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cove291
(The Next Level!)
USA
326 Posts |
 Posted - 12/10/2008 : 8:48:31 PM
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Well, our attendance is back to being the 2nd worst in the league just above Johnstown. I think main reason is lack of advertising....just a couple of billboards and its kinda hard reading them and the promos going 55-75mph. And of course the lack of news coveraqe because of our not so good record. Even when the Enquirer had a big headline with the fight on Friday it turned out to be a tiny section on the Cyclones, which could of been a lot bigger with the rare goalie fight. |
Sec. 110 Row H
1-19-09 The begining of the biggest mistake in history! |
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Randy
(The Next Level!)
USA
432 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2008 : 9:19:46 PM
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| The cyclones didn't even get on the front page of the paper when they won the Kelly Cup. But the Bengals or Reds get on the front page if they just play any game win or lose. |
Cyclones Fan, Win or Lose
Bengals Fan - Never! |
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JTest
(The Next Level!)
USA
102 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2008 : 10:04:17 PM
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| The media in Cincinnati is aweful - it's unfair to our guys |
Section 128 - row o |
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bags
(Person With Nothing Better To Do!)
USA
2224 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2008 : 10:47:55 PM
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Lack of attendance is mainly to blame on this horrible schedule we have.First we
start out with all those road games and then bunches of home games against the
same teams.When the Reds play a three game series against the Pirates,how many
people go to more than one game.We just finished playing Johnstown three straight
games.Look at the cost of 4 games in 5 nights.We are about to have 7 home games in
11 days! My wallet is empty from parking and even a reasonable amount of food and
drinks.We have promotions that no one knows about.Why didn't we pay for a few tv spots
with a player holding the ring and the bobblehead up.Hey ushers-give out schedules
to everyone leaving after the game instead of letting them collect dust in boxes.
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cyclonehole
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
985 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2008 : 01:09:01 AM
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Media and advertising are nonexistent, as usual. The latter is the one to be worried about, the media was to be expected. Schedule has also not helped, though that's the ECHL, and it will always be that way. Billboards and the occasional commercial during a Blue Jackets game is not going to cut it. That's all I've seen. Hell, I'm surprised as many people showed up to Throwback Night as they did with the lack of advertising (oh wait, that might have been the Reach magazine game). No non-casual fans know there's a bobblehead night this weekend. They do have a pic of the bobblehead on the electronic billboards downtown, but like I said, that doesn't cut it.
Weeknight attendance is just never going to be good, and we're always going to have among the most in the league. Then again, sometimes it really puzzles me. A few weeks ago we had the Wednesday game which 1800-some showed up to out of nowhere, and then the last Friday and Saturday only had about that (which was down for weekends), then this week's weeknight games are back down where they normally are. Makes no sense. With Tuesday's game being rescheduled the way it was, there were actually more people there than I thought. I don't recall them making any effort to let fans know of the change, despite the STHs but of course they knew anyway. Reds Fest is going to hurt this weekend as well, always does. The good news is that attendance statistically picks up in about January, the second half of the season, when it is more full "hockey mode". Let's hope. But that will never happen with the current advertising. |
Edited by - cyclonehole on 12/11/2008 01:12:58 AM |
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hrc666
(Loves To Post!)
1363 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2008 : 01:50:38 AM
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The numbers aren't so great. But, the Clones attendance is up 30.5% from the same number of dates last season (13). They have drawn 29,193 (2246 avg) compared to 22368 (1721 avg).Also, the team had a 3000+ average through their first 7 games. Since they returned from suspension, they had never had a 3000+ average for more than 2 games (06-07).
Last year, the Cyclones averaged 83 % more post January 1 than they did pre- Jan. 1. In the 20 post Jan 1 games last season the team averaged 3163 per game. A similar increase this season would give them an average of 4123 post Jan. 1. Whether this materializes or not, who knows? We shall see.
