Attendance issue at Philips Arena
It was a sparse crowd to say the least at Philips Arena Thursday as the Thrashers returned home and were shut out by Columbus. The announced attendance was 8,461 – a franchise record low. I’m not sure there were that many people in the building.
The record low came just 15 days after the Thrashers broke the record for low attendance – when 8,820 showed up for the Oct. 20 game against Buffalo.
The Thrashers (6-5-2) had recorded eight points in their past five games before the loss. They fell to 2-3 at home this season.
“Definitely,” Zach Bogosian said when asked if it was difficult to play in a half-empty building. “It’s never good feeling when you come out and you are all pumped up and there’s not that many people in the stands. After playing here for three years, you kind of get used to it. The more fans would be a lot better but it’s not an excuse we can use.”
Here are the home attendance figures so far this season:
Oct. 8 vs. Washington – 15, 596
Oct. 20 vs. Buffalo – 8,820
Oct. 22 vs. Tampa Bay – 9,138
Oct. 29 vs. Buffalo – 10,172
Nov. 4 vs. Columbus – 8,461
That’s an average home attendance this season of 10, 437. Take away the season opener and it is 9,148.
I asked coach Craig Ramsay following the game if the atmosphere in the building was becoming an issue.
“You have to create your own atmosphere,” he said. “If you go on the road, somebody is yelling at you. It gives you a little edge sometimes. It’s up to us to create an atmosphere.”
The Thrashers appear early on to be a better than last season. They missed out on the playoffs by five points then so they figure to be in the hunt this year.
One thing I can tell you is not to make the leap between poor attendance and the franchise moving at this point. I chased down yet another rumor (this one by a guy who writes about hockey lifestyle) that the Thrashers were being sold. I can tell from from two sources that it is not true. Think about it folks, even as the team looks for investors, what person(s) would buy and/or invest in a team still in litigation? Until that is resolved nothing will happen.
So, what’s keeping folks away?
Let me know what you think.
I’m at practice and will update with two other blogs when it’s finished. I apologize for the lack of blogs yesterday, but I needed to sleep after getting back from Florida and then covering Thursday’s game.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
133 comments Add your comment
gsukevin
November 5th, 2010
11:30 am
Each loss at home drives the dagger further into the heart of the franchise. Atlanta is a sprawling city and it takes time and money for people to get to Philips arena. The uninspired play by the Thrashers in their building doesn’t make it worth it. Win at home. I don’t care if they lose EVERY away game from here on out. Just win at home, and maybe, just maybe, the philips/thrashers experience will become worth it for people to forfeit the bucks.
RiceOwls
November 5th, 2010
11:33 am
Until the team starts winning, the attenendance will suffer. The playoff year the stands were packed during the playoff run.
Jeff Jones
November 5th, 2010
11:34 am
Obviously different circumstances due to the different time of year and stadium size, but Braves attendance wasn’t that great either. They were in first place for like three months and I don’t think they sold out more than once during that time.
I’m not sure if this is necessarily reflective of the Thrashers or if it’s just the trend in Atlanta sports attendance in general.
Everett
November 5th, 2010
11:35 am
It almost feels like you can just save this as a template for a blog post each season… It’s infortunate because the core fan base is there. The last thing I want to see is the games to be strictly marketed as a social scene, but that may be what it takes. You can’t create false passion in the building no matter how hard you try though. Something has to be done to make fans care about this team the way I and about 8,000 others do.
Eileen
November 5th, 2010
11:35 am
Give the fans a 100 percent effort every game despite how many fans are in the seats and maybe the arena will fill up. The home play of this team leaves a fan with an angry feeling. Not only is it expensive, but it is very hard to get to Philips during the week. Why make the effort to watch a miserable effort? Losing is one thing when a team gives it all. It is another when the team seems half asleep. It is on the teams shoulders to pick up the play BEFORE the fans show up. Not the other way around.
Mike
November 5th, 2010
11:38 am
Sorry, but attendance isn’t the issue. It’s the players showing no interest in the game. Fact: start playing good at home. Win or loss, if you show a good hard working effort at home, people will come watch. As for Zach, grow a pair of pebbles and tighten up your game. The first goal was your fault last night you lazy SOB, don’t expect people to use their hard earned money to come watch your sorry ass skate around like its your first time on the ice
Eileen
November 5th, 2010
11:38 am
C-Viv, there are several reasons expressed by fans on the fan blog concerning attendance.
JLC
November 5th, 2010
11:39 am
I think it’s because they are playing hockey?
RK
November 5th, 2010
11:39 am
I was there last night…because I got free tickets. Where is the organ? Or any music? One guy with a drum and that’s all? If they had Braves-like ticket prices, they would do better, but I’m not about to drop $35 to sit in the upper level.
Jlew
November 5th, 2010
11:39 am
Season ticket holder speaking: I’ve been to 3 of five games. All 3 are losses — bad losses. Not close exciting, they played their hearts out but got outworked losses, but they didn’t show up losses. You’re not hearing a panic button, just a little frustration from a loyal fan.
Smoothie
November 5th, 2010
11:42 am
How about play 3 or 4 games up the road in Gwinnett on nites they don’t have anything going on? Just get that 8-11 thousand in a 13 K arena and at least it will look full and seem a heckuva lot noisier. Of course, they may be a violation of their lease agreement / covenant terms, but as long as the bond payments are made, will the city even notice? LOL
Joe Friday
November 5th, 2010
11:45 am
“So, what’s keeping folks away?”
1)Don Waddell killed the fan base in his 10 year tenure as GM. Many naive fans supported him “patience, he’s building the team the right way . . . ” and the owners kept him in place as he slowly and surely drove the fans away, one by one, to where we are today.
2)The moronic decision to move the weekday start times to 7pm has driven fans away. Why plunk downs $1000s when more than 1/2 the games are held at 7pm in the worst possible location to get to in a city that has the 2nd worst traffic in the nation? One has to leave work early, and fight 1 1/2 hours of traffic to try to just possible get there in time for puck drop. Moronic.
3)Bad ownership and low payroll = you get what you pay for
4)Economy
5)Georgia is a football town and the casual fan won’t pay attention until high school and college ball are done
Great, thanks for shooting down the rumors of a pending sale of the club, there goes that pipedream for hope, Happy Friday to you too!
Daculafan
November 5th, 2010
11:46 am
I think that this is not just due to the team’s sometimes lackluster performances on the ice but the ongoing financial stress in the area. Keep in mind that Georgia’s unemployment rate is actually higher than the national average right now, and that the jobs that are available tend to be at much lower pay rates that there used to be.
That’s possibly one reason for the low attendance, the other is squarely on the Thrashers and the Atlanta Spirit. First off, they’ve quit selling the 400 section. That was a section that usually had some good attendance because of it’s low cost and it’s appeal to the college crowd. I don’t know if the Spirit is thinking that they don’t want to sell 10 dollar tickets only to see those people sitting in the lower level because of the open seats in the arena but 10 dollars last time I checked is still more than nothing.
I think if the team could put together an nice winning streak that it would help to get more of a buzz going about the team and bring people into the building. Even the hardcore fans are staying away more this year..the reason is that we are simply weary of this teams overall track record and it’s becoming more enticing to just sit at the house and watch the game there..that way when it’s a blowout by the beginning of the 3rd period I can switch to another channel.
Overall this team needs to market the seats for cheaper or start winning or both.
Jimbo
November 5th, 2010
11:49 am
It’s clearly the product that they put on the ice when playing at home. Ramsey insisted that we would control our own building and set the style and tempo for home games. It’s been exactly the opposite. We come out in the first period with no hustle or grit, fall behind and then have to chase the rest of the game. When we play on the road, virtually every other team comes out charging in the first period and sets the tone for the game. We’ve been lucky enough to come back on several. Not so at home. This is not a new problem for us. Anderson couldn’t get the team motivated to come out smoking and apparently Ramsey can’t either. The last period last night was enough to make even diehard fans throw up. Columbus absolutely controlled the play. They set up in our zone, outhustled us for every loose puck, and played keep away. We were on our way out when the last faceoff occured. Ramsey sets up a play and it works perfectly- FOR COLUMBUS. If he can’t motivate or threaten this team to show something at home, they might as well be playing in their practice rink for all the fans that they’ll draw. Give us a product worthy of the NHL and we’ll support it.
Marc
November 5th, 2010
11:52 am
There are several reasons why attendance is low:
1) Hockey in the South is not a big draw and will not be a big draw until they win.
2) The hockey fan base here is mostly for other teams and the visiting team will sell more tickets than the Thrashers.
