Comments on: Mid-Term Grades Set 2, KC and the Sunshine Band, Panthers Hockey, Flames Hockey

By: pensfan29

pensfan29 — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 18:20:05 +0000

as long as there is a viable plan for an arena the NHL will block any relocation

By: beckfan05

beckfan05 — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 18:02:44 +0000

Here it is, go to hockeyfansunite.com, scroll down about half way and click on Bettmanization of the NHL.

I promise I didnt write it.

By: beckfan05

beckfan05 — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 17:41:55 +0000

I meant Mik was right/wrong. Sorry ;)

Ive been to the Garden plenty of times where people around me are explaining the game to the people they are with. Its good but sad at the same time.

The reason why the "good fans" dont but the tickets is because they are so expensive. And even if you buy from site like stubhub they rip you off even more!

If you go to newyorkrangers.com you can buy back tickets from the corps but they have the really good seats that are really expensive.

I would keep the Bruins in Boston. You cant blame the fans for not going because Sinden and Co. have screwed things up over the last 10 years or so. But I most certianly would NOT put a team in Houston or Vegas. They are not hockey cities and that is the reason why we are here in the first place.

If your still reading these posts Mik I think someone needs to do an extesive article for the site about the Bettman tenure and about how he has ruined the game.

I would paste another interesting article but it wont let me paste it.

Oh well.

By: kamullia

kamullia — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 16:58:33 +0000

I misunderstood you or I missed something, because I said that both were important, therefore I do not see how I was wrong or what you meant.

I have a big problem with tickets being sold to corporations. I know it's a necessary evil in most cities, but in New York for example it hurts more than it helps. There is plenty of Rangers fans to sell MSG twice over, therefore there is no need to have corporations having the tickets and using it as a selling/pampering tactic towards their clients. And even when the people go, 7 times out of 10 they do not even know the rules of the game, and if anyone has sat next or close to them I can see you shaking your head up and down because you know exactly what I am talking about. What is the point on selling to corporations, when there is plenty of good fans available to sell the tickets that enjoy the game, and give you even more money because those are the guys who will come and again, buy the beer, the dogs, the nachos, a jersey here, a hat there. KICK THE CORPS OUT!!! It's better if you do. At least MSG/Rangers should do a buyout program, where corporations or anyone else can return the tickets and if they get resold, everyone is a winner. The Corps get some money back, and good fans get in and into a good seat that typically is not available. Pittsburgh has been doing this for a while, and they sell the tickets at a huge discount to students. I think that's a wonderful idea. Promotes the game to future generations for one.

I did see the link. Interesting to note that it is the same teams over and over, but nothing new to me. St. Louis is having a miserable season, so I will cut them some slack. I already mentioned about the Isles. Washington is another one of those with perennial awful attendance. But bottom line Chicago, New Jersey, Boston, and Carolina have no excuse. THOSE are the cities that do not deserve a team. I say move them to KC, Portland, Hartford and Winnipeg, or even Las Vegas and Houston if those will do a better job. It would be kind of hard to do worse than they are now.

By: beckfan05

beckfan05 — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 15:48:25 +0000

Nice comparison.

But as to what Mik was saying, what good is it if no one shows up? Who cares if the tickets are sold. I mean your right in some aspects (business) but your also wrong too (popularity).

Look at our favorite team. They sell so many tickets to businesses and corporations an to ticket brokers. The tickets are sold, fine but what about when a company gives away its four seats for a game to thier clients and those four people decide to pass. They dont care because the seats were free. And the company that gave the seats away doesnt care if those four clients went because they made good by offering something nice. And the Rangers dont care because the seats were already sold.

BUT!!!! When we attend or even turn on a game we can clearly see that 85% of the place is full. I mean I think that the Rangers are a bad exmple because we are good fans and we attend but I think you get the point.

I just shows that the popularity just isint there. You cant always base attendance average on what the league is doing.

And like Ive said before, Bettman hasny always told the truth.

P.S. Did you two read that link?

By: kamullia

kamullia — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 13:48:25 +0000

Yes, the Islanders are another team that deserve a look at, but I do feel sorry for them. Who would not be totally turned off after having Milbury and Chang pull the stunts/contracts/trades that have happened in Long Island? I am a steadfast fan of my team, but I wonder if I would have the heart to show up to a game if it would have happened to my team instead of the Islanders. I feel those fans have been shortchanged for a lot of years now, and I keep on wondering how many more years to come of the same.By the way, anyone take a look at the B’s numbers? They are not too hot either considering who does better than them, and that’s another original-6 team. Pathetic. Sorry but I harp on original-6 teams a bit, because I see too often some of their fans take this attitude that hockey only belongs to them and everyone else should thank them that the rest of us are allowed to watch the game. Pfft.

By: kamullia

kamullia — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 13:39:30 +0000

Tutte e due. They are both equally important.

