[ppierald]

The going to a ball game is an interesting example. I think there are financial disincentives at play, most notably, the price of beer. There are likely forces at play that will maximize the dollar intake while minimizing the amount consumed. This is not popcorn (still expensive) we are talking about. If beer were 1/2 as expensive, then people would drink 2x more and spend the same amount, but the effect on society would be much worse. We would have more fights in the stands, more drunk driving, and other negative effects. So by jacking up the price of a beer, fans can enjoy one or two, then realize they don't have the budget for a 3rd or 4th and cut it off there. They cut off sales in the 7th inning to prevent most of those effects I mentioned.

But that's just a theory ... a beer theory.