| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
bags
(Person With Nothing Better To Do!)
USA
2224 Posts |
 Posted - 12/15/2014 : 8:12:47 PM
|
If ever there is a section for this, here it is. I've been a fan of the Cyclones since
year 2. I never was part of the Garden's "Section 60", but have grown to love this web
site for years until now. In the off season, I started a post with some transactions that
I saw. I even contacted Jim when the views reached over 600 with no responses for fear
I was driving people away. He assured me everything was fine so I kept posting. Finally
a response came in the form of slamming me and my family. If that person was tired of my
info posts, a simple request to stop or slow it down would have got the message through.
As a result I chose to stop posting and did so until the question was brought up about
the health of this board. After a few of us got our complaints out, the board showed
some life. But here we go again with the name calling and superior attitudes towards
other posters. DH to his credit gave a perfect info post on Chuck Weber's new post. If
you bring up Weber's name as a coach here, the reaction from a few is like trying to
give the job to Charlie Manson. Meanwhile, when a few of us showed unhappiness with
Coach Skalde, you would have thought we were putting down Paul Lawless !
I haven't seen many games this year for many excuses. One was construction (now
finished) on the 6th street viaduct and second is some of my out of town trips.
Another reason is the growing price of going to the game. A night out with my wife
starts with dinner at Subway $14. Two waters for the game-$4. Parking at garage is
$10. Two tickets on game day $30. Two pretzels to snack on $8. Total $66. That's one
game for two people and not that much extra involved. I can go to a bar and listen to
live music and each drink 6 beers at $3 each for a total of $36.
Okay now I welcome you to put your two cents worth in and call me what you want. Lets
leave the rest of this site alone and try to end this right now. |
|
|
cycfan
(The Next Level!)
243 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2014 : 2:37:20 PM
|
Bags, yes you can go to a bar for live music and drink 6 beers at $3 each, but you left out the cost of going to Subway (I assume you're going to eat somewhere) so if you add that in, you're up to $50. Unless your bar has a big parking lot that is free, you're going to pay to park too. It doesn't seem like that much of a difference if throw in $5 to park at your favorite bar.
In my experience, watching live hockey for two and half hours is a lot more fun than listening to live music at a bar. Granted it's live music, but you get music at the game, plus the sound of the crowd, the hits, the plays, the goals. Seems like hockey would be light years ahead. For my wife and I, the bar with live music is someplace to go AFTER the hockey game, just sayin'. :) |
 |
|
|
cyclonehole
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
985 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2014 : 2:15:58 PM
|
This is my first post here since 2010 (still a diehard fan, but only get out to about a 1/4th of the games I used to) and I just wanted to add my $0.2 on ticket prices.
It saddens me that ticket prices have reached a point in which I would no longer consider going to a (minor league) hockey game "affordable". I never complained about the steady increase in ticket prices every year until now. The $10 experiment when the team first returned was a luxury and was obviously never going to last. I never complained when they kept increasing to $12, etc.
At $15 now, I no longer consider taking in a Cyclones game a cheap option. "Cheap" is prerogative, of course, so here's my rationale: for me personally, $30 for my significant other and I to take in a game costs more than basically any other activity we take part in around the city, whether it be going to dinner, attending a local concert, out to the movies, going to a baseball game (not a fair comparison considering stadium size and # of games, but nonetheless), etc. I honestly can't even imagine costs for taking a family of four or more consistently.
In year's past, you could always make the argument that ticket prices were comparable to those other sort of local entertainment options, which basically made any "Tix are too expensive" complaints obsolete. It bothers me that that is no longer the case.
Typically when these discussions arose in the past, they always centered around the fact that Cyclones ticket prices were comparable to the average of other ECHL teams, which is what it is. I am not going to put in the effort to look those up and make the comparison now, but I'm sure that still holds true. The other side of the equation is that there is always that abstract factor of the Cyclones being a unique case due to the arena owning the team, and the fans never know how that affects things re: prices.
Not really sure what the conclusion of this rant is supposed to mean or covey. Ultimately it's not about what I can afford or think is fair, but how the actual attendance numbers pan out. Right now it looks like attendance is about on par with where it was the past few years, but it's really impossible to gauge in December.
bags - I know you must know this already, but it should at least be mentioned -- there are several $5 parking options right around the $10 garage ... across from the former Game Day bar, Sawyer Point, etc. Still a pretty close walk that isn't very time-prohibitive unless it's a promotional night where you'll be standing in line a while for tix. $5 cheaper, it's something.
|
|
|
|
Donnie Hockey
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1514 Posts |
Posted - 12/21/2014 : 11:43:43 PM
|
While it costs more to see a game now than it did three, five, eight years ago, it also costs the Cyclones ownership more to operate the team. The Cyclones have kept the prices as low as they can to make it work in Cincinnati.
|
www.twitter.com/donhelbig |
|
|
|
elvis77
(Loves To Post!)
