Winter Classic - Time to screw the fans.

[Cornuck]

It's amazing how much power the NHL has to make these decisions. But if any fan wants to buy a pair of tickets for the 'Classic' this year, they must buy tickets for the alumni game and the AHL game. What a crock - this is the 'deal' that season ticket holders get after already shelling out money for the game in the first place. (LINK)

He purchased two tickets that were just below the mid-level price for the Winter Classic at $149 each. The fees for the tickets totaled $67.50, he said. Bakley was also forced to buy two tickets to the alumni game (he paid $72 each, plus fees that totaled $32) and two tickets to the Adirondack Phantoms-Hershey Bears AHL game ($33 each, plus fees that totaled $6).

All told, Bakley paid $508 for two tickets to each of the three games. He said he would not have purchased the tickets to the Dec. 31 alumni game or Jan. 6 AHL game if it wasn't mandatory. His fees for the tickets: $105.50.

Of course, Ticketmaster gets into the act as well by charging 3 sets of fees, instead of just one for the 'package'.

Add in the fact that the game is on a Monday (Jan 2) and it looks like the NHL is just assuming that the annual outdoor game is the best thing to hit hockey since corporate sponsorship.

I'm guessing that most of you don't really care about the game, since it's usually poor hockey in unsafe conditions, but down here it seems like the one game Americans will tune into. It's a shame that they're doing what they can to once again piss off the real fan base to try to make the game appealing to the masses.

[dbr]

I'm guessing that most of you don't really care about the game, since it's usually poor hockey in unsafe conditions, but down here it seems like the one game Americans will tune into. It's a shame that they're doing what they can to once again piss off the real fan base to try to make the game appealing to the masses.

You mean by scheduling a game of poor hockey in unsafe conditions so they can attract casual fans?

Or do you only mean the ticket selling practices around said poor hockey in unsafe conditions.

[Meds]

Honestly I don't see the attraction to the winter classic. You sit a kilometer away from the playing surface, your freezing your own ass off, and you pay more for the gimmicky experience.

If the NHL wants to be so deplorable with its ticket sales packages, and fans are still stupid enough to go for it, too bad for them. You could have the Canucks playing the Flames (my favorite games to watch) at McMahon and I wouldn't pay any more for that than I would for a game at Rogers Arena or the Saddledome.....actually, I would expect to pay less since the stadium seats more than the arena and I'm going to be far less comfortable. The Winter Classic is a joke. The NHL as an organization is the laughing stock of pro sports, this just makes them look shady to boot.

[Topper]

Why not schedule game for a cruise ship.

High rollers can have dinner with Sid the not so Kid at the Captain's table.

Merchandise to the captive audience.

Florida and Tampa could do an entire playoff series and no one would notice the quality of the ice.

[Meds]

Why not schedule game for a cruise ship.

High rollers can have dinner with Sid the not so Kid at the Captain's table.

Merchandise to the captive audience.

Florida and Tampa could do an entire playoff series and no one would notice the quality of the ice.

This I would pay for. Imagine, being at a live game where the food was all you can eat, and if the game sucked you could hit the pool or casino.....and the wife could work on her tan and not be nagging me to do something other than watch the game!!!!

[Corb]

Why not schedule game for a cruise ship.

High rollers can have dinner with Sid the not so Kid at the Captain's table.

Merchandise to the captive audience.

Florida and Tampa could do an entire playoff series and no one would notice the quality of the ice.

There would be too much wife swapping.

[Topper]

This I would pay for.

I'll work on mid April in the North Atlantic for you.

[dhabums]

Tell this mythical "he" that "he" can buy 2 tickets to a regular game in Rogers for $500. No AHL game, no alumni game.

[LotusBlossom]

Tell this mythical "he" that "he" can buy 2 tickets to a regular game in Rogers for $500. No AHL game, no alumni game.

Most expensive "cheap" seats in the whole league. The lower corners that were once $80/each are now $125+

The cheapest upper bowl seats I believe are $70 each there were once $50 each just two years ago.

My company seats went up from $125 each to now $186. My Club Section seats are now $263/ each 7th row

I sit in the BBC and it's ridiculous. Obviously I sell my tickets I am not using, but I sell them at my cost to friends and family who are fans.

As far as the whole Winter Classic though, and to grow the interest in the US, how absurd. The NHL just wants guaranteed attendance to all the games, but in reality, how many of those that have to buy the package will end up selling part of it?

Addition: Those are all my season ticket holder costs...I'd hate to see what they charge everyone else for single game tickets prices.

[dhabums]

My company seats went up from $125 each to now $186. My Club Section seats are now $263/ each 7th row

I am confused by my tix. I share a couple of different seats with a group, so I go to about 15-20 games. My Pens tix were $230 face value. My game 1 Sharks tix were "only" $250.

[ukcanuck]

Honestly I don't see the attraction to the winter classic. You sit a kilometer away from the playing surface, your freezing your own ass off, and you pay more for the gimmicky experience.

If the NHL wants to be so deplorable with its ticket sales packages, and fans are still stupid enough to go for it, too bad for them. You could have the Canucks playing the Flames (my favorite games to watch) at McMahon and I wouldn't pay any more for that than I would for a game at Rogers Arena or the Saddledome.....actually, I would expect to pay less since the stadium seats more than the arena and I'm going to be far less comfortable. The Winter Classic is a joke. The NHL as an organization is the laughing stock of pro sports, this just makes them look shady to boot.

I see your point as far as a game at Mcmahon goes, but laughing stock of pro sports? the NHL more shady than the other leagues? like the NBA who had to mandate that their players wear suits on gamedays to stop promoting Gang life.
or the NFL who counts gambling revenues as their number one income source?
as far as fleecing the paying customer goes, the NHL is in some heady company. They all are as bad as one another.

[LotusBlossom]

My company seats went up from $125 each to now $186. My Club Section seats are now $263/ each 7th row

I am confused by my tix. I share a couple of different seats with a group, so I go to about 15-20 games. My Pens tix were $230 face value. My game 1 Sharks tix were "only" $250.

That is a little confusing. You'd think that the Pens would be listed at Premium game pricing.

[dhabums]

My company seats went up from $125 each to now $186. My Club Section seats are now $263/ each 7th row

I am confused by my tix. I share a couple of different seats with a group, so I go to about 15-20 games. My Pens tix were $230 face value. My game 1 Sharks tix were "only" $250.

That is a little confusing. You'd think that the Pens would be listed at Premium game pricing.

I meant game 1, WCF last year. The Pens game was premium pricing, and Luongo gave us all our money's worth.

[dhabums]

Honestly I don't see the attraction to the winter classic. You sit a kilometer away from the playing surface, your freezing your own ass off, and you pay more for the gimmicky experience.

I'm with you. I bitch about how crappy it is to watch football in BC Place. I assume my head would explode trying to watch hockey in there.

[LotusBlossom]

Having experienced a couple of outdoor games now, I just have to say that you need to bundle up, bring binoculars and find a heater to sit by or wear those "Hot Shots" all over your body. Sneak in some booze to put in your coffee and you're all good.