Are we really Hockeytown?

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

What is hockeytown?

no... I'm serious... give me a definition.

Now make a definition that the general public will agree with.

Until you define what we are talking about you can't say that we are or are not. Other than the obvious, it's catchy and the great people of detroit like to have it referred to as hockeytown rather than be linked to the rest of the oh so wonderful city.

So don't rain on the parade please?

Wonderfully stated and pretty much took the words out of my mouth more or less. It is just like giving a nickname to a stadium or things like the Big House in Ann Arbor, local fans down here calling New Orleans Arena "The Hive" for the NBA Hornets franchise down here, etc. Nothing more, nothing less.

And kudos as well to lfd250 for her smart-allec, but 100% accurate remark.

[betterREDthandead 58]

What is hockeytown?

Hockeytown is a registered trademark of the Detroit Red Wings, and as such, no other team may use it. Whether or not the general public agrees with it is irrelevant. It's something they have to live with.

The Wings not selling out all their games is also irrelevant. Should Detroit be nicknamed Footballtown because the Lions haven't failed to sell out Ford Field, ever?

[sjradio 0]

Hey everybody

Please realize that Detroit's name of "Hockeytown" is actually shortened for "Hockeytown USA"

the USA part has never really been incorporated into the marketing, But if you watched the Wings back when Dave Strader was doing games on PASS, he opened a lot of Wings games by saying "Welcome to Hockeytown USA" or some other version of that.

I think that Montreal is Hockeytown Canada.

I think that Detroit is Hockeytown USA

I think that Minnesota is the State of Hockey USA

I think that Ontario is the Province of Hockey Canada

Buffalo has a great fanbase, and a great youth programs. But without a Stanley Cup, I would have a hard time calling them Hockeytown.

Pittsbugh is NOT hockeytown. They are a football town, the Steelers are the main team. Where were these fans when the Pens were terrible??? Only after Crosby was handed to them by the NHL's rigged lottery draft did they start to gain interest again. Plus can you call any city that was within inches of losing their team to Kansas City of all cities... Hocketown? They are so proud of the 60+ sellout streak... Um excuse me. Detroit's sellout streak was over 400? 450?

Plus last time I checked. The Igloo in Pittsburgh holds about 16,000. The Joe 20,000? 60 x 16,000 compared to 400 x 20,000.

[DEVILSWATERBOY 10]

Are we HOCKEYTOWN ? Is the Pope Cathiloc? Does a bear crap in the woods? In the words of Mike Illitch GRRRRRRRRRR!!!

and we can not forget are mayor who loves the Wed Wings. My opinion when the rest of the state side teams can put the hardware on display like the Wings can then this will be open for disscusion sure Philly had a good team in the 70s and the Islanders were there to, but were are they now? look at the rafters in the Joe and that will say it all, baby we are Hockeytown! until someone can dethrone the Wings and that will not happen

[DEVILSWATERBOY 10]

Hockeytown is a registered trademark of the Detroit Red Wings, and as such, no other team may use it. Whether or not the general public agrees with it is irrelevant. It's something they have to live with.

The Wings not selling out all their games is also irrelevant. Should Detroit be nicknamed Footballtown because the Lions haven't failed to sell out Ford Field, ever?

You mentioned the L word on here!

[JayUp88 1]

Well it has been about a week, I figured we would be getting another one of these soon.

[BlakChamber 8]

Well it has been about a week, I figured we would be getting another one of these soon.

Yeah, good call. I figure we're due for a thread discussing who's number should be retired any day now.

[joshy207 156]

Hockeytown is a trademark, nothing more, nothing less. It also refers to the Red Wings, not the sport of hockey in general.

And while the Wings have been THE model franchise for all of pro sports for the last 15 years or so, most of you seem to have forgotten that they went through their lean times too, from the early 60s to the early 80s. Had salaries been like they are today, the Wings would not have survived. Remember that Ilitch had to give away a car at EVERY home game to get people just to show up when he bought the team? They were drawing well under 10,000 per game. Should the Wings go through another tough stretch in the standings, especially before our economy recovers, the same thing could happen. Detroit's a fickle town, just ask the Pistons and the Tigers.

