Loyal Redskins fanatics  found reason to rejoice following the Redskins’ first playoff appearance since 2007. After trading an unprecedented three first round draft picks for Robert Griffin III, hopes for the Redskins’ season were optimistic. Griffin became a rookie-of-the-year sensation, and fans were able to watch Washington playoff football for the first time in years. Following the team’s success, Owner Dan Snyder, known to care more about team revenue than wins, has raised ticket, parking, and merchandise prices as much as 57% across the board.

Season ticket holders have seen the largest jump in prices. Upper level seats that were once $64.00 are now in the $79.00 to $110.00 price range.

“I’m actually happy the ticket prices have gone up. Hopefully it reflects a renewed interest in the Redskins and that people are willing to pay more to see them. The price increase will not affect my ownership of season tickets,” said senior Alex James, a season ticket holder for the past 15 years.

 Junior Isaiah Weinstein has had tickets for four years now, but doesn’t see the change in ticket prices affecting him.

 “The increased price of tickets doesn’t affect me and I intend to attend all the Redskins home games for the rest of the season. I think my family is going to try to sell the season tickets next season but it doesn’t have anything to do with the increase in prices,” said Weinstein.

Accompanying the increase in prices to season tickets is a $20 increase in all parking passes. Parking passes once ranged from $20 to $30, but are now well over $40.

 The ability to justify the increase in prices lands on the shoulders of Robert Griffin III. The Redskins are fresh off their first victory of the season, but sit well outside of playoff contention with a record of one win and three losses. If the Redskins continue to lose fans will grow restless and opposed to the increase in ticket costs. Griffin has faced considerable scrutiny for returning from knee reconstruction surgery ahead of schedule, at the risk of losing some of his explosiveness – the same explosiveness that guided the Redskins to their first winning season in five years this past year. Sophomore Spencer Buehler says that Griffin is “idiotic” for risking his productivity as a quarterback to return to football early for the sake of the fans and media.

 “I think Kirk Cousins could be the better QB right now. He had all offseason to work out and learn the offense while RG3 was rehabbing. This may not be true in five weeks, but right now Kirk should be the starter,” said Buehler.

 As the 2013 NFL season continues to progress, Dan Snyder and Redskins fans alike will be hoping the Redskins can regain their dominant ways to justify the increase in ticket prices.

 Alex James thinks he says it best:“The cost of the tickets doesn’t matter to me. I just want to see my ‘Skins in the playoffs again.”