Ticket Prices / Lions' Marketing

[sj-roc]

Thanks for the heads up, David.

I have a question unrelated to your post but germane to this thread. It's been mentioned many times on this board that ticket sales are being hampered by the growing household adoption of hi def TV, with its non-blacked out Lions games. My question is, is this also an issue for the NFL? Are they also up against non-blacked out hi def broadcasts of games that continue to be blacked out on standard def?

[btemp]

Low attendance, based on my experience, is based on a few things. First, the cost. As a recently graduated student the prices for tickets where I can actually see the game are quite high. The alternative is paying money to get a view where its difficult to view the game when I could watch it on HDTV on home. In my mind, this is half the issue that isn't being discussed enough - fan experience (this is something the NFL is aggressively trying to address). Two examples immediately spring to mind after the EE game last night: often you don't get to see replays (on two key plays last night never saw a replay) and the stadium announcer's "make some noise" chant was driving me, and the people sitting around me, nuts. Buying cheap seats doesn't afford many people an experience superior or on par with watching it on tv.

Thanks for the heads up, David.

I have a question unrelated to your post but germane to this thread. It's been mentioned many times on this board that ticket sales are being hampered by the growing household adoption of hi def TV, with its non-blacked out Lions games. My question is, is this also an issue for the NFL? Are they also up against non-blacked out hi def broadcasts of games that continue to be blacked out on standard def?

It is an issue for for the NFL. Goodell has talked about it a lot this summer and there are a number of pundits down south positing that in 10 years stadium football will be "dead" (ie. tickets will be dirt cheap or free). The NFL is doing a number of different things including adding Wi Fi to all their stadiums.

Now whether HDTV is a long term threat to stadium football is really hard to say. At the very least, it is forcing stadiums to improve their experience.

[TheLionKing]

Is Tom Mayenknecht the former owner of the Whitecaps ?

[SammyGreene]

There's a great discussion on The Sports Market with Tom Mayenknecht on TEAM1040 right now about Leos' pricing and stadium capacity. He's saying exactly the same thing that's been written on this board: that the Lions need to review their pricing structure for next season and be much more aggressive to get more people in the stadium. They're also asking whether the Lions should be opening the entire stadium. http://www.teamradio.ca/


DH

Too bad I missed this. It was interesting to see LU mentioned in his pre-game chat yesterday the Lions were "concerned" about their attendance to date. They should be finalizing their 2013 season and individual ticket pricing over the next couple of months. It will be very interesting to see what they do regarding seating configuration and pricing structure.

[sj-roc]

There's a great discussion on The Sports Market with Tom Mayenknecht on TEAM1040 right now about Leos' pricing and stadium capacity. He's saying exactly the same thing that's been written on this board: that the Lions need to review their pricing structure for next season and be much more aggressive to get more people in the stadium. They're also asking whether the Lions should be opening the entire stadium. http://www.teamradio.ca/


DH

Too bad I missed this. It was interesting to see LU mentioned in his pre-game chat yesterday the Lions were "concerned" about their attendance to date. They should be finalizing their 2013 season and individual ticket pricing over the next couple of months. It will be very interesting to see what they do regarding seating configuration and pricing structure.

Podcasts of this morning's whole show here for anyone who wants another listen:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/TEAMRadio-TheSportMarket

[notahomer]

Low attendance, based on my experience, is based on a few things. First, the cost. As a recently graduated student the prices for tickets where I can actually see the game are quite high. The alternative is paying money to get a view where its difficult to view the game when I could watch it on HDTV on home. In my mind, this is half the issue that isn't being discussed enough - fan experience (this is something the NFL is aggressively trying to address). Two examples immediately spring to mind after the EE game last night: often you don't get to see replays (on two key plays last night never saw a replay) and the stadium announcer's "make some noise" chant was driving me, and the people sitting around me, nuts. Buying cheap seats doesn't afford many people an experience superior or on par with watching it on tv.

Thanks for the heads up, David.

I have a question unrelated to your post but germane to this thread. It's been mentioned many times on this board that ticket sales are being hampered by the growing household adoption of hi def TV, with its non-blacked out Lions games. My question is, is this also an issue for the NFL? Are they also up against non-blacked out hi def broadcasts of games that continue to be blacked out on standard def?

