The pricing helps fill up the seats that are in camera view. That's a good thing. If you have empties you want them on the University side.
I never understood why the league and the Quakes just don't give away some tickets to maybe youth teams and schools? I mean there seems to be a lot of marketing and players talking to youth groups and serving at soup kitchens so why not market the youth? I'd think it would be beneficial to the team and the league to pack em in. On another note , now I am watching the FSC Super Sunday show and Max Bretos is talking about the possible move of DC United to St Louis. He said if Garber is true to his word and if AEG could move the Quakes to Houston then why couldn't DC move to St Louis? It would be sad to move DC....
True. Still I think the rise in price of any of the seats this year was a good idea even if the overall prices went down. As we've seen the seats that went up in price appear to be the ones that have been empty the last two games.
Last year, there were season ticket holders to my right, left, down in front of me and right and left of them. This year, NONE of them renewed, just me. Hmm. Of course, I now have a completely unobstructed view.
Well they may have renewed and just moved. I know the season ticket holders behind and in front of me are gone from my area, but have moved to a different part of the stadium.
The theory is that if you start giving away tickets, people will expect and wait for the freebies and never pay for the product. If you believe in the product, then you charge for it. Moving DC would suck. It's the most storied team in the league, they have the most trophies, and they have good fan support. Moving them to Richmond or Baltimore even would still keep them in the same area, more or less. Moving them to St. Louis would totally blow chunks. I am really hoping that this talk of moving the club is just a negotiating ploy to get the city of DC to step up and help keep the club in town. yuck GOOOOOOO QUAAAAAAAKES!!!!!!!!! - Mark
That's possible, they did raise the prices. However, no one has taken their places in those seats for any game so far.
Well maybe they can organize groups of youth teams at discount rates..I'm sure they are doing that a little bit but I think they can do more..... Yeah I wouldn't wish that on anyone ....especially after what we went through...what a joke!
I think the uptick in Portland's attendance was that as Seattle's anticipated entry was picking up steam last year more news and rumors were circulating about Timbers also going down that MLS path- they got more exposure. So if 20k show up to the Oakland coliseum on Sat what will you south bay guys attribute that to? That its LA? That Quakes dont play week-in, week-out up in Oakland, and its a once-in-a-year thing? South Bay's soccer scene is too youth-soccer-suburban driven. The Quakes need more high profile Mexican players & Ribery, or some badass French dude. Maybe they should have a stripper night. I'd go for that. Anything, but the kids. Please get rid of the kids. As for the soccer fans preference for Euro soccer, its not about the preference for a higher performing league but more that Americans are very acclimated to the sports-watching-from-the-couch syndrome. I know alot of soccer guys like that, and not a single one of them is fat. I know thats a stereotype of American football fans...fat couch potatoes slobs. But American soccer fans, though thin, are also lazy couch potato bastards. Thats all there is too it. I like how Seattle has responded to the whole "we're different then the rest of America, and a little more internationally cultured in our sports interests" vibe that some Sounders execs have floated (d. carey). That would definately work in SF, but the City has the snobiest of soccer fans. Maybe there could be a soccer riot night. I'd go for that too. Hell, sign a whole bunch of French guys. People around here really fancy anything French. If they could quote obscure french philosophers in their interviews, then we'd really have a crowd. Oh sh&t, "24" is on.
Yes, the South Bay is to blame. Let's be like Seattle. "Hey Johnny, hold your scarf over your head like this! It's how they do in soccer!" "You're right, Sally! I also read something about the fans singing! I think we should join in when that comes along!" "Yay, soccer!"
OK, I got it! How about we invite all the French soccer moms? That way we play to the natural south bay youth-soccer-suburban ethic, and at the same time, satisfy the fervent Francophilism that naturally permeates us all.
Bring back Franco-American (sponsor!), for the children. No word yet from the parents, but it appears they've dropped the "Freedom Fries" thing. Where's Zidane? Oh, and fans need to bring friends to games, by hook or by crook, as they say. There have been some reasonable efforts by FO towards this. Hopefully the Coliseum doesn't resemble a cavern this weekend, but fans will need to do their part to get people they know up there.
Yeah, bring in Zidane for a heading clinic for the kids at halftime! Brilliant. Better than frisbee dogs.
I saw that they're offering a $50 deal for the game this weekend. For that, you can bring in your family of four and get a parking pass. I realize that the Coliseum is so huge that they are unlikely to sell out at any price, but it would be nice to see a promotion of that nature at Buck Shaw. Someone who isn't really into the team but attends just because it's a bargain is unlikely to come to Santa Clara for more games. Whereas if we get some of the South Bay crowd hooked by offering a teaser price, they may come back for more. On that topic, I realize some of you disparage the soccer families, but I wish the team were doing more to attract them. The league packages they offer are just not very appealing either from a price or product perspective. Finally, this ad campaign they're running is terrible. I can't blame the low attendance on that, but time to scrap the who/what/where ads for something that might actually entice some paying customers.
I think it's working really well. I've had 3 different friends/family, who know I'm a Quakes fan come up to me and say "What's a Huckerby". People are noticing the ads and they're sticking with them. That's pretty good for billboards and buses. Just hope Ms. Huckaby from Tracy doesn't sour the whole campaign.
Indeed. I don't think they're half bad either. My family (who hate soccer) have actually noticed them an asked me about them. So that's something. They're definitely having some impact.