1435 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2014 : 08:39:29 AM
|
Ticket prices have increased but are still some of the lowest in the league. If I had to venture a guess I'd say most are over $20. The real issue is that tickets have gone up while other entertainment options haven't or have seen smaller increases.
As far as parking goes, the Banks garage is $9 or less depending on how long your car is parked. If you get there after 6 the meters along 3rd street are usually available for a period. There are plenty of cheap or even free parking options if you don't mind walking (and for those that say the don't feel safe walking downtown but had no problem going to the Gardens I'm calling you on your BS right now, the Gardens was in a freaking ghetto.)
Also, $12 was ok but $15 is too much? How about $12.38 per ticket plus a free hat? The ticket depart offers an 8 pack of vouchers plus a free hat for $99. The vouchers can be used for any game as single tickets, double tickets, or any other way you'd like. It also helps to avoid ticketmaster and buying tickets the day of the event. Tickets purchased before the day of the event list at $13 through ticketmaster but there are 4.75 in fees. If you purchase tickets at the arena before the day of the game I'm pretty sure the majority of these fees are greatly reduced. The day of the game it states directly on the website that ticket prices increase, so stop by the arena and buy some tickets, before you go to that game look at the schedule and mark the dates for other games and buy them when you go to the 1st game. Saving money on tickets isn't really that hard. |
"PBR can do that to you....1,2,3,12 beers and you're f**ked"
-oscar
"and i don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation" - joan jett
"beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy." - benjamin franklin
"is that a pulled pork sandwich i smell?"
"some things are just better without pants...."
www.cycwords.wordpress.com |
|
|
|
bags
(Person With Nothing Better To Do!)
USA
2224 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2014 : 10:32:00 AM
|
Thanks everyone who answered. You are right about leaving my "Subway"
tab off. Still the main point is a casual "let's go to the Cyclones"
game has turned into an expensive night. When we went to the Wrangler
games in Las Vegas, the tickets were more expensive, but parking was
free. When management made the decision to make "game day" prices higher,
you hurt the walk up crowd.Is $4 for two too much -no- but when we never had
that it seems petty to me. |
|
|
|
cyclonehole
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
985 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2014 : 10:49:16 AM
|
Elvis,
I appreciate your input and think you make some valid points, but here are a few retorts.
Regarding your quote that Clones ticket prices are "still some of the cheapest in the league", some quick research shows that to be incorrect. I do not have the time to compare prices for all 30 teams in the league or however many there are this year with the expansion, but I think comparing numbers to the other teams in the division (most of which are also Midwest) is a fair baseline comparison.
Wheeling - $10 (and up)
Fort Wayne - $13 (and up, + $11 tickets for students/seniors)
Kalamazoo - $11.50 (and up)
Indianapolis - $14
Toledo - $15
Evansville - $15 (+ $12 youth tickets)
Now, are those differences of a couple dollars really worth splitting hairs over? I don't think so. But saying the Cyclones offer tix on the cheaper side of things doesn't seem fair. Essentially, the Clones are one of three teams in the division who offer the most expensive tix -- all at one base price of $15. Other teams offer multiple ticket prices for cheaper options and/or discounted tix (Nailers, Komets, Wings, Fuel). Obviously there are a lot of factors that go into this ... size of city/town, local economy, arena size, team's financial stability, etc. But that's just looking at the hard numbers. And of course, you did say "in the league" overall, so it's possible that $15 is cheap compared to teams elsewhere, like I said I'm not going to pull all those numbers.
It does essentially conclude that their prices are (likely) league average and not necessarily "expensive" in comparison. But not on the cheaper side, either, which was the point I was originally making. |
|
|
|
cyclonehole
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
985 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2014 : 10:52:29 AM
|
Regarding your last point re: tix in advance and promo packages. I think it's easy to look at this from the POV of a STH and not a casual fan (I have been both in the past). For example, you say "$12 is okay but $15 isn't?" I do not attend games alone (more power to whoever does), so when I go to a game, I look at the cost of two ... it is almost always with my girlfriend or friend(s). Since it's mostly the gf, yes, a price of $30 to go to a game is indeed much different than going for $24, especially in comparison to something else we might have had on our radar to do instead of a hockey game. Not to beat a dead horse, but yes that includes factoring in things like parking and dinner out is sometimes a mandatory option for those of us who do a 9-5-ish job with a commute. I don't think that's just a throwaway personal anecdote, but a reality for a lot of people who take that stuff into consideration.