Ticket sales means money, but we have to make sure we make the distinction that ticket sales goes beyond selling 15,000 tickets as demonstrated in Mellon arena. Luxury Suites are the money makers, and the lack thereof in Mellon Arena is what makes it a terrible problem for the Penguins.

But attendance means something also. In places where they have poor attendance, it does not necessarily mean that tickets were not sold, but just that the people who bought them did not care to go watch a game. However, if you have low attendance, regardless of ticket sales, to me is a reflection of poor following by the community. This is plain to see in Sunrise, where you hear over the loudspeakers that the game is a sellout, and you look around to see at least 25% of the seats empty. In fact, it is kind of nice to attend a game in Sunrise since after the 1st period, they ushers do not follow guidelines well and you are able to "migrate" to a better seat.

Not everyone is able to buy season tickets, or even a few games, but that does not mean that the team is not followed and supported (with merchandise and the like, plus TV ratings that translate to good TV contracts for the team). But poor attendance, and constant bad attendance, is a reflection of a community that does not care for the team. And those teams I feel would be nice if the league bought them out, and were "leased" to other communities until they prove they deserve the team (say 5 years? That way they have plenty of time to put together finances and build a new stadium, if need be) and then the league could sell the team to an owner with the clause in the contract that the team will not be moved from the "proven community." And most owners would not want to move the team from the proven community anyway, unless they have a hidden agenda of perhaps moving the team to their hometown or something (like Balsillie with the Penguins is rumored). Therefore this would prompt higher values for a team, bigger selling prices for the franchises, bigger profits for the league and on. I like that idea, because if all rises, and profits are a plenty, then the league could mandate lowering of ticket prices for everyone sort of an analogy of taxicabs in America and Italy. I feel hockey does not only belong to the ones who can afford it, but to everyone who appreciates it.

As to my taxicabs remark, in America a taxi driver thinks how slow and how can I take the long way to the destination to squeeze the most money out of the passenger. In Italy, and especially in Rome, the passenger is in white knuckles in the backseat, hanging on to the roof like a cat, while the maniac driver tries to get you there as quickly as possible. In fact, I have been in a cab that the driver drove on the sidewalk to get me to the train station on-time (last time I ever told a taxi driver in Italy that I was late and to hurry). But the point is that their thought process in Italy, as described by a cabby himself, was that their mentality is that the sooner they drop someone off, the faster they can get their next fare. They are thinking volume (among other things), and rightfully so in my opinion, and the NHL should take note.

By: mikster

mikster — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 11:44:33 +0000

What do you think is more important though. Counting a ticket sale or a person that sits down?

Ticket sales = $ and a good number.

By: mikster

mikster — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 11:42:17 +0000

I don't beleive the 95 lockout was Bettman's fault.

Florida is fine for hockey. There are enough Canadians and people who migrated from Mass, NY/NJ and other parts of the north. (i'm one of them!)

Look, a lot of times....projects are not executed correctly. I truly believe that Liweke's entertainment company did a thorough R&D and know that they cannot fail when building such a huge and expensive project. As i explained to you just before, having an entertainment center helps out a lot. I don't think Carolina has it, or even Anaheim or Atlanta and Phoenix. I beleive Nashville's stadium attracts a lot of crow because a lot of concenrts may be done over there. And, Nashville's attendance is not great, but it's good enough and the team's finances are secure.

KC is an odd location, but it's not a small place either. Access seems to be well set up too to get to the Sprint Center.

Look, if someone can sell a small sized rock as a product (true story) to people and make them buy into it that it's a good product to have at home, then you can do anything. It just has to be done right.

The NHL has a horrible marketing department and many teams are clueless as to how to market their product (team). Look at the Devils. Great team but pathetic fan base. Why? They couldn't buy anyone. The best marketed teams in NJ are the Rangers and the Flyers. Then the Isle's and then the Devils.

If it's done right, it can succeed. I know KC is more of a risk and i am not too fond of it either. But, no other place other than Pitts looks worth it for Mario.

Quebec City, won't do much. A team failed there before with star players.

Winnipeg? Too small.

Hartford? Not good enough.

Oregon would be ideal but no one has made any plans to get a pro team there.

Las Vegas? It will only be a slot machine more than a hockey team.

Where else? No other place is that much better than KC right now. If KC didn't have a stadium planned yet, then i doubt it would have been considered. But, it does have one ready for October. It will be a location that will definitely draw a crowd since it is an entertainment center.

Hey, if you are Mario...you'd be taking this as it makes total sense. But, he has class and he wants the team in Pittsburgh, so does the NHL.

I guess five years from now, if the team moves to KC, we'll fairly judge it. But, i think as good hockey fans we have to hope for the best.

By: beckfan05

beckfan05 — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 11:39:23 +0000

How sad is this? I just found it while looking at the Gary Bettman spot in Wikipedia, which I think everyone should check out because there was nothing nice or positive said, and it shows the top 5 WORST attendances per week in the league this season.

Check it out.

http://www.jetsowner.com/gotFans.htm