1. It's bold, honest and unique.
2. The team really doesn't need to market to the diehards (and I define that as anyone who takes the time to read or write on this blog) because they know you'll show up anyway. You may threaten, complain, whatever, but you'll also be there because you are always there. It's part of who you are. I also think there are fewer of you than there were 20 years ago. We can debate all day why that is.
3. They are marketing to the folks who are not already planning to be there, and that's definitely the target audience of that ad. It will definitely get their attention.
4. It's also completely true. Look at the TinCaps. The vast majority of the market is the disposible income, family looking for an inexpensive good time, who go 8-10 times per year. That's who the ad will get. You've got to have a theme to attract casual fans to games today, and the Komets do that very well.
5. It's a discussion-starter and will get people talking, which is what marketing is all about.
Very, very interesting. I don't necessarily like it, but it's not going after me. It is bold and very effective and will do what it is designed to.
Comments
Snuff, to answer your question, tongue in cheek, trying to be funny.....
Evansville. That is your answer.
Season Tickets for $150.
Don't go crazy, I understand all the arguments and why they only charge that this year. I get it.
I think I get great value for my season ticket dollar. I am just like the next guy who wants everything cheaper than what I pay, but when you look at the price and the product....I am happy.
We go to a great arena, we have great players to watch, I enjoy the environment, the sport is great, the atmosphere most nights is fun, I enjoy the people who sit around me, and I couldn't be happier. Plus, it gives me something to blog about so I can come on here and have an opinion and get under others skin a time or two, or maybe say something that might be funny, intelligent, thought provoking, stupid, or in between.
I am happy to have the Komets and happy to be a STH.
I, for one, don't feel jipped at all. Why should I?
I could careless if we had ECHL or CHL.....they are virtually the same to me. And the AHL, even though it would be cool to say I saw so and so for 5 or 6 games before he went to the Blue Jackets for 10 games......well, that makes no difference to me, and I wouldn't pay extra for that. I'd rather see a sound, entertaining team, that I know most of the players in a stable league that I can afford.
Go Komets.
Hit, you forgot "ICY" & the jeep girls :)
I could take them or leave them.....the kids like ICY....the whole package at the games is really awesome. I don't think most people realize how good we have it here. I am not sucking up or giving in or anything like that, but when you travel to Dayton, or Flint last season, or LC Walker, or even K-Zoo, they all have hockey product, but that is about it. Nothing to the level that we have in Fort Wayne. And I think that is why the Komets are so successful getting people to the games. They put on a great overall show. And the hockey is great too, at least for me it is. And in my book, that is all that matters. So poop on the rest of you.
LOL
I forget to mention, Brendan Savage.....when he was here during the finals this past season against Flint.....he went on and on about how incredible the production of the Komet's games are including pregame, during the game, the scoreboard and the utilization of it, the facility, and how everything is first class and professional to the point of being Major League here. That to me.....says volumes. He is the guy that cracks on Fort Wayne, I know for fun, but he couldn't say enough about how great he thought things were at that game. It was on a video blog he did......I bet it is still there if anyone is interested. It was pretty cool to see what an outsider thought about what we see all the time.
I think we are all spoiled brats. Right Blake?
all these prices being listed is great and all, but again. Does not clear anything up. Komets prices are in line with either league. Which tells me minor league hockey sells for about the same anywhere ya go... To say they are not in line with AHL is false. Look at the list. To say they are not in line with CHL, again you would be false.. Look at the list.. Pick your poison and argue your case. Opposing side will throw the same stats right back at you.
Prices only matter to the people who are willing or not willing to pay that said price.
I don't see a problem here. Does anyone else?
IMO, I would like to see the Komets do more for you who are still STH's... When you start to put the prices up next to each other for season tickets and then start to compare the perks list, the Komets STH perks plummet to the bottom and pale in comparison... There were some seriously impressive perks packages for some of those teams STH's and I'm not just saying the really expensive tickets... One I remember off the top of my head was from the Albany franchise (who charge $522 for season tickets) where they give you a 1 free ticket (per season ticket) to one New Jersey Devils regular season game.... Not too shabby, IMO.
BTW, according to the Komets website there is only a 50 cent Coliseum arena maintainence fee that is included into the ticket prices...
Heck my friend in Tampa who is a STH got a game worn jersey=Martin St.Louis :)
JR--That $.50 charge is put on every ticket for every event at the Coliseum. The other $2.00 fee is in part how the Komets pay the rent. While it is not all of it, it is a big part of it.
We get the Orange Collar Crowd Cards that accumulate points to trade for merchandise.....although some of the stuff is stupid and worthless, there sometimes are decent things. I don't think anything on the list has any real value over about 20-25 bucks tops. You can cash in for a jersey if you somehow accumulate 400 points. (points awarded on number of games you attend and merchandise you buy) I went to every game last season, bought 2 jerseys, and a ton of other stuff, and only had around 350 in points. I don't know what it takes to get to the 400 level. I doubt anyone has ever gotten the jersey. I think it is just offered to look good. At least it seems.
Oh well. Not that it really matters much, just throwing it out there.
The only monetary amount that is officially attached to each ticket is the $.50 charge for the arena maintainence fee...
If the other $2 is what the Komets have figured would come out of each ticket price to pay rent, then so be it; but its not carved in stone. The Komets dont get money from parking or concessions; but they do have a very friendly rent free clause in thier deal with the Coliseum if they reach a certain attendance figure for each game...
They are good businessmen, its not they're getting (hmmm, how to put this in rated "G" form?????) "worked over" by the Coliseum....
