Stadium Wants/Needs/Must Haves

Discussion in 'Columbus Crew' started by catfish9, Oct 30, 2018.

  1. TKyle

    TKyle Moderator
    Staff Member

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Dec 28, 2014
    Nordecke’s Porch
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    RSL's supporters tickets are cheaper than dirt-cheap FC Food Lion's? Wow.
     
  2. TracieB

    TracieB Member

    Oct 2, 1999
    Columbus, Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I have 6 season tickets in east preferred of which I paid $637.50 per seat because i auto renewed my 4 tickets and was able to add on 2 additional tickets in October of which I was lucky to have done this because when we were saved by the Haslams and Dr. Pete the price went up to $800 per seat. I took the survey and the lowest price for east preferred was $1,700 which is ridiculous. The survey says the premium seats have amenities, but like always east preferred doesn't really. You have the option of buying premium parking just like we do now. It's not included. We get the chance to buy better food, but it's not included. We get access to a lounge behind I section but who cares I'm at the game to watch the game. Lastly we get a bigger seat with a pad! So there you get it for an increase of over $1000 or an increase of $900 you get a slightly bigger seat with a pad. Wow that must be some pad! My question is who is going to buy thse tickets? $1700/17=$100 is season ticket price What about the single game price? The survey had lower sideline for $1;250/17=$73.53 season ticket price, again what would be the single price? I hope the Crew wasn't saved so we all couldn't afford to go anymore. For those of you saying don't panic yet what would be the point of putting prices out there that were that far off what they wanted to charge?
     
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  3. Kyle Crew

    Kyle Crew Member+

    Feb 23, 2013
    Columbus, Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You start high and work your way lower until you sell and acceptable amount of product. Why sell something for $5 if people are willing to pay $7?

    The survey is simply market research. These won’t be the final numbers. They will be lower. How much lower? That’s the question.
     
  4. TracieB

    TracieB Member

    Oct 2, 1999
    Columbus, Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Those numbers are ridiculously high.
     
  5. Kyle Crew

    Kyle Crew Member+

    Feb 23, 2013
    Columbus, Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Agree, but they were made that way on purpose.

    Imagine if they sent out that survey, and they got enough people to agree to those prices, that would sell out the entire stadium for the entire season. If they could do that, why cut prices? Let’s no kid ourselves here, the club is a capitalist business, with the intent of making a profit, period. If they could sell out the stadium with those prices, they’d do it in a heart beat.
     
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  6. stanger

    stanger BigSoccer Supporter

    Nov 29, 2008
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    We have been spoiled, plain and simple.

    Due to schedule constraints, I never even looked into how much season tickets cost before I took the pledge and was shocked to see Nordecke tickets were as cheap as they were. Yes, some people get priced out but that is reality.
     
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  7. Ueberjames

    Ueberjames Member+

    Columbus Crew
    Mar 28, 2009
    Stow, Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Because the rent is too damn high. If I'm the owner, my first order of business is filling up the stadium. Empty seats don't bring in revenue. Filled seats bring in more revenue than just the ticket price. They bring more concessions sales and merchandise sales. Filled seats look better on TV, which means better ad sales and, in time, better media contracts. Getting the stadium filled should be the A1 priority.
     
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  8. stanger

    stanger BigSoccer Supporter

    Nov 29, 2008
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Actually, making sure the FO isn't in shambles is the #1 priority.
     
  9. Minnman

    Minnman Member+

    Feb 11, 2000
    Columbus, OH, USA
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Sure, but you're (at least partially) ignoring the point @Kyle Crew is making:

    The rent may be too damned high for you. But if it's a price others will pay, that's the price that'll be charged.

    To say the least, this scenario is very hypothetical for this team right now. At current, pretty modest prices, demand is slack. Hard to see how doubling prices will magically also increase demand (not that there aren't unusual examples of that happening; some elite universities have reported a spike in applications when they've increased tuition, the "logic" being that if University X is that freaking expensive, well then it must be world class).

    I do agree with you that this formula isn't as simple as a supply/demand curve for a product. If season tickets are affordable (not just barely, but comfortably), fans are not just more likely to buy them, they'll be more likely to buy concessions or stuff from the team shop while they're in the stadium. And, over time, ticket scarcity might eventually allow the club to increase prices as fans gradually accept that what they're buying can't easily be bought at the walk-up ticket window.

    Anyway, we have no real concept yet of what games in a new stadium will look and feel like. It's all based on some initial renderings that, from what I've heard, aren't necessary accurate representations of what the stadium will really look like. We also have virtually no sense of the overall match day experience other than presuming that it'll be different from Mapfre's and that there's a lot more to do in the Arena District than where we are now. Finally, we don't really know what the product on the field will look like, other than assuming that it'll be different from what we can see on display now. It's hard for me to take that survey and really understand what those prices would get me.
     
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  10. Ueberjames

    Ueberjames Member+

    Columbus Crew
    Mar 28, 2009
    Stow, Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Because if you overplay your hand, you end up alienating potential customers. They aren't selling out Mapfre at current prices, so they should probably avoid hinting at how much more they're going to charge at the new place.
     
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  11. Ueberjames

    Ueberjames Member+

    Columbus Crew
    Mar 28, 2009
    Stow, Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    That's fair, but I'd say that their on their way with that part, having lost a bunch of the dead weight to Austin. My guess is that a lot of the "tear down" portion of redoing the FO is done, and now they have to work on building it back up.
     
  12. Kyle Crew

    Kyle Crew Member+

    Feb 23, 2013
    Columbus, Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Please. People getting these surveys are diehards. I'm not saying they'll pay anything, but if you think they won't check out ticket prices on day one when real prices are announced for our BRAND NEW DOWNTOWN STADIUM, you're insane.