Also keep in mind that attendance throughout minor league hockey is down. The AHL is down 7%. The IHL down 5%. The CHL down 3%. The SPHL down 4%. Only the ECHL is up and it is up less than 1%. In the ECHL only 5 of 23 (now 22) teams show an increase. Other than our 30.5% increase, there are increases in Alaska (2%), Victoria (5%), Bakerfield (3%) and-ahem,cough,cough-Dayton (5%).
Only Tulsa of the CHL has increased as much as we have. Though our comparison for year to year figures is admittedly upon a low base number, the fact the team is up 30% in light of the economy and Hamilton County's rapacious $10 parking is something in which I can find reason to be enouraged. If, as others say, the team has been light on advertising (I don't watch the tube or listen to much radio so I wouldn't know), then perhaps they are saving their advertising budget for after the first of the year when hockey attendance traditionally picks up in Cincinnati.
The Cyclones won't have the benefit of newly lowered prices this season, but should last season's post 83% Jan 1 attendance increase occur again and the Clones average a tad over 4000 per game after the New Year, then I would think that they would be quite pleased with that.
The weekend/weekday mix of games post Jan 1 is 10/10, so I don't know if 4000 is a realistic figure. Should the 5203 post Jan 1 weekend figures of last season be increased by the 30% which attendance has been so far, then the 4000 average (post Jan1) figure is reachable.
And keep in mind the fact that the Cyclones attendance numbers aren't some fantastic fictional account like Dayton's are and the IHL and pre-suspension EHL Clones, and a former local AHL franchise's were.
Though I do think that Tuesday's 1002 looked much closer to 6-800. For the season, my estimated attendance vs. what the Cyclones announce only shows a 5% juice factor-which is basically no 'juicing' at all. |
"The only way David Desharnais will see an NHL game is if he buys a ticket".
--donnie hockey
"David Desharnais will be invisible during 5 on 5 hockey. IN THE AHL"
--donnie hockey
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Edited by - hrc666 on 12/11/2008 02:02:51 AM |
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R_L
(The Next Level!)
177 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2008 : 04:12:44 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by hrc666Last year, the Cyclones averaged 83 % more post January 1 than they did pre- Jan. 1. In the 20 post Jan 1 games last season the team averaged 3163 per game. A similar increase this season would give them an average of 4123 post Jan. 1. Whether this materializes or not, who knows? We shall see.
Slashing the ticket prices after January 1st is the reason for the attendance gain last season. Everyone knows this.
Once Hamilton County saw that increase in attendance, they decided they would get their piece of the pie as well. Hence the $10 parking this season. |
[url=http://avatars.jurko.net][img]http://img1.jurko.net/avatar_3822.gif[/img][/url] |
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spitfirehcky
(The Next Level!)
130 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2008 : 06:35:14 AM
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| Parking could be another issue like R_L said... plus with economy and people are getting laid off of their jobs.. |
2008 Kelly Cup Champions - CINCINNATI CYCLONES!! Lets Repeat til we get beat! |
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cove291
(The Next Level!)
USA
326 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2008 : 08:08:29 AM
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| I still think if the Cyclones would spend a little more on advertising and have more $1 and $2 beer nights during Friday and Saturday games it would boost attendance quite a bit. I know a lot of people that only like going to hockey games when they have money to drink and don't like paying $6 for a beer. A lot of people also probably don't keep up with the Cyclones schedule like we do...especially the fly by night fan we had during the Championships. |
Sec. 110 Row H
1-19-09 The begining of the biggest mistake in history! |
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cloneinator
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
597 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2008 : 10:42:10 AM
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We all know we can never count on the media for help in this town. Paul Daugherty did some nice write ups last year, but everyone is to busy bashing on the Bungles.
I really don't know the Cyclones are doing much more to try to draw people in this year. They do their usual ads in "Reach" magazine and a couple billboards, but they are not doing their "Buy one get one free" tickets this year, or publications like Smart Circle. The promotions are nice, but really only the regular fans ever really know about them.
