Why Does Anyone Pay To See Preseason Football?

When I was a youngster, the professional football (US) preseason began with something called, I think, the College All-Star Game. It took place at Soldier Field in Chicago usually toward the end of August (NFL seasons were shorter then and began later in September than today). The game matched a team of College All-Stars (most of whom were signed to play with an NFL team once this exercise was over) against the previous year's NFL champion (very pre-Super Bowl). The games were usually mediocre and served simply to introduce the new class of NFL players to the fans. That is, until 1976, when a ferocious thunderstorm cut the game short. Although the game was never played again, it still personifies all that is wrong about preseason football: NFL regulars just getting into playing shape, rookies playing essentially as a pick-up team, and not much more. But one big difference: the College All-Star Game was played for The Chicago Charities. So, however the game played out, there was a good cause to support. Today, preseason NFL football is a profit-center for the owners. Fans are subjected to high-priced games played, for the most part, by low priced players trying to make the team. A few series of downs with the first team and then clear the bench. These guys may be playing football, but not NFL caliber and you pay NFL caliber prices, often blackmailed by the owners who force season ticket holders to buy tickets to these meaningless, boring, mistake-filled games. I guess P.T. Barnum was right about suckers being born every minute.