Stampeders Attendance

[worth]

By my tally, the stamps are averaging 28,712 people per game during the regular season this year. They have had a few games in the 26,000 range, which to me, seems quite poor, especially for a team that is the best in the league and pretty exciting to watch. So what's the reason for this?

I had season tickets from 2005 to 2011, but since then, there has been a drastic reduction in fan attendance, and I suppose i'm part of that problem since I only get out to a few games per year now.

So what drives this? The building is too old? People don't care about CFL football like they used to? Or TV like mentioned below:

The team is focusing on providing incentives for fans to come out to the games, ranging from working harder to engage fans to providing rewards to them to get out to the stadium.

However, Norrie says the team knows who — or what — it's up against.

"Our biggest enemy is that television and that big, comfy couch," he said.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...wins-1.2021573

Labour day wasn't even close to a sell out.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

The stadium is old, the stadium experience isn't great compared to other CFL cities (camera work, replays, engaging the crowd through contests, etc.). Although, it is the best sports experience and performance in Calgary, year in and year out. It's too bad people aren't recognizing the quality of the sport.

I don't think there were 20000 people at the game this past Friday

[transplant99]

I think part of the problem is the team hasn't got "that" guy who fans can identify with and through.

Who is the face of this franchise? Its Hufnagel at this point. Tate just isnt likeable enough nor has he played enough and is probably gone after this season as it looks now.

Nik Lewis has too many transgressions to be that guy. Cornish could be but keeps doing childish things.

Bo levi can be that guy moving forward IMO, but that wont happen til next year if at all.

The stadium is certainly a large part and TV the biggest...but identifying with this club seems to be difficult for many Calgarians.

[shermanator]

TV is part of the problem, but another part is the fact that ticket prices have gone up substantially in the last few years. Why spend $50 for a backless seat, $8 for a beer when you can sit on the couch and enjoy it for free? TV ratings are through the roof for the CFL right now, and the new contract with TSN was 2.5 times more than the last deal ($40 mil per year vs $15 mil per year), so the teams are benefitting that way.

As well, I hear from my friends is that the quality of the play is so subpar when compared to the NFL that they don't even bother watching on TV.

[Fusebox]

The stadium is a joke and downright unsafe if you are bringing children with you.

[JD]

Originally Posted by shermanator

As well, I hear from my friends is that the quality of the play is so subpar when compared to the NFL that they don't even bother watching on TV.

That's a BS excuse. It's that they're not willing to put in the time to learn the game and the players. I love the NFL and fully admit I lose interest in the CFL from the week after Labour Day until the playoffs, but it is not "subpar quality". It's very different and doesn't look the same as the NFL, but these guys are pros and among the very best athletes you can find. Remember, lots of these guys were stars on big time college programs. They didn't make the NFL because they don't necessarily suit the NFL prototype, not because they trip all over themselves on the gridiron.

[Tyler]

I'm one of those casual fans that would go to 1-3 games a year if the stadium wasn't such a craphole. Take from that what you will, but there probably a few thousand of us in the city.

I'm almost of the opinion that a roof is a necessity in Calgary now. It's just too cold for evening games post October.

[CofR]

I personally love the experience of going to Stamps games, especially in the fall when it's colder. A problem that I think is that the stadium is old and doesn't provide for a great experience to the casual fan.

A lot of my friends give me the "poor quality players" excuse, but I don't buy that. Luckily my girlfriend loves going to the games.

[The Familia]

Originally Posted by JD

That's a BS excuse. It's that they're not willing to put in the time to learn the game and the players. I love the NFL and fully admit I lose interest in the CFL from the week after Labour Day until the playoffs, but it is not "subpar quality". It's very different and doesn't look the same as the NFL, but these guys are pros and among the very best athletes you can find. Remember, lots of these guys were stars on big time college programs. They didn't make the NFL because they don't necessarily suit the NFL prototype, not because they trip all over themselves on the gridiron.