3) It’s a pain to get to – it’s not really a traffic issue around Philips, but with no street parking and getting north or south on 75/85 being an issue it will drive away (no pun intended) the casual fan.
4) I don’t buy the price issue because you can buy $15 seats in the 400 and sit center ice.
All that said I’m not sure what or where the marketing department is? Why not go to schools and offer a free ticket to kids who read or get A’s.
Why not have a pay what you weigh night where kids pay $.10 a pound. There are 100’s of possibilities but I never see anything interesting or fun. With GA State and GA Tech right there I rarely see students in the building; create two sections, one on each side, and have one for Tech and another for State; create competition where the winning school gets a visit by the team.
Just my thoughts…
Darkhorse
November 5th, 2010
11:53 am
I agree with everyone here. There are a million reasons why many people I know quit going to Thrasher games, and why I go to only about half as many as I did the first 8 years(kids, money, time, jobs, lack of a job, traffic, other weeknight commitments, mental/physical exhaustion from the job, appathy to the product, and on and on and on….). The one constant though with everyone I talk to is the product on HOME ice has underperformed for far too long now. I don’t pay 10 bucks to go watch a crappy movie in a theatre anymore when I can wait to see it in the comfort of my home if I hear it’s woth it later. Why should should the lack of effort and winning from our hockey team be any different?
Thanks for looking into the latest ownership rumors Chris. It’s all wishful thinking they could actually sell them to someone who cares.
nicholas
November 5th, 2010
11:54 am
if you get them in the door, they’ll enjoy the game. hockey games are quite possibly the best sport to see live. i’ve got a lot of my friends really into this franchise just by bringing them to the game with me. the atmosphere, even in a less than half full philips arena, is electric. as a hockey fan, they don’t have to do anything to get me to go to games except have it in atlanta. to outsiders and people that haven’t been to a game before; they need some sort of incentive to get into the arena. the chick-fil-a family nights and the new thirsty thursday promotions, in my opinion, are great ideas, but they’re marketed poorly. last year, they had the thrashers thursdays with cheap tickets and i went virtually every thursday. however, i need to give some credit to the franchise for doing the dynamic ticket pricing, which makes games during the week against weaker teams, cheaper. it was a great move, but not many people realize that it even exists. also, last year (and seemingly this year), there’s no promotional giveaway nights. not even a magnetic schedule. people will flock to places that give out free promotional items, especially if the team is playing well.
i agree with the above comments saying that winning is important to get fans in the stands, but the team has to be a better job of marketing (our stand out players, ticket plans, etc) itself to the people in atlanta and surrounding areas. rick dudley’s done this before; he got fans back in the stands when he was with buffalo by bringing in dynamic players and he’s done the same thing here, so i really trust that he’s made the proper steps to turn this trend around. it’s really up to the team to show that they’re worth the money to go downtown and see a game.
NHL Ready
November 5th, 2010
11:56 am
I am sure there is not one thing in general but in my opinion the Thrashers get very little press (local TV News) and they do not advertise very well. Also losing at home and overall record not that impressive. I been to the games and even with a small crowd the building can get loud but a game like last night is a big disappointment. Makes you wonder why did I spend all that money. Oh yes Hockey tickets to most are still considered expensive.
The big factor is that we do not have a Franchise Player. I can see that the Thrashers are trying to promote Kane as a poster child and so called Franchise player. It does’nt work for me and I wonder how other real hockey fans think about that. We need a big name and start to win on a regular basis or have one of our current players step up and take over. The only player who plays hard every game so far is Big Buff the rest are a hit and miss. Need all of them to play hard and pick a Captain I hate not having a Captain. Just my opinion.
RK
November 5th, 2010
11:57 am
They wouldn’t have enjoyed last night’s game, nicholas. It was quite sad.
On the bright side, attendance was so bad last night that you could sit wherever you wanted. Even by Jason Heyward…
R. Stroz
November 5th, 2010
11:58 am
Joe Bob Friday – You covered all the points save one:
This team has NEVER kept any of their top tier talent nor procured a top tier free agent.
Furthermore, in that vein, NONE of the players brought in at the end of last season or via trade from Chicago have been signed to a multi-year contract.
Management and ownership have done NOTHING to address the player retention issue, NOTHING.
Chago
November 5th, 2010
12:04 pm
What about giving away free tickets? I live in Tampa, the Rumor has it that the Rays made more money from concession and merchandise sales, than they did on the nights they sold a handful of tickets. The other promotion the Rays did was to to have post-game concerts.
That could be something that can work in ATL. book someone like Usher after Friday or Saturday games and get people who don’t know about hockey to come watch the game. ATL seems to have three types of fans, the diehards, the star chasers, and the winning is entertaining fan. The first will be there regardless of the promotion. The second will come to see a musician or a prolific goal scorer (e.g. Capitals, Lighting games). The third will come with time, the team must change, and maintain a winning culture and attitude and start wining awesome games, because the third group wants to be entertained. The benefit to catering to the second and third group, is if you teach them about what makes hockey awesome, they will transition in to the first group – The Diehards!
I was raised in south, and if it wasn’t for a girl I was dating from the Midwest, I would’ve never cared about hockey (ironic it took a chic, I know). But I had to not only learn the language of the game (forecheck, backcheck, crosschecking, ect), but I had to learn the strategy – learning the strategy made the game entertaining and helped me transition into a Diehard…
So, to answer your original question, what’s keeping fans away? Ignorance. Atlantians don’t know what makes hockey entertaining, the perception is that it’s a cold version of soccer and MMA. Education is the key, maybe with some commercials from marketable individuals about “why I love hockey” could increase the knowledge, and draw attention.
Now that the holiday season is coming try marketing the euphoria felt on Christmas day when you open a gift. That’s the feeling you get when the Thrashers score a goal. Or is that just me?
MM
November 5th, 2010
12:04 pm
The WINNING WNBA Dream are used to low attendance also. Price is certainly a factor.
Really????
November 5th, 2010
12:04 pm
you have to ask that question! AS has engaged in some of the crappiest marketing known. So now they are paying the price of year after year of poor on ice product and a bad economy. Even though I think this years team is much improved I have to think twice before I spend what few entertainment dollars i have on bad customer service at the rink. I want to enjoy myself when I spend my hard earned money not feel like a piece of crap from the staff at the rink. And what sucks the team is suffering from AS lack of good customer service
Chago
November 5th, 2010
12:04 pm
Sorry for the long dissertation…
JoeMac
November 5th, 2010
12:05 pm
The Thrashers have always been a joke of a franchise, and it is not a surprise they are not drawing. On the other hand, years ago when the Flames were here, they were wonderful to go watch and I followed them with a passion. The Thrashers… well all I can say is …Yawn!
Eileen
November 5th, 2010
12:05 pm
I have to agree about the “marketing” department. I like the commercials. There needs to a “get to the game” movement. Win tickets. Free tickets in the less expensive seats. Something. The half season ticket holders should be offered discounted tickets on the nights they did not buy. I have said for a long time that the players are only involved in community projects. Not to the paying fans and their kids.
Toby
November 5th, 2010
12:06 pm
It’s all about winning. The year they made the playoffs, the average was over 16k. People made the trek to the arena then. I think people are sick of spending $$ to watch a crappy team which is currently the lowest payroll in the league
Eileen
November 5th, 2010
12:07 pm
I hope that did not sound like I don’t support the community support. I meant that in addition to that it would be nice to have an event with the fans and their kids other than STH autograph night.
Telfo
November 5th, 2010
12:11 pm
Atlanta Spirit is terrible at marketing. Sure they do plenty of ticket discounts and everything, but the only people that ever know about them are the ones that already go to games. You dont even see commercials anywhere but on Sport South.
Economy is probably the main reason it has nose dived even further the last couple seasons, but that is hardly the only reason.
The fact is, the team(owners) has never done much to try and grow the fan base. They have not tried at all to convert any of the thousands of hockey fans(of other teams) that live here into Thrashers fans. I would venture to guess there are more Red Wings fans in this city than Thrashers fans. They really have done a terrible job of trying to create awareness and new fans. They would be better off giving away 5000 tickets a game to schools and whoever else just to get people in the building. If you get people to see a game(a good one, not like last night) chances are you can convert a lot of those people into regulars.
The season ticket base has dwindled every year because of losing, we just dont have the strong base we used to that makes the attendance on weeknights at least passable.
in short….
MARKETING-come up with some new and creative ideas, just get butts in seats even if you give them away, better than being empty
ECONOMY-nothing you can do about it, just gotta get thru it.
