Pre-match: Strikers vs. Minnesota Stars FC ::: Match 2

Come on $5.00 parking fee is an issue?

That is cheap.

5.00 is cheap. Just thinking that it may have been a mistake at this point in the game...

This is something I've noticed as well. We may see the overall attendance dip a bit in this second season, but it seems the Strikers are building a solid, enthusiastic core of fans. The crowd sounds bigger then it actually is. People are proud to wear the club colors, buying lots of merchandise.

Unlike back in the Miami FC days, the general crowd seems much more into the action as well.

If we had a more appropriately-sized stadium, the atmosphere would be really, really good. It's good as is, but the 2 empty sides of the stadium hurt the overall "feel" of the games.

If the # of games the rest of the season is eight or more, it would still make sense to get season tickets. If I heard right that they're prorating the $125/14 games to 12 games (or ~$107) with a season ticket parking pass (making it free), you'd save money compared to buying GA tickets online for the games you go to ($10*8) and parking without the pass ($5*8). If you're going to seven the rest of the season it's $2 cheaper not to buy season tickets, but you'd save the hassle of stopping with a parking attendant and you'd be allowing the club to count you without your presence for games you're not there.

If you're not buying GA tickets online you'd only need to attend six to be virtually breaking even. If GA tickets at the stadium are $12, you'd be $5 short but with the caveats I mentioned above. If they're $13, you'd be saving $1.

I'm not sure how season tickets purchased during the season work, but those sent in the offseason came with a few sponsor discounts, eight bonus, free tickets and 10% off merchandise....all of which can bring the number of games attended you need to break even down pretty quickly.

Heggis, exactly. Game by game is still an inexpensive night's fun, but, Strikers season tickets are the entertainment best buy in South Florida. All that, and the parking is convenient. No half mile or more hikes or infrequent shuttles.

And, if you come early enough and find the Red Light Zone, you might be able to get a free beer. Watch out for the jello shots, though. They can put you on the ground is short order. Rumor has it some 170 proof moonshine was making the rounds Saturday. If you're lucky that stuff will only blind you. Great fun....

How the FO works the prices for 2013 is going to be interesting. They really can't go much higher right now, but they will probably need more cash. They've got a very thin tightrope to walk.

Yep, they do look to be a bit better than last year. If you heard Tim's interview on "Ultras Alive", he agrees with you. However, he also mentioned that he does not know how much the other teams in the league have improved. We may be better. They may be better, too. Maybe much better. We'll see about all that as the season progresses.

Sad, despite any spin we may want to put on it.

A couple of comments in Sunday's Miami Heralds Sports section. First by Greg Cote in his "Random Evidence Of A Cluttered Mind" column:
www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/15/2748551_p2/Guillen-continues-to-dominate.html

"The Fort Lauderdale Strikers second season in the reconstituted NASL has begun, for those of you who'll think about maybe attending a game but not actually do it."

Which leads into Michelle Kaufman's weekly soccer column which presents a challenge to our local MLS lovers:

www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/15/2748467/european-races-go-down-to-wire.html

"(Mark) Abbott said the three things MLS is looking for in potential expansion markets are a financially stable ownership group, a stadium seating between 20,000 and 25,000 fans and an average fan base that would fit in with the league average (17,800). In other words, get to work South Florida."

For some reason I think that the 2 comments are somehow related.

The Strikers result got top billing alongside Ozzie Guillen on the front of the Sentinel's sports section(print) on Sunday. Had the logo with brief blurb about the game. Not the best result to put up there but the coverage is good.

The Strikers had a $125 season ticket deal - with a free parking pass, 4 free gen. admission tickets, shop discounts, & a $10 gift card to Duffy's!
I know times are hard for some fans, but most people spend that much cash on dinner, drinks, and a movie.
If you want soccer you will be willing to pay to help support the team.
We are actually getting off cheap with the prices charged at Lockhart. Most of the other NASL teams are charging much more for their game day experience.

If you belonged to a supporters group it was $99.00. As I said, it will be interesting to see what they do with ticket prices next season.

ETA: dr, if the Herald did cover the game I couldn't find it. Mr Cote's comment was simply an answer to Michelle's challenge to South Florida's soccer fans to get off their asses & start supporting the sport if they ever want MLS to return. We're fantastic for a great event, and, MLS certainly sees that, but on the weekly grind of a less that stellar, well below world class league, we are not all that good. She's just letting all the locals know that MLS notices that, too

We must do better....

