It's time for another episode of "Predict the Crowd" 2/4/08 Pittsburgh.

Me saying it will be 14,081.

14560 Including my father and I GO DEVILS!

14 824

14,678

I see no reason why the crowd would be any better than last week's game. 13,432.

well, my choice of 18200 for Saturday's game being just under 3000 to the over.

14532

"Lets GO DEVILS"

It will be terrible, I'm thinking 13,860.

13,410

13,735

It will be terrible, I'm thinking 13,860.
DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THE MEADOWLANDS? AHHHHHHHH!
:EXPLODES:
14500

DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THE MEADOWLANDS? AHHHHHHHH!
:EXPLODES:
14500

You expect more from a new arena. Don't compare Rock crowds with CAA crowds.

You expect more from a new arena. Don't compare Rock crowds with CAA crowds.
I expect better too, but with this price structure dont expect midweek sellouts.
The Mezzanine seats need to be repriced, its ridiculous. I know and have seen how passionate our fans our first hand, price the seats fairly and more will come.

I expect better too, but with this price structure dont expect midweek sellouts.
The Mezzanine seats need to be repriced, its ridiculous.

I totally agree, but 13,000 still isn't a good crowd for a new arena. No matter what day of the week.

13,944

I totally agree, but 13,000 still isn't a good crowd for a new arena. No matter what day of the week.

$100 upper deck seats. Some behind the net. 'Nuff said.

14,653

I say 14,097. They should paper the hell out of this game just so it looks respectable to the 48 people in the rest of the country watching on Versus.

No Crosby or league coverage = poor attendance.

13,200

12,991 small and quiet crowd vs Pitt once again, no home ice advantage :(

12,991 small and quiet crowd vs Pitt once again, no home ice advantage :(

Wow....there was more than that last week and Crosby wasn't there!

14,069 and I'm sitting in Club Seats tonight!! :yo:

I'm thinking there will be a small crowd tonight. 13,767

Wow....there was more than that last week and Crosby wasn't there!

14,069 and I'm sitting in Club Seats tonight!! :yo:

13,500 last week, i was there and it was a very quiet, lethargic crowd aside from a few chants in the upper level.
Monday night, Super Bowl hangover = small crowd unfortunately.
I wish we had 17,625 every game but it is what it is.

12,123

13,300.

They have themselves to blame. They had two weeks to know this was a hangover game and they should have promo'd it, the only way they'd draw is if the parade was today and everyone was so damn drunk they confused the Rock with a giant bar, and stormed off the train.

On that topic, the Thrashers "clearance sale" their games with poor gates. Lowers for $40, uppers for $20. What do we have, $100 balcony uppers? $100 balcony uppers, I predict the crowd tonight as... 8. I'll take a head count at 7:20 and I betcha it's 8 or lower.

Of course, if you "clearance sale" the tickets, the STH's get pissed off because they see their tickets as a investment instead of a donation... for whatever reason.

13,300.

They have themselves to blame. They had two weeks to know this was a hangover game and they should have promo'd it, the only way they'd draw is if the parade was today and everyone was so damn drunk they confused the Rock with a giant bar, and stormed off the train.

On that topic, the Thrashers "clearance sale" their games with poor gates. Lowers for $40, uppers for $20. What do we have, $100 balcony uppers? $100 balcony uppers, I predict the crowd tonight as... 8. I'll take a head count at 7:20 and I betcha it's 8 or lower.

Of course, if you "clearance sale" the tickets, the STH's get pissed off because they see their tickets as a investment instead of a donation... for whatever reason.

I have been thinking like that for weeks now. I don't understand how hard it is to come up with this stuff.

Don't the Islanders do something like that as well?

13,300.

They have themselves to blame. They had two weeks to know this was a hangover game and they should have promo'd it, the only way they'd draw is if the parade was today and everyone was so damn drunk they confused the Rock with a giant bar, and stormed off the train.

On that topic, the Thrashers "clearance sale" their games with poor gates. Lowers for $40, uppers for $20. What do we have, $100 balcony uppers? $100 balcony uppers, I predict the crowd tonight as... 8. I'll take a head count at 7:20 and I betcha it's 8 or lower.