It is an issue for for the NFL. Goodell has talked about it a lot this summer and there are a number of pundits down south positing that in 10 years stadium football will be "dead" (ie. tickets will be dirt cheap or free). The NFL is doing a number of different things including adding Wi Fi to all their stadiums.

Now whether HDTV is a long term threat to stadium football is really hard to say. At the very least, it is forcing stadiums to improve their experience.

I agree with you btemp, especially about the replays. I have never enjoyed the 'gameday host' reminding us 'its never over in the CFL'. I don't understand the Lions blacking out the standard def but not the hi-def.

[Hawkballer 14]

RE: "low" attendance number last night.

Friday Night Game. That is all.

[sj-roc]

I don't understand the Lions blacking out the standard def but not the hi-def.

I think it's just that the hi def technology simply doesn't allow for local blackouts like the standard def always has; I'm sure they wouldn't let that slide if there were something they could do about it. Every team is up against this issue, not just in the CFL but presumably every sports league.

[Hawkballer 14]

I was always pretty confident that I was safe to drive consuming 5-6 beers over the 6-7 hour pre-game, game, post-game period. Now I'm not so sure (because of the new legalities), and I'm sure as sh*t not going to risk losing my license, having my car impounded, and paying $5,000 in various penalties for something as stupid as a beer at a game.

I think the point is, I never really thought too much about it, though I always drank responsibly. Now I worry about it because the penalties are so stiff. Has anyone else modified their drinking behaviour at the game because of the new laws, or is it just me?

You're definitely in the majority, I totally understand where you're coming from. The (relatively) new laws punish the casual drinker (ie: you and me); the irresponsible ones are going to get hammered and get behind the wheel regardless of the risk/punishment.

Everybody that I know is paranoid, myself included; restaurant revenues are severely down. I'm 5'10" 200 pounds; my general rule was one drink per hour, up to five drinks, and I'd still be under 0.08. Now, two drinks over any time period and I'm done.

I know a handful of current RCMP members, they dislike the laws as much as we do; they are uncomfortable having so much power (judge, jury AND executioner). Some kind of change is definitely required.

[TheLionKing]

I don't drink and drive. Ever. Not worth the risk. I was at a dinner party last Saturday where beer and wine was flowing freely. On my way home I drove into two roadblocks.

[DanoT]

I think they might lure a few people away from their high def TV if they better utilized their world class stadium video screen. They could start by using the TSN feed and replays instead of the what they are showing now because it is inferior to a TSN production.

[David]

Is Tom Mayenknecht the former owner of the Whitecaps ?

No, you're thinking of David Stadnyk. Tom Mayenknecht is an executive and brand management specialist who has a weekly radio show on TEAM1040 that examines the business side of sport. He's also a season ticket holder (at least I see him in my section at games).

Some of the more interesting points were that he admitted he was wrong about the spin-off benefits of BC Place. He predicted a 10%-20% attendance lift, which hasn't materialized. Answering on-air complaints about the size of the roof opening - that you really don't get the feeling you're outside (I was afraid of this!), he disagreed in that he said it absolutely makes a difference from the old BC Place, but he admitted they should have made it open as wide as where the catwalk is. He said engineers have told him that it could have been made larger and he's not sure why it wasn't.


DH

[notahomer]

Hey all,

What got me thinking about the DUI laws was that there always seems to be a roadblock on the way home from a game. The only time I've ever had to blow a breathalizer was when I admitted I'd been at a football game.

'And what are you up to tonight?'
--I went to the Lions' game.
'Out of the car please sir.'

Wearing a shirt and tie, date in the passenger seat and saying something like, 'yes we each had a glass of wine during intermission at the symphony/opera/playhouse' was always a free pass.

I kinda wonder if the decreased likelihood of running into roadblocks might be another positive outcome of playing afternoon games. Anyway, just idle thoughts.

Cheers,
James

Last year, during the time at Tempire Fields, The Vancouver Police Department seemed to run roadblocks heading downtown, after Lions games. Don't know how effective they were......