2012 WDF Attendance

[Robbie]

Since many of you have second thoughts for the attendance tomorrow, I've edited the poll for it to continue until Sunday morning and I've allowed re-voting.

[dawg3648]

It does not take much to figure out there are more than 40K sold at this point. I have no idea why Skulsky did not come out with a figure yesterday. Baffling. Is it because we are 5K behind Montreal perhaps? There are 27K in upper and lower bowls. With only a couple of hundred singles in lower bowl and more than half of upper bowl sold (not hard to calculate by going on Ticketmaster). And tickets selling at an increased rate as game gets closer and as well a walk up of 2K to 4K based on last years walk-up I believe we will have a healthy 44 to 46. Simple math guys...no graphs required! (No disrespect Si_Roc!) Have fun tomorrow! Cheers P.S. How many Lionbackers making the trek back to T.O??

[sj-roc]

It does not take much to figure out there are more than 40K sold at this point. I have no idea why Skulsky did not come out with a figure yesterday. Baffling. Is it because we are 5K behind Montreal perhaps? There are 27K in upper and lower bowls. With only a couple of hundred singles in lower bowl and more than half of upper bowl sold (not hard to calculate by going on Ticketmaster). And tickets selling at an increased rate as game gets closer and as well a walk up of 2K to 4K based on last years walk-up I believe we will have a healthy 44 to 46. Simple math guys...no graphs required! (No disrespect Si_Roc!) Have fun tomorrow! Cheers P.S. How many Lionbackers making the trek back to T.O??

I had a closer look at the TM map this morning and it does look like more than 40k now. Perhaps even 41 or 42. No dis taken. To be clear I was interested in more than just the final number in that exercise. I was looking to see if there was some point where the sales spiked after a steady gradual ramp but that hasn't happened in the high-rent area I chose to track, in fact it actually showed a hint of plateauing last night with over 35% of seats remaining therein. That's not to say there was no spike in the overall sales, just that if there is, it only happened elsewhere. In hindsight this is perhaps not surprising as high-rent buyers aren't likely to be price-sensitive and would have no qualms about buying at any time, whereas more price-sensitive foks would hesitate and dither before finally resigning their wallet to the hit as the game draws near.

[B.C.FAN]

Dennis Skulsky told Tom Mayenknecht on Team1040 that the Lions are expecting a crowd of about 45,000, maybe a bit more or a bit less. He said they would expect to draw an extra 3,000 to 5,000 if Saskatchewan were the opponent.

[korey&dante4ever]

Dennis Skulsky told Tom Mayenknecht on Team1040 that the Lions are expecting a crowd of about 45,000, maybe a bit more or a bit less. He said they would expect to draw an extra 3,000 to 5,000 if Saskatchewan were the opponent.

Yes.
His quote: 'it is what it is'
'40 to 45k is a lot of people'

[sj-roc]

Dennis Skulsky told Tom Mayenknecht on Team1040 that the Lions are expecting a crowd of about 45,000, maybe a bit more or a bit less. He said they would expect to draw an extra 3,000 to 5,000 if Saskatchewan were the opponent.

Yes.
His quote: 'it is what it is'
'40 to 45k is a lot of people'

It was kind of an underwhelming listen. And he never gave a SOLD number first nor last in that segment.

[B.C.FAN]

Addressing ticket prices and attendance overall, Skulsky said the Lions' attendance growth should be about the same as the league average (around 3%). He said he's "a little disappointed and surprised" that the Lions haven't had stronger growth, considering the calibre of the team and the excellent facilities, but he attributed the disappointing sales to the strength of the economy.

As for next year, he said the entry point of $26 (pre-tax price for season ticketholders in the end zones) is good value but "we're going to look at everything," including how to reconfigure the stadium. I assume he means how to tarp off certain seats.

[Hambone]

Dennis Skulsky told Tom Mayenknecht on Team1040 that the Lions are expecting a crowd of about 45,000, maybe a bit more or a bit less. He said they would expect to draw an extra 3,000 to 5,000 if Saskatchewan were the opponent.

Yes.
His quote: 'it is what it is'
'40 to 45k is a lot of people'

It was kind of an underwhelming listen. And he never gave a SOLD number first nor last in that segment.