Of course, if you "clearance sale" the tickets, the STH's get pissed off because they see their tickets as a investment instead of a donation... for whatever reason.
<main nhl board>"STOP WHINING STOP WHINING DEVILS FANS ARE THE WORST HUR HUR HUR DIAHREEA WHY CANT YOU SELL OUT GAMEEEZZZZZ" </main nhl board>
Look at how cheap Buffalo Sabres and San Jose tickets are, it makes me sick. Jeff V, you are my hero but lower these ****ing prices next season.

I have been thinking like that for weeks now. I don't understand how hard it is to come up with this stuff.

Don't the Islanders do something like that as well?

They try, but I don't remember them out and out admitting "hey, no one's going to be here, we've got dirt cheap tickets now!" like the Thrashers do.

Although they do have some kind of Valentines Day deal they announced where I think they have to be losing money, they're giving away more than what they're charging.

<main nhl board>"STOP WHINING STOP WHINING DEVILS FANS ARE THE WORST HUR HUR HUR DIAHREEA WHY CANT YOU SELL OUT GAMEEEZZZZZ" </main nhl board>
Look at how cheap Buffalo Sabres and San Jose tickets are, it makes me sick. Jeff V, you are my hero but lower these ****ing prices next season.

Buffalo makes no gate because of their ticket prices. But they have great crowds and have cultivated it.

Their tickets are too cheap to work in the long run, but there's gotta be a happy medium. I don't know how in the world Jeff thought he was going to sell out that building every night with those prices.... I don't know if there's anywhere in the league that matches up with our baseline prices (yeah, obviously you have the $1,000 seats at MSG and things like that).

I cringe at what kind of weekday playoff crowds they're going to have if they do the wrong thing re: playoff pricing. I could see it now. $125-150 face value yellows in the first two rounds.

I heard that the $10 seats were going to be $25 face-value for the 1st and 2nd rounds of the playoffs...I'm not sure how true that is, but it shall be interesting if that is in fact true.

holy **** I didnt even think about the playoff raise.
You know they are going to do it.

13,154, I'll say it's the worst gate of the season given the fact that people are hung over from Super Bowl parties, it's a weekday and it's the third of five home games in a nine-day stretch.

OTOH I'd rather be at this game than watching it since the game's on VERSUS instead of FSNY.

I heard that the $10 seats were going to be $25 face-value for the 1st and 2nd rounds of the playoffs...I'm not sure how true that is, but it shall be interesting if that is in fact true.

I expected either $20 or $25, that's still not terrible compared to the $45 cheapest seats in the Meadowlands. I wonder what they'd raise it to for the last two rounds though? And will they still have the 200 walk-up sales of the cheapest seats during the playoffs, I'd imagine they would.

I expected either $20 or $25, that's still not terrible compared to the $45 cheapest seats in the Meadowlands. I wonder what they'd raise it to for the last two rounds though? And will they still have the 200 walk-up sales of the cheapest seats during the playoffs, I'd imagine they would.

That's the thing... if they're reverting back to normal seats, it's not that big of a deal. If they're not, and they're still a "promo", it gives you an idea what the baseline will be for the rest of the seats. And that's ugly. Obviously, STH don't pay anywhere near face value for playoff tickets, but face value is going to be ugly.

Count on all upper deck tickets doubling (at a minimum) in price for the playoffs. That way you can't be shocked or disappointed.

Count on all upper deck tickets doubling (at a minimum) in price for the playoffs. That way you can't be shocked or disappointed.

And the Devils shouldn't be shocked or disappointed when they have 11,000 (or less) for a weekday playoff game.

I don't even wanna think about the crowd tonight...

13,300.

They have themselves to blame. They had two weeks to know this was a hangover game and they should have promo'd it, the only way they'd draw is if the parade was today and everyone was so damn drunk they confused the Rock with a giant bar, and stormed off the train.

On that topic, the Thrashers "clearance sale" their games with poor gates. Lowers for $40, uppers for $20. What do we have, $100 balcony uppers? $100 balcony uppers, I predict the crowd tonight as... 8. I'll take a head count at 7:20 and I betcha it's 8 or lower.

Of course, if you "clearance sale" the tickets, the STH's get pissed off because they see their tickets as a investment instead of a donation... for whatever reason.


that is ridiculous 8 people there will be at least 458 people there...

that is ridiculous 8 people there will be at least 458 people there...

balcony yellows? People that actually bought the seats? I think 8 is a decent O/U.

