kingcongkorab Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 From todays Slapshot section of the Raleigh News and Oberver: "...As for the Buffalo fans, those chastising Carolina fans for not blindly purchasing every available ticket in less than 20 minutes: Please cease and desist hurling your stones before Fred Smerlas-sized shards of glass lacerate us all. Buffalo fans, you are the same people who regularly are overrun in your own building by Toronto Maple Leafs fans. Way back in 2003, your franchise declared for bankruptcy. No matter how corrupt or financially incompetent the former owner was, teams with stout fan bases don't file for Chapter 11. So Buffalo-ans, Buffalo-ites, Buffalo-sians or Buffers, spare us the insolence. The huge Buffalo turnout in Game 1 has really got under the Canes skins. I though the last comment was a low blow and totally untrue.
Taro T Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 From todays Slapshot section of the Raleigh News and Oberver: "...As for the Buffalo fans, those chastising Carolina fans for not blindly purchasing every available ticket in less than 20 minutes: Please cease and desist hurling your stones before Fred Smerlas-sized shards of glass lacerate us all. Buffalo fans, you are the same people who regularly are overrun in your own building by Toronto Maple Leafs fans. Way back in 2003, your franchise declared for bankruptcy. No matter how corrupt or financially incompetent the former owner was, teams with stout fan bases don't file for Chapter 11. So Buffalo-ans, Buffalo-ites, Buffalo-sians or Buffers, spare us the insolence. The huge Buffalo turnout in Game 1 has really got under the Canes skins. I though the last comment was a low blow and totally untrue. Yeah, so another junior reporter whose local team is playing against Buffalo in the postseason has to do the required dump on Buffalo / Buffalo sports team / Buffalo fans article. Big whoop. Seen it before, and seen it done much more effectively and creatively as well, BTW. (Heck, some of the slams from the past have been downright hysterical.) If the guy was any good, he'd be covering NASCAR and not stuck covering the sport that apparently not even 20,000 "Caniacs" care enough to buy tickets for.
SHAAAUGHT!!! Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 I would be a hater too if I was assigned to cover hockey in the Carolinias.
kingcongkorab Posted May 22, 2006 Author Report Posted May 22, 2006 In the beginning of the "article" he says Carolina fans will hemorrhage cash for the title round but not before. Folks this could be the end of the line, there are no guarentees you make it to the next round. This is literally now or never and if you can afford tickets you should go and part of something special.
BetweenThePipes00 Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 The funniest thing about his "point" is that when the Sabres declared bankruptcy, they wiere STILL OUTDRAWING THE CANES! In a SMALLER market! The Canes were surely losing money under the old system just like the Sabres were, it just didn't lead to bankruptcy because their owner was not a fraud. That said, if they think tickets are too expensive, I will not make fun of them for that. The game is not part of their lifesytle like it is for Buffalonians, so that is their choice. But they have no business complaining when Sabres fans buy the seats they chose not to. Leafs fans buy seats to Sabres games that would be sold anyway. There's a big difference between that and Sabres fans buying up tix that were left over after you tried to shut them out.
Campy Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 I guess there aren't any real fans in Ottawa either then, right? :rolleyes: *sighs* It wasn't attendance or the fans that put them into bankruptcy, it was Adelphia's cooked books. If ignorance is bliss, the author must be one happy SOB. No one is ripping Carolina for not attending games unless they have a winning team - that's par for the course for near every team save the Leafs, Habs, Canucks, Oilers, Stars and Avs. The fans are getting ripped because they're just like Virginia Beach/Norfolk area hockey fans. The local barn was always full for ECHL games but when an AHL team replaced the local ECHL team, the locals can't appreciate the superiority of the AHL enough to justify their ticket prices going up from $8 to $15. The arena is all but empty these last few seasons. Most of them pine for the "good ol' days" of the ECHL because they saw a fight every game. Frankly, I don't believe the average North Carolinian "gets" the NHL playoffs any better than the locals here "get" the difference between the 'E' and the 'A'. It's just lost on most of them.
rtconner Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 Yeah, so another junior reporter whose local team is playing against Buffalo in the postseason has to do the required dump on Buffalo / Buffalo sports team / Buffalo fans article. Big whoop. Seen it before, and seen it done much more effectively and creatively as well, BTW. (Heck, some of the slams from the past have been downright hysterical.) He'll be busting out the No Goal, Wide-rights, etc before the week is out.
The Goat Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 The funniest thing about his "point" is that when the Sabres declared bankruptcy, they wiere STILL OUTDRAWING THE CANES! In a SMALLER market! The Canes were surely losing money under the old system just like the Sabres were, it just didn't lead to bankruptcy because their owner was not a fraud. Not true. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2003 The Goat
BetweenThePipes00 Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 NOT TRUE http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2003 The Goat I stand corrected on that point ... though there is a difference between not supporting a bad team with a fraud owner and not supporting a team in the conference finals. Still, like I said, if they don't want to buy the tickets, I will not make fun of them ... but again, they can't complain when opposing fans buy the seats, either.
Campy Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 Not true. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2003 The Goat Good find Goat. I saw the Canes only played 40 home games that season. I remember that it was in September of '03 that Isabel came in and did some damage - I had many clients whose restaurants were literally washed into the Chesapeake Bay and/or ocean - but that would have been during the '03-'04 season. Why only 40 home games in '02-'03?