I can't remember if it was Skulsky last year, Ackles before him or somebody from another organization but I recall a sentiment that they prefered not to broadcast exact numbers. For some reason I think it was Ackles. Leaving things vague and saying there are still tickets available can retain some urgency for those still contemplating going. Tell them there are still 15K available is to give a message of "no worry lots are available" to which many would wait until game day. Having said that I doubt the casual fan still on the fence would be paying much, if any, attention to such numbers. At least not nearly as much attention as it seems many Lionbackers who already have ticket in hand are paying.

[MikeAK]

I originally thought for sure we would have 50K + for Sunday's game given that there isn't NHL hockey but it's looking likely the number will be somewhere around 45k. Still a good crowd.

[Hambone]

Addressing ticket prices and attendance overall, Skulsky said the Lions' attendance growth should be about the same as the league average (around 3%). He said he's "a little disappointed and surprised" that the Lions haven't had stronger growth, considering the calibre of the team and the excellent facilities, but he attributed the disappointing sales to the strength of the economy.

As for next year, he said the entry point of $26 (pre-tax price for season ticketholders in the end zones) is good value but "we're going to look at everything," including how to reconfigure the stadium. I assume he means how to tarp off certain seats.

I'd think "reconfiguring" would include looking at the various price groupings. Obviously the lower bowl high end tickets between the 20s are not a problem. The $26 STs in the endzone are also a good entry point. It's what to do with the groupings in between keeping in mind they have to still support the value of the higher range ticket holder. Make the corners too cheap and you're devaluing the higher price groups. I did notice on the Season Ticket notice that only the first half dozen rows in Coaches Sideline and Red Zone sections are flagged as being available for STs. I think this would be indication that not much is to change in the lower bowl and those upper bowl sections leaving the rest open for a different approach.

[David]

I can't remember if it was Skulsky last year, Ackles before him or somebody from another organization but I recall a sentiment that they prefered not to broadcast exact numbers. For some reason I think it was Ackles. Leaving things vague and saying there are still tickets available can retain some urgency for those still contemplating going.

I disagree with this strategy, especially for a big game like the WF. I think constant updates gets fans excited to spread the word and motivates fence sitters to 'get theirs now before it's too late.'

They started with the good news story of 36,000 sold on Monday morning which was picked up by all of the media outlets. But then they let it die on the vine before any momentum could be built or sustained. To not trumpet the fact they went over the 40,000 mark (which I'm assuming they have) or even approaching it is, frankly, baffling.


DH

[sj-roc]

I can't remember if it was Skulsky last year, Ackles before him or somebody from another organization but I recall a sentiment that they prefered not to broadcast exact numbers. For some reason I think it was Ackles. Leaving things vague and saying there are still tickets available can retain some urgency for those still contemplating going.

I disagree with this strategy, especially for a big game like the WF. I think constant updates gets fans excited to spread the word and motivates fence sitters to 'get theirs now before it's too late.'

They started with the good news story of 36,000 sold on Monday morning which was picked up by all of the media outlets. But then they let it die on the vine before any momentum could be built or sustained. To not trumpet the fact they went over the 40,000 mark (which I'm assuming they have) or even approaching it is, frankly, baffling.


DH

Yep. In fact it might even be 41 or 42k as I said a little while ago. And to really underscore the buzzkill, look at the poll they're running on teamradio right now:

Why aren't you going to the West Final?

Cost $$$

Love my HD TV

Love to go, but I have a previous engagement

Not a football fan

They should have included an "I AM going!" option.

[sj-roc]

Looks like this poll is still active; results now are:

Why aren't you going to the West Final?

41% Cost $$$

35% Love my HD TV

16% Love to go, but I have a previous engagement

8% Not a football fan

[xon100]

Looks like this poll is still active; results now are:

Why aren't you going to the West Final?

41% Cost $$$

35% Love my HD TV

16% Love to go, but I have a previous engagement

8% Not a football fan

I am one of those with a previous engagement. I will be watching football just the minor league variety. Maybe someone could answer this for me, why would a football league schedule semifinal and final games when the CFL is holding the East and West semi-final. A win on Sunday and I will be spending a large part of Grey Cup Sunday watching the little guys play again.