Thanks! Finally someone with some common sense! I brought a buddy of mine to the last Stamps game and spent 30 mins trying to explain to him that the CFL is not the AHL to the NFL. The game is so completely different that it requires a completely different kind of athlete. 3 downs, wider field, longer field, 20 second time clock, 12 players, less time outs, field goals at the front of the endzone, motion in the backfield, etc. All these things require a different kind of athlete and skill set. I get angry when people say the CFL is minor league. Comparing the CFL to the NFL is comparing apples to oranges.

As far as Stampeders attendance, I agree it is really disappointing. The product on the field is top notch, but I think there are a few factors which revolve around game day atmosphere that is the driving force. First the stadium is a mess. In a few short years McMahon will soon become the most outdated stadium in the league (next to Montreal, but their stadium has a lot more going for it that masks its age). Winnipeg, Hamilton, Ottawa, Saskatchewan, Toronto will all have brand new stadiums, BC, Edmonton, and Montreal with significant renovations. We need to keep up with the other cities. New stadiums with better concessions, facilities, team stores, concourses, gathering areas, and seats will attract and keep fans.

Second is the large increase in ticket price. Selling the upper nosebleed corners for $40 is ridiculous. No wonder they are empty. I would rather see those seats sell for $20 and be sold out than try and squeeze a couple extra dollars with higher prices but a smaller crowd. Nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd. They need to create a cheaper college rowdy zone and family zone.

Third is in game promotion. The Stamps need to start promoting the tail gate parties, decorate the parking lots with huge banenrs, have inflatable tents for kids, give out free gifts to EVERYONE not the first 1000, throw mini footballs into the upper decks, attract better half time shows, create better fan contests on the field (tired of the blindfold find the raft game), display their history better (Grey Cup banners, plaques, etc.), and finally increase their marketing. I thought with the Flames as owners there would be a lot more marketing. I have seen nothing other than the usual newspaper ads. They have to build the team and league off their long history, rivalries, and exciting future. There is no buzz around the team. To make the fans leave their couch they have to give them a reason to attend. Unfortunately today's fan requires more than just the game.

[OzSome]

I don't think it has something to do with the product. The product is there and they are exciting to watch. Problem I think is the parking. There are not a lot of parking by McMahon Stadium and you have to find parking somewhere else far from the stadium. If you want to bring a kid, it's kind of hard. Another thing like someone mentioned was the TV coverage. They used to block out home games but now it is available every game.

[Red John]

Part of the problem is that the CFL is a dying breed. The officiating is awful and with the inferior talent level and gimmicky rules it's not something the younger generation identifies with. Not to mention it isn't marketed well and is really just a TSN thing sort of like the World Juniors.

Combine that with the fact that the NFL is marketed well and fantasy football has become a casual thing that everyone does instead of just a nerd thing.

The CFL could probably stay relevant by dropping ticket prices to $5 for cheap seats to encourage non-football fans to come out and spend an afternoon in the sun and drink (sort of like baseball). That probably doesn't make financial sense though, or one would think they'd have done that by now.

The CFL is sort of like classical music - your grandparents still watch/listen. And that's about it. The younger/trendy crowd isn't into it. Is it any wonder that the CFL cities with the worst attendance per capita are the ones where there are other things to do?

[M*A*S*H 4077]

The CFL rules are no more gimmicky than the NFL rules. They're just different. Some of us actually like them more

[Red John]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

The CFL rules are no more gimmicky than the NFL rules. They're just different. Some of us actually like them more

This wasn't an attempt to hate on the CFL. It was an attempt to explain why attendance is dropping. While you enjoy it, it seems like many don't, which is why the thread was created.

There has to be a reason for it. Hypothesizing that it's because each passing generation chooses the NFL instead.

[browna]

TV, plain and simple.
No threat of blackouts like the old (6 years ago) days.

If the Stamps had the "often wished for but no one really wanting to pay for 12 times-a-year-for-football" state of the art dome, tickets would be 30%+ or more more and the people would be complaining prices are too high for a family to go to.