The Goat Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 I stand corrected on that point ... though there is a difference between not supporting a bad team with a fraud owner and not supporting a team in the conference finals. Still, like I said, if they don't want to buy the tickets, I will not make fun of them ... but again, they can't complain when opposing fans buy the seats, either. Agreed. I have no problem with loyal Sabres fans spending their dough to support their team. On the contrary, I think it's great. The problem is not with Canes fans, it's with ownership and management who have priced themselves out of the market here. The Canes have marketed themselves as entertainment for the family. At current prices ($85.00 for upper level seating I believe) it would cost a family of four about $400 to go to a game by the time drinks and food are bought. I wonder what it says about their commitment to this established fan base when they more than triple ticket prices for the playoffs. The Goat
JujuFish Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 Not true. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2003 The Goat That is the only season from the 00-01 season until now that Carolina outdrew Buffalo.
BetweenThePipes00 Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 Agreed. I have no problem with loyal Sabres fans spending their dough to support their team. On the contrary, I think it's great. The problem is not with Canes fans, it's with ownership and management who have priced themselves out of the market here. The Canes have marketed themselves as entertainment for the family. At current prices ($85.00 for upper level seating I believe) it would cost a family of four about $400 to go to a game by the time drinks and food are bought. I wonder what it says about their commitment to this established fan base when they more than triple ticket prices for the playoffs. The Goat Pricing is a huge issue ... the Bills are very conscious of it and have kept prices low compared to the rest of the league as a result ... it's about the only smart thing they have done as of late ... Golisano has also been very smart about it since taking over ... but he jacked up prices pretty good for this round too if you are not a season-ticket holder. Given the lack of TV revenue in the NHL, this is a chance for the owners to make money ... Karmanos may have gone overboard, but I don't think he is too far out of line with the rest of the league. But the fans set the market and obviously they are not willing to pay what he is asking.
Campy Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 I wonder what it says about their commitment to this established fan base when they more than triple ticket prices for the playoffs. Have you seen or heard any type of serious backlash against the 'Canes for this, or are most fans taking it in stride? I hope for the sake of hockey it's the latter.
The Goat Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 Good find Goat. I saw the Canes only played 40 home games that season. I remember that it was in September of '03 that Isabel came in and did some damage - I had many clients whose restaurants were literally washed into the Chesapeake Bay and/or ocean - but that would have been during the '03-'04 season. Why only 40 home games in '02-'03? Campy, The link I sent includes a list of statistics which says the Canes played 41 home games in 02-03. Not sure where the discrepency is. In any event, I have no recollection of any home game being cancelled here ever. Isabel was a bad one. I think close to $1 billion in damage in NC alone and close to $4 overall. Maryland got nailed. The Goat p.s. here is the link again. Hope it shows what I think it does. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2003
Campy Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 Thanks for that. I was looking at the away GP, where they only played 40. :wacko: Interestingly, or maybe it's ironic, they played 81 games that year, as did the Sabres, who played only 40 home games. Anyone remember if there was a 'Canes/Sabres game cancelled? I remember a Christmas blizzard that hit a few years back, was that it?
sabregoats Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 The sabres went bankrupt because Adelphia went bankrupt. It wasnt because of attendance or anything else. The Rigas' were frauds and that is why the Sabres filed Chapter 11.
The Goat Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 Have you seen or heard any type of serious backlash against the 'Canes for this, or are most fans taking it in stride? I hope for the sake of hockey it's the latter. Campy, Most of the season ticket holders I've talked to are complaining but they bought their playoff tickets anyways. But that is not the case with many, many others. The reason so many tickets were available to non season ticket holders like me and you, is that many of them chose not to pay for the playoff packages. Shortly after prices were announced, there were many letters to the editor of the News and Observer and a couple other papers in Chapel Hill and Durham and a story on the state's 24 hour news station, but little has happened since that time. I hope that the massive number of Buffalo fans in attendance serves as some sort of wake up call to team management that they are abandoning those whose loyalty has allowed them to get to this point. The Goat
The Goat Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 An interesting follow-up here. A season ticket holding friend of mine just told me he paid $75 (as a season ticket holder) for the Cup Finals games in Raleigh in '02. This year, if the Canes make it that far, it will cost him $220 per ticket, per game. "Thank You Fans" indeed. The Goat
jad1 Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 An interesting follow-up here. A season ticket holding friend of mine just told me he paid $75 (as a season ticket holder) for the Cup Finals games in Raleigh in '02. This year, if the Canes make it that far, it will cost him $220 per ticket, per game. "Thank You Fans" indeed. The Goat Not getting any sympathy here.
The Goat Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 Not getting any sympathy here. No sympathy? Come on...not even a little? Please? I just want a little of your sympathy - no one else's. Please? The Goat
jad1 Posted May 22, 2006 Report Posted May 22, 2006 No sympathy? Come on...not even a little? Please? I just want a little of your sympathy - no one else's. Please? The Goat Nope, none. Why don't you follow indoor lacrosse or arena football? Their ticket prices might be more inline with your budget.
Knightrider Posted May 23, 2006 Report Posted May 23, 2006 Not true. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2003 The Goat The better comparison is 2001-2002 when the team didn't appear to be teetering on oblivion... Even better is this season as both teams were performing at a similar high level
The Goat Posted May 23, 2006 Report Posted May 23, 2006 Nope, none. Why don't you follow indoor lacrosse or arena football? Their ticket prices might be more inline with your budget. Classy. That's why I love you. The Goat
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