13,878

balcony yellows? People that actually bought the seats? I think 8 is a decent O/U.

My dad and his partner own 2 of those 8. I actually like the seats since they are row 1 and have a way better view than the $95 seats. It's great since during the weekday games we are generally 2 of 8-10 people sitting in the first 4 rows of our section.

13,012. Big win though!

13,012. Big win though!
On the money for a monday game after the superbowl for Giants country.
Good news, Friday will most likely sellout, the Canes game will be a 15k to 16ker.

I don't know where the idea that Sabres tickets are such a deal comes from. They are only a deal if you buy season tickets. Individual game prices are terrible.

With their "variable pricing" crap, 75% of their games have a minimum entry fee of $41. And for their top end games you don't walk in the door for less than $68.

If the cheapest ticket for a Devils regular season game was $68 people would be screaming bloody murder. Somehow when Buffalo does it it is a steal.

On the money for a monday game after the superbowl for Giants country.
Good news, Friday will most likely sellout, the Canes game will be a 15k to 16ker.

If Friday does not sellout, which I do not think it will, it would be a sad. Defending Cup Champs Ducks coming in to town, Nieder's first game back vs the Devils in NJ, Giggy's first game back in NJ since he won the Conn Smythe in 2003, Friday night game, there is a promo code, Devils are battling for first place.
There are enough wealthy people in the NJ area to purchase the $100 and $95 seats for this big game. case closed.
Saturday night should have another crowd similar to that of the Kings game, but i am hoping for 16k+.

If Friday does not sellout, which I do not think it will, it would be a sad. Defending Cup Champs Ducks coming in to town, Nieder's first game back vs the Devils in NJ, Giggy's first game back in NJ since he won the Conn Smythe in 2003, Friday night game, there is a promo code, Devils are battling for first place.
There are enough wealthy people in the NJ area to purchase the $100 and $95 seats for this big game. case closed.
Saturday night should have another crowd similar to that of the Kings game, but i am hoping for 16k+.

I actually think the Carolina game will have a bigger crowd. You can still get $65 tickets for the Anaheim game but not the Carolina one.

If Friday does not sellout, which I do not think it will, it would be a sad. Defending Cup Champs Ducks coming in to town, Nieder's first game back vs the Devils in NJ, Giggy's first game back in NJ since he won the Conn Smythe in 2003, Friday night game, there is a promo code, Devils are battling for first place.
There are enough wealthy people in the NJ area to purchase the $100 and $95 seats for this big game. case closed.
Saturday night should have another crowd similar to that of the Kings game, but i am hoping for 16k+.
There is no reason that the entire lower bowl has to be 100$, as well as the ridiculous mezz. Drop the prices 10 dollars and you would see a significant increase.

Look at how many tickets there are for the Ducks game on Stub Hub:

http://www.stubhub.com/new-jersey-devils-tickets/?event_id=422191

Look at how many tickets there are for the Ducks game on Stub Hub:

http://www.stubhub.com/new-jersey-devils-tickets/?event_id=422191
Hell at least they are sold.

Look at how many tickets there are for the Ducks game on Stub Hub:

http://www.stubhub.com/new-jersey-devils-tickets/?event_id=422191

Yes, a lot of cheapies too. A lot of times fans post their tix on Stubhub to see if they will sell, if not, they go to the games themselves anyways. there were 250 available around 4pm today when I checked. I will be in 209 as usual.

If Friday does not sellout, which I do not think it will, it would be a sad. Defending Cup Champs Ducks coming in to town, Nieder's first game back vs the Devils in NJ, Giggy's first game back in NJ since he won the Conn Smythe in 2003, Friday night game, there is a promo code, Devils are battling for first place.
There are enough wealthy people in the NJ area to purchase the $100 and $95 seats for this big game. case closed.
Saturday night should have another crowd similar to that of the Kings game, but i am hoping for 16k+.

They could market the game, you know. I know the Devils don't promote their own players, let alone someone else's.

Basically my last comment on the how and why with the attendence is this. The Devils control it. If they want invisible crowds, that is what they will have.

BTW, the headcount in the Balcony $100's (not actually an indictator of tickets sold, since people might no-show or people might sneak down or be getting Jimmy Buff's.)

58.

