Ravens to be declared a sell out which allows the contest to air on local television. If Cincinnati wins, they will clinch a playoff berth for only the third time in the past 21 seasons. Even if the Bengals lose, they can still earn the final Wild Card spot. For that to happen, they would need the New York Jets and either the Denver Broncos and/or Oakland Raiders to lose.

Sunday's game has been moved to 4:15 p.m. instead of the original 1 p.m. kickoff time so it can reach a wider television audience.

Season tickets for the 2012 season go on sale beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 30 and can be purchased by calling the Bengals ticket hotline at (513) 621-TDTD (8383) or by going to the ticket section of Bengals.com for more information.

The seating areas where season ticket prices will be reduced from 2011 are:

SEASON TICKET PRICES (per game)

--Zone J (Rows 13 and higher, Canopy) ... $40, previously $60

--Zone H (Rows 13 and higher, Canopy) ... $50, previously $68

--Zone G (Rows 13 and higher, Canopy) ... $60, previously $68

--Box H (Rows 1-12 Canopy) ... $65, previously $68

--Zone F (Rows 13 and higher, Canopy) ... $65, previously $68

The seating areas where prices will remain unchanged from 2011 are:

SEASON TICKET PRICES (per game)

--Zone K (North Club Level) ... $60

--Box J (Rows 1-12 Canopy) ... $60

--Boxes F and G (Rows 1-12, Canopy) ... $68

--Zones D, E (Corners / End Zone, Field Level) ... $72

--Zones A, B, C (Sidelines, Field Level) ... $80
--Zone CC (Convertible Club, Club Level ... $80