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Dannielle
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
519 Posts |
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Hakeedude
(Been Here Awhile)
524 Posts |
 Posted - 11/07/2006 : 07:11:00 AM
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| Unfortunately, it looks like the problem is people not spending their money in the first place, judging from the (lack of) crowd last night... |
Pictures of Aloha Music Camp, Moloka`i, and Maui at
http://community.webshots.com/user/hakeedude |
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raptorov
(The Next Level!)
USA
141 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2006 : 09:41:14 AM
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Part of the problem is that there is no buzz.
If I didnt have my schedule magnet next to my bench at work, I wouldnt have known there was a game.
Look at Dayton Daily News website. There is an article on the Bombers almost everyday. They had 9900 for their opening night. They have drop down boxes for Bombers and Dragons. Look at our pathetic cincinnati websites. There is no mention of Cyclones, or the Florence Freedom or the Marshals, nothing except college basketball and the major leagues. The arguement is that thats what people want, but if there is no buzz, how can people find out and get pumped about our "orphan" sports. The Cyclones have done a better job at getting the word out than the Railraiders or Ducks did, but what ever happened to a game photo and article in the paper after a game? How about a info piece on certain players? We certainly have some great talent this year?
Who decides when and if things get in the paper. on the websites, or on the TV? |
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ice_ice_baby
(Rookie)
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2006 : 10:02:13 AM
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I don't think the media can be blamed. Even if they can create a bigger buzz where there isn't one (and, yes, I believe they sometimes can), nobody can say that they have a responsibility to do so. Honestly, I think it's improper for them to do so.
Comparing Cincinnati sports to Dayton sports is not entirely an apples-to-apples situaion. Cincinnati has two major league professional sports teams. Dayton has none. Cincinnati has a built-in long-standing college basketball rivalry between two fairly successful programs. Dayton, well, doesn't.
As for how media attention is garnered, I got to hear John Popovich speak about that at a meeting once. On an average evening newscast, they have about 3 minutes for sports. They go with what they believe the widest audience wants to hear about. The 'secret' really isn't a secret.... if the radio stations, news outlets, etc. hear often enough from enough people (e-mail, letters, etc) that people want to hear about hockey more than they want to hear about the things that they do devote time and space to, then they will begin to change.
And as long as D-IV high school football games have higher attendance than Cyclones games, there really is no basis to claim that Cyclones games are being unfairly shuffled lower in the deck. It isn't the media's job to advertise for the Cyclones - the front office and the fanbase are the tools for that. |
To the extreme, I rock a mic like a vandal.
Light up a stage, and wax a chump like a candle. |
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cyclonehole
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
985 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2006 : 1:00:32 PM
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| First of all ... the weekend attendences haven't been bad. The weekday games (Wednesday and last night, Monday against Florida) really were, but it's expected for games with no promotion, especially a game on Monday against a team they just played at home with no promotion (and the Enquirer forgot to list it on the B1 upcoming events page ... not saying this could have made a difference but it certainly could have) ... I think maybe, Danielle, you're juding the crowd not being so into it by the weekday games. I haven't noticed a lack of enery at any of the weekend games so far. High school football is over now besides playoffs, we'll see if that concluces to anything. |
Edited by - cyclonehole on 11/07/2006 1:02:09 PM |
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Guido
(Finally Got A Star!)
96 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2006 : 5:10:56 PM
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I agree with the general belief that the week day attendances have been too low - however, I also agree with understanding that it is early in the season, week nights alway stink, and it should get better with time.
22 of the 36 home games are on weekends, so that's a good thing.
As for 'buzz' I agree wholeheartedly. It's sort of a viscious cycle. If there is no buzz, things get worse, and then it's harder to generate buzz. But once buzz gets going, then it gets better and better - feeding on itself.
I think the single most important thing for them to do is get onto the radio. It's 3 hours of constant advertising every time they broadcast. Plus another our if they do the coach's show. Many people listen only to AM radio, and just a few channels. If they are stumbling across the channels, they will find the game. While there, they get to hear about the Cyclones.
These people are also likely to be sports fans, and may then be inclined to go to a game.
Also being on the radio would give them a little more credibility among the media, so maybe they would be taken more seriously. |
http://cyclonesinsider.blogspot.com |
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bags
(Person With Nothing Better To Do!)