College Hockey at the Joe draws well for Michigan or Michigan State, but that's about the only other show in town that does. Wayne State folded their team because they couldn't even draw 700 people... the Whalers play to about 60% capacity (less than 3000 fans) in Plymouth... we can't even support a Jr. A team, the new Motor City Machine will struggle mightily in Brownstown... minor pro teams last a couple years then close up shop... basically, Detroit supports the Wings (as much as we can with a brutal economy and high-priced tickets) but not hockey in general.

I don't mean to piss in everyone's Cheerios, but we can't just look at one side of the story.

[JayUp88 1]

Yeah, good call. I figure we're due for a thread discussing who's number should be retired any day now.

haha

[soultrain 43]

detroit didn't sell out every game because the city of detroit is a ghost town. no one with any real money lives there. with the economic downfall ESPECIALLY in michigan, people moved out of state. like some other people said, go to any other team's games against the wings...see how much red is out in their stadium. more than any other team.

[Guest Crymson]

So are we Hockeytown? Do we have the best fans? Is there a reason why we aren't selling out all our games? Please enlighten me to your opinions.

How many times must we explain why the Wings aren't selling out all of their games. I'll put it in very simple terms (AGAIN!):

THE... ECONOMY... IN... MICHIGAN... AND... ESPECIALLY.. AROUND... DETROIT... IS... UNBELIEVABLY... BAD.

Tens of thousands of people in the Detroit area have lost their jobs in the past two years, and the state's economy is 50th best in the nation. Do you honestly think recently-unemployed individuals will spend their discretionary money on expensive hockey tickets?

Geesh.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Trademark aside, if we're talking about whether Detroit deserves the title of Hockeytown, my answer is no.

I mean, it's a great hockey market, but there's plenty of other great ones in the U.S. and Canada. Having watched the Wings since the 80s, I've been there when they stunk and the arena was empty. It's no coincidence that the "Hockeytown" title came around when they were successful. If the Wings stunk again, lots of people would stop coming.

And actually, as betterred joked, I think Footballtown is more warranted, because the Lions are terrible and have been a disappointment for years, yet the fans keep coming for more abuse season after season.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

How many times must we explain why the Wings aren't selling out all of their games. I'll put it in very simple terms (AGAIN!):

THE... ECONOMY... IN... MICHIGAN... AND... ESPECIALLY.. AROUND... DETROIT... IS... UNBELIEVABLY... BAD.

Tens of thousands of people in the Detroit area have lost their jobs in the past two years, and the state's economy is 50th best in the nation. Do you honestly think recently-unemployed individuals will spend their discretionary money on expensive hockey tickets?

Geesh.

So the people of Detroit can't afford a $22 game ticket to see the Wings but they can afford a $60+ ticket to see the Lions?

Don't get me wrong, the economy of Detroit is a factor as to why the Wings don't sell out every game, as well as the fact that the Wings are a victim of their own success but your claim is only part of the problem, not the entire reason.

[Guest Crymson]

So the people of Detroit can't afford a $22 game ticket to see the Wings but they can afford a $60+ ticket to see the Lions?

Don't get me wrong, the economy of Detroit is a factor as to why the Wings don't sell out every game, as well as the fact that the Wings are a victim of their own success but your claim is only part of the problem, not the entire reason.

It's a lot of the expensive seats that go unsold also.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

It's a lot of the expensive seats that go unsold also.

How so, I thought all those tickets were supposedly owned by the Suits that just don't show up to the games? Even still, that reasoning doesn't hamper people from buying the expensive seats at a Lions game.

[Guest Crymson]

How so, I thought all those tickets were supposedly owned by the Suits that just don't show up to the games? Even still, that reasoning doesn't hamper people from buying the expensive seats at a Lions game.

Some people are football fans and not hockey fans.

/me shrugs

There are a variety of factors that could go into that.

Edited July 29, 2008 by Crymson

[Opie 308]

Not agreeing or disagreeing, just a couple of points to make:

Trademark aside, if we're talking about whether Detroit deserves the title of Hockeytown, my answer is no.

I mean, it's a great hockey market, but there's plenty of other great ones in the U.S. and Canada. Having watched the Wings since the 80s, I've been there when they stunk and the arena was empty. It's no coincidence that the "Hockeytown" title came around when they were successful. If the Wings stunk again, lots of people would stop coming.

And actually, as betterred joked, I think Footballtown is more warranted, because the Lions are terrible and have been a disappointment for years, yet the fans keep coming for more abuse season after season.

The Full trademarked name as mentioned in other posts is Hockey Town USA, which would eliminate all Canadian cities.

