New Hockeytown ?!?!?

[Kp-Wings 3]

What? I don't see any empty seats...

*removes rosy-colored glasses*

I could get into a whole thing about, but I've stated it already enough times. Between the economy, Illitch laundering our money away with expensive tickets, parking, beer, concessions, souvenirs, the Wings terrible PR and marketing staff, the success of the Tigers, and whatever else, is the reason this team doesn't sell out games anymore. It's a simple truth. I don't know why it has to be talked about anymore, because I believe the problem has been discussed enough. End of cue.

I think for the sake of things, the slogan should be removed. Just to shake off the negative media attention that follows because of it. That's my opinion anyways.

Edited November 2, 2007 by Kp-Wings

[RedLightGoesOn 81]

Deroit not Hockeytown? Thems fighting words! If people want to go and through out that title and "dethrone" Detroit they are dumb and should meet me in the parking lot outside.

[auxlepli 17]

Did you ever see Legacy's Harley when he would keep at the dealership during the season? His Wings logo and a mural of his facemask on the rear fender. Sweet. The guys at the dealership said he would go on all the group rides during his off season.

I never saw that. Is it different than the one at Hockeytown Cafe?

[Gizmo 21]

The media can say and think what they want. It doesn't really matter because in the end the Wings are still Hockeytown.

Agreed... Screw what the media thinks.

Last I checked there were only SRO seats left for the game against the Hawks game and some of the other home games only had upper bowl row 20+ in the corners. I think the attendance will start to trend back up. I think the team's on-ice performance is starting to pay some dividends at the ticket booth.

[OsGOD 3]

I heard Mr. Moneybags is actually opening up is wallet to update the sign on woodward to say "Ex-Hockeytown Cafe"

Its going to shut down the place for a good 2 months as they change all the dishes over and the rest of the names all over the place.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Between the prices Ilitch has and the rough time for the economy, I sure would.

It's not like I expect a regular fan to read beyond the articles that say "LOLOMFG Detroit isn't selling out!" and comprehend why this attendance drop-off is so, but I'd say the numbers are justified.

Let some other town feel the penny pinch and see how they'd react. They'd skip out on the luxury expenses too.

I don't think you're understanding me correctly. I'm not saying the numbers aren't justified. On top of the poor economy and high ticket prices, the fans of Detroit have come to expect the Wings to lead the standings. Teams that have up and down seasons have attendance numbers that follow suit. When a team does well after a poor season, the fans get excited and more show up. When you're talking about the Wings, they haven't missed the playoffs in 16 years and the excitement isn't there anymore due to the fact that its become routine and expected. As Wings fans we're spoiled and as a result the luckiest fans in the league due to the phenomenal management the Wings have.

My comment wasn't a knock on Detroit, it was a knock on the media for not digging deeper than simply attendance numbers. If that's all the media is going to base their assessment on, than what else can you expect?

[auxlepli 17]

I think good writers have dug deeper. There's an ancillary article Ross McKeon wrote.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=AvuB...o&type=lgns

The USA Today writer wrote a good article too and gave reasons why he thinks the attendance has fallen.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/colu...ttendance_N.htm

Regardless, Hockeytown is a registered trademark, so no other team can use it except the Wings.

[Guest Jeremy88]

What about the lockout? That had to contribute to loss of fans. I know I lost interest when that happened, so did some of my friends. Luckily, I came back to hockey earlier this year

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I think good writers have dug deeper. There's an ancillary article Ross McKeon wrote.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=AvuB...o&type=lgns

The USA Today writer wrote a good article too and gave reasons why he thinks the attendance has fallen.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/colu...ttendance_N.htm

Regardless, Hockeytown is a registered trademark, so no other team can use it except the Wings.

Exactly. I don't get bothered by garbage like a Yahoo! Sports article by some writer that didn't bother to do his research in first place is preaching about. The decent media took a second to ask why rather than just assuming.

Edited November 2, 2007 by Never Forget Mac #25

[wingnut40 176]

Most of it is due to the state of the economy; Detroit is absolutely awful. People here just can't afford it anymore. Detroit also has one of the most competetive sports markets in the world; none of the four major teams are really bad (the Lions are still under scrutiny) and basketball is probably bigger anyway; Hopefully Zetterberg and our team's play will attract some more fans. Until then, we've got to wate for the storm to pass

I feel so bad for the Red Wings! They've(Stevie) worked so hard rebuilding it from Dead Things to to HockeyTown. If I had money I'd go to every home and away game, I'm not even joking you. The Wings are synonymous with Detroit and no matter what the media says Detroit is, was, and forever shall be HockeyTown!

[vangvace 12]

Update:Nastigram wave

(Editor's note: More than 73,000 readers responded to a Yahoo! Sports poll than ran with Ross McKeon's Hockeytown column. Forty-seven percent of them believed that Detroit is still worthy of the Hockeytown USA honor. St. Paul was second with 21 percent, while 18 percent of readers chose Buffalo. Philadelphia, the only other city to choose from in the poll, received 14 percent of the votes.)