Two or less Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=lebrun_pierre Very interesting. It's good for the Sabres. So much for all the people saying that their attendance will drop like a rock this season....
Guest Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=lebrun_pierre Very interesting. It's good for the Sabres. So much for all the people saying that their attendance will drop like a rock this season.... Very interesting indeed. I wonder how accurate this number is. I wouldn't be renewing crap until I saw some changes myself. I find it hard to believe that 94% of season ticket holders have re-upped already seeing how this season isn't even over yet......well in the Sabres case it is. I think someone is trying to blow smoke up our arses.
FearTheReaper Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 Highly interesting "fact". I for one agree. I wouldn't renew anything unless they improve the on ice product. And if the article is true,then it shows our fans' commitment to this team. Even after 2 below average seasons. Its time for management to show commitment to us fans. And that means more than throwing out money to the "core" players. How about starting with some roster changes?
darksabre Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 If this is true, then season ticket holders are idiots. What are we, Toronto?
billsrcursed Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 If this is true, then season ticket holders are idiots. What are we, Toronto? QFT...
thesportsbuff Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 Donno about you guys, but if I had the money I'd get season tickets regardless of how the team did the previous year.
darksabre Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 I would get them if the team looked like it would have a good upcoming season, so that I could sell them off for ridiculously illegal prices.
Two or less Posted May 13, 2009 Author Report Posted May 13, 2009 If this is true, then season ticket holders are idiots. What are we, Toronto? Doesn't mean their idiots at all. Just shows we have very loyal fans. Not everyone only cheers for a winner.
darksabre Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 Doesn't mean their idiots at all. Just shows we have very loyal fans. Not everyone only cheers for a winner. Cheering for a team isn't the same as dropping a couple grand on a sub-par product. Just because I'm a fan of American cars doesn't mean I would be inclined to buy a new one at the moment. I fail to see what the Sabres have done so far this off season to earn that money. 94% renewal? Why should management even worry about fielding a better team this year, they've already made their money. I half expect LQ to come out when it hits 95% and say "well, we've completed the rest of our top to bottom review."
Chief Enabler Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 Why do people do this? It just plays right into management sitting on their hands this summer. :wallbash: It must be the Buffalo mentality of shoveling 5 inches of snow knowing 5 more will come tomorrow and everyday day after.....
stenbaro Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 Doesn't mean their idiots at all. Just shows we have very loyal fans. Not everyone only cheers for a winner. Our season ticket holders are proving this to be true..I wont pay for them...Ive been burned to many times. Too many wasted evenings downtown while geting frustrated at watching a crap product on the ice or the football field for that matter..Theres nothing more frustrating than spending 250 a night or day and leaving angry...I'll pass..
SwampD Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 Why do people do this? It just plays right into management sitting on their hands this summer. :wallbash: It must be the Buffalo mentality of shoveling 5 inches of snow knowing 5 more will come tomorrow and everyday day after..... Why do they do this?... Because BUFFALO LOVES HOCKEY! Every year Buffalo ranks in the top three in tv ratings for the SCFs(usually third, only behind the two teams' cities that are playing, but sometimes even beating them :blink: ). For the past two years, maybe more, we (I say we because even after 15 years I consider myself a Buffalonian and not a New Jersian) have led the ratings for the All Star game as well. I can't fault our love of hockey, but I can fault our(myself included) unfounded attachment to players and [cough]coaches.
... Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 This is the same area that votes in the same crappy politicians despite being one of the worst economies in the USA. Ya, we're gonna buy up the Sabres season ticket packages - what else do you expect WNYers to do?
spndnchz Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 I renewed. I'm not an idiot. I like being at the game. I'm a fan. I know how hard it is to get tickets. You let those seats go and you have a long wait to get back in. Yeah, another year of poor hockey might change my mind, but for now, I'm renewed and hope the Sabres are too.
red Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 Highly interesting "fact". I for one agree. I wouldn't renew anything unless they improve the on ice product. And if the article is true,then it shows our fans' commitment to this team. Even after 2 below average seasons. Its time for management to show commitment to us fans. And that means more than throwing out money to the "core" players. How about starting with some roster changes? AMEN!! I really don't understand why so many Sabres fans, are flocking to the box office to renew subscriptions to sub-level hockey. Or commit to a management team that claims to have a team philosophy of building through the draft and keeping your 'core' players, then proceeds to gut the legends who had been in the Sabres scouting staff (and who, coincidentally, have gone to other teams and turned them into winners- Boston, Philly, and Washington) for years in favor of 'video' scouting, and allow the truly core players in Drury, Briere, Campbell, McKee, and DuMont to walk in favor of keeping fringe players like Afinogenov, oft-injured Connolly, Kotalik, and Kalinin. The team was one period away from playing the Oilers in the Stanley Cup (which I believe they would have won) if not for the injuries to the defense and the need for perhaps 1 rugged player. How did Sabres management respond? By letting McKee, Dumont, and Greer all walk. The next year, we see the debacle of allowing Drury, Briere, and Campbell to walk for nothing (Bernier is no longer a Sabre). Now, if they were a bunch of terribly-timed injuries and 1 player from getting into the Cup...how is allowing this mass exodus of talent going to push them over the hump? I think that Larry Quinn is the true evil here, as he was during his first stint with the Sabres. It will be really interesting to see what the Sabres do this offseason, to justify the fans interest. If they do well (which I sincerely hope that they do), then I will be happy. But if they screw it up again, and with guys like GM Rick Dudley out there...it would be time for Regier and most especially Larry Quinn to be shown the exit doors. But at this point, if the number is true (and not inflated in a shrewd marketing move by the Sabres), then I am ashamed of the Sabres fans who are signing up like this for an inferior product and a lack of commitment to winning demonstrated by Quinn and Golisano.
nfreeman Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 I renewed. I'm not an idiot. I like being at the game. I'm a fan. I know how hard it is to get tickets. You let those seats go and you have a long wait to get back in. Yeah, another year of poor hockey might change my mind, but for now, I'm renewed and hope the Sabres are too. Good for you. If I lived in WNY I'd get tickets too (although I'd probably share them with a few people). Another reason to stay in is that over time your seats will probably get better. As for how accurate the report is: I'm wondering how much cash the buyers had to put down at this point in order to count as "renewed". If it's half the cost of the season ticket, then they are committed. If it's $50 or $100 per season ticket, with the rest to be paid in the fall, then there is almost certainly some softness in the number.
red Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 This is the same area that votes in the same crappy politicians despite being one of the worst economies in the USA. Ya, we're gonna buy up the Sabres season ticket packages - what else do you expect WNYers to do? sad, but true. Those same idiot politicians should have been gone two decades ago. Never could understand that one... What alarms me, though...is that Quinn and Golisano will never get the message if fans keep paying for a sub-par hockey team. Is anyone watching the playoffs? Does anyone watching the playoffs sincerely believe that the Sabres would not have gotten killed if they did make it in this year? No, the team built an incredible amount of excitement over the accomplishments of the players that had been here (Drury, Briere, Campbell). Those last second and shoot-out wins were amazing. But, while everyone is still excited, Quinn and Golisano have silently gutted this great team- robbing it of its ability to draft future stars (by gutting the scouts for video scouting), and by allowing its true core to walk for nothing. I mean, you get what you pay for. If fans want sub-par hockey and players who are better golfers than playmakers; then so be it. Go have your "experience". Quinn and Golisano have it backwards. You don't start with high quality and cheapen it, you start with quality and master it.
shrader Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 The next year, we see the debacle of allowing Drury, Briere, and Campbell to walk for nothing (Bernier is no longer a Sabre). So the fact that they TRADED Bernier and got a return for him means that they now have nothing in return for Campbell? Nice logic there. Anyway, this really has little to do with the team. There are a few "bigger picture" issues that have a lot to do with this. People want their entertainment, especially during times like this with a struggling economy. Just look at the movie industry. They're projecting a huge season this year, much better than any recent years. People turn to these forms of entertainment as an escape. The Sabres tickets are very affordable, so the people will flock to it. The Bills are still selling too, it's the same thing. Has this downturn in the economy really hit Buffalo all that hard? I've heard many comments about how since the boom of the 90s never really got to Buffalo, they didn't have nearly as far to fall as many other cities around the country. If that's the case, that's not going to have much of an impact on either the Sabres or Bills.
Stoner Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 So the fact that they TRADED Bernier and got a return for him means that they now have nothing in return for Campbell? Nice logic there. Anyway, this really has little to do with the team. There are a few "bigger picture" issues that have a lot to do with this. People want their entertainment, especially during times like this with a struggling economy. Just look at the movie industry. They're projecting a huge season this year, much better than any recent years. People turn to these forms of entertainment as an escape. The Sabres tickets are very affordable, so the people will flock to it. The Bills are still selling too, it's the same thing. Has this downturn in the economy really hit Buffalo all that hard? I've heard many comments about how since the boom of the 90s never really got to Buffalo, they didn't have nearly as far to fall as many other cities around the country. If that's the case, that's not going to have much of an impact on either the Sabres or Bills. The recession took a while to hit this part of the Rust Belt, but it definitely arrived. I'm surprised at the renewal rate given the noticable number of empty seats in the arena even when games were sold out. I take it there a bunch of people who can afford to buy tickets and not use them when the team is struggling. Almost sounds like charity. All we can hope is that ownership wants badly to reward the fans with a championship. Wishful thinking. It all goes back to my Comfort Level theory of Sabres hockey. OSP bought low and has seen his investment flourish. LQ got a piece of the action. Ruff and Regier are coach and GM for life. The core cashed in. Only the fans are being waterboarded. And now they're enabling it! Sick!
