2011 attendance in non-traditional markets

[slickdtc]

Yeah, same old song and dance with the deadline crap. Just move them already. If it's taking this long to figure it out, it just ain't worth it.

[Money99]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/i...ngs-turnaround

Quote:

Multiple sources tell ESPN.com the sale of the Phoenix Coyotes is moving forward and should be completed within the next couple of weeks...

I don't know why, but this new owner smells bad to me.
It's reminding me too much of the Barrie/Koulas ownership in TB.
One insider said that when he was introduced to the owners at a recent event, he said something like "I want to be a member of this club".
It almost sounded too 'The Skulls-ish" for the lack of a better word.
And he's not worth as much as most other owners.

It has me wondering if he'll take the team, then default on it later on. The NHL has a horrible track record of finding poor owners/criminals to buy NHL teams.
I hope this guy's legit and he has the brains and means to make this work. Otherwise, this mess will only repeat itself in a handful of years.

[Money99]

Maybe this doesn't belong in this thread but did anyone hear what the Lightning are doing for their season's ticket holders next year?
All of them will be receiving a TB jersey with a micro-chip in them. That chip allows them to buy anything in the arena for 25-35% off from the original price. That includes beer!

Not only is that a genius way to market tickets, but almost forces half the building to be wearing a jersey.

I can see this catching on all over the league.

If I lived in Orlando, I'd be buying seasons tickets fo sho!

[FlyingFinn]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

If I lived in Tampa, I'd be buying seasons tickets fo sho!

Fixed. Driving from Orlando to downtown Tampa for hockey games would be a nightmare

It is a great idea. If I weren't a die hard Caps fan I would buy Lightning season tickets just for this deal.

[Money99]

Quote: Originally Posted by FlyingFinn

Fixed. Driving from Orlando to downtown Tampa for hockey games would be a nightmare It is a great idea. If I weren't a die hard Caps fan I would buy Lightning season tickets just for this deal.

Orlando, Tampa, same thing.

Remember when Lightning seasons tickets could be had for $99. Sweet!

[Blueland]

As a Thrashers fan who lives in Atlanta and goes to anywhere between 5-10 Thrashers games a year, I'd like to say a few things:

First of all, our attendance is garbage and there is no getting around it. Is it the fans' fault? NO.

The one and only time the Thrashers went to the playoffs, Phillips was sold out for both games.

Our ownership (Atlanta Spirit) is complete and total garbage and the NHL should have never given these losers the team in the first place.

The have been trying to sell the team ever since they bought it. A member of the ownership group is quoted as saying, "I don’t think there is an ability to stomach another $20 million in losses. We just can’t do it. The reality is we need fans showing up and we need investors, or a primary investor."

This has to be the worst business model I've ever seen in my entire life. They're basically telling us that we have to buy a garbage product to keep a team around. What would you say to that if you'd only had your hockey team around for 10-12 years and this is what ownership was telling you?

I guess the reason for posting this is that the Thrashers' fans get a lot of crap about not showing up to games, but it is incredibly difficult to give these clowns who run the team our money.

[Money99]

Quote: Originally Posted by Blueland

As a Thrashers fan who lives in Atlanta and goes to anywhere between 5-10 Thrashers games a year, I'd like to say a few things: First of all, our attendance is garbage and there is no getting around it. Is it the fans' fault? NO. The one and only time the Thrashers went to the playoffs, Phillips was sold out for both games. Our ownership (Atlanta Spirit) is complete and total garbage and the NHL should have never given these losers the team in the first place. The have been trying to sell the team ever since they bought it. A member of the ownership group is quoted as saying, "I don’t think there is an ability to stomach another $20 million in losses. We just can’t do it. The reality is we need fans showing up and we need investors, or a primary investor." This has to be the worst business model I've ever seen in my entire life. They're basically telling us that we have to buy a garbage product to keep a team around. What would you say to that if you'd only had your hockey team around for 10-12 years and this is what ownership was telling you? I guess the reason for posting this is that the Thrashers' fans get a lot of crap about not showing up to games, but it is incredibly difficult to give these clowns who run the team our money.

I understand your frustration.
But really, the biggest error the Thrashers organization made was allowing Don Waddell to run the show for as long as he did.
He ruined any chance for that team to succeed there.

[Blueland]

That too. But hey, we made a pretty decent move today in my opinion. I guess my whole point is, if you spend the money and put the Thrashers in the playoffs more than once every 12 years, the fans will start to come. That is what's disappointing to me.