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Michigan football's average attendance per game this year is projected to be 13,000 (Tuttle). That is a 40% drop from last year's average (Tuttle). The increase in ticket price may be having an immediate negative effect with the fans but will ultimately allow Michigan to accommodate their long-term needs. The evolution of professional sport culture has increased the number of large corporate teams that are capable of offering lucrative contracts. The benefit is that teams can attract players and create dynasties. Every fan's dream is to watch his or her team succeed for consecutive years. For example, the New York Yankees have been able to create one of the best franchises in the world. They have won 27 World Series Championships throughout their existence (MLB). Since 1985, they have been at the top of the league in team payroll, at one point reaching over $200,000,000 (Graph of the Week). The MLB not having a salary cap has allowed the Yankees to attract and sign multiple big-time players. This organization is capable of affording all these players because they have the highest revenue in the MLB. In 2013, they grossed $471 million in revenue, over $100 million more than any other team in the MLB (Statista). They can be considered the largest, most successful corporation in baseball, and it is no coincidence that they attract the most fans. From 2003 to 2008, Yankee Stadium was number one in the league in fan attendance (ESPN). In that span, they peaked when averaging over 50,000 fans per game (ESPN). .
Again, with this situation comes an immediate downside but a long-term gain. Athletes are requesting and receiving contracts that are breaking salary records every year. Sometimes, though, this causes athletes to become content with their play, and fans do not get to see their favorite athletes perform at their potential. For example, on December 4th, 2013, Henrik Lundqvist, the goalie for the New York Rangers, received a seven-year $59.