I'm with you that the ticket promo packages are solid and a good alternative for the casual fan who goes more than a couple times.
My hunch is that people simply don't know when the next game they'll go to is (unless perhaps it's for a specific promotion) most of the time. While getting tix in advance at USBA to avoid fees is a great option, I just don't think the majority of casual fans have that in mind, and probably decide to go to games on the fly.
The question is, how many people actually take part in purchasing those special ticket packages and buy tix in advance? Subsequently, is it a significant offset as an alternative to those who's walk-up sales are down? No doubt that they are good options and they seem to be advertised well (well, at least the promo deals, I'd argue the majority of fans aren't even aware of the buying in advance thing). But we'll never really know the answer.
As I said in my last post, ultimately we'll see how attendance pans out at the end of the season. That's really the only way to gauge if the ticket increase really mattered. But one of the reasons I brought it up is because, I don't think it's just me. There has been watercolor talk at my place of employment (we have a couple ex-STH) about disappointment over increased prices. Same with inviting friends who otherwise aren't big hockey fans. It's getting more difficult for them to try out a game. I suspect this is true of others. We'll see.
|
Edited by - cyclonehole on 12/23/2014 11:04:12 AM |
|
|
|
Biscuitinthebasket
(Rookie)
17 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2014 : 1:23:08 PM
|
My family has been fans of hockey for a good 20 years. We came from Milwaukee in the old IHL days. Gotta say ECHL hockey is one of the best bangs for your buck. I am one of the biggest tight wads out there and last year, I got pissed at ticket master for all the fees, got more pissed when I showed up on game day to a higher ticket price, so I just called the box office, payed a lot smaller fee, got to know the staff and picked my tickets up at will call. With a family of 5, entertainment is always expensive (especially come playoff time), but for the action and attitude, the Clones have it.
I will say that I was a little upset at the increase in prices, but being STH's, we are insulated from the price increases (for this year) right now. Once the year is finished, my tune will probably change.
I think this is a great conversation and I wonder if all those people who are asking for the Clones to move up to AHL realize ticket prices do not get cheaper! |
|
|
|
Donnie Hockey
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1514 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2014 : 8:24:21 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Biscuitinthebasket
I wonder if all those people who are asking for the Clones to move up to AHL realize ticket prices do not get cheaper!
The Cyclones can't move up to the AHL. An existing AHL franchise would have to relocate to Cincinnati for that level of hockey to return. |
www.twitter.com/donhelbig |
|
|
|
Donnie Hockey
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1514 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2014 : 8:45:12 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by elvis77
for those that say the don't feel safe walking downtown but had no problem going to the Gardens I'm calling you on your BS right now, the Gardens was in a freaking ghetto.
And yet all of the more than 5 million fans that passed through the turnstiles in the 29 years professional hockey was played at the Gardens had a safe experience.
When I go to Cyclones games, I park for free on Third Street. It's no more than an 8-10 minute walk to USBA from where I park and I'm able to be on the expressway headed home after the games faster than I would be if I parked in the garage located next to the arena. |
www.twitter.com/donhelbig |
Edited by - Donnie Hockey on 12/23/2014 8:47:03 PM |
|
|
|
bags
(Person With Nothing Better To Do!)
USA
2224 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2014 : 10:49:31 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by Donnie Hockey
quote:
Originally posted by elvis77
for those that say the don't feel safe walking downtown but had no problem going to the Gardens I'm calling you on your BS right now, the Gardens was in a freaking ghetto.
And yet all of the more than 5 million fans that passed through the turnstiles in the 29 years professional hockey was played at the Gardens had a safe experience.
When I go to Cyclones games, I park for free on Third Street. It's no more than an 8-10 minute walk to USBA from where I park and I'm able to be on the expressway headed home after the games faster than I would be if I parked in the garage located next to the arena.
DH, I know I started this rant to call out the negative posters, but
you have me confused. From the season observation topic, here is your
post:
Posted - 12/18/2014 : 11:54:16 AM Show Profile Visit Donnie Hockey's Homepage Reply with Quote Attended my first game of the season last night. Although the Cyclones lost 3-0, the majority of the crowd left the arena having had a good time and that's what it's really about at this level of hockey. - See more at: http://www.section60.com/sec60-snitz1/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4949&whichpage=2#sthash.OZhw8Jg0.dpuf
So you parked ONCE on 3rd Street and 2500 others can also do this ?
