Arena Negotiation Discussion v2

[jlh2640]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Completely agree.

The Leafs barn does a decent job of this, they have a DJ spinning newer music. The problem is you have to make 6 figures to be there consistently, so everyone is older.

Ummm. Have you heard their goal song or win song ..... that DJ is not spinning anything new then. Worst in the league

[Slava]

Originally Posted by jlh2640

Ummm. Have you heard their goal song or win song ..... that DJ is not spinning anything new then. Worst in the league

You made me look that up and I’m honestly astounded that they would use that. (It’s Hall and Oates “You make my dreams come true” to save anyone else).

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by jlh2640

Ummm. Have you heard their goal song or win song ..... that DJ is not spinning anything new then. Worst in the league

Oh yeah it’s terrible and not at all what I’m talking about.

[robertsfanatic]

Originally Posted by jlh2640

Ummm. Have you heard their goal song or win song ..... that DJ is not spinning anything new then. Worst in the league

that was picked by the players...very odd choice.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

As great as Bettman has been in making the NHL as big as it is... I can't help but think it's time to get someone new in charge with a vision for the future.

Feels like the NHL today is as Bettman intended it to be, vision achieved, hang your hat and go forth. Someone needs to come in and figure out how to appeal to people under 30, and their children.

I think dino already said what part of the problem is and it's money.

the cost to go to a game is pretty huge. Even if you can afford it, I don't know many people willing to spend $500 or more for a night out with their family, even if money isn't an issue.

There are also are so many entertainment options now compared to the past. I don't know how you hook someone on spending 3 hours a night 2-3 days per week watching a game that often isn't very exciting.

I'm a hockey fan and I can't be bothered to spend the time on my team that I did 20 years ago.
My kid is 6 and she still hasn't seen more than 2 -3 minutes of a game. I actually don't want her to get into hockey as I'd prefer she get into a more affordable sport.

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

I think dino already said what part of the problem is and it's money.

the cost to go to a game is pretty huge. Even if you can afford it, I don't know many people willing to spend $500 or more for a night out with their family, even if money isn't an issue.

There are also are so many entertainment options now compared to the past. I don't know how you hook someone on spending 3 hours a night 2-3 days per week watching a game that often isn't very exciting.

I'm a hockey fan and I can't be bothered to spend the time on my team that I did 20 years ago.
My kid is 6 and she still hasn't seen more than 2 -3 minutes of a game. I actually don't want her to get into hockey as I'd prefer she get into a more affordable sport.

Sorry to break it to you but there is no affordable sport at the highest level either to play or to watch. Elite sport is not necessarily the ability to play the game, it is to play the game.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

Sorry to break it to you but there is no affordable sport at the highest level either to play or to watch. Elite sport is not necessarily the ability to play the game, it is to play the game.

I wasn't talking about my kid playing at elite levels.
just playing organized sports at a low level while she's young.

soccer and basketball for my family.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

I wasn't talking about my kid playing at elite levels.
just playing organized sports at a low level while she's young.

soccer and basketball for my family.

You aren’t already pencilling in your 6 year old to play at the “highest level”!?!? What are you even doing with your life?


Seriously, is it news to some people that hockey is probably the most expensive sport to sign your young kids up for?

[PepsiFree]

Money definitely plays a big role. I don't think it plays too much of one in terms of fans, though, as it's pretty cheap to watch at home/at the bar and it can still be affordable to go to a game depending on where you're sitting.

I do think the money required to enter the sport plays a big factor though. It has to be the most expensive by far, even if your kid is just going out playing pickup at an outdoor rink, the cost is what... 100x times higher than a bunch of kids grabbing a basketball and finding an empty outdoor court?

Hockey is most definitely a rich person's sport and still very much a white sport (though that's changing over time). Perhaps that plays a role in its limited appeal and ageing fan demographic? Combined with repeated issues over the bro culture in hockey, there are a lot of little things that go against the long-term viability of professional hockey.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

You aren’t already pencilling in your 6 year old to play at the “highest level”!?!? What are you even doing with your life?


