Point: Those Fans Without Seats Are Being Whiny Babies

About 1250 fans ticketed for temporary seating areas found out before the game that, oops, the seats declared unsafe by the fire marshal. The NFL took good care of them though, to the point where the other 102,000 fans at the game ought to be jealous.

Of the 1200, two-thirds received seat upgrades. So they need to shut right the hell up.

But those other 400, who didn't receive seats at all? The initially announced compensation was a three-times-face-value refund. So, 2400 bucks back on $800 seats. Agreed, that's pretty shitty, when a lot of them probably paid as much as $3000 from scalpers, like this schmo from Jersey. Add in the flights and hotels and that's a once-in-a-lifetime experience to watch your team in a Super Bowl, that can't be replaced.

But, oh wait, it doesn't need to be replaced. Those 400 fans got to watch the game anyway. They were "either were in the field-level club behind the Steelers bench or on standing-room platforms in each corner of Cowboys Stadium." In the former case, that's quite the upgrade from seats above entrance portals in the upper decks. Even in the case of the standers, they got just as good a view, just without the comfort of a seat. Would you take a $1600 profit to stand for 3 hours? I would. But wait, there's more!

Those 400 fans received free food, drinks, merchandise, and a chance to go on the field after the game, getting closer to the action than anyone else. Their Super Bowl experience was about 100 times greater than had they been allowed to sit in their death trap seats. And if memories are indeed priceless, they can put a price on the tickets for next year's Super Bowl that they all received. Maybe scalping those and pocketing the profits will make the pain go away.

[ Counterpoint: But People Look Really Sad When They Can't Get Their Super Bowl Seats]