Catch-all thread for the season. Fri 11/2/2012 Chicago at Syracuse (3,412) Fri 11/2/2012 Wichita at Missouri (5,126) Sat 11/3/2012 Rochester at Syracuse (3,461) Sat 11/3/2012 Chicago at Baltimore (6,311) Sun 11/4/2012 Missouri at Wichita (2,600) Baltimore's opener was down 22% from last year, but Missouri's was up 19%. That wasn't a good crowd in Wichita. And Syracuse, despite telling us last year that selling out every game was "very, very doable," hasn't done it yet. Home openers in Rochester (Saturday) and Milwaukee (Sunday) this week. Chicago will be the last to have a home game, more than a month from now.
Not that it would have made a difference for the Baltimore's attendance, but while watching the broadcast, it appeared as if there was no one sitting in the upper deck (the 300's), at least on the player benches' side. Has the Blast blocked off the upper deck?
No, but there were about 100 people in the beer garden, then at halftime they all went down behind the other goal. I can report at least one punch was thrown in the beer garden, although it may have been 3 or more. I had walked away by then.
Missouri's opener also beat out all 12 home games at the IEC last season (their lone playoff game was the high, drawing 4,624 fans). (They did play Wichita at the Sprint Center and drew 8,276.). Hopefully a sign of good things to come for the Comets.
Very few people ever sit in the upper deck. If they do its more for privacy. Those days are long gone!
I sat in the upper deck...all by myself. Maybe two other people. Too many people walking around during the game. I like to actually watch it. It felt like the people who went behing the goal were all friends of the Mangione kid. They went nuts when he came on in the second half. I saw no punches.
they done even use the 3rd floor anylonger . the 3rd floor is not blocked off but all the consession stand are closed on that floor .
The arena added a four dollar service fee? As in, there was no service fee last year and now it's four dollars? Every ticket went up by four dollars? If that's the case, then yes it will effect attendance. Surely this can't be right.
They charged us a $2.00 Arena fee and A $2.00 ticket fee / Amusement tax this was never charged last year I sit in the obstruced view because for me its the best place to take photos of the game . I paid $16.00 per ticket last year now I am paying $20 . Also after we left the game I found out that the city was having issues with "young black youth mobs " every weekend when we left the game they were chasing about 1,000 kids up Baltimore Street to Howard Street as the blast game was letting out they were figing out side the arena and a lot of the blast fans ran back in the arena . A Police officer was attacked and all hell broke loose when all the police showed up . from what i have read on line its like this every weekend in down town Baltimore .
here is a link to the arena FAQ http://www.baltimorearena.com/faqs.php 2nd question down Do I still have to pay a service fee if I come directly to the Arena to purchase tickets? Answer Yes, you will have to pay a small $4 fee per ticket.
Wow, that's sad. They used to get a good crowd up there in previous home openers and they usually fill it up in their last few games... Their ticket prices (and new service fee) is keeping people away - they're still selling it like it is in its hayday. Not to mention devaluing their product by hosting decent, free webcasts online (at least they have sponsors tho, unlike other teams) and then doing half off deals on groupon, living social, etc. (home opener was on living social for $11 btw but in the corner seats). If it was up to me, first/second tier seats would all be a flat $15 and obstructed/balcony seats would be $10 with children getting in for $8. [No deals on groupon.] Then they might actually turn a big crowd and make more money.
There is a team in the MISL that does NOT have a sponsor??? Like at all?? Come on - every team has some sponsorship??
Almost a packed house at the IEC, in spite of higher tickets prices than last year, as well, so I see that as a great sign. A wild game and the Comets overcoming a 13-point deficit didn't hurt, either...
For whatever it's worth, Wichita's hockey team had a home game downtown at almost the same time (against the Comets' co-tenants the Missouri Mavericks, no less), which might have contributed slightly to the poor crowd. I also can't help but wonder if the venue the Wings play in has something to do with it. From what I've observed on the internet videos of the games, it's seems rather Spartan and inadequate. I'd rather see them resurrect the Coliseum across the highway...
I think the crowd size had more to do with to whom the team's marketing is directed and the fact that it was a NFL Sunday. Of all the teams in the league last year, the Wings focused on drawing a more mature fan base and less families with kids. So to your point about the hockey game I would agree it had an impact but the fact that fewer families filled in the attendance gap created by two other sports/ drinking events were happening at the same time. As to the venue, from the outside it is very Spartan in appearance, but inside it is much better than you would think based on it's exterior. Pluses: an open concourse so you can see the game from the concession stands, free parking, good sight lines from almost every seat and the facility is relatively new. Negatives: it is in the middle of nowhere, so post-game gatherings are problematic, the security works to clear the arena very quickly after the game. Moving everyone out to the parking lot that has one very narrow way in and out which means you spend some time waiting in the lot to get out no matter how few cars are there. That and the ride to Wichita from Kansas City has to be one of the longest and most mind-numbing on Earth.
Like I say, I can only go by the single video camera angle they provide on the 'net, and from there, it looks like an airplane hangar with seats added to it. Does Hartman even have a video board for replays and ads? Hard to believe in this day and age they could afford to go without one.
Where does Wichita play? I've been to the InTrust Arena in Wichita and its fantastic. The Wichita Thunder of the CHL played there last season.