Seriously, is it news to some people that hockey is probably the most expensive sport to sign your young kids up for?

I don't think it's news, but I believe you're more likely to become a lifelong fan if you play the game.
So if more people are playing other sports when they're young, then it's going to be a problem down the road when there isn't that same connection to the sport.

with a new arena, the prices are probably going to go up 25-50%. that's going to price a lot of people out of attending games. (just guessing. too lazy to look at price increases for Edmonton's new arena)

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by dino7c

who knew charging hundreds of dollars per seat and blacking out games on TV wouldn't attract young fans

I'm amazed more people didn't see it coming. I remember being scolded on CP by many for suggesting it was a poor business model for the Flames to charge the max they can.

Lots on here defended having 2000 empty seats at the Dome, and 10000 empty seats at McMahon as better than sell outs if you're charging more and making more revenue with some empty seats on a game to game basis.

I was told I didn't understand business and revenue and needed to look at the math. But it was evident then and will become more so that there is a MAJOR future revenue loss in maximizing current revenue to the point where mostly middle aged, well off men are comprising your ticket buyers. Major. Poor future planning by pretty much ever major sport is a big reason why they're dying out.

[jayswin]

"We have great numbers, we are healthy and have a desirable product, and therefore we will price out the lower and most of the middle class from attending more than a couple games a year, and cater to the business world and high earners, that's where the revenue is!!".

Wait, why is the next generation not interested in our product? And why are half the people in the current generation that follow our sport not buying tickets?!! This is so confusing!!!

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by jayswin

"We have great numbers, we are healthy and have a desirable product, and therefore we will price out the lower and most of the middle class from attending more than a couple games a year, and cater to the business world and high earners, that's where the revenue is!!".

Wait, why is the next generation not interested in our product? And why are half the people in the current generation that follow our sport not buying tickets?!! This is so confusing!!!

Please cite where you got this quote from. No member of the Flames ownership or management has ever made a statement like this, this is the type of thing to incite anger against the evil ownership group.

[jayswin]

What? That was a mocking, sarcastic quote of all professional sports owners and leagues, not specific to the Flames. Although, their actions fit right in with the rest of pro sports owners and leagues in maximizing revenue in the short term and losing younger and less wealthy fans in the long term.

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by jayswin

What? That was a mocking, sarcastic quote of all professional sports owners and leagues, not specific to the Flames. Although, their actions fit right in with the rest of pro sports owners and leagues in maximizing revenue in the short term and losing younger and less wealthy fans in the long term.

Thanks for answering. I think in future "quotes" like this it may be beneficial to note at the beginning it is sarcastic.

[calgaryred]

Originally Posted by jayswin

"We have great numbers, we are healthy and have a desirable product, and therefore we will price out the lower and most of the middle class from attending more than a couple games a year, and cater to the business world and high earners, that's where the revenue is!!".

Wait, why is the next generation not interested in our product? And why are half the people in the current generation that follow our sport not buying tickets?!! This is so confusing!!!

Who said that Kevin Lowe?

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

Thanks for answering. I think in future "quotes" like this it may be beneficial to note at the beginning it is sarcastic.

Haha you can't be serious?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by calgaryred

Who said that Kevin Lowe?

The fun thing about Lowe was you didn’t have to make up ridiculous quotes. “Tier one fans”.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Beatle17

Please cite where you got this quote from. No member of the Flames ownership or management has ever made a statement like this, this is the type of thing to incite anger against the evil ownership group.

"I think this has to be one of the most unintentionally hilarious posts on CalgaryPuck in some time. I've heard of the sarcasm detector being broken, but rarely do you see someone so clearly born without one."

- Flams Manegemont

[CliffFletcher]

The isn’t an NHL thing. And it isn’t about the cost of going to games - it’s not as though the
Dome was packed with 20-somethings in the 90s. Pro sports are declining in popularity with the young full-stop. There’s just way more options for entertainment without having to leave your home.