I don't know where the idea that Sabres tickets are such a deal comes from. They are only a deal if you buy season tickets. Individual game prices are terrible.

With their "variable pricing" crap, 75% of their games have a minimum entry fee of $41. And for their top end games you don't walk in the door for less than $68.

If the cheapest ticket for a Devils regular season game was $68 people would be screaming bloody murder. Somehow when Buffalo does it it is a steal.

How many individuals do they sell?

I go by the gate revenue report for last season. They averaged a sellout for the season and still only gated in the middle $600,000's a night.

We gated in the low middle $500,000's a night at CAA.

Boston gated in the low $700,000's, IIRC, in a smaller building and a philosophy that is similiar to ours.

So, clearly their ticket prices on average are low (or were), since they don't paper.

How many individuals do they sell?

I go by the gate revenue report for last season. They averaged a sellout for the season and still only gated in the middle $600,000's a night.

We gated in the low middle $500,000's a night at CAA.

Boston gated in the low $700,000's, IIRC, in a smaller building and a philosophy that is similiar to ours.

So, clearly their ticket prices on average are low (or were), since they don't paper.

Does your gate numbers only include ticket sales? Or do they include concessions, advertising and other point of sale numbers? The Devils are making out like bandits on concessions at The Rock this season with the Goal Bar post game and the two lounges which bring in a crap load of alchohol sales before, during and after each game. The Devils Dens also are selling much better than the former stands at CAA. Plus our ticket prices are quite high overall.

Does your gate numbers only include ticket sales? Or do they include concessions, advertising and other point of sale numbers? The Devils are making out like bandits on concessions at The Rock this season with the Goal Bar post game and the two lounges which bring in a crap load of alchohol sales before, during and after each game. The Devils Dens also are selling much better than the former stands at CAA. Plus our ticket prices are quite high overall.

Gate is reported ticket sales. Those gate numbers came from the leaked report in the Globe and Mail about a year ago. Buffalo's couldn't change because they were sold out for the year. Other teams (including ours) probably went up from the point of the report.

I would guess we will gate something similiar to what Boston gated last year, this year. Somewhere in the $700,000's. You can pretty much do it in your head. The clubs gate over $300,000 a night. At the prices, a sellout has to be safely over a $1,000,000 gate.

Gate is reported ticket sales. Those gate numbers came from the leaked report in the Globe and Mail about a year ago. Buffalo's couldn't change because they were sold out for the year. Other teams (including ours) probably went up from the point of the report.

I would guess we will gate something similiar to what Boston gated last year, this year. Somewhere in the $700,000's. You can pretty much do it in your head. The clubs gate over $300,000 a night. At the prices, a sellout has to be safely over a $1,000,000 gate.

That's why Rags and other teams fans are always welcome in Vanderbeek's eyes. If Devs fans aren't buying all of em, let them be sold. They are helping the Devils by wearing their blue and coming in to The Rock. :thumbu:

You are right about the lack of marketing by the Devils. They should have huge billboards of Parise in the suburbs and of Marty in Newark, Jersey City and Paterson off Route 80.

what was the official numhber

13,154, I'll say it's the worst gate of the season given the fact that people are hung over from Super Bowl parties, it's a weekday and it's the third of five home games in a nine-day stretch.

OTOH I'd rather be at this game than watching it since the game's on VERSUS instead of FSNY.

OUCH. It did look pretty bad in the crowd but we were loud for the most part of the game especially the third period comeback and overtime.

14,381 in Colorado tonight, but remember, non weekend attendance woes are just relative to the New Jersey Devils.

Pretty bad.

I'll take these if they always sell out the Friday and weekend games.

14,381 in Colorado tonight, but remember, non weekend attendance woes are just relative to the New Jersey Devils.

While Colorado plays about 5,000,000 miles from any other NHL team.

While Colorado plays about 5,000,000 miles from any other NHL team.
Wait what

Wait what

Just saying theres no other NHL teams to compete with

http://hfboards.com/imagehosting/4978747a87e7f54b62.jpg

That was are worst crowd in number so far at the Rock. It was just like the Halloween game v.s Tampa. Great win though!:handclap:

Just saying theres no other NHL teams to compete with

http://hfboards.com/imagehosting/4978747a87e7f54b62.jpg

Boy that map is just begging to have a dot in Winnipeg again and a new one in Vegas. :thumbu: Then move Columbus into the East so I an see the Devils play at least twice a year here in Ohio. :handclap:

My 32 team NHL (expansion only needed for 4 8-div teams) based off of that map and travel, although the western teams still suffers.

