The Buzz is Gone in Hockeytown (W/ Article)

[McCartyFanForLife 17]

What's wrong with Executive Level 105$ tickets, when i went to a regular season game in tampa they were 80$ and they were in the upper part of lower bowl... so average seats.. this is detroit red wings and in the playoffs and great seats... $105 is nothing

Tampa Unemployment Rate: 10.2%

Detroit Unemployment Rate: 21.2%

[Guest Shoreline]

What's wrong with Executive Level 105$ tickets, when i went to a regular season game in tampa they were 80$ and they were in the upper part of lower bowl... so average seats.. this is detroit red wings and in the playoffs and great seats... $105 is nothing

We're talking about Detroit here.. not Tampa. That's like suggesting that just because Sharks tickets are almost $200 for comparable lower bowl seats (once taxes are added in) that it would be fine in Detroit. Bad argument. The economy and unemployment rate in the greater Detroit area is vastly different than most other hockey markets. I would suggest educating yourself on things regarding America, since you seem to make rather uninformed posts regarding this country.

Edited April 16, 2009 by Shoreline

[Guest mindfly]

So if detroit(michigan) had similar unemployment rate there would be a rock solid sell out? arent there more reasons than this?

[YoungGuns1340 1]

The game is at 7pm. Its on a Thursday. The tickets are expensive for most without jobs, and they aren't getting off work at 4pm.

Plus its the 1st round. Its against the jackets. If I'm gonna drop ill-advised cash on a game, when I could watch it at home and scream and shout obscenities on end like I prefer to, I'll do it when we're deeper into the playoffs, and its against an interesting opponent.

[Guest E_S_A_D]

The game is at 7pm. Its on a Thursday. The tickets are expensive for most without jobs, and they aren't getting off work at 4pm.

Plus its the 1st round. Its against the jackets. If I'm gonna drop ill-advised cash on a game, when I could watch it at home and scream and shout obscenities on end like I prefer to, I'll do it when we're deeper into the playoffs, and its against an interesting opponent.

People are taking the Jackets way too lightly... I'm serious, it scares me.

On that note, I've gotta hit the road, good night folks! Go Wings

[Mikeal 60]

You don't have top buy 105 dollar tickets... I have 30 dollar seats for tonight and the view is just fine!

[Guest mindfly]

The game is at 7pm. Its on a Thursday. The tickets are expensive for most without jobs, and they aren't getting off work at 4pm.

Plus its the 1st round. Its against the jackets. If I'm gonna drop ill-advised cash on a game, when I could watch it at home and scream and shout obscenities on end like I prefer to, I'll do it when we're deeper into the playoffs, and its against an interesting opponent.

Yeah but how many millions of people live in the city, state, and nearby states who can go to detroit in few hours.... the building is 20.066people.. should be able to fill it up in the playoffs no matter what

[Ozzie30 170]

Try finding cheap, 30-50 tickets. Can't find 3 together.

[BlakChamber 8]

What's wrong with Executive Level 105$ tickets, when i went to a regular season game in tampa they were 80$ and they were in the upper part of lower bowl... so average seats.. this is detroit red wings and in the playoffs and great seats... $105 is nothing

Then come to the game, moneybags.

A horrible economy, high ticket prices, and Atlanta Braves syndrome are going to add up to games not selling out. It's not exactly rocket surgery here.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

So if detroit(michigan) had similar unemployment rate there would be a rock solid sell out? arent there more reasons than this?

The issue is this.

1. The people who CAN afford to go to Detroit games aren't likely to live near Detroit, and aren't likely to have the typical 9-5 jobs. Youre talking about doctors, lawyers, and businessmen living in Oakland County or similar areas most of which can't make a 7pm game.

2. The people that CANT afford the tickets ARE likely to live closer to Detroit, and are likely to hold 9-5 jobs - if any job at all. Those are the types that, in a booming economy (or even a stable one) would be buying up tickets left and right, even at $105.

Detroit's unemployment rate is 21%. You're talking about ONE out of every FIVE people NOT having a job. Thats a s*** ton of people. Thats basically taking a filled up Joe Louis arena and saying 2,000 of the people here statistically don't have job.

I'd like to see how many teams could get 2,000 unemployed fans to spend $150 on one ticket.

[dat's sick 1,002]

If people didn't go see their team play because they thought the team was boring, the Minnesota Wild would be playing in an empty arena 9 out of 10 nights.

Spoiled fans + high ticket prices + less than exciting opponent + bad economy = empty seats.

Edited April 16, 2009 by dat's sick

[uk_redwing 495]

So sad... 3:17 pm and I just did a search for SIX TICKETS TOGETHER... 2nd row are still available for 6 together. Yikes.

I just did a search for NINE TICKETS TOGETHER and BAM! Row 9. Ouch.

