CrashingTheGoalie

by Ron Spence

“As to the economic prospects for next season…” Gary Bettman said last week, “the first two significant indicators of what next season would look like would probably be playoff ticket sales and season ticket renewals. And in the playoffs we’ve played to over 100% of capacity. And renewals for next season for season tickets are now approaching 80%. It’s not even June yet. That is quite a strong number, particularly in this environment to say the least.

Mr. Bettman, please look below. This is Detroit’s web page – at the time of  game three of the Stanley Cup finals – on June 2nd.

There are still tickets available for game five.

And they’re selling season’s tickets for $100 down.

Ticket sales were looking so bad before the first round that the Red Wings contacted the Jacket Backers — Columbus’ official fan club — and offered a group discount if the Ohio people would travel to Detroit for the first two games.

“Blue-hair guy and scores of his Jacket Backer buddies will be in Detroit Thursday night to root on the Blue Jackets — and you’re welcome to join them,” wrote Steve Wartenberg of the Columbus Dispatch. “ All it takes is $44 per ticket, and you, too, can be in the Joe, surrounded by a sea of red-clad Red Wings fans with ho-hum attitudes for yet another first-round playoff game in the franchise’s long-and-storied history.”

“For the first time, we’ve had to be creative and create packages, and we’re selling more to groups,” John Hahn said. “Five or 10 years ago, all we had to do was open the doors and the building filled.”

Also, last season the Wings actually lowered playoff tickets as much as 43% from the season before. 

During the Stanley Cup finals last June, the Joe Louis Arena was overrun by thousands of Penguins fans willing to make the short four hour drive from Pittsburgh. 

With Detroit’s economy continuing to fail, there will be even more Pennsylvania fans coming to Mo Town for game five than there were last season.

Maybe Gary Bettman is counting the traveling Blue Jackets and Penguins fans as part of his 100% ticket sales.

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For a comprehensive article on the Red Wings and the Detroit economy, link to: nhl.fanhouse.com.