OWNERSHIP- i think everyone knows they dont care about the team at all and wish they could get rid of it, I hope they sell it as soon as the lawsuits are over(if that ever happens). A good owner could make the team profitable. If Nashville can turn a profit there is no reason this team cant.
WIN- the team has to have some sort of success in this market to stay in the public eye, they have slowly faded away to the point that people forget they even exist and we dont have enough die hard fans to support this team alone. the casual fans have to be won back.
Darkhorse
November 5th, 2010
12:13 pm
Yeah, Imagine if I had brought some hockey first timers with money to burn to the Columbus game, or the first Sabres game, or the Lightning beat down a few weeks back. Do you think they would be rushing to get back to see those awful showings by the home team?
We all agree it starts at the top though. It’s ownership and managements fault more people stay away these days.
That said, I will be there with a group tomorrow night, rooting the team on, and hoping to see a great effort and maybe a win.
nicholas
November 5th, 2010
12:14 pm
they should also lower the ticket prices in the lower bowl after the first period. getting SOME money for those seats is better than not making any money at all on them. i agree with all the comments regarding the expensiveness of seats and lacking ticket giveaways. sure, ben wright does a giveaway every 5 home game, which i love, but no one knows that he’s doing it.
also, i’ll gladly run the promotional department for this team. just pay me in singles and 3 free tickets to each home game. thanks.
Laura
November 5th, 2010
12:18 pm
To the people complaining about prices – the 400 section was closed, but now you get to sit in the 300 section for the same price you paid for the 400s previously. $10 average for the top part of the 300s, but with flexible pricing tickets can be as low as $6! Totally uninspired play last night made even the $6 ticket seem excessive, but that is a different problem.
HungryCoyote
November 5th, 2010
12:21 pm
I’m here to quell the myth that winning games DOES NOT EQUAL INCREASED ATTENDANCE!! Tell that to the upper-management of the Phoenix Coyote’s and see how far your ‘proposed equation’ will get you.
You want butt’s in seats? Try an Advertising-Marketing Blitz? (why not?)Who remembers the Kovalchuck Billboard on I-85North? Try it again this time with a picture of Burmi or Buff.
The “Pizza Don” Waddell said himself “3-4 millon people in Atlanta don’t even know about the Thrashers”. Try advertising Billboards, MARTA, Jackson-Hartsfield.Where thousands of people move each day and are somewhat inclined to pay attention to the flashy signs on the walls.
Yeah, and the tickets and concessions could use a major overhaul, in an erratic shifting economic climate where folk’s are now getting around to actually THINKING about the money they work for to spend.
GO THRASHERS!!!
Catsup Tickles
November 5th, 2010
12:25 pm
Easy answer: Boring, apathetic, lackluster team play. They are so boring to watch…even on TV when I’m not paying for a ticket.
Mr. Heat Miser
November 5th, 2010
12:28 pm
Get our marketing folks back from the Caps. When they left it went to crap. This is embarassing.
Hank
November 5th, 2010
12:35 pm
The problem is nobody in Atlanta cares about hockey. Like most fair-weather cities, fans will only show up when they have a winning team.
It’s not like Green Bay is with football or Edmonton with hockey where the fans will support their favorite sport no matter how bad the home team is.
The Thrashers could win the Cup this year and if they faltered a little the next season, nobody would show up.
The NHL wants to say that ‘winning cures everything’ but even by giving away useless third-points in OT and SO losses, some teams have to lose more than others.
Unless they make rules so that all the bad hockey markets such as Atlanta, Phoenix and Florida make the Conference Finals every year, those cities will always suck as hockey towns.
The only solution is to contract or move the team. Hockey will never ever succeed in Georgia.
joedaiceman
November 5th, 2010
12:36 pm
As a second year season ticket holder, I go to the games because I love the game of hockey. Although I appreciate the Thrashers, I would not call myself a fan because they have not shown me the heart, attitude and commitment that would turn me into a fan. And by the way, that is not a comment about just the players, it is as much about the owners and management.
Eileen
November 5th, 2010
12:36 pm
Yeah you can get a cheap seat if you want to sit in the 300s. However, sitting in traffic for an hour, parking and at the least buying a beverage certainly adds $$$ to one’s time and effort. However it is a lot more motivating to attend if the fan is going to be entertained. I am a die hard fan and frequent paying customer, but I can guarantee a team in an unfamiliar division on a week night will not be well attended.
litz
November 5th, 2010
12:39 pm
You know … it’s only what … 15 games into the season?
A key test is going to be whether or not the team (and the fans) bother to show up Sat against the Blackhawks.
If the Blackhawks come in here and steamroll us with 8,000 people in the stands on a saturday night … ugly, just plain ugly.
JS
November 5th, 2010
12:39 pm
I agree with most of what is being said above. The common thread is lack of excitement on home ice. These guys have played fairly well on the road, but other than opening night they have been down right awful at home. I am a first time STH because my kids have always been tied up in travel hockey and we were always gone 2-3 weekends a month supporting that hockey habit. Now that they are grown I decided to support the team financially by buying season tix, but after the last four home games I am really questioning that decision. Luckily they have intersted me in a few of the road games on TV so I will give them some more time before I make a decision for next year. If a casual fan went to the Sabres, Lightning, or Blue Jackets game and have not been watching on TV there is no way you are getting them back in the arena without some sort of promotion. Those four games were hard to stomach, and I am an avid fan.
If you want to build a fan base then you have to start with the kids. They can more easily pull dollars out of their parents pocketthan anyone. It may take a couple of years of giving away tickets to schools for good grades, but hen again they will spend money when they get there. As someone said above, something is better than nothing. you also have the opportunity to sell your “brand” if the team is playing well. it’s a tough climate right now, but if they sit back and do nothing, I am afraid they will not like the results.
Look what Aurhtur Blank did with the Falcons. He lowered ticket prices, improved the game day experience, and has made sure the team has been competitive. All this created a new fan base, and he has been able to keep the majority of them through the product on the field.
Smoothie
November 5th, 2010
12:51 pm
I agree that the price of parking and concessions can really make it hard on young families who WANT to watch hockey. But if you’re young, single and / or in college, there’s no excuse other than studying I suppose, but who does THAT?? LOL Young twenty-somethings should have no problem shelling out $10 for 300’s and getting buzzed off two Gorin’s beers. If you don’t have the money, get a part-time job!! I did and I wasted my money on other things cuz I didn’t have access to ML sports!
Russian
November 5th, 2010
12:55 pm
Why I stay home and watched Thrashers on TV? I DO NOT CARE about:
1. Traffic – MARTA is always ride
2. Game Time – I am working 30 minutes (MARTA ride) from Downtown
3. Price Ticket – I can buy $15 ticket and see a game.
4. Kids – My sons are in College. No need to bad time story.
5. NFL or College Football or Braves.
THEN – Why I am not Ticket Holder?
BECAUSE – Team did not play or give me 110% hockey. I could not enjoy to watch a game. I like to see Detroit or Chicago or Philidelphia playing Hockey. It is interesting show. Every time when I watched a game on TV, I kept myself that they are goignt to lose. If they win a game. It is A MIRACLE, something important happened in Sky.
Gladfan
November 5th, 2010
12:57 pm
My take is that the cumulative expense for a suburbanite to get into your seat at Philips Arena makes a Thrasher game very unattractive proposition.
An hour to get to downtown and an hour to get home, the parking cost if you drive instead of Marta to the game, the overpriced concessions,and finally the price of tickets.
I enjoy watching junior hockey and minor league hockey equally as much as NHL hockey, but in my thinking junior hockey & minor league hockey are great entertainment bargains and the NHL is not.
Russian
November 5th, 2010
12:57 pm
Chris,
By the way, It is a good Post. I like it. Thank you.
Nate
November 5th, 2010
1:00 pm
Joe Friday said it best with his points. Some also mentioned lack of marketing which is very true. I’ve always felt the Thrashers and the NHL in general, should use a marketing campaign splicing football hits with hockey hits to market to the football crowd.
The other reason, as others have stated, is the lackluster effort on home ice. It costs me at the very least, $5 for parking, $10 for a ticket, $6 for food/drink. That’s $21 for just one person. How the hell is a family supposed to afford that in this economy?
CT in CP
November 5th, 2010
1:01 pm
The Waddell administration drove the fan base away. I was a season up until the year after the playoff run. In addiiton to fielding a losing team, the team was offering seats similar to mine at half price with all of the specials they ran. Why would someone pay full price? After that, I got out of the habit of going unless I was offered free tickets.
If the team makes the playoffs, I might go to those games, but until there is a winning product on the ice, why bother?