This I agree with. And I think we have that for the most part. It has already been said that the attendance has been lower but those that have been there are the ones who (as you stated) "want soccer".

My concern are those who don't know yet if they "want soccer". Anything that could/would sway their decision NOT to go to a game is my concern.

Some well reasoned points on the ticket/parking prices....but here's my concern.

First off, single game ticket prices were raised, but not a small (percentage wise) amount. Then add in parking and concessions...it's not quite the deal it was last year. (I think I dropped $20 for a reserved seat, $5 for parking, and $12 on concessions).

Multiply that out for a family of 4 people...you're talking more than $100 for a night out (most families are not going to make the season ticket commitment). It might mean some families come to 2 games instead of 4 this year.

At halftime (when they were talking about the season ticket pro-rated deal)....I actually pulled out my calendar and started trying to figure out how many games I could make (I have a 20-game Marlins plan plus Gator football season tix)...and realized at best I am going to make 6 or 7 more games...and that's if nothing else comes up between now and then.

Strikers need to consider some 4-5 game "mini plans" like every other team in the market has....that come with some of the benefits (like free parking). Maybe that would get a few more people out to Lockhart a few more times.

I think we asked Tim about Mini-plans during his interview. He said that was something they were thinking of. Maybe we should direct an EMail his way to see if he still has it in his plans.

I checked out the Marlins single game ticket prices. The lowest is $13.00 in selected seats, some are fairly decent seats, for weekday, or evening, games. I'd assume that parking exceeds $5.00 anywhere you park in the vicinity of the stadium & that parking is a lot less convenient. I also assume that food/beverage prices are also higher.

However, that $13.00 price is only $1.00 higher than the Strikers game day GA price. Considering the Marlins new ballpark compared to Lockhart, the entire Marlins package may be a better looking deal to the average sports fan. Especially to someone that is a sometimes soccer fan....

As I mentioned on the last page, if you make 6 or 7 games the rest of the season, you can still about break even with some benefits and hassles avoided. If one of the games you can't make is the coming game next Wednesday, waiting until after that game drops the price down to about $98. If you weren't buying your tickets online (and they're $13, which I'm still not sure if they're $13 or $12), you'd be at roughly 5.5 games (which can be manipulated if you're dealing with multiple tickets, or you can call the discounts even).

I agree with that even if it doesn't apply to me. Perhaps they're worried more with season tickets would move down than those without would move up.

I've brought up the prices in regards to the Marlins for a few years now. I hope they at least realized that their prices were raised to what they were before the front office raised them at Lockhart...but realistically they should be around $5 cheaper. I was shocked when I first went to a Miami FC game and they were roughly the same.

Professional sports are an entertainment business - they need revenue to exist.
How many home games do the Marlins have compared to the Strikers? A lot!
Even if you paid $5 buck a game for the Marlins snooze fest, you would need to spend much out of pocket for season tickets - not to mention the parking fees paid.

If you like soccer, there is not a better deal in town (literally and figuratively).

BTW... we need to thanks the Scorp fans for helping the NASL attendance figures increase by 50%!

All businesses need revenue to exist...

The Marlins offer a far better product to any casual sports fan for a similar cost.

I realize they're charging prices to try to cover expenses, but if the early trend with attendance is any indication, they're pricing themselves out of the market. At the very least, they need to do a better job of promoting the season ticket deal in reference to games attended and other options.

If you like soccer, there's no other deal in town. The issue isn't with attracting soccer fans.

Heggis nailed it....they might be pricing themselves out of the market for some fans. Hard to compare a major league franchise like the Marlins to a D-2 soccer franchise. I love the games, love the team, and if Tim is reading.....i'd be the first fan to buy a 5-game mini-plan (as long as I can pick the games).

Thinking he'd read it here is absurd. EMail the FO, or Tim directly, or call them at 954-606-0400 or 954-606-0413 for Scott or 954-606-0412 to talk to Jorge. These 2 people love to sell tickets. It's how they get paid. In my experience with them they'll run around the office to get an answer to your question.

You may not hear what you want to hear, but, at least, you'll know what's going on.

ETA: OK, I called the FO & talked to Scott. He says they are talking about package deals for tickets. Number of games unknown, price unknown. I put in a word for 5 to 7 games, parking included, and buyer can pick the games he wants. Scott says that has been part of the conversation already. I requested that TPTB stop talking and please do it ASAP.

My suggestion is to follow up on my call by calling or EMailing yourself. If they hear from enough people they will probably expedite things....