Wings must adjust to keep fan base alive

[Grim 5]

I am kinda digging the West Coast trip right now.... Hockey double header on Saturday.... Whalers at 7:05, Wings at 10:30!

and what sane kid under 18 will be up that late to finish the game? it would be even worse if it were a weekday! I defy any other franchise to give up perhaps a third of its season to these late games... and lets see if THEY don't experience marketting troubles..

[thedisappearer 291]

A player like Fedorov where if he were in that situation, you knew without a doubt something was about to happen. Your attention was caught and most of the time, something right off the highlight reels was probably about to follow.

So you remember the week he played hard and not the month hi didn't? Lord knows if Anna was at the Joe he would not do jack.

Look, the reason ticket sales are down are many. Some fans were turned off by the lock-out. Some adopted the Tigers and Pistons. Some don't wanna spend that money. Some don't have jobs now. Some miss Stevie Y and Shanny and (insert retro Red Wing nere). It's all legit, and it's all valid.

Build a great new arena and don't raise prices, Mr I- that may work.

*edit- The Western Conference thing doesn't help either. It kills us with travel every year.

Edited January 18, 2008 by thedisappearer

[OsGOD 3]

and what sane kid under 18 will be up that late to finish the game? it would be even worse if it were a weekday! I defy any other franchise to give up perhaps a third of its season to these late games... and lets see if THEY don't experience marketting troubles..

I am a late nighter now, so those don't bother me.... in bed by 3 up by 8 its all good.

I would actually think its normally the "older" crowd that would have the problem staying up late. Kids around 18 are usually up late anyways...

If the west coast trips were the issue... then how come BJ's are doing okay with attendance or are they just not being brought up.... BJ's have seven(7) prices breakdowns BEFORE our $44 seats (rows 13-21 upper bowl)... Ticket more affordable... bingo bango... folks are going to the games.

Some of the best times were actually at the joe at 1am watching joe vision... too bad that too was taken away from us

Whats all this talk about Tigers taking away Red Wings tickets... Last i checked Copa was closed for the season right now... yet Wings are still not selling their "higer priced" tickets. "lower priced" tickets are bought up quickly mind you. Also, Tigers have those nifty BOGO coupons in the Entertainment Book that make the prices WAY MORE affordable.

Edited January 18, 2008 by OsGOD

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I used to doubt the implication that people don't identify with the current players as Red Wings. But I am starting to see some rationale for that... there's a post in the comment section related to this article, saying that Pittsburgh regularly sells out games yet their economy is nothing to be happy about. He said it's all about the exictement and Cult of Crosby, plus Malkin. That's who people go to see. It reminded me of Buffalo, when Hasek literally was the one who put butts in seats for a decade... and their economy also sucked then, and now. The team wasn't great, but people flocked to see Dom in his hey-day.

So, really... is it that fans don't identify with the players anymore, the way they did with Stevie and Shanny or Konstantinov and Mac? Who is the "face" of the Red Wings now, to the average fan in Detroit?

I can kinda tell here, who likes which player.

Not to nitpick Loo, but didn't the Sabres practically go bankrupt during the Hasek days, thus causing the league to take control of the team? I won't argue that he put butts in the seats and kept the team afloat as long as he did, but correct me if I'm wrong.

[StormJH1 231]

How do you get your money??? Unemployment has EVERYTHING to do with the amount of money being spent on sporting events... Over priced sporting events mind you.

There is a reason why only the $22 seats sell out...because that is what people can afford because of the shape the Economy is in... others can't afford even those because they are part of the 7.4% Unemployed in Michigan.... I don't see how anyone can say its not about unemployment or the Economy....

The reason, OsGOD, is because the economy is hurting EVERYWHERE, not only in Michigan. Even if you accept that Michiganders are hurting worse b/c of the auto industry, it's extremely simplistic to find two correlating trends, and assume that one must of caused the other.

Particularly when you consider that as the economy has gotten worse, Tigers ticket sales have gone UP! Isn't there an equally potent argument, then, as people have less and less money to spend, they go to more and more Tiger games? Or are there other forces at work here, such as the fact that since 2002, the Pistons have been the most successful Detroit team, and Tigers suddenly became a draw where they were practically irrelevant before. No, nobody's going to Tigers games in the dead of winter...but overall interest (outside of posters on a board like LGW) is down, both because of their decreased market share in Detroit sports fans, and because the product itself is less dramatic than the all-star teams assembled year after year pre-lockout.

Tickets should be cheaper, but people overpaid for tickets in the late 90's too. And by the way, the Michigan economy was never that good to begin with, only better than it is now. Look harder.

[OsGOD 3]

The reason, OsGOD, is because the economy is hurting EVERYWHERE, not only in Michigan. Even if you accept that Michiganders are hurting worse b/c of the auto industry, it's extremely simplistic to find two correlating trends, and assume that one must of caused the other.

Particularly when you consider that as the economy has gotten worse, Tigers ticket sales have gone UP! Isn't there an equally potent argument, then, as people have less and less money to spend, they go to more and more Tiger games? Or are there other forces at work here, such as the fact that since 2002, the Pistons have been the most successful Detroit team, and Tigers suddenly became a draw where they were practically irrelevant before. No, nobody's going to Tigers games in the dead of winter...but overall interest (outside of posters on a board like LGW) is down, both because of their decreased market share in Detroit sports fans, and because the product itself is less dramatic than the all-star teams assembled year after year pre-lockout.

