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hrc666
(Loves To Post!)
1363 Posts |
 Posted - 03/02/2010 : 10:21:59 PM
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I received both an email and a letter describing the ticket plans for next season. The half season plan appears to have gone bye bye.
Here's what the plans are:
Full (36 games + 4 buddy passes) $360. Retail value $540.
24 Game: $264. Retail value $312.
12 Game: $144. Retail value $156.
Single game tickets will be $13 and $25.50 for the first row.
I was worried that the $2 (20%) increase in prices this year would have an adverse affect upon attendance. Obviously, I was very wrong.
Given that attendance is up 26% with a 20% price increase, the Cyclones management must feel that a $1 (8.3%) increase can be absorbed quite easily. I hope that they are right. I wouldn't have pushed the envelope again even for a buck, but if they'd listened to me they wouldn't have experienced a 50%+ gain in ticket revenues this season
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"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 03/02/2010 10:22:56 PM |
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Donnie Hockey
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1514 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2010 : 10:30:26 PM
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| Cyclones season tickets for $360 or 4-6 NHL games in Tampa for free in seats that have a retail value of $227.75 per game and include food and beverage. Decisions, decisions. |
www.twitter.com/donhelbig |
Edited by - Donnie Hockey on 03/02/2010 10:33:18 PM |
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MikeyB
(Rookie)
20 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2010 : 10:36:20 PM
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| To be honest I wasn't planning on getting season tickets next year and was just going to do walkup for the 10-12 regular season games I wanted to attend. The price increase will probably put a damper on those plans. At $10 the cyclones were clearly a bargain. At $13 I think a lot of people will start to consider other entertainment options. |
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Catch22
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
676 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2010 : 10:39:45 PM
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Given that I can get a 12 game package for less than a decent seat at ONE NHL game I'm not going to complain.
Besides, even at $12 and $13 Cyclones tickets are still at the bottom of the price list in minor league hockey. We were paying $14 to watch SPHL games down in Georgia, and I think my wife paid $15 for USHL tickets last year.
Be realistic. The $10 thing was just a gimmick to get people in the door and hooked. Looks like it worked.
My first Cyclones game was in January of '07, it was a Saturday night, and there were *maybe* 700 people in the building. No, the weather wasn't bad.
There were over 7000 at the last Saturday night game we went to.
So... Yeah.
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Yes, I grew up playing hockey... In Alabama. |
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Donnie Hockey
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1514 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2010 : 10:48:24 PM
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| You can go next door and see some of the best young players in Major League Baseball such as Joey Votto and Jay Bruce and enjoy an ice cold Pepsi or beer for less than you can see a low level minor league hockey game. The bleacher seats at GABP offer a great view of the field. |
www.twitter.com/donhelbig |
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hrc666
(Loves To Post!)
1363 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2010 : 11:00:58 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Catch22
Be realistic. The $10 thing was just a gimmick to get people in the door and hooked. Looks like it worked.
Absolutely agreed on all points. Should the Cyclones continue to trend up in attendance and sustain an average of 4500 or so, then this organization's strategy would be appropriate for a Harvard Business School case study.
It's very rare that a failing minor league hockey team ever turns it around. Most go by way of the Tigers, IHL Cyclones, ECHL 2 Cyclones (2001-04), Bombers, and the Ducks. The aggressive pricing strategy combined with adequate advertising, creative promotion and energetic sales efforts have allowed the Cyclones to be an exception rather than the rule.
Management hasn't called it wrong yet. I'm banking on them being correct about the market's ability to withstand an 8% price increase.
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"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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Donnie Hockey
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1514 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2010 : 11:05:13 PM
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| In case nobody has noticed, the Cyclones, despite their 26 percent increase in attendance, still rank near the bottom of the ECHL in attendance and more importantly in the category that matters most, ticket revenue. |
www.twitter.com/donhelbig |
Edited by - Donnie Hockey on 03/02/2010 11:12:50 PM |
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TwoMinutesWellWorthIt
(The Next Level!)
139 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2010 : 11:15:21 PM
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I could see college students studying this some day regardless of the outcome. In my college years, we did more marketing case studies in which the company dissolved in bankruptcy rather than flourishing in the end.
I suppose this is a sports marketing professor's goldmine of class content. |
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Gordon Bombay
(The Next Level!)
USA
160 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2010 : 11:20:16 PM
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I gotta say this is a bad idea. I realize its only one dollar, but if this makes the news at all, all people will hear is "Cyclones raise ticket prices." Recently myself and some friends took a trip to a Dayton Gems game. Parking was free, tickets were $10. Even if the tickets were more, the free parking is a big draw. At USBA, if you're not a regular who doesn't mind parking uptown on the street, down the way when Sawyer Point doesn't staff someone or lucky enough to get the public landing you're stuck paying ridiculous parking prices. To the casual fan, it's upwards of $10 to park in the GABP and arena garages. Now the real price of your ticket is $23. And parking goes up when the Reds are in town, not to mention if the Reds are playing the same night the Public Landing goes bye bye and any lots that may not be aware of the clones are aware of the reds and are charging.
With a team that has lots of competition for the entertainment dollar, they need every fan they can get.
quote:
Originally posted by Donnie Hockey
Cyclones season tickets for $360 or 4-6 NHL games in Tampa for free in seats that have a retail value of $227.75 per game and include food and beverage. Decisions, decisions.
You know I don't have the connections you have and I never worked in hockey so I won't be getting any comped tickets like the ones you showed me, but I was debating what ticket package to get for next season. The half-season package for the clones seemed like my best bet, now its gone. Comparably I was debating getting a Blue Jackets 10 game package for around the same price as the former half season. Now I think I'll just do that and when I wanna go to a clones game I'll just do walk up.