    It's funny, people mock Cincy for low prices, then there are others that say our prices (which are either the cheapest in the league, or damn near it) are too high. TOO HIGH. It's laughable.

    We know the stadium can sell out, that isn't the problem. The problem is:

    How do we get casuals and non-fans, who only go once or twice a year and don't follow the team at all, to come to more games?

    For me, there are two things all successful teams in this league do:

    1) Sign big name players. Whether it's someone like Zlatan or Rooney, or someone like Almiron (that damn near no one knew about before he came) big name players are needed, period.

    2) Marketing, marketing, marketing. TV, internet, billboards, radio, community integration (not just a sticker on the entrance door in the Short North).

    If the Edwards and Haslams aren't willing to throw big money (I mean BIG) at these two problems, then they are wasting their money.

    That being said, this is a process that will take time. Expecting all of this to happen just 3+ months after they bought the team is unrealistic, plain and simple. There is talk of a DP coming in this summer in the second window (July - August). If true, I hope it's a real DP with name recognition or potential to be sold on like Almiron. If it isn't, and it's just another Mensah or Higuain level signing, it's not moving the needle one bit.
     
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  13. Minnman

    Minnman Member+

    Feb 11, 2000
    Columbus, OH, USA
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Maybe one of the techie whippersnappers in here knows a way (without actually doing it manually by looking everyone up) to track the evolution/growth of names on these lists:

    https://www.columbuscrewsc.com/technical-staff

    https://www.columbuscrewsc.com/club/staff

    There have to be a lot more names there now than was the case a month of two ago, and it sounds as though hiring is only now really ramping up. I'd thought we'd learn last week about our new scouting staff, so presumably that's something that'll get added soon.

    Note the Director of Ticket Operations has been with the team only since last month.

    Some dude named Nick White is the Director of Tickets, Sales & Service, which is a position the club advertised for on LinkedIn two months ago.

    Talk about a rebuilding project. All we really see is the surface.
     
  14. Ueberjames

    Ueberjames Member+

    Columbus Crew
    Mar 28, 2009
    Stow, Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm getting the surveys, but I'm not a STM. In fact, if you looked at my ticket purchasing history, you'd probably assume I'm one of those "casual" fans who goes to just 1 or 2 games a year. As much as I'd like to be a STM, a number of factors make it a challenge for me to justify working that kind of purchase into our family finances. And of course, even if I weren't getting them, I would know about them because people who get these surveys post information about them online, so that others can see.

    I agree that the process will take time. I just think sending out surveys about ticket prices for the new stadium is getting ahead of themselves a bit and not something they should be putting out there at a time when only 10k are showing up to games at the current place.
     
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  15. Kyle Crew

    Kyle Crew Member+

    Feb 23, 2013
    Columbus, Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Most people don't even know the Crew have been saved yet, or when games are. I doubt they don't know those things, but are getting super pissed about all the ticket price surveys for 2021.

    Again, it's market research. The FO is trying to do its, you know, job. Figuring out financing and ROI and all that technical jargon shit. If we want owners who are actually trying to really plan things out and act like real adult professionals, this is what they do.

    The reverse is super secrecy, like with the last two ownership groups the team has had. If I had to choose between secrecy or semi-transparency, I know which one I would take. They actually seem to be trying to involve the fans. Good for them.
     
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  16. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    They need to do their research now while the new stadium is still in the design phase. It will help them decide how many suites they need vs general seating, etc.
     
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  17. zoop

    zoop Member

    Barcelona
    United States
    Jul 22, 2018
    I hope they designate an 'autograph alley' for the new stadium and keep it U-18. Tired of watching grown ass men jockey and fight for position with 8 and 9 year old kids. It's embarrassing and wrong.
     
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  18. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite BS XXV

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    Well, about that CBA.

    I'm not saying it can't be done, but for a while, Autograph Alley was even sponsored by AAA. If there was a sponsor to pay the players, then anything is possible. I have no doubt that the glory days of that stuff are behind us, however.

    Part of the issue of the impromptu ones now are that there is limited space along the rail by the locker rooms for the rare player who wants to sign one or two. If there was something like the old setup where the fans walked past a table, then it wouldn't have to be U-whatever.
     
  19. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    I didn't know they still did autograph alley after matches. In the early years it was every game, almost every player. Then it turned into a few players a few times a year.
     
  20. Kryptonite

    Kryptonite BS XXV

    Apr 10, 1999
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    They don't, or at least not in any official capacity. If you're lucky enough, you may be able to snag one or two as they leave the field after the game.
     
  21. Ch(Elsey)

    Ch(Elsey) Member+

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    May 2, 2003
    Green, Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Bigsoccer was designed for posts like this one.
     
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  22. TheRealBilbo

    TheRealBilbo Member+

    Apr 5, 2016
    I'm confused... I thought Nick has been around for a number of years - at least since like 2014. Isn't he still with the club? I'm not sure, but I thought he has had that title for a while.
     
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  23. stanger

    stanger BigSoccer Supporter

    Nov 29, 2008
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Which is what they are doing. It doesn’t happen overnight.
     
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  24. TheRealBilbo

    TheRealBilbo Member+

    Apr 5, 2016
    When did they have the partnership with Barleys? I think was just after Frankie retired... After the game, the players would go there. I remember sitting at the bar with Frankie and Duncan. I think a number of players were sitting at the tables in the front.

    Worst of it was, the place wasn't really very crowded.
     
  25. LaMacchia

    LaMacchia Member+

    Jul 12, 2008
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Glad to see the Jersey Whore is still doing his thing. Guy has to have either a great collection by now, or a Harvard-level college fund for his kid.
     

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