wonderbread Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 The recession took a while to hit this part of the Rust Belt, but it definitely arrived. I'm surprised at the renewal rate given the noticable number of empty seats in the arena even when games were sold out. I take it there a bunch of people who can afford to buy tickets and not use them when the team is struggling. Almost sounds like charity. All we can hope is that ownership wants badly to reward the fans with a championship. Wishful thinking. It all goes back to my Comfort Level theory of Sabres hockey. OSP bought low and has seen his investment flourish. LQ got a piece of the action. Ruff and Regier are coach and GM for life. The core cashed in. Only the fans are being waterboarded. And now they're enabling it! Sick! Thats the "It hurt so good" mentality. Fans will continue to pour out in hopes that they ice a winner. When they don't consistently we will see the gate reciepts go down. Look at Chicago 3 years ago. This year they stated that they have had over a million fans in the building. All it takes is one or two good seasons of quality hockey to continue to push attendence. Eventually the current on ice product will be reflected in attendence. I say the bell curve will take another season. if no improvements you will then see a general decline in the attendence.
spndnchz Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 Good for you. If I lived in WNY I'd get tickets too (although I'd probably share them with a few people). Another reason to stay in is that over time your seats will probably get better. As for how accurate the report is: I'm wondering how much cash the buyers had to put down at this point in order to count as "renewed". If it's half the cost of the season ticket, then they are committed. If it's $50 or $100 per season ticket, with the rest to be paid in the fall, then there is almost certainly some softness in the number. My tickets are in the 300's. I'm not sure I would move down, was on a list for them and turned them down once I sat there. I can see the whole game, the play develop, yell my ass off without someone getting annoyed, start chants, much more fun than sitting with the stiff shirts in the 100's or 200's. (Most of those it seems are owned or given away by business people). As for the cost, meh, tix are $28 or so a seat, $1,128 a year, payable in three installments during the summer. I sell 4-5 games and make half that money back. If you split with someone you'll see about 3 games a month for $500. As for the no shows last year, I'd say it's the "Why go there and spend another $100 on beer, food, etc to watch"? I was talking with some guys at the last game who had tickets for like 25 years. One of the three wasn't renewing. He said it was a decision based on getting bored than not liking the Sabres. I'd imagine after 25 years and no Cup things do get boring.
shrader Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 Thats the "It hurt so good" mentality. Fans will continue to pour out in hopes that they ice a winner. When they don't consistently we will see the gate reciepts go down. Look at Chicago 3 years ago. This year they stated that they have had over a million fans in the building. All it takes is one or two good seasons of quality hockey to continue to push attendence. Eventually the current on ice product will be reflected in attendence. I say the bell curve will take another season. if no improvements you will then see a general decline in the attendence. Some of those teams like Chicago fell so much further than this team did though. Yes, the Sabres missed the playoffs each of these last two seasons, but they were in the race up until the end of the year both seasons. Chicago was an annual resident in the top 10 of the draft, making the playoffs only once in the last 10 seasons. Yes, the results of the last two seasons suck, but this team can far much faller than they have. Hopefully that doesn't happen.
wonderbread Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 Some of those teams like Chicago fell so much further than this team did though. Yes, the Sabres missed the playoffs each of these last two seasons, but they were in the race up until the end of the year both seasons. Chicago was an annual resident in the top 10 of the draft, making the playoffs only once in the last 10 seasons. Yes, the results of the last two seasons suck, but this team can far much faller than they have. Hopefully that doesn't happen. Your point is valid. It however begs the question. How many seasons would you sit thru waiting for a winner?
Kristian Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 Doesn't mean their idiots at all. Just shows we have very loyal fans. Not everyone only cheers for a winner. I think it's been stated many times that people do not demand a winner (although it'd be nice), they just want a team that appears to give a hoot, and if that doesn't happen at least they expect management to give a hoot. At this point, neither appears to be the case.
Stoner Posted May 13, 2009 Report Posted May 13, 2009 Some of those teams like Chicago fell so much further than this team did though. Yes, the Sabres missed the playoffs each of these last two seasons, but they were in the race up until the end of the year both seasons. Chicago was an annual resident in the top 10 of the draft, making the playoffs only once in the last 10 seasons. Yes, the results of the last two seasons suck, but this team can far much faller than they have. Hopefully that doesn't happen. Why not? It works for a lot of franchises, several of which are making strong runs at the Cup as we speak.
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