P.S. Settle the case already!
Smoothie
November 5th, 2010
1:03 pm
“An hour to get to downtown and an hour to get home, the parking cost if you drive instead of Marta to the game”
Ahh yes, the hidden opportunity costs on top of overpriced concessions, parking and in some cases, tkts. Why sit in a car for 2 hours when you can watch the game live on TV in HD from the comfort of your couch, and then turn the channel when CBJ strangles us with the trap?
J (Z)
November 5th, 2010
1:05 pm
Don’t forget there was a GT football game last night and we were playing Columbus. A team who is off to a good start but over their history has been just as bad as us. Weeknight games like that, I KNEW we’d break the attendance record. I had 4 club seats last night and had trouble giving them away to friends
C-Viv – any way to gather up attendance figures for weeknight games against the CBJ’s in out history?
A winning streak will do wonders, I promise!
Thomas Magnum
November 5th, 2010
1:10 pm
I think its many different reasons. 7 o’clock starts during the week, ticket prices during a bad economy, having a bad team for 10 years, hockey in the south, traffic, Don Waddell still being with the franchise, the amount of turn over every year that causes a casual fan not to be able to keep up with the player movement, the hatred for the ownership group and the feeling by the fan base of a lack of accountability, not winning enough at home, not have a “star” player like kovalchuk to market, lack of a good marketing strategy in general, and not spending enough money on players leaving the fans to think the ownership group does not care about putting a quality product on the ice.
I could probably come up with 10 more reasons that contribute to the lack of attendance at games. They are all factors and all important. At this point I think the 3 best things that could happen to this franchise is for it to be sold (to anyone, it really couldn’t be much worse but also better if they spent a little more money on players), for the team to win and make it to the playoffs, and for the team to win and to make it to the playoffs.
K
November 5th, 2010
1:10 pm
Every year they raise ticket prices. In this economy, in this market — where fans must be cultivated — it doesn’t make sense.
Growing up, the Astros were my local MLB team. People in Texas love baseball, so why was attendance (in the early 70s) so low? It takes time to cultivate fans. It’s taken a generation of parents taking their kids to games to get solid attendance at Astros games. The problem is more difficult in Atlanta, as hockey isn’t a game most people are familiar with or grew up playing. Plus, the cost of attending a MLB game (and getting pretty good seats), for example, is nominal compared to a hockey game.
At Thrashers games seats on the glass are so overpriced now that I won’t even pay for them — and I used to drop a lot to get awesome seats. Now I sit behind the goal — and even those tickets aren’t exactly cheap. I think they are pricing out even passionate fans who have money. I think dropping ticket prices significantly to get butts in the seats and fill the arena would be a good start. Getting eyeballs watching the games and knowledgable hockey fans who love the game will follow. If you at least get people through the door, they will pay for parking, buy food and drinks, etc.
Target local college students like Pittsburgh does. They do great promos to get students excited and cultivate loyalty. Why not give our local college students deals on great seats? Those Georgia Tech (and other college) students will eventually graduate, get jobs and be fans of the game. Just one small idea: Emulate what has worked for other teams, but sharply tailor it to your specific market.
So much more could be done to woo the local population and foster a love of the game. Just look at what the Dallas Stars have done for hockey in Texas. My old high school, near the beach in hot, humid SE Texas has a hockey team now. That’s progress. And the Thrashers could do that in Atlanta if they cared/tried a little harder. It bothers me that the people of the city are apparently to blame for not showing up. Just because you put a team here doesn’t mean people will flock to you. This isn’t the NFL. Make them come. Compel them to come. Give them a damn reason to come! Make the NHL experience in Atlanta unmissable.
Smoothie
November 5th, 2010
1:13 pm
Ticket special for games against Columbus:
Pay $40 to get in the door.
Get 1/2 your money back if the Thrashers don’t score first.
Get another $5 back for every goal CBJ scores after the first.
Get a free beer if the Thrashers actually score.
Get tkts to the next game if Thrashers comeback and actually win!
People like to gamble, make the games against less appetizing opponents into games within the game!!
UGABugKiller
November 5th, 2010
1:13 pm
What keeps the fans away? Really? You’re actually answering that question?
The Atlanta (dis)Spirit DESTROYED the hockey spirit in this city by keeping an incompetent on the job as GM.
This incompetent wasted draft pick after draft pick on TERRIBLE players.
This incompetent also single-handedly sent USA Hockey into a tailspin because of his inability to put a team together.
The draft picks this incompetent did manage to hit on are all gone but one (Kane).
You really have to ask why attendance is so bad???
UGABugKiller
November 5th, 2010
1:14 pm
*you’re actually ASKING that question…
Sorry.
Tapio
November 5th, 2010
1:21 pm
I lived in ATL many years ago and they didn’t have hockey at that time. I’m curious about something: Many people identified traffic and the difficulty of getting to the arena as an impediment. How close is the arena to a MARTA stop? Is that a viable option? I used to take MARTA to the airport or to GSU and it was convenient.
litz
November 5th, 2010
1:27 pm
The problem with MARTA isn’t its convenience to Philips Arena : the GWCC/Philips stop dumps you out literally 20 feet from the door.
The problem with MARTA is that the other end of the trip doesn’t go anywhere near where most people in this town live … but that’s a completely different issue (which goes back over 30 years)
That being said … the arguments above about trying to attract college students? Almost ALL of them are within the MARTA train system, with convenient stops.
You make it attractive for them to come, and they will come. There is very easy access from all three major college campuses.
JW
November 5th, 2010
1:33 pm
Former Season Ticket Holder… Problem is simple. Ownership, Ownership, Ownership and Marketing Marketing, Marketing. On ice product is getting better, but even the one home game I attended this so far I brought a first timer to the game and had to apologize several times by the rude ushers, piss poor arena and for the Tampa game, poor on ice performance. Ownership is a joke and an embarrassment and the arena is quickly becoming downtown sewage hall! I love hockey, have passion for this team, but AS sure is doing everything they can to infuriate me to not care anymore.
Chris
November 5th, 2010
1:34 pm
1) Ownership undercut STHs by undercutting prices for years. Supposedly they’ve stopped, but too little too late.
2) A poor product.
3) Bad arena location. Even the year the made the playoffs, they couldn’t draw on weeknights. Ted Turner made sure Philips Arena was built downtown for political reasons. It was a bad business decision. The Glads outdrew the Thrashers one night this year already, that’s all you need to know.
4) The Economy – attendance is down across Canada too thus year.
Barry
November 5th, 2010
1:34 pm
Unfortunately football rules down here. Our very own 680 The Fan radio station talks about NFL and College football like 95% of the time. It’s disgusting. I like football as much as the next average Joe but my god not that much. Again I think fans won’t be coming out until this team starts winning. Alot of people are just waiting for a successful hockey team. I’m sure alot of people are tired of being disappointed with a hockey team that continues to struggle to be successful and continues to miss the playoffs. Money could be a part of it. I know for one I was looking forward to coming to Saturday’s game but I won’t be able to make it. Right now my car is in the shop with something going on with the engine, so I’m probably looking at a good $1,000 or so depending on how much repairs are going to be to fix something in my valve system by the sounds of it.
Smoothie
November 5th, 2010
1:38 pm
“Every year they raise ticket prices. In this economy, in this market — where fans must be cultivated — it doesn’t make sense”
This just speaks to the problem with the ASG. Their marketing and promotion suck! They actually dropped prices in a lot of sections and for STH with “flex” plans that allow you to pick and choose (obviously that Columbus game is not a hot choice) what games you want. That’s a great strategy and a great step in the right direction, but if no one but the die-hards know it (since they come here or the team website daily), how are you supposed to get new fans for even 6 games / year?
Smoothie
November 5th, 2010
1:43 pm
“had to apologize several times by the rude ushers, piss poor arena”
I’ve been to games in Raleigh and Florida in the last two years. That may have their own set of issues, but customer service is NOT ONE OF THEM! The arena in Sawgrass had some of the nicest, frienliest concession workers I’ve ever had the privilege of meeting. They thought it was awesome that Thrashers fans would go so far to watch their team in south Fla. Raleigh and Sawgrass are cookie-cutter arenas, but they are clean, bright, cheery and staffed with friendly people. Can you say that about Philips Arena? Not exactly. But hey, we’ve got the CNN Center, an inner-city hotel for tens of homeless people!! Woo hoo!
Bobby G
November 5th, 2010
1:49 pm
I would rather watch it at home….that way if they don’t show up you just change the channel…..
