2/1/07: Early

[BuffloSoldier]

Failed deal in Salt Lake may bring a team here--St. Louis Dispatch (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/othersports/story/B46455F5E9BB3191862572750019FC60?OpenDocument)

Rocky working to keep RSL "in Utah;" is Fairpark out?--Salt Lake Tribune (http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5127328)

Builders caught in squeeze--Salt Lake Tribune (http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5132394)

Utah officials scrambling to work out a soccer deal--Deseret News (http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660191731,00.html)

Questions and Answers--Deseret News (http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660191657,00.html)

Jazz owner says he has no interest in buying RSL--Deseret News (http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660191800,00.html) (Damn, Miller and Checketts hate each other. Hate.)

A big-league gamble--Financial Post (Canada) (http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/financialpost/story.html?id=c54c57fb-c556-435d-9f1d-6a470589bf9d&k=0)

Johnston upbeat as Toronto FC heads into first training camp--Globe and Mail (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070201.TORONTOFC01/TPStory/Sports)

Keeper of the Faith--Toronto Sun (http://torontosun.com/Sports/OtherSports/2007/02/01/3497869-sun.html)

Toronto could be ace Robinson's next stop--Western Mail (Wales) (http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0600soccer/0200news/tm_headline=toronto-could-be-ace-robinson-s-next-stop&method=full&objectid=18558173&siteid=50082-name_page.html)

Casey stays with Mainz for now--Yanksabroad.com (http://www.yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=news&id=2699)

Siena eager to capture Dalby--Yanksabroad.com (http://www.yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=news&id=2698)

Canaries remain in for Conrad--Yanksabroad.com (http://www.yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=news&id=2702) (Lillestrom's Canaries)

[santeroatomico]

"Ticket sales are also soaring. In early January, season ticket sales were around 7,000. That was before the Los Angeles Galaxy signed superstar David Beckham for a reported US$250-million in salary and endorsements. After the announcement, Toronto FC sold 3,400 season tickets in five days --even though there's no guarantee Beckham will play in Toronto this year.

"We're at about 11,100 now and wondering about when we need to cut off season tickets," Mr. Anselmi says. "That's a great problem to have." "

I will say.....

[wolfp10]

"Ticket sales are also soaring. In early January, season ticket sales were around 7,000. That was before the Los Angeles Galaxy signed superstar David Beckham for a reported US$250-million in salary and endorsements. After the announcement, Toronto FC sold 3,400 season tickets in five days --even though there's no guarantee Beckham will play in Toronto this year.

"We're at about 11,100 now and wondering about when we need to cut off season tickets," Mr. Anselmi says. "That's a great problem to have." "

I will say.....

Has an MLS team ever had that problem?

[JacksonJazz#9]

Has an MLS team ever had that problem?


Tampa Bay, Miami and San Jose have.... oh wait, they cut off ALL ticket sales... sorry my bad

[Big-Time Crew Fan]

Why would you cut off any season ticket sales? Especially when you play in such a large stadium?
'

[Soccer von Fußball]

Why would you cut off any season ticket sales? Especially when you play in such a large stadium?

'

Yeah, could anybody with some sports front office experience chime in on that? Seems contrary to the logic of season tickets we're always told.

[texgator]

Why would you cut off any season ticket sales? Especially when you play in such a large stadium?
'I don't know exactly why, but I know that all the major US sports are required by their leagues to have a certain number of single game tickets available to the public. I would guess this is for a variety of reasons. One, they don't want to be viewed as being elitist....particularly when they regularly ask the public for funds for stadiums. Two, its a good idea to allow people to "check out" a game on a single basis before asking them to spend thousands on a full season commitment. Three, there is always the ability to change prices on certain single game tickets to raise profitability.

Now, having sold 11k, or even 12k, of their 25k capacity is nowhere near the level at which an FO would be concerned regarding the availability of single game tickets or group sales opportunities. My guess is that the only reason the Toronto people are saying that in the press is to create a sense of urgency so those sitting on the fence pick up the phone. Nothing more than a sales tactic. I wouldn't think they would consider cutting off season ticket sales until they've reached about 80% capacity.

[Nyghtewynd]

I don't know exactly why, but I know that all the major US sports are required by their leagues to have a certain number of single game tickets available to the public. I would guess this is for a variety of reasons. One, they don't want to be viewed as being elitist....particularly when they regularly ask the public for funds for stadiums. Two, its a good idea to allow people to "check out" a game on a single basis before asking them to spend thousands on a full season commitment. Three, there is always the ability to change prices on certain single game tickets to raise profitability.

