Perhaps there's nothing more behind the ticket offer than the Rev's front with an eye toward building the season ticket holder and fan support by giving fans and incentive to purchase early. With the level prices and free parking tossed in, there's a good chance many current season ticket holders will indeed renew. There's also a good chance that, with proper advertising, they will snag a handful of new season ticket holder -- either those folks who are or have been on the fence, those just getting into the Revs, those who couldn't previously afford it, and/or those put off by other things (such as parking costs, etc.). So if the Revs can increase their season ticket holder base, they will likely also increase their fan base (duh). They started last year with roll back prices, continued this year (for next season) with level prices and free parking tossed in (to boot!), and maybe next year they'll do something similar -- with the end goal of attracting fans far and wide with inexpensive tickets and small but meaningful perks. And when the fan base is healthy and strong, then the Rev's can slowly (or quickly) start raising prices so that the Rev franchise can finally start turning over healthy(ier) profit. Perhaps the premise is that the fan base will continue to grow. That the Rev's front office is just in the beginning of their "grand plan". If they make monetary sacrifices today, they will gain them back and more in a certain number of years, all dictated by the master plan.
As I posted above what your questioning is a GREAT way to handle tickets and I'm sure the Revs are very glad that there are fans out there that band together to make max use of doing a group'season ticket purchase option. They know that many fans are young with limited resources or are famlies who do not have deep pockets.
I have been a loyal Revs fan since the first season, a season ticket holder for five years now, and am definitely renewing my two tickets (would have anyway, even without this great deal), but I have a few general questions. 1) Does anybody know if the Revs ever reach out to former season ticket holders and try to get them to come back? 2) Does anybody know if the renewing aspect of this offer applies to former season ticket holders who might not have renewed along the way? I assume not, but it would be a group worth approaching. 3) How close will the Revs get to their goal of 300,000 tickets sold this year? I am guessing that with average attendance around 12,500 that they will come in right around 200,000. 4) Do you think that gas prices will effect attendance the rest of this year or next year? Probably not any more than Red Sox games at the same time as Revs games, but maybe? Could that be part of the reason for the free parking? Do you think they would consider a Revs train next season if gas prices stay high? 5) What are the benefits of joining a supporters club? I ask because I do not belong to one, but am interested in what they are about and there general tone. 6) Any ideas what the schedule will look like next year? I was wondering how this year's early season schedule might have impacted attendance. Do you think we will have early April home games or many home games during the World Cup? I guess that is up to the league? 7) Do the Revs do any cold calling to potential season ticket holders, ethnic groups, or anybody or is it more grassroots? How do they attempt to increase season ticket holder numbers or market season tickets? Do they advertise Revs games or tickets at Pats games? Go Revs! Tim
The press release at revolutionsoccer.net mentions buying or renewing, so it looks like this offer applies to anyone purchasing tickets by 15 November!
Good question. I don't think so because of high expense and low potential. I would like to suggest that everyone reading this thread copy and paste the original press release on Page 1 of this thread and forward it to all their footie fan friends. I did yesterday to about 50 folks.
I'm in! Kevin set me up this afternoon. (Hell, I've got friends who would sign up just for the free parking!)
I was a season ticket holder for 2 years (back in 2001 and 2002, sat in The Fort), but moved back to Rochester, NY so I am no more. I still get some of the emails Kevin sends out regarding season ticket prices and special game ticket sales. I like getting the emails to see what kind of deals are going on, even though I certainly do not forsee myself moving back and/or being interested in getting season tickets every again.
Hell, if the Revs pasted the press release into the form of a flyer that could be printed out and circulated, I certainly think that would be something that fans could download and circulate/distribute. Students could that them and tack them to bulletin boards on college campuses, individuals could post them in their workplace, etc.
