Search
 

Reggie Jackson and the cost of health care

Is Americas willingness to pay more for health care the reason behind increasing costs?

By David Goldhill | Updated on September 23, 2014
Former New York Yankees player Reggie Jackson responds to questions during a news conference Saturday, July 17, 2010, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

When Reggie Jackson’s five-year, $2.9 million contract with the New York Yankees kicked off baseball’s free-agent era in 1976, a box seat at Yankee Stadium — the best in the house — would run you $5.50. Thirty-eight years later, the minimum salary for a major leaguer is just below Jackson’s then-record amount. The biggest stars earn more for four games than Jackson did for an entire 162-game season. Now, tickets to a Yankees game range from $18 for the bleachers to $300 for the best seats. The connection seems obvious: The extraordinary run-up in player salaries has driven an outrageous rise in ticket prices.

But as any student of the baseball industry — or any industry, for that matter — knows, the relationship is exactly the opposite. As more people spend more money on baseball-related entertainment, baseball raises prices. Even so, game attendance has more than doubled since Jackson signed his big contract. Ticket prices, broadcast contracts, concessions and in-stadium advertising have exploded. And those are just baseball’s old-fashioned revenue streams. Today, there’s also pay television, luxury boxes and “VIP” experiences, high-end restaurants, logo licensing and collectibles. All of this comprises what economists call “raising the demand curve” for baseball.

Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to BenefitsPRO.com, part of your ALM digital membership.

Your access to unlimited BenefitsPRO.com content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:

  • Critical BenefitsPRO.com information including cutting edge post-reform success strategies, access to educational webcasts and videos, resources from industry leaders, and informative Newsletters.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM, BenefitsPRO magazine and BenefitsPRO.com events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com

Already have an account?

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Recommended Stories

BenefitsPRO

Join BenefitsPRO

Don’t miss crucial news and insights you need to navigate the shifting employee benefits industry. Join BenefitsPRO.com now!

  • Unlimited access to BenefitsPRO.com - your roadmap to thriving in a disrupted environment
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com
  • Exclusive discounts on BenefitsPRO.com and ALM events.

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join BenefitsPRO

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.