Tickets should be cheaper, but people overpaid for tickets in the late 90's too. And by the way, the Michigan economy was never that good to begin with, only better than it is now. Look harder.

Its one of those things we will never be able to prove becuase mr. moneybags will not lower the ticket prices. Tigers offer the Buy One Get One and have vouchers for games everywhere you go... You do not get discounts on Wings Tickets..... In the 80's and 90's the wings did have BOGO coupons that you could find.

Tigers sell more tickets because they are a very affordable alternative while down in detroit when the season over lap. Its more affordable (with all the discounts available) to take a famiy to a Tigers game than a Red Wings game.... Why? because the tickets are more affordable. When you are out of a job in the worst state (i.e. highest unemployment rate in the COUNTRY!) and you decide you want some entertainment... what do you pick? Filet Migon (Wings Prices) or Salsbury steak (Tigers Prices) considering you can go to a game and pay no more than 1/2 the face value with all the discount available for tigers.

I understand the excitement of a suck ass team turning good and the bandwagon gets filled up quickly, but i guarantee Money is the key reason why people aren't attending hockey anymore.... Especially for those living actually IN michigan... within a reasonable distance from the Joe.

Edited January 18, 2008 by OsGOD

[puckloo39 5,686]

Not to nitpick Loo, but didn't the Sabres practically go bankrupt during the Hasek days, thus causing the league to take control of the team? I won't argue that he put butts in the seats and kept the team afloat as long as he did, but correct me if I'm wrong.

The Sabres had "funny money" that the Rigas family (Adelphia) bilked from various accounts while Dom was there. They subsequently went to jail -- John and Mike Rigas from Adelphia, not the Sabres.

Hasek left just as the ship capsized, and came to Detroit. Personally, I believe he knew something about the finances, and was quite sure they could not pay the last year of his contract there ($9M).

I know the attendance dropped off when Dom left, but it was for a lot of reasons, I think... one of them being that people went to see Dom specifically -- but that sure wasn't the Sabres' only problem.

Edited January 18, 2008 by puckloo39

[auxlepli 17]

Very good article from Mr. Sharp. I agree with him too, even though I'd hate to see the Joe go away. However I also agree with Elshupacabra. It'd be hard to build a new arena without ticket prices being raised once the Wings started playing there. All around the NHL ticket prices need to be lowered. Haven't done the research, but I bet it's one of the most expensive sports in which to attend a game.

It's also nice to see a journalist who provides some answers instead of just continued writing about problems.

Also a personal note about attendance: I've been to plenty of sold-out games at the Joe that looked just as empty as it did last night, which was about 1,500 short of a sell-out.

[Z and D for the C 712]

You think maybe the reason for higher ticket prices than other sports is that other sports have MUCH larger arenas? So even at lower ticket prices they sell much more tickets per game and rake in more money. (And that's actually a question btw, not trying to be a smart ass or anything)

Edited January 18, 2008 by Z and D for the C

[Jwo 7]

It looks like the Cobo excuse can be thrown out. Heard they are getting a expansion.

[SweWings 45]

Haven't actually tried to calculate this but I don't doubt that tickets for the Red Wings would be cheaper for me than the local Frölunda Indians tickets cuz of the great exchange rate right now...

[imisssergei 0]

My vote for a new arena name?

Steve Yzerman Place.

[BlakChamber 8]

You think maybe the reason for higher ticket prices than other sports is that other sports have MUCH larger arenas? So even at lower ticket prices they sell much more tickets per game and rake in more money. (And that's actually a question btw, not trying to be a smart ass or anything)

The NBA and NHL have roughly the same sized arenas. The smallest baseball field still holds about 15,000 more than the largest hockey arena.

Part of hockey's problem is they rely on ticket revenue much more than any of the other leagues that have a good TV deal. The Lions could probably give away tickets for every game at Ford Field and still make money thanks to the NFL's TV contract.

[lfd250 1]

Again, I do believe money is a big part. But please remember that there isn't a lot of "American" players on the tigers so the whole all we have is European players. Second, the kids are out of school, games start during the day, they can have fireworks ( I know that when we go we look for these games.) BB is an AMerican pass time so there are large groups (IE Church) that come. Remember it's not a big deal to leave Grand Rapids, Saginaw, and or further north, get to a 1:05 game watch the game and be back intime for bed at 10.

[imisssergei 0]

The NBA and NHL have roughly the same sized arenas. The smallest baseball field still holds about 15,000 more than the largest hockey arena.

Part of hockey's problem is they rely on ticket revenue much more than any of the other leagues that have a good TV deal. The Lions could probably give away tickets for every game at Ford Field and still make money thanks to the NFL's TV contract.

NFL teams are profitable before one preseason ticket is sold. That's how huge the NFL's TV contract is.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

move the team to the darn Eastern conference!!! all those late westcoast road starts are butchering the local scene. and once we reach the money (playoff) rounds... invariably against westcoast teams, the road games must be local ratings blackholes! they are almost inviting locals not to follow the Wings.

Very good point. I no longer stay up on a weekday to watch a game agaisnt phoniex that dosent start till 10:30.