So the people of Detroit can't afford a $22 game ticket to see the Wings but they can afford a $60+ ticket to see the Lions?

Don't get me wrong, the economy of Detroit is a factor as to why the Wings don't sell out every game, as well as the fact that the Wings are a victim of their own success but your claim is only part of the problem, not the entire reason.

The popularity of Football far outweighs Hockey, plus you are talking about spending money on something that is around 41 times a year as opposed to 8. And even if the Lions suck ass, being a football team they are almost automatically going to be more popular, just because of the popularity of football.

And when I watch the games it looks like the upper section is full, which is where I would have to assume the 22$ seats are, the lower bowl which appears to be half full at times is where the $120 + tickets are, if I am wrong please correct me.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Some people are football fans and not hockey fans.

/me shrugs

There are a variety of factors that could go into that.

Some people are hockey fans and not football fans.

What's the difference?

[Guest Dump-N-Thump]

So the people of Detroit can't afford a $22 game ticket to see the Wings but they can afford a $60+ ticket to see the Lions?

Don't get me wrong, the economy of Detroit is a factor as to why the Wings don't sell out every game, as well as the fact that the Wings are a victim of their own success but your claim is only part of the problem, not the entire reason.

Not everybody in Michigan lives in detroit?

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Not agreeing or disagreeing, just a couple of points to make:

The popularity of Football far outweighs Hockey, plus you are talking about spending money on something that is around 41 times a year as opposed to 8. And even if the Lions suck ass, being a football team they are almost automatically going to be more popular, just because of the popularity of football.

And when I watch the games it looks like the upper section is full, which is where I would have to assume the 22$ seats are, the lower bowl which appears to be half full at times is where the $120 + tickets are, if I am wrong please correct me.

No doubt the popularity of Football in America is more prominent than Hockey, but that's very different than blaming the economy. *That* was my point.

Not agreeing or disagreeing, just a couple of points to make:

The popularity of Football far outweighs Hockey, plus you are talking about spending money on something that is around 41 times a year as opposed to 8. And even if the Lions suck ass, being a football team they are almost automatically going to be more popular, just because of the popularity of football.

And when I watch the games it looks like the upper section is full, which is where I would have to assume the 22$ seats are, the lower bowl which appears to be half full at times is where the $120 + tickets are, if I am wrong please correct me.

Again, I thought the claim was that the "Suits" owned those seats and just didn't show up. Still sold tickets though, no?

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Not everybody in Michigan lives in detroit?

What does that have to do with anything? Would it have made a difference if I said, "the economy in Michigan as a whole is poor?" I don't think so.

To top it off, the economy all across the country is poor.

[Guest Dump-N-Thump]

The entire country may be poor, But Michigan is the osiris of this s***..

--Why i said what i said was because you said people from detroit cant afford 22$ seats..

And to top it off, If your giong to go and splurge on a fun event like the red wings you dont want to be in the standing only zone..

[Opie 308]

No doubt the popularity of Football in America is more prominent than Hockey, but that's very different than blaming the economy. *That* was my point.

Again, I thought the claim was that the "Suits" owned those seats and just didn't show up. Still sold tickets though, no?

The first part, I must have missed your point I thought you were basing your argument on something else.

I don't have the answers to the second part which is why I don't disagree just pointing out factors.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

The entire country may be poor, But Michigan is the osiris of this s***..

--Why i said what i said was because you said people from detroit cant afford 22$ seats..

And to top it off, If your giong to go and splurge on a fun event like the red wings you dont want to be in the standing only zone..

Yet they continue to sell out every game at Ford Field.

The entire country may be poor, But Michigan is the osiris of this s***..

--Why i said what i said was because you said people from detroit cant afford 22$ seats..

And to top it off, If your giong to go and splurge on a fun event like the red wings you dont want to be in the standing only zone..

I never said the people of Detroit can't afford $22 seats. In fact, that was the exact opposite of what I was arguing. I said the economy is not the driving factor why JLA hasn't been selling out.

You must have misunderstood me.

The entire country may be poor, But Michigan is the osiris of this s***..

--Why i said what i said was because you said people from detroit cant afford 22$ seats..

And to top it off, If your giong to go and splurge on a fun event like the red wings you dont want to be in the standing only zone..

Why would they be stuck in the Standing Room Only if the games aren't sold out?

[Doc Holiday 0]

See guys, this is why I made this thread. Comments like the one above.