ThrasherTim
November 5th, 2010
1:56 pm
I cannot remember any ushers being rude to me at any time over the last x years…interesting.
Bottom line is poor efforts on home ice will drive even the diehards away. Great blog today with lots of insights, despite the negative vibe. I can’t imagine the comments if we weren’t sitting in a playoff spot right now!
I was at the game last night too and was disappointed in the turnout, effort, concession prices (really Philips, $8.50 for a Newcastle draft!!!) and results. I hope Thrasher fans turn out for the Sat. night tilt vs. the Blackhawks — and that half the arena isn’t sporting Hawks jerseys. I can’t make the game but will be watching from home.
P.S. – Nice running into you again Red Light!
The Reason
November 5th, 2010
2:23 pm
The Flames garnered much more fan support in the 1970s when Atlanta was still a true southern city. Today, Atlanta is an international city. We have transplants from all over the country and the world. We have more than enough residents that grew up in hockey cultures to support an NHL team. The challenge is to convert our neighbors into becoming Thrashers fans first. If we can get the local Sabres, Blackhawks, Red Wings and Rangers fans to come to a handful of games during the season, our attendance statistics would improve dramatically. Of course, the easiest method of conversion is putting a winning product on the ice. I was converted during the Thrashers playoff run, and have been a season ticket holder every since.
stendek
November 5th, 2010
2:24 pm
Hi Chris. My thought. Professional teams MUST perform with fire and passion in front of home fans. PERIOD! Solid work on road is nice but home fronts MUST be defended. Teams should DREAD traveling to Philips Arena. The place is now a damn home away from home for other NHL groups. In a slump? Have a losing streak? A visit to that blue place in Atlanta is theraupeutic! Do not misread me. Not even championship caliber teams will ALL their home bouts. True contenders go all out at home even in defeat! Pretenders fold up tent. The Thrashers fit into latter group! The best fans could have hoped for against Columbus was a scoreless draw then a loss in the shootout. Pavs could not deliver. Not his fault. Game was over after first goal. EVERYONE KNEW IT! Thrashers were skating around aimlessly for 60 minutes then went to bar or wherever. Wondered if a few made bar trip PRIOR to matchup. Oh well. Wins will fill seats Chris. Dedicated play may even increase attendance drastically. Hear that Zachster? Ponder that until your NHL Hall Of Fame career concludes. The truth is the truth. STENDEK
Tq
November 5th, 2010
2:25 pm
Lower the upper deck ticket prices
Smoothie
November 5th, 2010
2:28 pm
stendek – we have only won 56 of our 123 home games over the previous 3 seasons, that’s only 45.6% of the time. Far from a home-ice advantage.
smokeybear
November 5th, 2010
2:28 pm
Yaa well I will see all Ten of you at the PENS Game 11/13. I hope you give me some shiat cause thats what I expect.
Lets hope Cooke and Kane tangle again. Your team plays well when all the PENs fans in attendance piss them off.
Hockey is a great sport it’s a shame people here are so prejudice against it (no i dont mean racist). Here’s a defination of prejudice.
Prejudice – an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.
Zombie Steve
November 5th, 2010
2:29 pm
Have a public tar-and-feathering of the Octotards at center ice before a game. That will bring us out in droves.
timthebrave
November 5th, 2010
2:33 pm
I was at the game last night and last friday and saw the Thrashers play awful. I usually go to between 5-20 games a year depending on how we are playing. There were 10 guys going to their first Thrasher game that I was talking to last night. It probably will be there last with the way we played. It’s one thing to lose it’s another to just go through the motions…Why should I pay to go see any more games if that is the effort I see?
Zombie Steve
November 5th, 2010
2:36 pm
Smokey – Cooke isn’t dumb enough to mess with Kane again….. or is he? >=D
Duke
November 5th, 2010
2:37 pm
So where are we Chris with this damn litigation? Once it is settled, I’m afraid Blueland is headed north of ‘49, namely Winnipeg. They have the cash and arena to immediately plug this team in.
I like Strippers
November 5th, 2010
2:38 pm
Next Thursday will be the all time low. The Falcons have a Thursday night home game too. Friday night HS football is just about wrapped up except for the playoff teams. No more practice and no more Friday night games. Attendance will pick up. This is a good team that will win games which means fans , but people also need to remember that HS and College football rule supreme in Georgia.
smokeybear
November 5th, 2010
2:41 pm
I remember the good old days of Thasherville when Hortichuk and Barnaby where going at. Jagr got 10 minute misconduct then something pissed all you Thrasher fans off and everyone threw the freebie mousepads on the ice..
Yes those days were fun, but they are gone.
Lets hope for more fight. Those in attendance last year to see the Kane fight were instant fans.
stendek
November 5th, 2010
2:44 pm
I too believe a move to Canada is imminent. Mark those words. Depressed when Flames left. Distraught when Knights ceased operations. Exit of Thrashers. Ho hum. STENDEK
timthebrave
November 5th, 2010
3:04 pm
I went to 2 games this year…Tampa…fu**** boring….Columbus…fu*** worse. Every home game there are people that are there for their FIRST hockey game…You play this bad and who would want to go back. I know how fun hockey games can be so I will be back. If I see another effort like the first 2 it will be my 3rd and final game of the season….I don’t mind losing if the effort is there…..but I can’t handle games like the last 2
Tween the Pipes
November 5th, 2010
3:12 pm
Joe Mac brings up a good point. I was also a season ticket holder when the Flames were here. And the atmosphere in the Omni was absolutely electric. So why is there a difference now?
It seemed to me that the players really cared back then. Above all else, they wanted to win. You could tell by the way they played that it was one of the most important things in their lives at that moment.
The Thrashers players, the majority do not even want to be here. You can see it in the way they play. And, it’s a well known fact around the NHL that players don’t want to come and play for Atlanta (remember the comments by Dan Boyle).
Now why would that be. The reason being very simple. The Atlanta Spirit, LLC are not only inept, but they are cheap as well. I’ve written many times on the team messageboard about the “losing culture” that is not only allowed to exist by the owners, but is continuing even now. When it is crystal clear that the owners aren’t interested it becomes prevalent throughout the organization. It is so apparent that the prime objective for the AS,LLC is the revenue sharing, not winning, it just makes me sick.
The Atlanta Spirit have developed their business plan, and we the hockey fans just have to “deal with it”!
Tom
November 5th, 2010
3:14 pm
Tickets are VERY expensive
Traffic sucks
Parking is horrible
MARTA is NOT a safe alternative
So who would want to endure that?
At least you can go to the braves for $5 and drink beer at the chophouse
Overall Atlanta is not a great sports town. A large number of residents here are transplants from other cities.
Hockey Biltong
November 5th, 2010
3:20 pm
Marketing ?????- see Arthur Blank.
Ownership ???? – see Arthur Blank.
I watch ‘center ice’ and have seen small crowds all over… weeknights aren’t looking good in a lot markets.
But last night was really boring, even with replays and camera cuts.
I reckon Saturday will be a full blast, ripsnortin’ game, with full attendance; compared to CBJ.That is like Braves/Marlins. Who cares????
Tom
November 5th, 2010
3:31 pm
Lower ticket prices…or hold special deals for big games. I’d LOVE to go to the game tomorrow night as a treat, but I can’t afford to pay that much to sit so far away. I’ve got bills to pay first.
Michael
November 5th, 2010
3:42 pm
I think its pretty simple… DONT GET SHUTOUT 3-0 AT HOME AND EXPECT A FULL HOUSE, CAUSE U WILL BE LET DOWN.. people are freakin sick and tired of going down there and seing our guys get embarrassed, or just bored to death with the continuous skating circles figure 8 performance.. bogosian, mayb if you played half as good as your paycheck says you should, you could talk but dude..WAKE UP!!! your playing like garbage and muff cabbage..your an under performing, injury prone 20 year old who needs a reality check..STFU and play good hockey, then you can talk… After thrashers put together a nice 10 game stretch at home, where they do not get shutout once, and are competitive in each game…then bitch and complain about attendance..but we have seen several “stinkers” ALREADY this season and its just begun
Michael
November 5th, 2010
3:43 pm
when a team comes out and plays the way they did last night, and then complain about attendance…that strikes a nerve with me bigtime..if they had won, or have been playing much better this season at home..then they could talk
Turf Toe
November 5th, 2010
3:55 pm
Why does this article smell like damage control to try and cover for Bogosian’s stupid comments.
Lee
November 5th, 2010
3:55 pm
Awful crowd last night. No home ice advantage what so ever. Hopefully tomorrow’s game will have a much bigger crowd, which I’m expecting….