For $1 more you can get view level seats at a Reds game, for $7 you can get Reds bleachers seats and $5 is your cheapest option at GABP at the wide view seats. Not to mention they have multiple $1 food stands that offer a variety of food options every game and constantly market that with their family deals. So if you have young kids and are having to chose to take them to a clones playoff game or a Reds game, you're gonna pay the same for parking, but which is the better value? Not saying its always gonna be the Reds, but the Cyclones are treading into a dangerous market with a minor league product that needs every fan it can get.
I think this is a stupid idea. |
Recreational Trespassing, Rants about the Reds, Hanging out with Zamboni Drivers and Photography:
www.queencitydisco.com |
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Donnie Hockey
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1514 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2010 : 11:27:31 PM
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| The Reds have a great opportunity to use the Cyclones ticket price increase to market themselves as more affordable for families than minor league hockey. |
www.twitter.com/donhelbig |
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Gordon Bombay
(The Next Level!)
USA
160 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2010 : 11:31:57 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Donnie Hockey
The Reds have a great opportunity to use the Cyclones ticket price increase to market themselves as more affordable for families than minor league hockey.
And that's sad. Granted the Reds are dealing with one of the smaller markets in major league baseball and haven't had much success on the field in recent years to draw fans in, they certainly do bring in tons of people with their food and family packs as well as fireworks nights and other promotions. Not to mention, they have alcohol free zones where you don't have to worry about someone chucking a beer on the ice, i mean field.
I'm a huge Reds fan, but I love hockey, so I'm still definitely going to go watch and cheer for the clones in the playoffs, but the Cyclones just made it an even harder decision for the casual fan/family looking for the best bang for their buck. |
Recreational Trespassing, Rants about the Reds, Hanging out with Zamboni Drivers and Photography:
www.queencitydisco.com |
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hrc666
(Loves To Post!)
1363 Posts |
Posted - 03/02/2010 : 11:55:00 PM
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I don't know if part of the Cyclone's strategy is to push more of the regular attendees to purchase season tickets. It may be. A full season ticket with the 4 buddy passes is $360. That comes out to $9 per ticket. For those who aren't mathematically retarded, they'll be able to see that a $9 ticket represents a 31% savings over the single game box office price (4/13=.307). With the ticket exchange program-which allows all unused tickets to be exchanged-the incentive to buy season tickets is fairly high.
Once again, I don't know how (or even if) this factored into the thinking of the price increase, but it is a possibility given that it is no secret that the season ticket base isn't very strong.
My guess is that the vast majority of those who are somewhat put off by the small increase will ultimately not reduce the number of games which they attend. I would also think that there may be an uptick in season ticket sales as well. |
"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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Gordon Bombay
(The Next Level!)
USA
160 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2010 : 12:01:04 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by hrc666
I don't know if part of the Cyclone's strategy is to push more of the regular attendees to purchase season tickets. It may be. A full season ticket with the 4 buddy passes is $360. That comes out to $9 per ticket. For those who aren't mathematically retarded, they'll be able to see that a $9 ticket represents a 31% savings over the single game box office price (4/13=.307). With the ticket exchange program-which allows all unused tickets to be exchanged-the incentive to buy season tickets is fairly high.
That may be true and you do save quite a bit, but the average casual fan and family isn't going to become season ticket holders. This is minor league hockey, I would focus more on getting butts in the seats through promotions more often rather than try to boost season ticket sales, at this level season tickets aren't the most important factor.
You said you got an email/letter about the ticket sale increase, is it available online via a press release or anything? Looking to forward it to someone who isn't a regular 60 reader. |
Recreational Trespassing, Rants about the Reds, Hanging out with Zamboni Drivers and Photography:
www.queencitydisco.com |
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TwoMinutesWellWorthIt
(The Next Level!)
139 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2010 : 12:33:15 AM
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I don't think that the market is as price sensitive as some may think. The reason why there has been an attendance increase was because they began to do some things right. For example, whether it's $1 hot dogs or $1 beer, there's some reason to go to every Cyclones game. Definitely a step up from the free playing card of a team member that the average person hadn't ever heard of given out at each game like two or three years ago. Additionally, I think things like core exposure, advertising and community outreach have improved over the past few years.
However, certain things need to be improved to ensure the continuous growth of the attendance figures. Group sales, in almost all sports on the minor league level, are king. There needs to be a new pricing structure including discount tiers for large groups. The free t-shirt thing just doesn't cut it. This could be one of the intentions behind raising the individual game tickets. It could give them more flexibility with group sales.
I don't think a price jump from $12 to $13 is really that relevant for individual ticket sales at all. It likely won't be until prices are raised into a higher mental bracket, with $15 being the price point I have in mind. |
Edited by - TwoMinutesWellWorthIt on 03/03/2010 12:33:58 AM |
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somebeach
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1224 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2010 : 06:50:45 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Donnie Hockey
You can go next door and see some of the best young players in Major League Baseball such as Joey Votto and Jay Bruce and enjoy an ice cold Pepsi or beer for less than you can see a low level minor league hockey game. The bleacher seats at GABP offer a great view of the field.
That is, if you like baseball. I, for one, can't stand baseball. |
What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
ZINGER!!!!! |
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Catch22
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
676 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2010 : 11:34:48 AM
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Yep. You can go watch the Reds lose and not make the playoffs. Again. Or you can watch the best pro team in Cincinnati.
I'm just surprised Donnie had negative input here. That is SO not like him. I'm very concerned.
PS - Its not a business school case study. Its the very basic model of a drug dealer. The first hit is free. Get 'em hooked. Raise the price.
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Yes, I grew up playing hockey... In Alabama. |
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