USA
2224 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2006 : 5:12:19 PM
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First off Dannielle, we all have the right to speak and the fact you support the
Cyclones is a great plus-BUT- there is only so much noise that can be made by 500
people in an arena that holds 17000!!! I was yelling at the refs, cheering for our
one goal,and acting my usual self.I don't have a problem with someone that isn't
screaming as long as they come to the game.My opinion of the main problem is the
price of going is hurting us.During the week we could have 2,000 tickets available
for $6 to try and get families at the game.How about $1 bottles of pop and $1 hot dogs,
popcorn and ice cones during the week games to bring people in.No one is making a dollar
on an empty chair,so why not settle for 30 CENTS!One final thing,when you come in the
arena,make sure you are counted!The fact that the ushers hand turn the turnstiles make
me wonder if everyone is counted.
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raptorov
(The Next Level!)
USA
141 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2006 : 6:16:26 PM
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| Radio would bring legitimacy to the Cyclones, plus it is easy and convienient to put the game on while you are in the car, listen to the away games, or just sitting on the deck by the campfire. It would be like a three hour commercial for the Cyclones. |
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SCUBA
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
584 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2006 : 10:32:48 PM
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| I have no control over this point at all, however I disagree with Ice Ice Baby when their post stated that the media has no responsibility over coverage for the Cyclones, and i'll explain. back when the Cyclones left the Gardens the Enquirer published a whole page and a half or more about the now imfamous "Ice Wars". in retospect, instead of creating controversy and having hockey fans of Cincinnati chose sides,just to sell papers, How about a headline like "hockey lovers rejoice, Cincy has two teams to enjoy! Really none of us either want to, or can only speculate what really went on behind closed doors Betwwen Cyclones and Gardens managment and even if you can speak on those talks its unlikely that anyone will believe you anyway, but when the Cyclones left the Gardens there was real opportunity to promote both teams, and maybe make it work. Does the media have responsibility to promote Hockey in Cincinnati? You bet, Hockey is a sport right? then cover it. Is the media to take out full page stories about Hockey. I'm not sure if thats what we are all yapping for. How about a couple of interviews on the radio talk shows now and then. I've heard some local radio talk shows interview coaches from Indiana, I certainly hear local talk shows try to drum up support for a seriously ailing UC football team when it comes to support. The local radio talk shows have numerous interviews and topics about subjects that target a small group, not unlike the Cyclones. So yes the media chose to sensationalize the Hockey wars, might have encouraged fans to take sides and might be in part responsible for the lack of support for not only Hockey in Cincinnati and for the Cyclones |
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Dannielle
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
519 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2006 : 10:37:22 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by cyclonehole
First of all ... the weekend attendences haven't been bad. The weekday games (Wednesday and last night, Monday against Florida) really were, but it's expected for games with no promotion, especially a game on Monday against a team they just played at home with no promotion (and the Enquirer forgot to list it on the B1 upcoming events page ... not saying this could have made a difference but it certainly could have) ... I think maybe, Danielle, you're juding the crowd not being so into it by the weekday games. I haven't noticed a lack of enery at any of the weekend games so far. High school football is over now besides playoffs, we'll see if that concluces to anything.
Oh, so only the weekend crowds should have any energy? |
-- keep up to date with the clones @ >> http://cycwords.wordpress.com
-- cyclones coverage on exmainer.com >> http://www.examiner.com/x-59833-Cincinnati-Cyclones-Examiner |
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cyclonehole
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
985 Posts |
Posted - 11/08/2006 : 06:37:19 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Dannielle
quote:
Originally posted by cyclonehole
First of all ... the weekend attendences haven't been bad. The weekday games (Wednesday and last night, Monday against Florida) really were, but it's expected for games with no promotion, especially a game on Monday against a team they just played at home with no promotion (and the Enquirer forgot to list it on the B1 upcoming events page ... not saying this could have made a difference but it certainly could have) ... I think maybe, Danielle, you're juding the crowd not being so into it by the weekday games. I haven't noticed a lack of enery at any of the weekend games so far. High school football is over now besides playoffs, we'll see if that concluces to anything.
Oh, so only the weekend crowds should have any energy?
I was more talking about attendance in general rather than energy ... I really don't think "energy" should be a priority or issue. As already pointed out, weekday games are going to get nothing close to weekend games, and when you only have 500-900 people taking up the spacious seating capacity of the arena, it might seem like some less energy than a 3,000+ draw on Friday night. |
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Dannielle
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
519 Posts |
Posted - 11/08/2006 : 11:41:17 AM
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Well, we try.