PhiK
November 5th, 2010
4:05 pm
The ASG needs to realize that this is not a “build it and they will come” hockey town. I am a season ticket holder and we sell or trade in the weekday tickets because my husband and I work and live OTP and have more than just hockey in our life. I market these tickets to sell them.
How about some simple marketing 101?
Q: Who is in the area on weeknights?
A: Everyone at the GWCC and companies that are downtown. [I can’t tell you how many people come up to us when we are walking into Phillips asking where to get tickets because they didn’t even know there was a game that night.]
Q: Who will be downtown on Sunday Nov. 28?
A: Falcons fans! [I love the double header Sundays! A Falcons game then a Thrashers game, but I have never once seen the ASG market to those who are not already fans. Run a special – get the Blue Crew out before the game run a special with your Falcon ticket!]
There is no excuse. Hire some college students for an intern and get some ideas going!
Tony C.
November 5th, 2010
4:06 pm
Yall know I try to make it out to the Flatscreen as often as possible….
Unfortunately, the club RAISED PRICES before the season even started. Ok maybe there’s a couple of sections where they were lowered but in my experience of going onto the team website/stubhub/whatever and looking for a pair of seats that I don’t need a sherpa to guide me to I cannot find anything less than $70/pair.
Maybe not a huge amount of money to most, but since loosing my corporate job, dollars are exceedingly precious these days-I’m not going to plunk down over 1/2 entire entertainment/food budget for the week for a team that consistently comes out flat or worse in the 1st period and may or may not decide to mail it in after that.
Couple that with the fact that 7pm start times are a logistical challenge on a good traffic day. Seriously, even if I turn onto 400 right at 5pm, it’s still an even-money bet that I make it to my seat before the puck drops… and I’m not *that* far up 400.
Thrashers have changed the culture in the room, unfortunately changing the culture/perception of the team in the community is going to take a lot more than a couple of guys who “are good hockey men” and the cast-offs from last years Champion.
Like it or not, unless/until they make the playoffs the Thrashers biggest draws are going to be” Bufflao, NYR, Deadwings & Chi-Hawks (in that order).
Thrashers Season Ticket Holder Who is Just Tired of Going
November 5th, 2010
4:06 pm
I am a decade-long Thrashers Season Ticket Holder who is just sick of going to the games.
As members of the core fan base such as my wife and me start to lose interest in even going to the games, win, lose or tie (pre-shootout), Atlanta Spirit should definitely be concerned.
Why am I sick of going to Philips Arena even if the Thrashers go undefeated the whole year?
- Arena employees who act like they are the TSA and I am a badge-carrying Taliban member.
- Overpriced concessions
- Rude, inconsiderate fellow fans
- Inaccurate concession stand menus and pricing
- Public relations releases from the team that insult my intelligence
- Overpriced souvenirs & clothing with poor selection
- Overpriced parking, even with Season Ticket Holder “discount”
- Friends and fellow season ticket holders who used to sit with us haven’t been back in years (Frankly, it gets lonely at games now.) Why did they stop coming? Please see reasons above.
Tony C.
November 5th, 2010
4:12 pm
Oh yeah, win convincingly in regulation and it gets lots easier to sell your tickets dude.
JW
November 5th, 2010
4:14 pm
TO: Thrashers Season Ticket Holder Who is Just Tired of Going
Exact reasons why I gave up my Season tickets after 5 years, even with a better team on the ice. Or “potential” The arena experience is awful, plain in simple. Rude, hockey ignorant employee’s.
Sage of Bluesland
November 5th, 2010
4:20 pm
What a joke. All answers are ‘right’ on this one.
What a pathetic joke this organization is; they are lucky to have any fans at all.
But, that’s just it–based on their performance, they don’t DESERVE the fans they do have. Thus, I question the very sanity of those who are willing to give away their money for this unloved and un-cared-for product….
Oh well, money must be no object for some (if it’s their money to begin with; an assumption on my part certainly).
The sheep will be sheep, after all….and I will continue to laugh at those who continue to dweam the impossible dweam!
It’s such a shame–as it didn’t have to be this way….It really didn’t…..
Qc NHL
November 5th, 2010
4:20 pm
Don’t worry in Atlanta. We will take good care of the team when they move in our new building here in Quebec City, Canada. Let’s go Nordiques!
Old Flame
November 5th, 2010
4:26 pm
I agree with many of the good points above, and have also noticed that marketing is geared heavily toward season ticket and group sales. Last night’s game was the first I’ve attended this season, and I could not find any single game ticket prices on the Thrashers’ website. I asked their sales folks at the game, and was referred to Ticketmaster. I’m not paying Ticketmaster an extra 4+ bucks for a ticket I can get at the box office, but the ticket information does not seem to want us to know that the box office is an option. Perhaps that is why I saw very few others at the ticket windows.
Joe McGrath
November 5th, 2010
4:41 pm
Long term fix:break out the cheque book. Short term fix: lead the league in fighting majors.
Rhythmpenguin
November 5th, 2010
5:00 pm
Thrashers Season Ticket Holder Who is Just Tired of Going you can come sit with us (me, goose, and JLH) in section 121. There are always empty seats even on opening night. We are usually about midway down in the middle. =)
AtlFlamesFan
November 5th, 2010
5:04 pm
ASG & DW. I remember the good old days of sellouts or a minimum of 16,000 enthusiastic fans in the building. I brought a friend who had never been to a hockey game. He was amazed at the great experience and the electric atmosphere. But years of incompentancy at top has driven away the fans. You cannot expect people to continue to throw away good money for such a horrible product. These owners don’t care. They do not even show up for a hockey game anymore (but you can see them at Hawks games). I pray for new ownership.
EA
November 5th, 2010
5:37 pm
How predictable is it that SOB is back on the message boards. Who is laughing at who?
foncused
November 5th, 2010
5:39 pm
C Viv – Take this to the Spirit and make them read EVERY post. There are some great ideas in here. Also, perhaps they need to be reminded of what Arthur Blank did with the Falcons. His goal was to get butts in the seats and provide them with a good experience PERIOD. So he lowered ticket prices, made enhancements to the facility and put on a helluva a show.
Here is a good example . . perhaps it has changed. But the last time I was at Philips Arena, none of the TV’s in the “fan experience” center were working. The time before, the pictures were so bad it was hard to see.
The Rudy Guliani law of being Mayor was, fix the little things first. If you stop kids from breaking windows, they are less likely to commit grander crimes. If the ownership would do some simple things, like fix the TV’s, reduce ticket prices, give kids and parents free tickets for certain games, have a truly GREAT group discount option not one that is mediocre. These are not rocket science ideas and all have been done by our neighbors to the West with the Falcons.
Finally, what about relocating their practice facility so it is closer to town? There is a great piece of property located at 285 and 85, called the GM plant. I know the Falcons stadium is not a good fit there for traffic, but what about hockey rinks and le tthe Thrashers practice there and GT use it for their home ice.
Hopefully someone with some hockey sense, marketing sense, and/or some dollars to just make it happen will step up and take control. Ted Turner, where are you????
litz
November 5th, 2010
5:53 pm
I echo the comments above about someone from the organization reading this …
Folks — the people posting in here are YOUR DIE HARD FANS … many of whom are STH’s.
You NEED to pay attention to these rants and complaints.
The natives are beyond restless.
joe
November 5th, 2010
6:21 pm
Even if we win occasionally, it would at least be nice to have a superstar to go watch play. We keep trading them away.
HellzPirate
November 5th, 2010
6:29 pm
The building is empty becauses of loses ? Explain the sold out crowd in Toronto when they cant win anything since years ? The Quebec Nordiques had their best year in attendance when they got their 31 pts season.(97 % capacity all season) Ok…the team left in 95, but it was when the NHL had no salary-cap. That was the cause of the departure. NHL has no future in Atlanta and the city doesnt deserve a team. Period… Bring back hockey in Winnipeg and Quebec. Thats where hockey belongs.
Brendan
November 5th, 2010
6:35 pm
I don’t care what anyone says, losing Kovalchuk hurt attendance. Here’s why it did. Several fans hung with this team, precisely because Kovalchuk was still a major star. When the organization couldn’t re-sign him, it was BEACON OF LIGHT that caused many to finally realize that, “Perhaps Don Waddell was NOT the brilliant tactician that some fans took him for.”
