# Why is it that the NFL prevents fans from keeping footballs that they catch? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 19, 2011, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762 "2011-09-19T00:07:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/1 "2011-09-19T00:07:01Z")
At the Colts vs. Browns game today, the net-raising team was asleep at the wheel for the Browns’ last fieldgoal. It was only partially raised before the kick, so the ball went sailing right over the net. The guy who caught the ball wasn’t allowed to keep it. Why not? The MLB lets fans keep balls, right? So what’s up with the NFL’s policy? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/2 "2011-09-19T00:17:07Z")
I think an NFL football costs a lot more than a MLB baseball. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/3 "2011-09-19T00:20:09Z")
> [@Avarie537](#): > > At the Colts vs. Browns game today, the net-raising team was asleep at the wheel for the Browns’ last fieldgoal. It was only partially raised before the kick, so the ball went sailing right over the net. The guy who caught the ball wasn’t allowed to keep it. Why not? The MLB lets fans keep balls, right? So what’s up with the NFL’s policy? It’s their decision to make. Footballs ending up in the crowd is a much rarer event which would make the value much higher. With a crowd that tends to have more drunken violence incidents to begin with fighting over the ball I see a recipe for disaster. Also with the higher value of the footballs maybe the NFL made a cost benefit analysis. fan happiness to game football sales/donations and came to the conclusion they are better off keeping the balls for themselves. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/4 "2011-09-19T00:20:20Z")
Footballs are more expensive. There are also fewer of them available on the field, so they don’t want to run out (it has happened). Finally, it’s how it’s been done and no one has tried to change it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/5 "2011-09-19T00:21:13Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I think an NFL football costs a lot more than a MLB baseball. I didn’t realize the NFL was so strapped for cash. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/6 "2011-09-19T00:23:50Z")
I have no idea but would like to venture a guess. I don’t think it has anything to do with the cost of the football. While it might be more expensive than a baseball, I don’t think $25 to $50 is even going to make a dent in the NFL’s bottom line. I think the reason is to keep something of potential value out of the hands of someone who doesn’t “deserve” it. Memorablillia (sp?) is BIG buisness and it is my opinion that the suits of the NFL don’t want anyone cashing in just because they were lucky enough to get a wayward ball. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/7 "2011-09-19T00:24:27Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > I didn’t realize the NFL was so strapped for cash. The NFL doesn’t care about the cost of the balls. They don’t want the drunken violence that will ensure if people are fighting over the balls. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/8 "2011-09-19T00:24:46Z")
NFL = **N** o **F** un **L** eague ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/9 "2011-09-19T00:25:57Z")
Might be to prevent violence in the stands. Have you seen some of the beered up Neanderthals that populate the seats at many NFL arenas. Fights break out all the time, way too much macho-ing in the stands, so a valuable souvenir like a game football may get someone mugged. Yes, I sound like a bitter NFL ex-season ticket holder. I am. ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/10 "2011-09-19T00:27:40Z")
> **[Amazon.com: Wilson "The Duke" Official NFL Game Football - 100 Year Version :...](https://www.amazon.com/Wilson-Duke-Official-Game-Football/dp/B0872Y1LP3)** > > Throughout American sports history, no other brand has partnered with a league longer than Wilson and the NFL. Celebrate a century of excellence with the NFL100 Duke Football – the closest you can get to the official ball of the 100th season, and... They go about $90 apiece though I’d _imagine_ the League gets a discount. ISTR too that baseballs are routinely rotated out of the game pretty frequently in any event. When a fan catches a popup, he’s saving the ump the trouble of taking it out an inning or three later. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/11 "2011-09-19T01:25:22Z")
I would have to find the cite but IIRC, MLB started allowing fans to keep baseballs after a security guard injured a fan trying to keep a foul ball in the early 1900’s. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/12 "2011-09-19T01:27:44Z")
Players routinely give touchdown footballs to young fans, they take them back for a minute later only to sign them. ---
**Author:** ![ClevelandProud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@ClevelandProud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ClevelandProud)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/13 "2011-09-19T01:44:35Z")
Many moons ago, while attending college, my only income was from being an usher a Cleveland’s legendary Municipal Stadium (81,000 capacity for football games). > **[Cleveland Stadium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_Stadium)** > > Cleveland Stadium, commonly known as Municipal Stadium, Lakefront Stadium or Cleveland Municipal Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium located in Cleveland, Ohio. It was one of the early multi-purpose stadiums, built to accommodate both baseball and football. The stadium opened in 1931 and is best known as the long-time home of the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1932 to 1993 (including 1932–1946 when games were split between League Park and Cleveland Stadium), and the Cleve... I ended up working in the bleachers and at that time, there was no net for field goal attempts or extra point attempts. Police were stationed in the crowd to retrieve the footballs. I remember as if it were yesterday. The Baltimore Colts vs. the Cleveland Browns. Field goal attempt for the Baltimore Colts. Police were in the stands to retrieve the football but this time the fans decided to have some fun and play keep away. Long story short, eventually the football lands at my feet and no one is the wiser. I have a heavy parka on and at the time, I thought the best thing to do was put the football under my parka. Realizing that this was my only form of income at the time (I think football games paid around $19.00 a game), I ended up later turning over the football to a policeman. - I think one reason fans are not allowed to keep the football is because we are already witness to how fans behave in attempting to secure a baseball. Going after a football would be ‘exponentially’ worse. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/14 "2011-09-19T01:54:41Z")