Wales Conference
Div 1: MTL, BOS, TOR, BUF, OTT, NYR, NYI, NJD

Div 2: PIT, PHI, WSH, CBJ, CAR, ATL, TBL, FLA

Campbell Conference
Div 3: DET, CHI, STL, NAS, MIN, DAL, COL, Expansion WPG

Div 4: VAN, EDM, CAL, SJS, ANA, LAK, PHO, Expansion Seattle/Vegas (put it in Vegas on map)

28 other teams - play 2x each (56 games)
7 Division teams - play 4x each (28 games)

If photobucket wasn't down I would upload the new map :)...EDIT - its up.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s6/njdevsfn95/NHLMap.jpg

My 32 team NHL (expansion only needed for 4 8-div teams) based off of that map and travel, although the western teams still suffers.

Wales Conference
Div 1: MTL, BOS, TOR, BUF, OTT, NYR, NYI, NJD

Div 2: PIT, PHI, WSH, CBJ, CAR, ATL, TBL, FLA

Campbell Conference
Div 3: DET, CHI, STL, NAS, MIN, DAL, COL, Expansion WPG

Div 4: VAN, EDM, CAL, SJS, ANA, LAK, PHO, Expansion Seattle/Vegas (put it in Vegas on map)

28 other teams - play 2x each (56 games)
7 Division teams - play 4x each (28 games)

I think that is a good idea, I'm curious to see what the playoff seedings be in your scenrio.

32 teams aint happening. The league has enough problems with 30 teams. 28 teams is the way that it should go.

Go back to the old Wales and Campbell conference alignments. And for the two teams I'd get rid of, Nashville and Florida.

Wales Conference
Patrick Division
Devils
Rangers
Islanders
Flyers
Penguins
Capitals
Bruins

Adams Division
Leafs
Sens
Sabres
Canadiens
Detroit
Blackhawks
Wild

Campbell Conference
Norris Division
Canes
Thrashers
Lightning
Stars
Avs
Blue Jackets
Blues

Smythe Division
Flames
Oilers
Canucks
Ducks
Sharks
Kings
Coyotes

I think that is a good idea, I'm curious to see what the playoff seedings be in your scenrio.

divisional playoffs baby :yo:

right now there are 2 playoff races (east and west)

in a divisional playoff scenario, there are FOUR playoff races.

and imagine if the league had as much parity with 32 teams as it does now?

I agree that 28 teams is the way to go but you can't put Colorado in the same division with four teams from the Eastern time zone. It isn't fair. Miami is the 7th largest market in the country. If the NHL is going to be taken seriously as a national league they need a team there. I get rid of Nashville and Phoenix

Do it like so:

Patrick:
Devils
Rangers
Islanders
Flyers
Penguins
Caps
Boston

Adams:
Toronto
Ottawa
Buffalo
Minnesota
Montreal
Detroit
Chicago

Norris:
St. Louis
Carolina
Atlanta
Tampa
Dallas
Columbus
Florida


Smythe:
Colorado
Calgary
Edmonton
Vancouver
LA
Anaheim
SJ


It's not perfect but it keeps most rivals together and keeps a sense of geography in each division.
32 teams aint happening. The league has enough problems with 30 teams. 28 teams is the way that it should go.

Go back to the old Wales and Campbell conference alignments. And for the two teams I'd get rid of, Nashville and Florida.

Wales Conference
Patrick Division
Devils
Rangers
Islanders
Flyers
Penguins
Capitals
Bruins

Adams Division
Leafs
Sens
Sabres
Canadiens
Detroit
Blackhawks
Wild

Campbell Conference
Norris Division
Canes
Thrashers
Lightning
Stars
Avs
Blue Jackets
Blues

Smythe Division
Flames
Oilers
Canucks
Ducks
Sharks
Kings
Coyotes

14,381 in Colorado tonight, but remember, non weekend attendance woes are just relative to the New Jersey Devils.

wow :amazed:

If you're going to criticize another team's attendance, try and pick a team that hasn't had an 11-year, 487 game home sellout streak from 1995 through 2006 and has already proven they draw fans on a consistent basis.