I think the restrictive tailgating rules brought in a couple years ago by, among others, the CPS, has something to do with some of that too That said, in some regard you're just attracting the demographic that are there to get trashed before the game with friends and then remain trashed when entering the stadium.

Nothing to do with the NFL, you can be a fan of both just as you can with the NHL or any sports league.

TSN, for the money it's brought in, showing every game, gives fence sitters an easy reason to stay home or go to a buddies or to the pub, as opposed to heading to McMahon.

[Maccalus]

I am a stamps season ticket holder. For the price it is hard to beat a cfl game experience. You can get season tickets from just over $200, which gets you 10 games. It is hard to find better value than that.

The stadium does need some upgrades. The bare bones of the stadium are fine, but the concourse needs to be expanded (2nd row of concourse?), bathrooms need to be added and if possible, replace all the bench seats with seats with backs. Going to a football game on a nice summer day is just great.

The stamps do need to do a better job at marketing themselves. There is no reason that on a nice day that the stadium shouldn't be sold out. Tickets in the corners should go back to a more reasonable price ($20ish) and they need to work on getting more kids into the games (free tickets to schools or something along those lines).

I think the smaller attendance numbers is almost completely driven by the TSN TV contract. On another not this is also what saved the league and is causing its recent growth. Overall the TV contract will hopefully lead to more fans down the road as well and a healthy league.

Quality wise, the CFL is full of high quality players. Most of the star imports could make NFL teams if their situations were different or were a little bigger. The NFL is chock full or favouritism and typecasting when it comes to how they draft and select players for their teams. I am not saying that the CFL players would be stars, but they could be roster players. I really like some of the other CFL rules that make it a much faster paced and exciting game. The motion in the backfield, no contact zone for the receivers and larger field really opens up the offence. We will never be able to compete with the NFL for the top of the top of the field players though as the CFL will never have as much money as the NFL.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Red John

Part of the problem is that the CFL is a dying breed.

That's one thing it isn't. The CFL is stronger than it has been in decades.

TV ratings are strong. League-wide attendance is generally strong. There are new stadiums in Winnipeg and Hamilton; massively renovated stadiums in Vancouver and Ottawa; a planned new stadium in Regina; and likely a new stadium plan to be announced for Calgary. The league is expanding back to Ottawa next season with what appears to be a strong ownership group. There is a lot of buzz around the idea of putting a team somewhere in the Maritimes.


Look at this chart: http://stats.cfldb.ca/league/cfl/attendance/ When the Stamps were routinely packing 30-35,000 people in to McMahon in the early-mid 90s, the league actually had some of its lowest average attendance. Now, the Stamps' numbers have dipped, but the other teams have gone up.

[edn88]

The stadium is terrible - the main reason I don't attend Stamps games. I went to a Lions/Stamps game in Vancouver and it was thousand times better experience from a stadium experience.

As much as the Saddledome needs to be upgraded, McMahon needs it more. Better seating, better concourse, better bathrooms etc.

[PeteLFan]

McMahon is a dump. The concourse is garbage and the steel bleachers are like a high school game.

The products is fine although 1 Grey cup in 6 seasons, should have had more.

[Jiggy]

I think the CFL game is awesome. It's also more fun to watch than the NFL 80% of the time. I know people who think the CFL is "weak", yet they only like the NFL cause of the monster name it is. Stamps have a great product on the field. They've only had a real bad stretch for about four years in the early-mid 2000's. But...

McMahon is a terrible place to watch a game, especially in the cold. Plus, they took away tail gating and CPS started giving out tickets in the process. It really drove people away from the great football experience. There is plenty of Stamps fans in this city, I'm sure with a new stadium and tail gating rules they would sell out in no time,

[You Need a Thneed]

Yup, a new/renoed stadium will bring back the fans.

It's still a good time, I've taken my kids at least once a year for the last couple.