[LionsAndRedwingsAndPistonsOhMy 3]

See...for me, it's partly because I work 9-5 and would have to leave work early to drive to the D, as would my wife. On top of that.....it would cost my family $400 just for tickets, parking, and gas. That doesn't include any programs, snacks, food and the like that we may want/ The money I have in the bank is staying right where it is in case I lose my freakin job.....I've got 3 months worth if anything happens. I love the Wings, and I'd love to be there......it just is not advisable.

It sucks, but we ARE talking about the state and the city with the worst unemployment rates in the nation. Those of us that are still employed are being VERY careful.

[Blood On The Ice 15]

Its not just Detroit. I just checked the Chicgo website and at 3:30 i could still get row 3 tickets for tonights game and at $150.00 per seat. The economy has hurt the blue color cities the most.

[VM1138 1,921]

This really bothers me that there may be more BJs in the JLA than in the parking lot.

But i hate when people say it's because of the game the Wings play. Wings games get tons of viewers on TV, and the natinoal ggames are among the best rated. We've been selling out seats for years with the Euro style of play, and only started dipping last season, when the economy tanked in Michigan even worse than before. And, surprise surprise, when the national economy followed they're selling less.

It's economics, plain and simple.

[finalfilppula 2]

if i lived in michigan, i'd be there.

[wingfan1991 221]

NHL attendance for 2009 shows Wings as #3 (behind Chi and Mtl) http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2009

i find it hard to believe that the JLA will be 50% full tonight.. I pray that it's not like that or many BJ fans, that does bother me more then anything!

[uk_redwing 495]

if i lived in michigan, i'd be there.

If I lived in Toronto Id walk to the game! Jesus...

[VM1138 1,921]

The issue is this.

1. The people who CAN afford to go to Detroit games aren't likely to live near Detroit, and aren't likely to have the typical 9-5 jobs. Youre talking about doctors, lawyers, and businessmen living in Oakland County or similar areas most of which can't make a 7pm game.

2. The people that CANT afford the tickets ARE likely to live closer to Detroit, and are likely to hold 9-5 jobs - if any job at all. Those are the types that, in a booming economy (or even a stable one) would be buying up tickets left and right, even at $105.

Detroit's unemployment rate is 21%. You're talking about ONE out of every FIVE people NOT having a job. Thats a s*** ton of people. Thats basically taking a filled up Joe Louis arena and saying 2,000 of the people here statistically don't have job.

I'd like to see how many teams could get 2,000 unemployed fans to spend $150 on one ticket.

The type of job worked is essential here. You may great points. For example, I used to love going to Wings games, but I live 2 hours away from Detroit. I would go a few times a season. This year, none. Why? Because 1) No extra money, 2) the only jobs available are 2nd and 3rd shift anymore, and most people can't afford to request time off, if they could even get a boss to approve it.

[Guest Shoreline]

When Yzerman came out on the line with Gerard Gallant and Joe Kocur and busted their butts every shift like blue collar hockey players for a blue collar city, that place rocked.

I'd sound as depressed too if I longed for some past ideal of a hockey team, or for that matter, some past anything. Idealism has little to no place in the real world.

[Guest Shoreline]

NHL attendance for 2009 shows Wings as #3 (behind Chi and Mtl) http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2009

That stat you look at ignores the fact that some arenas aren't even that big. % is a far better indicator, which the Wings are 15th in.

Edited April 16, 2009 by Shoreline

[slapshot26 0]

That stat you look at ignores the fact that some arenas aren't even that big. % is a far better indicator, which the Wings are 15th in.

Did you bother checking the "overall" category.... The Wings are in 2nd place among your oh so special % symbol. So what is the problem here? Sounds like a bunch of bitching and moaning to me.

[OsGOD 3]

Well dammit you know if we could just stop focusing on job loss and rest of the s*** that comes with living and trying to support a team whos locations happens to be in a the state with the WORST unemployment rate.. i think the buzz would be back about attending a game.

s*** I mean today my Buzz was that I saved up enough money to pay a few bills AND have enough to buy 2 beers at bw-3's tonight... I think that is effing fantastic in my book!

Its my birthday.. anyone wanna buy me 2 tickets to the game lower bowl?? THE WINGS HAVENT LOST A PLAYOFF GAME I HAVE BEEN IN ATTENDANCE FOR!!!!

I can't buy my own cause well i got pay my car payment AND insurance this month

if i lived in michigan, i'd be there.

yeah me too if i lived out of state

Edited April 16, 2009 by OsGOD

[Vladifan 680]

if i lived in michigan, i'd be there.

Same here. I would kill to be there. I need to lose another 15-20 pounds anyway....

[Zion 93]

if i lived in michigan, i'd be there.

f*** yeah. I'm in Buffalo, and trying to figure out why I'm not going tonight.