A Devils fan should not be criticizing another team's attendance.

You should know that. :sarcasm:

wow :amazed:

If you're going to criticize another team's attendance, try and pick a team that hasn't had an 11-year, 487 game home sellout streak from 1995 through 2006 and has already proven they draw fans on a consistent basis.

A Devils fan should not be criticizing another team's attendance.

You should know that. :sarcasm:
I wasnt criticizing anyone, I just find it hilarious how some teams just get a free pass. We are not the only team with attendance problems on midweek nights. The fact that Colorado, (a hockey crazy state, in my opinion), doesnt sell out anymore proves the problems are league wide.
By the way, thank god the internet only existed in just Al Gore's home in the 80s because if some people saw the crowd draws back then their face would melt off.

I wasnt criticizing anyone, I just find it hilarious how some teams just get a free pass. We are not the only team with attendance problems on midweek nights. The fact that Colorado, (a hockey crazy state, in my opinion), doesnt sell out anymore proves the problems are league wide.

You're right, it is very hypocritical.

But our attendance has been under scrutiny since Day 1 and many people have said a new Arena in a better location would increase attendance by a substantial margin.

That has not happened depite all the excuses some people come up with like "prices" and "marketing".

Prices: There are empty seats in every price level everytime I got to a game and everytime I check online. This means there is no great demand for both cheap seats and the more expensive seats. If the cheaper seats were hard to get and you really had to go out of your way to score a few of them, then you can make the argument that high ticket prices are keeping people away.

But I've never had a problem getting tickets for $65, $35 and less. And I imagine most of you have had no problems getting cheaper seats for non NYR games. Any person who wants to buy a cheap seat for a Devils game can do so. But they don't, which is why there are empty seats all over the Rock.

Marketing: What the heck is a few more billboards and television commercials going to do to fill seasts. Everybody complains about marketing, but they do offer $65 seats for $32, which is better than any $1 hot dog night, but even this doesn't work.

Our attendance stinks, no matter how people spin it.

You're right, it is very hypocritical.

But our attendance has been under scrutiny since Day 1 and many people have said a new Arena in a better location would increase attendance by a substantial margin.

That has not happened depite all the excuses some people come up with like "prices" and "marketing".

Prices: There are empty seats in every price level everytime I got to a game and everytime I check online. This means there is no great demand for both cheap seats and the more expensive seats. If the cheaper seats were hard to get and you really had to go out of your way to score a few of them, then you can make the argument that high ticket prices are keeping people away.

But I've never had a problem getting tickets for $65, $35 and less. And I imagine most of you have had no problems getting cheaper seats for non NYR games. Any person who wants to buy a cheap seat for a Devils game can do so. But they don't, which is why there are empty seats all over the Rock.

Marketing: What the heck is a few more billboards and television commercials going to do to fill seasts. Everybody complains about marketing, but they do offer $65 seats for $32, which is better than any $1 hot dog night, but even this doesn't work.

Our attendance stinks, no matter how people spin it.There are no lines for the 10$ seats on non Ranger weeknight games. Section 211 was so empty last night that I decided to lay down for a little while until Clarkson's goal woke me up.;)

The Blues were drawing 12,000 fans on average with some of the cheapest tickets in the league.
J.D. comes in and markets and advertises the **** out of them and then they draw 17,000 a game.
Advertise a little better, price the seats a little bit fairer and instead of 13 to 15 on weeknights you will see 14 to 16, and we will sellout more weekend games.
We drew over 17,000 a game before the ticket hike, case in point.
It just drives me crazy how little this team does to market itself.

I wasnt criticizing anyone, I just find it hilarious how some teams just get a free pass. We are not the only team with attendance problems on midweek nights. The fact that Colorado, (a hockey crazy state, in my opinion), doesnt sell out anymore proves the problems are league wide.
By the way, thank god the internet only existed in just Al Gore's home in the 80s because if some people saw the crowd draws back then their face would melt off.Today people rip you for drawing 14k to 15k. In the 80's a lot of buildings only held 15,000 seats and this was in places like Montreal and Toronto.