I didn't get to go to last Friday's game because I work in a restaurant and can't get Fridays off, but the two weeknight games have been very blah.
The three (or four) of us (including two or three screaming high schoolers) try to get something going and half the people around us look at us like we've got multiple heads. We're like hey, whatever. We know the players can hear us, that's all that matters I suppose. |
-- keep up to date with the clones @ >> http://cycwords.wordpress.com
-- cyclones coverage on exmainer.com >> http://www.examiner.com/x-59833-Cincinnati-Cyclones-Examiner |
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ice_ice_baby
(Rookie)
USA
31 Posts |
Posted - 11/08/2006 : 2:52:41 PM
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bags said-
"in an arena that holds 17000!!!"
That got me to thinking... what are the *real* attendance figures looking like for the whole ECHL so far?
As a bit of a computer junkie, and liking to find little projects to apply my meager skills sometimes, I pulled all of the ECHL attendance figures through the end of last night. To further assess the numbers, I pulled in the capacities listed for ECHL hockey at the home arenas.
According to ECHL.com, USBA only holds 6955 for hockey.
Some teams have only had one or two home games, so these numbers are not wholly reliable conerning what the end of the season will look like.
Avg %cap
Dayton 9989 100.39%
Stockton 7964 79.64%
Gwinnett 7787.25 68.58%
Bakersfield 6026.25 66.96%
Charlotte 5966.75 91.80%
Florida 5854 82.68%
Alaska 5411.25 86.57%
Reading 5205.5 72.15%
Utah 5065 49.62%
Las Vegas 4875.33 62.72%
South Carolina 4744.33 45.84%
Fresno 4616.25 33.45%
Toledo 4601 85.82%
Victoria 4404.33 62.92%
Idaho 216.33 84.23%
Texas 4050 52.24%
Augusta 3310 50.12%
Trenton 3272 43.02%
Phoenix 3129.43 40.40%
Wheeling 3060.67 56.62%
Pensacola 2979.4 36.56%
Columbia 2822 45.29%
Cincinnati 2427.2 34.90%
Long Beach 2378 22.87%
Johnstown 2166.6 55.84%
LEAGUE 4374.27 55.81%
Of course, statistics never tell us *why* anything happens.
If all goes well, I hope to have a web-available version of the figures done sometime soon, so that the user can search the data by "weekend-only" games or the like. |
To the extreme, I rock a mic like a vandal.
Light up a stage, and wax a chump like a candle. |
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cyclonehole
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
985 Posts |
Posted - 11/08/2006 : 3:36:41 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by ice_ice_baby
bags said-
"in an arena that holds 17000!!!"
That got me to thinking... what are the *real* attendance figures looking like for the whole ECHL so far?
As a bit of a computer junkie, and liking to find little projects to apply my meager skills sometimes, I pulled all of the ECHL attendance figures through the end of last night. To further assess the numbers, I pulled in the capacities listed for ECHL hockey at the home arenas.
According to ECHL.com, USBA only holds 6955 for hockey.
It's listed that way because only the lower bowl of seats are available for hockey games, although when all of the upper level seats are counted for (concerts, other events) USBA holds a lot more.
And, like you said, those early attendance stats wouldn't hold up in any court, due to it being based on the first one or two home games for some teams. Don't let that Nutter Center number fool you, it's just based on the 9,000 they pulled opening night (which is great, but I'd like to see it hold up throughout the season). |
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BannerLady
(The Next Level!)
USA
162 Posts |
Posted - 11/08/2006 : 4:17:39 PM
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Going back up to the comments about media coverage here in Cincy.......
The only way for Hockey to get noticed is for there to be a negative impact/story line. Sadly enough.........the 'birdcage liners' and the local sport reporters on TV, DON'T have a clue or any knowledge of how to report on hockey!!! YEAH>>>>>>>>>> we diehard fans have spent a great deal of stamps and computer time asking for more and even just better coverage!!! I would like to know if anyone ever got any reponse to their letters?? I know I never have............and this goes back to even the days of the STINGERS when I first got hooked on hockey!)
This might be lower level hockey ..............but the players are still professionals and deserve better respect from the media. (and yeah, this has been repeated numerous times to the media in my letters and emails!!) |
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jevers
Administrator
USA
1367 Posts |
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Topic Locked
We hear you all down there. Keep up the good work.