Now, having sold 11k, or even 12k, of their 25k capacity is nowhere near the level at which an FO would be concerned regarding the availability of single game tickets or group sales opportunities. My guess is that the only reason the Toronto people are saying that in the press is to create a sense of urgency so those sitting on the fence pick up the phone. Nothing more than a sales tactic. I wouldn't think they would consider cutting off season ticket sales until they've reached about 80% capacity.

That and it's a supply/demand thing too. If all of the tickets are sold every year on a season ticket basis, it's very hard to increase demand when you need it. The "check it out" thing not only satisfies curiosity, but it creates hype for your product. They could sell 200,000+ tickets for the Super Bowl every year, but they don't. The scramble for tickets is part of what makes it such a big deal.

[BuffloSoldier]

MLS close to Bay Area return, stadium plan in place--CNNSI.com (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/soccer/02/01/quakes.sjsu/)

[Sachsen]

MLS close to Bay Area return, stadium plan in place--CNNSI.com (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/soccer/02/01/quakes.sjsu/)

Excellent.

[Nerazzuri]

Yeah, could anybody with some sports front office experience chime in on that? Seems contrary to the logic of season tickets we're always told.


I used to work for a Major League Baseball team, and without specific knowledge of the TFC situation, the rough logic goes like this:

1) Usually, season ticket holders get a discount on ticket prices, and you don't want to sell your entire ticket inventory without ever reaching the "maximum" profit you could get. This is especially true with a new product; you know you really aren't going to have any trouble selling tickets, since you're the hot new attraction, so why "sell yourself short" by giving every ticket holder a discount?

2) The larger your season ticket holder numbers get, the more you run the risk of limiting your overall audience. Having more people get tickets to single games, means more people have seen your product. This (in thoery) means more of these people will become fans. The more you grow your fan base, the better off you are a few years down the road, when you might not be quite as popular (a few bad seasons, etc). If you're averaging 17,000 a night your first seasons, that's great. But if it's the same 17,000 every night, guess what? Not many other people will be following your product. If you aren't a solid team for a while, some of those season ticket holders might now renew. And you're going to have a harder time selling those tickets to people who have been shut out, and consequently aren't interested, in your product.

Season ticket holders are great, but you want them to be your base fans, the people who will show up even when the team hits rough patches. This gives you a bit of security. But you never want to put all your eggs in the same basket.

[texgator]

I used to work for a Major League Baseball team
And I think you would agree that 12k of a 25k capacity venue is nowhere near the point of cutting of season ticket sales, right?

[Revs007]

And I think you would agree that 12k of a 25k capacity venue is nowhere near the point of cutting of season ticket sales, right?

I thought BMO field was only 20k capacity?

[texgator]

I thought BMO field was only 20k capacity?I thought it was larger, but even still 12k out of 20k isn't even the point of cutting off season ticket sales.

[Revs007]

I thought it was larger, but even still 12k out of 20k isn't even the point of cutting off season ticket sales.

As said before. What a nice problem to have. :D

[texgator]

As said before. What a nice problem to have. :D
Agreed....I'm still amazed by what Toronto has been able to do.

[MightyMouse]

Canada, especially Toronto, has always been more European than say almost 90% of the US. I am not shocked to see the city embrace their new team like this, what I am shocked by is how few used to watch Toronto's USL-1 team.

[nyrmetros]

Canada, especially Toronto, has always been more European than say almost 90% of the US. I am not shocked to see the city embrace their new team like this, what I am shocked by is how few used to watch Toronto's USL-1 team.

Toronto may be more like NYC in that regard than say Montreal, Vancouver, or Portland.....

[santeroatomico]

USL-1 = minor league.

[Nerazzuri]

And I think you would agree that 12k of a 25k capacity venue is nowhere near the point of cutting of season ticket sales, right?


Well, it depends. First, I was under the impression that BMO was 20K(per their website). So if that's the case, you're allocating 60% to season ticket holders.

When the Cardinals just opened their new stadium prior to last season, which seats 46,000, they capped season ticket holders at 27,500. That's 59.7% so it seems that the number isn't too far off.

I realize that A) the Cardinals aren't representative of every MLB team. I would assume that the percentage of season ticket holders is higher in Boston, the north side of Chicago, the Bronx, and SF (actually, I know SF to be true, the others I'm speculating on). and B) it's not the greatest comparison, since I'm comparing an existing franchise with a pretty substantial history to an expansion team in a relatively young league.

But, there is the similarity that it's two teams opening up new facilities. And, it's also the only evidence I have to work with.

Basically, it comes down to a gamble: do you try to sell as many tickets up front, hoping that you don't alienate those left on the outside (who you might need later), or do you gamble on fewer guaranteed ticket sales, thinking that you'll make up the difference by reaching a broader audience?

TFC is gambling on the latter.