When did the Red Wings become the Atlanta Braves?
In terms of fan support?
Michael Rosenberg - Detroit Free Press
It was the worst environment for any pro playoff game I have ever attended in this state, for any sport. It was so quiet you could hear the puck drop — and that was before the Sharks took a 2-0 lead. It was a mid-January atmosphere at the end of April — and the Wings gave a mid-January performance.
Rosenberg blames the steep price of tickets, something Christy over at Behind the Jersey wrote about. The Red Wings organization simply charged too much for tickets to the game.
Between the second and third periods, I went online to find tickets to Game 2. Just my luck: I could get 12 seats together in Section 225B. Unfortunately, I can’t possibly find 11 friends who want to spend $90 a pop to sit in the corner of the upper level (and pay a $5.75 “convenience charge” for the privilege).
Of course, if my buddies don’t mind standing, they can pay $77 each — plus that same $5.75 convenience charge. (Whoever heard of a convenience charge to stand up?)
I don’t blame people for staying home. People can spend their money however they’d like. It is just too bad that Mike Ilitch has chosen to alienate his fan base like this, by acting like the economy is still thriving and the Wings are still the only winner in town.
Rosenberg points out that there is a lot of competition for the attention of Detroit sports fans as every professional sports franchise not named the Detroit Lions has been excellent of late. That, combined with a difficult economic situation in Michigan, is going to force the Red Wings to drop ticket prices if they want to continue to sell out games.
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I never thought I’d see a playoff game not sell out in Detroit, but a combination of the awful economy, and the Wings woeful judgment in regard to pricing, who can afford to go? I sure as Hell can’t, and no one I know is either willing or able to shell out that kind of serious cash. Factor in parking, beers, and incidentals, that makes for a hellaciously expensive night out.
It doesn’t help that even in a hockey state like MI, the Red Wings are number 4 in the pro sports pecking order.
[…] Dave at Gorilla Crouch: Rosenberg points out that there is a lot of competition for the attention of Detroit sports fans as every professional sports franchise not named the Detroit Lions has been excellent of late. That, combined with a difficult economic situation in Michigan, is going to force the Red Wings to drop ticket prices if they want to continue to sell out games. […]
Yep Al, no doubt about the pecking order. But I also think the Wings could take a page out of the Pistons’ marketing plan. Christy points out that they held a lottery for 1000 tickets that sold for $12 and that players were there to sign autographs.
The marketing efforts for both franchises are polar opposites. The Wings had better stop pretending that their ticket pricing and marketing are satisfactory, because they’re not.
[…] Dave at Gorilla Crouch: Rosenberg points out that there is a lot of competition for the attention of Detroit sports fans as every professional sports franchise not named the Detroit Lions has been excellent of late. That, combined with a difficult economic situation in Michigan, is going to force the Red Wings to drop ticket prices if they want to continue to sell out games. […]