Today people rip you for drawing 14k to 15k. In the 80's a lot of buildings only held 15,000 seats and this was in places like Montreal and Toronto.
I was talking about some of the US markets. Damn you information, it turns everyone into a negative nelson

The Blues were drawing 12,000 fans on average with some of the cheapest tickets in the league.
J.D. comes in and markets and advertises the **** out of them and then they draw 17,000 a game.
Advertise a little better, price the seats a little bit fairer and instead of 13 to 15 on weeknights you will see 14 to 16, and we will sellout more weekend games.
We drew over 17,000 a game before the ticket hike, case in point.
It just drives me crazy how little this team does to market itself.

The Blues have already proven themselves at the gate over the last 41 years. It was only recently that attendance dropped off. I would imagine they lowered prices temporarily to bring people back this season, after they dumped salary before this season. Besides, their ticket prices are similar to ours, especially since everything in New Jersey is more expensive than in Missouri.

http://blues.nhl.com/team/app?service=page&page=NHLPage&bcid=tic_seating_prices

You have to hand it to J.D. he went in there and rocked the ****.

You have to hand it to J.D. he went in there and rocked the ****.Yeah despite his Rangerness I like the guy.

Yeah despite his Rangerness I like the guy.

Oh, speaking of the NYR, it is very quiet at MSG right now, and it has nothing to do with the absence of JD's mouth. :sarcasm:

That's why Rags and other teams fans are always welcome in Vanderbeek's eyes. If Devs fans aren't buying all of em, let them be sold. They are helping the Devils by wearing their blue and coming in to The Rock. :thumbu:

You are right about the lack of marketing by the Devils. They should have huge billboards of Parise in the suburbs and of Marty in Newark, Jersey City and Paterson off Route 80.
I was home this afternoon and my mom had CNBC on. I almost choked when I saw an ad for the Devils promoting the two games this weekend. Who the hell are they marketing to midday on CNBC?

I was home this afternoon and my mom had CNBC on. I almost choked when I saw an ad for the Devils promoting the two games this weekend. Who the hell are they marketing to midday on CNBC?They gotta find someone to pay for 100$ seats.:help:

I agree that 28 teams is the way to go but you can't put Colorado in the same division with four teams from the Eastern time zone. It isn't fair. Miami is the 7th largest market in the country. If the NHL is going to be taken seriously as a national league they need a team there. I get rid of Nashville and Phoenix

Do it like so:

Patrick:
Devils
Rangers
Islanders
Flyers
Penguins
Caps
Boston

Adams:
Toronto
Ottawa
Buffalo
Minnesota
Montreal
Detroit
Chicago

Norris:
St. Louis
Carolina
Atlanta
Tampa
Dallas
Columbus
Florida


Smythe:
Colorado
Calgary
Edmonton
Vancouver
LA
Anaheim
SJ


It's not perfect but it keeps most rivals together and keeps a sense of geography in each division.

I like your idea as well. I think both though have a good sense of geography. And it makes the league alittle more stocked with talent. Less filtering of talent throughout the league.

You're right, it is very hypocritical.

But our attendance has been under scrutiny since Day 1 and many people have said a new Arena in a better location would increase attendance by a substantial margin.

That has not happened depite all the excuses some people come up with like "prices" and "marketing".

Prices: There are empty seats in every price level everytime I got to a game and everytime I check online. This means there is no great demand for both cheap seats and the more expensive seats. If the cheaper seats were hard to get and you really had to go out of your way to score a few of them, then you can make the argument that high ticket prices are keeping people away.

But I've never had a problem getting tickets for $65, $35 and less. And I imagine most of you have had no problems getting cheaper seats for non NYR games. Any person who wants to buy a cheap seat for a Devils game can do so. But they don't, which is why there are empty seats all over the Rock.

Marketing: What the heck is a few more billboards and television commercials going to do to fill seasts. Everybody complains about marketing, but they do offer $65 seats for $32, which is better than any $1 hot dog night, but even this doesn't work.

Our attendance stinks, no matter how people spin it.

Muttley: The Expert on Everything.

Muttley, how many people do you know that are STH or have had to deal with the Devils organization on any kind of level? Then, good/bad/meh, what is their impression of the organization and how it does business off-the-ice?

Do you think $100 upper deck seats are a good idea, especially behind the net?

I'm not asking for long winded spiels about "excuses". I'm asking for a number, an answer to a multiple choice question, and then a yes or no.

Not going to editorialize, I'm interested in your answers to those questions.