Lets be realistic and parking is $5 to $10 dollars per car. |
|
|
|
Donnie Hockey
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1514 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2014 : 11:36:47 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by bags
quote:
Originally posted by Donnie Hockey
quote:
Originally posted by elvis77
for those that say the don't feel safe walking downtown but had no problem going to the Gardens I'm calling you on your BS right now, the Gardens was in a freaking ghetto.
And yet all of the more than 5 million fans that passed through the turnstiles in the 29 years professional hockey was played at the Gardens had a safe experience.
When I go to Cyclones games, I park for free on Third Street. It's no more than an 8-10 minute walk to USBA from where I park and I'm able to be on the expressway headed home after the games faster than I would be if I parked in the garage located next to the arena.
DH, I know I started this rant to call out the negative posters, but
you have me confused. From the season observation topic, here is your
post:
Posted - 12/18/2014 : 11:54:16 AM Show Profile Visit Donnie Hockey's Homepage Reply with Quote Attended my first game of the season last night. Although the Cyclones lost 3-0, the majority of the crowd left the arena having had a good time and that's what it's really about at this level of hockey. - See more at: http://www.section60.com/sec60-snitz1/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4949&whichpage=2#sthash.OZhw8Jg0.dpuf
So you parked ONCE on 3rd Street and 2500 others can also do this ?
Lets be realistic and parking is $5 to $10 dollars per car.
I went to several games last season, and several games each of the seasons before. I have always parked on Third Street. Plenty of free parking spots are also available on Elm Street, Sycamore, Plum Street, Broadway and Fourth Street -- all within a 10-minute walk of UBSA.
Let's be realistic. You only have to pay for parking when you attend a Cyclones game if you choose to do so. |
www.twitter.com/donhelbig |
Edited by - Donnie Hockey on 12/23/2014 11:43:41 PM |
|
|
|
elvis77
(Loves To Post!)
1435 Posts |
Posted - 12/24/2014 : 3:56:24 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by cyclonehole
Elvis,
I appreciate your input and think you make some valid points, but here are a few retorts.
Regarding your quote that Clones ticket prices are "still some of the cheapest in the league", some quick research shows that to be incorrect. I do not have the time to compare prices for all 30 teams in the league or however many there are this year with the expansion, but I think comparing numbers to the other teams in the division (most of which are also Midwest) is a fair baseline comparison.
Wheeling - $10 (and up)
Fort Wayne - $13 (and up, + $11 tickets for students/seniors)
Kalamazoo - $11.50 (and up)
Indianapolis - $14
Toledo - $15
Evansville - $15 (+ $12 youth tickets)
Now, are those differences of a couple dollars really worth splitting hairs over? I don't think so. But saying the Cyclones offer tix on the cheaper side of things doesn't seem fair. Essentially, the Clones are one of three teams in the division who offer the most expensive tix -- all at one base price of $15. Other teams offer multiple ticket prices for cheaper options and/or discounted tix (Nailers, Komets, Wings, Fuel). Obviously there are a lot of factors that go into this ... size of city/town, local economy, arena size, team's financial stability, etc. But that's just looking at the hard numbers. And of course, you did say "in the league" overall, so it's possible that $15 is cheap compared to teams elsewhere, like I said I'm not going to pull all those numbers.
It does essentially conclude that their prices are (likely) league average and not necessarily "expensive" in comparison. But not on the cheaper side, either, which was the point I was originally making.
That's quite a roll back for Wheeling. I recall paying $20+ to sit in a corner of the top level my last trip there. Hopefully it helps them boost their attendance and stabilize the team.
$11 in Fort Wayne isn't exactly fair; to sit in an equivalent section to what you pay 15 for in Cincinnati will set you back 19 to 21. The 16 dollar seats essentially top of the upper bowl at USBA. Those $11 seats, think last row of the upper bowl only a lot higher up.
Kzoo says they have tickets for 11.50 but if you try to buy some you get 2 pricing options, 18.50 and 22.50. I checked for several games and it's the case for all of them.
Indy isn't really comparable either. First of all, nowhere on the arean seat map do they have a $14 ticket, Everything is !5.50 and up. Also, much like Fort Wayne, if you want to sit at center ice in the lower sections (where you can sit for 15 at USBA) it's going to cost you roughly $30 per seat for their 200 level seats. Want 100 level? You better take out the Gold Card as those run roughly $40.
Evansville and Toledo are both on par with Cyclones pricing.
The bottom line is that we still have it pretty good, especially given the voucher options the front office provides.
|
"PBR can do that to you....1,2,3,12 beers and you're f**ked"
-oscar
"and i don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation" - joan jett
"beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy." - benjamin franklin
"is that a pulled pork sandwich i smell?"
"some things are just better without pants...."
www.cycwords.wordpress.com |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Mood of the Board