Hand them out at the gate on Saturday night. Run an add in the Sports section of the paper on Sunday (Most people find the cost of major sporting events too expensive--seeing these prices could catch their notice and get them to give us a try)
Let me see if I can answer any of these for ya ... Already been answered by a few people. That's a good question, and one I can't answer. They'll actually come in a bit higher that 200k. Assuming our average (12,448) for the year stays the same through the last two home games, our season attendance will be 199,168. Remember, the stated goal of the team was 300k for soccer events, so add in the 26,208 for the Chelski/Milan match, and a guesstimated 15k for the Panama WCQ. That'll leave the total attendance for soccer this year at Gillette at 240,376. We'll also have (hopefully) two playoff games, but since our attendance for the playoffs usually sucks, we'll probably wind up with about 260k for the year, about 13% short of their announced goal. I doubt they'll do a Revs train any time soon. It's just not cost efficient. I'm biased, so I'll let others answer this in terms of the general tone. But I don't think there's a better group that I'd like to be part of than the one I'm currently a member of. I've made some fantastic friends through the Riders, the camarederie is great, the drinks are fabulous and the foods better. Benefits I can give you though: great parking spot right in front of the North entrance, Meet the Coach session prior to the season opener, discounts on gear and road trips are amongst the main things. It's going to be up to the league, but hopefully they'll let teams have their say. Yes they do. Hell, they've asked us to do it, and there are a few of us on this board that have helped. Our cold calling was for the season opener last year calling youth coaches around the area. So I'm sure they do other things as well. They rarely advertise Revs games/tickets at Pats games, I think I've only heard it mentioned once or twice. Hope that helps.
One thing, Monty... If we finish first or second, our first playoff game will be a weekend game (remember, the first playoff leg at the lower seeded team in the home-home series has been midweek)... that should help.... midweek night games once school has started were bad even in the good attendence years... also, last year we kind of got lost in the ALCS thing and were hurt by that... I think that a home weekend "division championship" game (assuming that we advance as number 1 seed) would be well supported (anyone know how this would collide with the Patriots schedule?) unless the Red Sox are gripping the city again... rand
Good point Rand, but in general our playoff attendances have sucked. Actually, MLS playoff attendances have sucked. October 29th, I would think would be the night of our home first round game (assuming we play the first on the road), would also coincide with a possible Game 6 of the World Series (to be played in the AL park). The Pats have a home game on the 30th at 8:30 at night against Buffalo. Eastern Conference final would be November 5th, Pats don't play that weekend, their game is on Monday, the 7th (also at home). World Series would be over by then.
I thought the playoffs were a three-week series involving all weekends, i.e. two-leg first round over two weekends followed by the conference championship the third weekend.
without trying to get negative rep...the red sox might not make it, so people could turn the focus toward the Revs (i hope) stupid baseball
I think Rand's comment was that there used to be a midweek playoff game (when they played the first-to-five series).
This is one heck of a move by the Revs because it makes the product affordable , which was supposedly one of the premises that this league was founded upon. Younger adults who might now have a ton of cash can now afford to go and familes with kids can swing it. Losing the parking is huge. This is definitely the way to go. I hope the season ticket base expands big time.
They are "losing the parking" just for season ticketholders. So, strategically, they are still committed to building the base, rather than just going for the gameday crowd. I think the fickle weather is probably a big factor in that thinking. They don't want to have a rainy night bring in 700 people, like used to happen (I'm thinking specifically of the game where lightening kept fans in the parking lots for an extra hour or two wondering whether they were going to hold the game at all. A lot of people gave up and by the end of the game, there were surely only a few hundred hardy souls left).
One thing has not been mentioned though: Sure, the Season Package price reduction is great, but, are we going to see an increase in food & beer prices next year, to make up for this new deal? Either way, this deal is too good to pass. I'm getting 3 season tickets(my first time since 1999) even though I rarely go to more than 2-3 games a season(and usually double-headers only). Perhaps now with season tickets I may be motivated to attend more often, although I doubt it will amount to more than 50% of games. Nice going Revolution.
I would tend to doubt that the food/beer prices will go up. But even if they do, there's no obligation that says you have to buy beer/food inside the stadium.
Well, bringing my two sons(ages 9 & 15), it won't feel the same if we don't buy some food & drink from there. You know... the whole "take me to the ballpark" experience. I remember one time a few years ago we stopped to eat at a McDonald's before a game, just so that we wouldn't be hungry during gametime. Although we saved money that way, the whole game experience just seemed so... artificial.
Come join us at the Riders tailgate. You'll eat MUCH better food than what you get in the stadium, and the cost is just great. Free!