And they got angry. And they voiced their protest with their wallets. As in, “You don’t re-sign Kovalchuk, I don’t re-sign my season tickets.” The organization hedged their bets that … that fans were BLUFFING. But just in case they weren’t, another ’sort of’ change they could make … was moving Waddell out of the GM’s desk, which seemed to irk so many. For Waddell’s GM prowess was an issue, for several Thrasher fans. Upon hearing the news that Ric Dudley was the “new” GM, some fans were thrilled. “‘Bout time!!,” they said. But Waddell remains part of the landscape. And if you read AJC articles, Waddell even states, “Ric and I go over all roster decisions to decide what’s best.” Hmmn. Sure sounds like Waddell’s “removed” from roster decisions, doesn’t it? Of course, maybe he’s lying. He has a bit of history of doing just that. But any way you slice and dice it, Waddell’s desk is far from ‘cleaned out.’ And because of that, some fans have protested by no attendance. I don’t personnally blame them.
I was actually at this Blue Jackets game. And no, it wasn’t my 1st game of the year, either. I make no denial that I don’t like this ownership much. I root for a sale, to a local interest, that would care for it, and hope that Philips Arena would be part of the deal, to make it happen. As much as I don’t much care for this ownership, I have posted and encouraged others to at least ‘try’ to support Ramsay/Dudley’s efforts and ‘team concepts.’ I’ve always wanted to try a depth strategy here in Atlanta, given that we don’t have much a budget, most years. So, we can’t can’t go BUY free agents. We have to draft the Tier I talent. But, we only get to keep that until the requisite RFA years are over. Then they make like a tree and leave.
Add it up, folks, and it means this ownership is NOT going to get the revenue-sharing dollars it craves. Some of you just screamed, “YEAH, BABY!! Take THAT, Gearon! Take that, Seydell! Take that, Peskowicz! And especially, YOU, Bruce Levenson. You deserve this, most of all!” I can understand that line of thinking. I truly can. But, in the end, I just want the team to succeed. I just wish that, for once, we’d have ownership that actually CARED about this team, enough to give it proper ‘accountability’ through the years, and nuture a winning climate. That continues to be my wish.
SouthGAfan
November 5th, 2010
7:08 pm
I live about 2 hours away from Atlanta. I used to go to a lot of Thrashers game. I will not return until a good product is on the ice. I had high hopes for this season and still do. However, I think Georgia can have hockey I was born and raised here and love the sport. Never ice skated, never played hockey as a youngster, I just love it though, it’s a tough man’s game. Well. It’s a tough man’s game outside of Atlanta. Here we are with all the hype about our defense in the off season. We brought in a teacher. A coach that knows the importance of defense. Look what we have so far. We average what 200 or 300 shots against each game. I don’t care what D-Men you bring into Phillips Arena and how defensive minded they our something happens when they get on the ice in a Thrashers’ jersey and it all goes out the window. I enjoy watching the Thrashers play on the road because after the first ten to fifteen minutes of sleep skating they play with passion. At home the play stinks. It is uninspired, flat, emotionless, it is down right horrific. The fans do not show up because the players appear not to care. I do blame ASG and Don Waddell as well. I consider myself one of the core fans, but yes I have been driven away. Of course I still read the blogs and eat sleep and breathe Thrashers hockey, but I will not do it at Phillips Arena because to me going there and watching the players figure skate his heart breaking. “A Brutally Good Time” what in the wide world of sports has the players done that has been brutal in a home game other than play like a bunch of Ron Hainsey’s. NOTHING. Run the bleep over somebody for crying out loud. Boulton will you drop the gloves already. Somebody please have the passion on ice that I have when I watch the game dancing around the living room like a freaking idiot because good things our happening in the hockey game. Now I just sit there like a lump on a log because well the home games are boring. How many times have yall yelled at the screen because the pucks at our end and there is five Thrashers players standing around watching the other team cycle the puck. And the two point men at the blue line will have enough free ice space and time to rake up all the snow and build an ice sculpture out there. And it goes like this. He passes to the point and he shoots and scores. Then Darren Elliott tells us all about how the Thrashers D broke down in there on end. What are they doing out there talking about their latest stock picks? I truly understand Stendek now. It took me a while but I get it. Please somebody save this team I wanna spend my hard earned money at Phillips Arena so bad, BUT I WILL NOT WASTE IT THERE.
Hockey Biltong
November 5th, 2010
7:38 pm
AY CARAMBA!!!!!!
Thrashers Season Ticket Holder Who is Just Tired of Going
November 5th, 2010
8:05 pm
As far as why many NEW fans no longer go to Phillps to see the Thrashers as of Fall 2010, the team has 3 primary public enemies:
Public Enemy #1: College & High School Football
Public Enemy #2: Atlanta Spirit Group (Encompassing Arena Game Night Staff as well)
Public Enemy #3: Jeff Schultz and his Negative “Anti-Thrashers” & “Anti-NHL in Atlanta” rants
Sure the team has other local enemies, but the 3 above currently do the most damage in recruiting new fans, IMHO.
ablebody
November 5th, 2010
8:54 pm
i go to & watch on TV as many hockey games as i possibly can. so, winning or not, i LOVE to go watch thrashers hockey.
with that in mind, philips arena itself is beginning to sour on me. i remember dany heatley in a pre-game video they used to play at philips where he said it all happened “in a world class facility.”
but payment with credit cards is a crap shoot. jumbotron looks crappy, the sound quality sometimes crackles, and if any of the monitors in the lobby are even working the quality of the picture is abysmal. philips is the largest electronics retailer in the world. their slogan used to be “let’s make things better,” but they dumped that in 2004 for this one: “sense and simplicity.”
six years later and the only sense i get is that philips arena is simply falling apart.
Alan R.
November 5th, 2010
9:22 pm
Attention: Atlanta Spirit Group
I am interested in marketing the Thrashers, since your marketing department cannot seem to do so. Let Chris or Bill know that you want to talk to me, and my contact info will get to you.
Simple
November 5th, 2010
9:41 pm
Arrange a babysitter and pay her to watch the kid. Leave work early to get to the rink through horrible traffic. Get all hyped up. Get slammed back to reality that I just spent $40+/person for a product that you never know what you are going to get and the odds are not in your favor.
Get home completely disappointed and now out in the whole a couple hundred dollars. Wondering why I keep buying when the outcome is so often the same.
Simple! Fans pay money to go to sporting events to get a rush of excitement. There is the excitement in that they get to see their favorite team or players and that maybe they will be there when those few rare moments occur that we look back on for generations. Fans will only pay this money so long as they think they will get this excitement. Right now, the odds are against us and are more in favor of the opposite. Winning isn’t always the solution but at this point it is the only solution.
Sure, also there is the argument of the economy but I think that it would account more for the gap between 11k and 9k people. In today’s economy people tend to think more about what they get for their dollar before they spend it. If they don’t think they will get it back in equal memories then they will keep it.
Carlos
November 5th, 2010
9:45 pm
For homework before each game they should make the team and all staff read these responses. Maybe they can find some inspiration in that the overwhelming response is WIN and do it with gusto.
Curly
November 5th, 2010
10:08 pm
Bottom line… Why should the fans show up if the team fails to do so?
Chris S
November 5th, 2010
10:55 pm
When the Arena staff bans the use of noisemakers, it certainly kills any spirit there might have been. How else are we supposed to fight the bajillion Buffalo fans that invade the arena? They’re just doing everything they can to turn Philips Arena into the Philips Library. NO LOUD TALKING!
R. Stroz
November 5th, 2010
10:59 pm
Do any of you get disappointed when you go work each day and no one applauds when you perform your job?
I didn’t think so.
How about when you don’t do your job? You get fired.
Thrashers fans have fired the organization.
Fairly simple isn’t it?
Alan R.
November 5th, 2010
11:08 pm
Do any of you get disappointed when you go work each day and no one applauds when you perform your job?
Yes. I want 18545 people around me, cheering me on as I repair that computer that was built last century. I want them chanting “SCREW! SCREW! SCREW!” when I’m installing an expansion card, and a roar from the crowd (along with a goal horn) when the computer I just assembled powers on.
And then, I woke up.
Albert
November 5th, 2010
11:34 pm
Until Buff gets moved from D to forward I ain’t going. Nah, not really, but when he does move up the games will get even more interesting.
Turf Toe
November 6th, 2010
2:09 am
“Atlanta Knights Hockey. Come watch our yankees beat up their yankees.” Billboards on this side were were as far out as Waco, Ga.
Great AD at the time ! Too Bad Atlanta Spirit Just doesn’t get it !
kdh
November 6th, 2010
4:45 am
one reason – management was told several yrs ago not to change the start time and that 7pm was too hard to get a family there on time. second, they have changed places with the hawks. failed leadership and a poor product = no fans. three – someone advise ramsay to practice not looking like it is the first time he has been in a hockey rink.