In addition to the already-mentioned reasons, the NFL uses specially designated balls (“K-balls”) for kicking plays (and have for the past decade or so). They are absolutely brand-new before the beginning of the game, to keep the kickers and punters from breaking in the balls that will be used on kicking plays (a broken-in ball becomes a little softer and rounder, and can be kicked further). They have a limited number of K-balls available at a game, and would rather not lose any into the stands. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/15 "2011-09-19T02:00:25Z")
The rule against it is no more than fifteen years old. The reason I remember it was the fine assessed against a player who threw a ball to a kid, after he scored a touchdown, the first week it was against the rules. They made fools of themselves trying to take the ball from a crying kid, too. The crowd almost did get violent, but the kid with the ball was not the target. The following week, another player ran through the endzone, across the the end of the stands, did a monster leap, and laid the ball gently in the lap of a little girl in a wheelchair. I remember the announcer saying, “You think they’re gonna go up there and try to take that one?” It’s about protecting your memorabilia market, and it is entirely stupid in that respect as well. But, this is business that had come to expect sell outs at every game, and Municipal wellfare to build new stadiums every few decades. Tris ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/16 "2011-09-19T02:21:45Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > In addition to the already-mentioned reasons, the NFL uses specially designated balls (“K-balls”) for kicking plays (and have for the past decade or so). They are absolutely brand-new before the beginning of the game, to keep the kickers and punters from breaking in the balls that will be used on kicking plays (a broken-in ball becomes a little softer and rounder, and can be kicked further). They have a limited number of K-balls available at a game, and would rather not lose any into the stands. I understand that but, if the guys that are suppose to put up the nets blow it, then why insist on retrieving the ball. The NFL is a multi-billion dollar business. These footballs aren’t going to affect their bottom line. I understand the nets. I understand why they want to keep footballs from going into the stands. Yet, if one makes its way there isn’t it better PR to forget about it rather than to retrieve it? In actuality, the difference between a regular game ball and a kicking ball is not that significant. The chances of a kicking ball making the difference in the outcome of a game is almost insignificant. Even if it does, why should that be allowed to be the case? In my perfect world, I would outlaw kicking balls. But hey, the NFL is the No Fun League. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/17 "2011-09-19T02:30:26Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > In my perfect world, I would outlaw kicking balls. Mine, too, but then, I’m a former placekicker, and I think it’s an annoying rule, instituted because the league decided that kickers had gotten too good at their jobs. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/18 "2011-09-19T02:38:03Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > In addition to the already-mentioned reasons, the NFL uses specially designated balls (“K-balls”) for kicking plays (and have for the past decade or so). They are absolutely brand-new before the beginning of the game, to keep the kickers and punters from breaking in the balls that will be used on kicking plays (a broken-in ball becomes a little softer and rounder, and can be kicked further). They have a limited number of K-balls available at a game, and would rather not lose any into the stands. Do they re-use them throughout the game? -D/a ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/19 "2011-09-19T02:42:14Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > Do they re-use them throughout the game? Yes, but a limited number of times (and they have several K-balls which they cycle through). A K-ball which has been used on four or five kicking plays by the fourth quarter of a game won’t be nearly as broken-in as a ball which a kicker has kicked thirty or forty times before the game. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762/20 "2011-09-19T02:49:45Z")
Years ago, the University of Minnesota football team played in the same stadium as the NFL Vikings. And footballs occasionally went into the stands, where fans caught them. But the University had a policy that was much better than the NFL’s (the NFL made the ushers & police take the football back from the fan, which got the whole seating section angry). The University policy was to have someone tell the fan with the football “the University can’t afford to lose those footballs, they cost a lot. So after the game, see an usher, who will bring you & your party down to the locker room, where you can return that football to the kicker.” They were always quite glad to return the football in exchange for a visit to the locker room, and actually meeting some of the players or coaches. The 12-year-old son of a friend who caught a football at one of these games. They were taken down to the locker room, the kicker was called out to meet him (wearing only a towel), and they took a picture of him with the kicker & the football. It was the part of the game that this kid remembered the longest! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-the-nfl-prevents-fans-from-keeping-footballs-that-they-catch/596762.md?page=2)