Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Honeymoon over in Winnipeg? Tickets going unsold

curves2000 · 02-11-2016, 12:36 AM

True North Sports and Entertainment will be just fine for the future with their Jets/Moose franchises.

The MTS Center which they own is one of the busiest buildings in North America with concerts and events. Lots of revenue from those strems flow to the owners.

The value of the franchise has risen dramatically as well. I believe the purchase price was $170 mil in 2011. With the rumored expansion franchises going for $500 mil wouldn't that be at least a starting point? Plus $500 mil USD is approx $700 mil CAD. In 2011 the USD/CAD was closer to par.

The Jets have both their NHL and AHL teams operating out of Winnipeg so that means lots of cost savings for things like food, training, staff etc. Plus they get all the revenue from Moose games as well.

I have also read that TV ratings for Jets games have been much higher this year vs previous years, this may also partially explain a softer ticket market as truthfully watching a game in HD @ home during the winter on a Tuesday isn't the WORST thing in the world. In any event larger TV audiences should increase the value of the TV/radio package when that contract comes up for renewal in the coming years.

I also wanted to address our attendance as well. The Dome hasn't been nearly as full and fans aren't spending the same at the games as before of course. This is to be expected. Our ticket prices are lower than Winnipeg and we are a much larger market as well. Another thing I find is that Calgary is a hot bed for "free" tickets. I swear thousands of people at each game get the free tickets from work or from someone they know etc. People who wouldn't pay cold hard cash for going to a Flames game.

In the end the a lot of the Canadian markets are somewhat going through similar scenarios here.

The Canucks are having constant sales, promos and other fan friendly events. Even in the playoffs last year tickets were really easy to come by.

Edmonton I believe is the exception here. Awful team for a decade and historically bottom feeders. Those fans pay cold hard cash year after year for that garbage. It's a smaller rink but whenever I go up for Flames games it's always tough and expensive to find tickets.

Calgary:Already discussed

Toronto: For the so called hockey universe and Canada's corporate HQ plus 6+ mil residents you would think sell outs would always occur. The last year or so that hasn't been the consistent case. I understand why but it's still interesting.

Ottawa: Always been a budget team with so so success. The arena location doesn't help either and so many fans in the area cheer for Montreal or Toronto, Boston

Montreal has all of Quebec as a market and a huge part of the east coast and some US fans. I have heard stories that ever since 2016 some of the scalpers have been offering deep discounts in order to move some of the less desirable games.

At the end of the day we are all hard working people and our entertainment dollars could go elsewhere if the product on the ice isn't what we expect.

I must admit when I see some of the prices that some of these teams have, and prices I have personally payed in LA,Anaheim,Phx,Florida, Philly. I really do question the "value" we get a hockey fans in Canada. I am 31 years old and we have , generation of hardcore hockey fans who don't even know what a Canadian Cup winning team feels like. Forget the Flames of 89 or 04, the Hab in 93 are a distant memory. That is several billions of dollars being spent from fans for a whole lot of empty parade promises in my opinion.

Just my little rant.

02-11-2016, 12:36 AM	#53
curves2000 First Line Centre Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Calgary, Canada Exp:	True North Sports and Entertainment will be just fine for the future with their Jets/Moose franchises. The MTS Center which they own is one of the busiest buildings in North America with concerts and events. Lots of revenue from those strems flow to the owners. The value of the franchise has risen dramatically as well. I believe the purchase price was $170 mil in 2011. With the rumored expansion franchises going for $500 mil wouldn't that be at least a starting point? Plus $500 mil USD is approx $700 mil CAD. In 2011 the USD/CAD was closer to par. The Jets have both their NHL and AHL teams operating out of Winnipeg so that means lots of cost savings for things like food, training, staff etc. Plus they get all the revenue from Moose games as well. I have also read that TV ratings for Jets games have been much higher this year vs previous years, this may also partially explain a softer ticket market as truthfully watching a game in HD @ home during the winter on a Tuesday isn't the WORST thing in the world. In any event larger TV audiences should increase the value of the TV/radio package when that contract comes up for renewal in the coming years. I also wanted to address our attendance as well. The Dome hasn't been nearly as full and fans aren't spending the same at the games as before of course. This is to be expected. Our ticket prices are lower than Winnipeg and we are a much larger market as well. Another thing I find is that Calgary is a hot bed for "free" tickets. I swear thousands of people at each game get the free tickets from work or from someone they know etc. People who wouldn't pay cold hard cash for going to a Flames game. In the end the a lot of the Canadian markets are somewhat going through similar scenarios here. The Canucks are having constant sales, promos and other fan friendly events. Even in the playoffs last year tickets were really easy to come by. Edmonton I believe is the exception here. Awful team for a decade and historically bottom feeders. Those fans pay cold hard cash year after year for that garbage. It's a smaller rink but whenever I go up for Flames games it's always tough and expensive to find tickets. Calgary:Already discussed Toronto: For the so called hockey universe and Canada's corporate HQ plus 6+ mil residents you would think sell outs would always occur. The last year or so that hasn't been the consistent case. I understand why but it's still interesting. Ottawa: Always been a budget team with so so success. The arena location doesn't help either and so many fans in the area cheer for Montreal or Toronto, Boston Montreal has all of Quebec as a market and a huge part of the east coast and some US fans. I have heard stories that ever since 2016 some of the scalpers have been offering deep discounts in order to move some of the less desirable games. At the end of the day we are all hard working people and our entertainment dollars could go elsewhere if the product on the ice isn't what we expect. I must admit when I see some of the prices that some of these teams have, and prices I have personally payed in LA,Anaheim,Phx,Florida, Philly. I really do question the "value" we get a hockey fans in Canada. I am 31 years old and we have , generation of hardcore hockey fans who don't even know what a Canadian Cup winning team feels like. Forget the Flames of 89 or 04, the Hab in 93 are a distant memory. That is several billions of dollars being spent from fans for a whole lot of empty parade promises in my opinion. Just my little rant.