Lee
November 6th, 2010
9:31 am
“…I truly can. But, in the end, I just want the team to succeed. I just wish that, for once, we’d have ownership that actually CARED about this team, enough to give it proper ‘accountability’ through the years, and nuture a winning climate. That continues to be my wish.”
So do I. And hopefully others wish for that too. Who doesn’t want to watch great hockey? And more importantly who doesn’t want to support a great team? Hopefully someday, this might become reality where fans can just be happy. Maybe….
Very well said Brendan
Taudawg
November 6th, 2010
9:34 am
Hard to build a fan base beyond the hard core hockey fans without a radio signal beyond 285 at night. The local radio stations, many times, don’t even mention the Thrashers scores. There seems to be no goal to build the fan base. Sad and uncomfortable.
Turf Toe
November 6th, 2010
9:39 am
Taudawg. I hear you on the Radio signal. Where the heck do they think the hockey fans live ? These people have a hard time selling basketball in Atanta. That should be as easy as selling firewood to Eskimos.
MM
November 6th, 2010
9:50 am
Bruce needs to go…..worst owner in all of sports
It is that simple
MM
November 6th, 2010
9:53 am
A little help for those who are tech challenged
Download 680 app and the signal will not be a problem
squawksmcgrew
November 6th, 2010
10:29 am
As long as the Spirit own the franchise, I’m not apt to hand them my money. (I was a STH for three years until they jacked my costs by 100%). I have no faith in ownership and don’t want to fund mediocrity. Yet, I watch every televised game and scream when we put one in the net and groan when we allow one. Go Thrasherrs, just leave the ASG behind.
JR
November 6th, 2010
11:04 am
it’s a vicious cycle. management won’t spend because the attendance is low. fans won’t come because they feel that management is taking a ‘cheap’ approach to payroll and the record reflects that.
i missed the win last friday, so the last three games i attended were all losses where the players were lackluster in their play and seemingly could care less.
address these issues and ‘they will come’.
i have to miss a few games in coming weeks and i’m not even distressed over it. i have two season tickets and i’m constantly bringing a friend or a date for the second seat. the dates haven’t petered out yet [pun intended] but already friends are finding excuses not to come.
Turf Toe
November 6th, 2010
11:46 am
JR I eat a lot of them too. Nice to stretch out sometimes though and keep a buffer in between me and some Tech nerd like MM.
Hockey Biltong
November 6th, 2010
11:49 am
Btw., my wife informs me that Thrashers tix are some of the lowest in the NHL…..I did not know that.
Turf Toe
November 6th, 2010
11:50 am
The team with the worst record in the NHL (0-7 at home too) had 18.2 K last night. Granted they were playing the habs and are only a river away from hockeyland ,but it still blows Bogosian’s rant out of the water.
Add the Atlanta Thrashers to the list of teams facing attendance issues | ProHockeyTalk
November 6th, 2010
12:33 pm
[...] Sadly, the trend of fledgling teams struggling to draw people in relatively young markets continues with the Atlanta Thrashers, according to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. [...]
kracker
November 6th, 2010
1:17 pm
Chris, can you do an article updating us on the lawsuit situation? Like how many more years is Belkin going to drage this out?
Tom B.
November 6th, 2010
2:15 pm
if the thrashers would play like they played on the road it may bring the people out. every game at home, they look like they do not want to be here. we keep saying to send them some coffee or something between periods. that might pep them up a little. people are not gonna come out and watch them lose, it’s that plain and simple
Supply vs Demand
November 6th, 2010
2:29 pm
Low attendance? Been there, done that:
“Supply vs Demand
August 12th, 2010
1:20 am
Taking care of the “needs” of STH and offering Flex Plans as the “next level of value” are great and all…But the last time I checked, we’re living in a macro economy that’s got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. Many of us have been forced to cut back on what used to be luxuries like tix to college fb/bb, professional fb/bb and yes, Thrashers Hockey. These budgeting decisions become more compelling when you have a family of 5 and all of the expenses that come with it. I’m not complaining, I’m just sayin’……How about a little love for the rest of us?
We attended 10 Thrashers games @ Blueland last year, including opening nt, the 1/9 Snowstorm pummeling of 8-1, the 2/6 post-Kovy debut, the Devils game that knocked us out officially and the season finale win over the Pens. With a mortgage, orthodontics, college & retirement savings and all of the other “benefits” of a credit-based society, we probably would’ve been forced to watch all the games on Fox Sports South if we’d really had to pay some $50 per ticket to sit in the upper bowl, $12-15 parking & $60 for Cokes/hotdogs/popcorn/nachos per game.
Obviously Philips will not fill up with just STH and Flex Plan owners. Many of us were there because of single game ticket promotions like the TravelZoo $8 tix in the 300 level. Would I love to sit Rinkside every game? Sure…..But I won’t take out another equity line for all 5 of us to do so.
I hope this is not forgotten while single game promotions are in “full discussion mode”. The harsh reality is this economy sucks right now and Thrashers avg home attendance declined last year by 1,019 (per game) from the previous year. Normally, when supply is fixed (excessive) and demand is decreasing, either the product (quality) must be improved and/or price must fall. They do still teach things like that in Marketing classes, don’t they? At this time, any perceived increase in product quality is still unproven on the ice, so removing extreme single ticket discounting prior to the start of the season probably won’t do anything to reverse the trend of declining attendance.
Surely a team that is 3rd to last in avg home attendance and that’s struggling to meet the Cap Minimum can afford to continue offering extreme discounts on single game tix. Please don’t forget this when considering “the rest of us” who LOVE Thrashers Hockey, but can’t financially commit to game packages without taking on more family debt.
I don’t need free tix. But give us deep discounts and we’ll bring the family and drop $100 or so per game, while an empty seat = $0 Revenue. Please don’t forget this…….”
Unfortunately, they forgot. Next question, please?
Curly
November 6th, 2010
3:51 pm
I tried calling my STH rep and the box office to purchase 2 more tickets to tonight’s game (for two college students). – Do they still have the 50% discount for students? Guess what … No one answers the phone. Just a recorded message to leave a message. No wonder they can’t sell tickets. You can’t buy one if you wanted to.
East Point Bob
November 6th, 2010
3:57 pm
Joe Friday nailed it, Don Waddell and his total inability to be a good GM. He got in way over his head, had no idea what he was doing, was very easily duped into bad moves by other smarter GM’s and simply had no idea what he was or is still doing. Albeit, these owners suck, Waddell is the one
constant that has been here since day one and since day one this team has stunk.
Sure we won the SE one season, but when star players leave because the GM is a halfwit idiot at
putting at team togather, well you have a disaster. That is what we have a complete disaster and Waddell is the only real reason we stink. look at his awful draft’s, poor trades and inability to keep star players and yet more inability to attract top flight UFA’s.
Waddell is like Cancer, he has eaten the heart and soul out of this franchise and has destroyed it.
I believe it to be too late to save it from moving now, I believe after next season they will be gone.
Waddell should never never never have been selected as GM, even to this day he still has no idea what he is doing, he talks a good game, but that is all a front of a man who has failed at every aspect of professional hockey. Waddell should be embarrassed as hell to stay employed with the team, it is amazing to be a complete failure and get promoted, amazing. Where I come from you don’t do your job, you are fired and someone else is brought in who can. But not in Atlanta, where losing fans, players is far less important to these owners, than firing Waddell. If I were Waddell I would be so disgraced I could not show my face, and one thing that needs to stop is Waddell being employed here a day longer, but with the owners we are stuck with… They would likely give Saddam the key to the city, which is like letting Waddell be President, What Next ?
Winnipeg in 2012-2013 Thanks to Waddell and his stupidity !
Sandy
November 6th, 2010
6:49 pm
The main reason I don’t attend that many games anymore is that the Thrashers have traded or let go of their major stars (you all know who they are) and at present the team has no stars. This pattern goes back many years. The good part of having bad attendence is that if you want great seats to almost any game they’re their for the taking.
For a true hockey fan this is outstanding. For the mangement/owners it’s something less.
Thrashable.com » Taking attendance at Philips Arena
November 8th, 2010
10:45 am
[...] about small crowds coming out to watch Thrashers home games, including Thrashers. Zach Bogosian airs the issue out: It’s never good feeling when you come out and you are all pumped up and there’s not that many [...]
Blondie
November 8th, 2010
3:32 pm
I wish I could go to more games, but I just don’t have the $ right now. Now, if they would offer $5 or $10 seats every home game – I’d be there.