I'm also under the impression ownership is not all that concerned about attendance as long as it's paying for itself and making a little money to pay the bills of the US Bank Arena. |
...And on the eighth day, GOD created the Cyclones! |
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bags
(Person With Nothing Better To Do!)
USA
2224 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2008 : 11:55:29 AM
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For all the non beer drinkers-please press the ears of all your agents to have some
$1 soda nights also. I have been pushing for $1 CANS of pop or even $2 bottles.Both
would still be money makers while giving families and non drinkers a break. |
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CycloneRyderfan73
(The Next Level!)
USA
225 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2008 : 2:38:14 PM
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They need to do some sort of package deal for families. Like 4 tickets, 4 drinks, 4 hot dogs or whatever for $50. Other teams in other leagues do this and it works pretty well. $1 beer night isnt gonna bring in a big crowd or any families. With the economy the way it is people just cant afford to spend money on events like sports. One of my friends has 3 kids and he use to take them to at least 10 games every season, but he hasn't been able to go to a game this season. He just got laid off his job and is struggling to keep food on the table and heat in his house.
Media coverage has been nonexistent for 17 years, so why would it change now? It is NEVER going to change so we need to get over it and move on. There are some things as far as advertising and deals go though that I think ownership could do to bring in a few more fans and families. |
GO HABS GO!!! |
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packmunkey
(Rookie)
10 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2008 : 2:57:46 PM
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CycloneRyderfan73, Believe it or not they actually do have a family deal. This just goes back to the lack of promotion... but keep in mind this is a minor league team. I equate our team to a niche movie with a cult following, while the majors are all summer blockbusters. Of course we aren't going to get more pub. Someone should petition the Enquirer to write a cyclones column for free. By the way in case anyone needs the family deal info it is as follows:
4 tickets
4 hotdogs
4 sodas
4 cyclones winter hats
4 children skate passes for sports plus
4 20 point player cards for sports plus
All this for $69.... call 421-PUCK |
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fruitloop
(Rookie)
USA
35 Posts |
Posted - 12/11/2008 : 4:38:06 PM
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it's been said, it's not media. they're too busy with the pro stuff. and college basketball is in season, so forget about hockey in the news. i'll go with the lack of good promotion people. it's all wrong.
i got a picture on the cover of reach magazine, but nothing inside of it, then i get a small ad in the next reach magazine. i've seen the billboard in covington. it's kind of hard to read at those speeds, just like the naughty/nice one coming south. but i've also seen a billboard in avondale. avondale?
push the giveaways more. if people knew they could get a replica championship ring, a good chunk of the 13+ that were there in june might have returned. and the problem with the upcoming bobblehead is nobody knows who it is. call desharnais "the next up-and-coming nhl star".
offer cheaper concession nights. put a buy one get one ticket voucher in cincinnati magazine, or the enquirer. pump up the dayton games as local rivalries (like they used to do with cleveland). throw some family stuff in there to make it a bit, um, cleaner. with some of the people i've sat around (people who use the f-word like it means hello, and people who think hockey is only about fights), i'm not sure i'd want to take a kid there. i'm not asking for a teddy bear hug night, just something to make the crowd a bit cleaner, like a family section or something.
but attendance is really down because they have a winning record. nobody in cincinnati knows what to do.
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"drop the puck it's time to go!" - dropkick murphys |
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Islander fan in KY
(The Next Level!)
219 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2008 : 08:44:32 AM
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| I'll admit that I have not gone to a game yet this season. The 1 or 2 I was going to go to something came up. And with the holidays coming (and my trip back home) money is alittle tight right now. I'm planning on atending Saturdays game so hopefully nothing comes up. After the holiday bills come in I hope to start showing up again. |
"Hecklers Grove - The PREMIER fan site for Cincinnati Hockey!"
.... Yea Right. |
Edited by - Islander fan in KY on 12/12/2008 08:45:18 AM |
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XcloneiacX
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
869 Posts |
Posted - 12/12/2008 : 09:21:31 AM
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| Heck we should all write letters to the editors and see if one finally makes it through. |
CYCLONES HOCKEY! |
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