There was an entire row of like 6 seats next to us that was not full but STH sit there and they didnt come for whatever reason.
We have our season tickets in section 130 and for whatever reason, other than the home opener we have had a lot of empty seats around us and they are seats that season ticket holders have. I am even amazed how late a lot of people show up to the game, late in the first half or even second half. Not how I would want to waste my money, but to each his own. I always want to be in my seat before the game starts, but I am there for the game also.
I don't get it. It's hard enough for me to leave the stadium after every game anyways, thinking that this is all one good dream and might be all false(much similar to Wednesday during my nap, my mom tried to wake me up for the game with me telling her it was already over, 6-0, with the players carrying me on their shoulders out of PPL Park). I spent my hard earned money to be at the games and plan on being in my section or wherever way before kickoff. I just can't understand wasting your money like that.
I suspect the team has done one hell of a job selling season tickets to local businesses. These tickets tend to be given away to employees and customers, who just view the game as a fun night out, not much different than a Royals-Tigers game or dinner+movie. Unused tickets and late-arrivers are part of the price you pay for that. But their money still spends very well......
It may sound hokie, but many of the upper-middle class (not quite wine and cheesers) use these sporting events as social gatherings with friends here in KC. They come and interact with friends in the parking lot and in different parts of the stadium for long periods. Their primary reason is not to be there for the game, kinda sad but it is still generating revenue for the team. It happens at KU games, Royals games, and Chiefs games bigtime. It's a KC Area thing, for whatever reason. We can just call it the Johnson County effect.
It happens everywhere. There are always people who are more about the social opportunity than they are the game. Some just manifest it in different ways, the 20-somethings at Royals games who are knocking back their sixth beer in the third inning really aren't there for the baseball, either. (And for a long, long time, it was usually the most entertaining thing about KU football. I spent a lot of games listening to my mother-in-law catch up with her friends from across the state...)
The KU Football games is where I believe a lot of it has manifested. As a youth (growing up in Lawrence) I went to hundreds of KU football games... I always sat up on the hill with my family and thousands of others that went for the expreience, not to actually watch KU Lose. It was good times, but it was a social event not a sporting event.
This happens everywhere at all kinds of events. People do the same thing at concerts. I do not know how many times I have been waiting in line at Sandstone to get in and heard someone talk on the phone or to a friend in line with them and they didnt know a thing about the band or bands they were going to see. I remember going to see Tom Petty a few years back and there was this guy on his cell phone behind me and was like, "I am at Sandstone getting ready to go see a concert. It's some Tom Petty guy, I have never heard of him." Really? You've never heard of Tom Petty? And you paid $40 to be there? That guy was there to get drunk and high with his friends, not watch a concert.
Bingo, I have new people sitting next to me each game in section 128. I asked last game and sure enough they are Hallmark seats. Actually, kind of sucks since I like to chat about the team with my seatmates.
Those folk may want their own season tickets next year if they enjoy the game and meet some nice people sitting in the seats around them .... if we can simply keep drawing crowds then the people sitting around all of us will over time become a more game orientated knowledgeable crowd. At this point we need to do as much as a sales job as the team does -- it benefits us all. Gotta say I would almost take a n00b sometimes. I go to watch and ENJOY the games, its my little escape from a world dominated by work and commitments and the ebb and flow of responsibilities. I'm not a responsible parent for 90 minutes So its really shitty when I have somebody that wants to chat through the entire game at me -- especially as some people can be really really negative and I just want to relax and have some fun. I really do save my bitching for bigsoccer
My company has a pair of seats somewhere. They held a drawing prior to the opener. They are also doing a company night out there too but the date has yet to be determined.
Just saw this at http://www.sportingkc.com/parking "SINGLE GAME TICKET BUYERS PARK IN LOT I: Download A Lot I Pass For Game 3 Here" I have friends coming to the game tomorrow who aren't season ticket holders. So do they now must download and print this pass to park without being subject to tow? Anybody else know how the non-season ticket parking has been going?
I dont think so. People that have come to the game that I know have been directed to various lots including H, I and even the CAB parking lot. I dont think you need any type of pass to park. They have people everywhere directing things. You may just warn them that it is kind of a cluster and to follow the signs.
I doubt they'll get towed if they don't do that. I think that if they don't have the parking pass they'll just be directed somewhere else.
They cannot expect everyone to receive that message. I think getting some people to print that off probably eases the parking a bit for the parking staff and logistics of it all but until they start giving a parking pass with the tickets, they cannot go towing people without one.
Does anyone know is grills are allowed in Parking lot G? Could not find any info on http://www.sportingkc.com/parking or in this handy A-Z Stadium guide
I believe so yes, since it's right next to F and we use grills there I think you're fine using a grill there.
I don't know whether or not this is the official line, but here's my take: The point of that pass is not to allow entry into Lot I; Lot I is general parking. It is so people *approach* the lot in the manner prescribed on that pass, especially on a night like tonight where there is also a T-Bones game. That manner is the plan approved by the UG, and with good reason; traffic (both ingress and egress) proceeds more smoothly when everyone follows it.
I just wanted to share on this thought because my first 3 Wizard games were freebies I was given back at Arrowhead. I grew up knowing very little about soccer and the exposure I received because of those free tickets sold me on the sport and this team and we now have season tickets because of it.
I use to get a lot of free tickets when we played there and I would always bring people and a lot where people that didnt really care for soccer. I ended up converting a lot of people to casual fans and now a couple of those people have been season ticket holders for a few seasons now. I use to get 4 free tickets to Attack/Comets games too and after bring a lot of people I had people wanting to go and willing to pay for tickets. By the time the Attack folded, we had like three cars full going to most of the games. Giving away tickets can be a good marketing tool. However, it needs to be done carefully as you do not have want devalue the ticket or have people expect free tickets. That is exactly what was going on at Arrowhead.
LSP really sold itself Saturday night. I took 3 friends that had never attended a Wizards or Sporting game and they had a blast. We watched the game from the NW corner of the Members Stand. The Members Club after the game with the Gold Cup was a huge hit too. Free parking, inexpensive food and drink all helped, but I think the biggest hit was the product on the field. I knows that one really had fun, because he sent me a "Connect" request in sportingmembership. I'm certain that he will take advantage of the ticket giveaway program.
I see that the TicketMaster website for SKC ticketing has been upgraded to be very interactive. One can see how many seats remain for each section, except for the South Stand GA.
Can we please have no more games in July and August that dont start at 7:30 or later. I am more tolerant to heat than pretty much anyone I know and I was miserable. I have never been that hot sitting somewhere in my life. I could have rang out my shirt and it was a dri fit t-shirt.
Agreed on the heat part. I think on future early games, I'm not even gonna mess with it and just sit it out. Watch at home.