Hit, all I have to say is please DO NOT research what some of these AHL STH's get in perks.....lol Your blood pressure may skyrocket....
I think the Orange Collar thing is just "so so" ok....I don't want ot complain too much about it, because they might take it away and we would get nothing for being a STH.
Kind of a catch 22 situation.
I have heard alot of teams give STH's jerseys.
They give us verbal assaults from their pit bull Bob Chase every now and again and the radio....LMAO
The one suggestion I made several times is this: Why not guarantee the STHs whatever the giveaway item at the turnstyle is, that they will get one for each season ticket they have. For instance, the bobble heads, every bobble head I have gotten, but I have had to pay someone $20-$40 to get it. I work for a living, and I can't go 4 hours early to get in line to get one of the bobble heads like others seem able to do. And what ticks me off every year, is watching some Ding Dong walk out of the MC as I walk in, carrying away 6 or 7 of the bobble heads to put on EBAY and I didn't get one, and I am a STH. That is my beef. And I know that some will say that it is fair as that one guy might have had 6 or 7 tickets that allowed him to get those when he walked up, but I say BS to that.
That would be my perk suggestion.
Hit Somebody is an idiot.
I dont know Hit, having your tickets bound in a booklet for easy storage is huge!!! LOL...
Bobbleheads? Really???
I didn't say just the bobble heads.....it was a start.
What would you want if you were a STH JR?
Oh, and come to think of it, there was a pretty good coupon on the back of the season tickets for Chili's, buy one get one free meal.....it was good for part of the year, then it seemed everytime after the first of the year we tryed to use it, they gave several lame reasons as to "You can't use that coupon with this" or always an excuse as to why they didn't want to honor it.
I personally think that STHs should get a day with the Turner Cup for ourselves......LOL
JR--What booklet? Bound with what? Mine come with a rubber band around them.
No comment DS.
Couple points.....Komets123, the Albany River Rats giving away a Devils ticket may have worked because they were affiliates up until a couple years ago. I would guess that would be the only way an AHL team could logistically afford to make an offer like that. I think it's a great promo though....for the idea of giving away bobble heads to the 3500 or so STH's.....they bring in 1000 for the giveaway each season, so if they gave one to every STH that would make it 4500.....or do they bring in less, say 500, or maybe JUST give them to STH's? If for instance they brought in 4500, the cost alone would probably be prohibitive.....I myself, will defend our ticket prices. Our owners have already stated that if they go to the AHL, costs will increase exponentially, hence ticket costs will too. So even as we are in line with the ECHL and CHL, and even in the low end of the AHL pricing structure, the jump to the AHL would increase the price point even higher. I for one, am not in favor of paying significantly more. A lot or people complain that we don't have AHL hockey here. But would these same people complain about a 15-25% increase in their ticket costs?
Your a volunteer Dennis, they care even less about you...LOL :)
The STH booklets come in a lil perferated booklet that you can tear out your games as needed... Convenient? Yes... Perk? No...
That Chilis coupon sounds just like the one I get with the Sunday newspaper every week that I have no problems redeeming...LOL!!!
Hit, I honestly dont know what I would want or deserve as perks for being a STH... I did see some very interesting and clever perks while putting together those AHL prices last night... They dont have to give you guys the world, just a lil bit more to say thanks for you STH's paying up front.....
Andy, a couple points... The Albany team is once again the AAA affiliate this season for the New Jersey Devils after they moved back from Lowell....
There are alot of cost variables to becoming an AAA franchise and whatever side you fall on will be the ones you point out to support your cause... The one the Komets use is the best and what turns alot of fans off right away and thats thier ticket prices.... All they have to say is ticket prices would go up...end of story for most...
Come on people, the Frankes are darn sharp businessmen and if you dont think they could wrangle together several sweet deals to help defray the additional costs of travel, lodging, etc... then you are fooling yourselves... They have a couple longer trips in the CHL this season and there is already a new advertisement for an airline on thier website... Coincedence??? I would bet not...
We can all argue until we are blue in the face as to the pro's and con's of moving to a league like the AHL; but the fact of the matter is that as long as people continue to come out in droves for AA hockey here in Ft Wayne, this is exactly the level where we will stay for a good while...IMO
Hit, good points and hopefully Evansville will make the right choices. Let's face it, in more ways than one people in Indiana should be rooting like heck for good things to happen in that part of the state.
If that team can create some community pride and some jobs it might lead to better things for that area. Evansville is a town with alot of potential but it has been lacking in leadership and direction for quite some time.
STH, well I think a couple of extra in season events would be nice. However those things do cost money and not to open a can of worms about how some claim the Franke family is just greedy rich, alot of businesses are cutting back on giveaways and perks these days.
This years bobblehead....a dual of Blake and Justin hands wrapped around each others necks lol.
You darn bloggers keep this up, and you'll get another price increase. We have to pay for the part-timers "fun" somehow.
Snuff, I was going to say the same thing about a couple "exclusive" in season events... They have to be STH events only, IMO... 1 or 2 exclusive parties for STH's would go a looooooong way to saying thank you to people who have giving thier money up front for years/decades...
1 AHL team did a BBQ in the summer (with some players present) for one day as the "official" STH ticket pickup... Some brats, burgers, and soda are a cheap way (especially if sponsored) to say thanks, up front...
Some teams did an open question forum with the teams coach before a few games during the year... Wouldnt have to be long, maybe open the doors 1/2 hour early for the STH only to come in for a 1/2 hour chat with the coach... No cost involved; but would again go a long way to making the STH's feel appreciated.
I think if we brainstormed for about an hour on here we could come up with several ways to say thank you to the Komet STH's that could make them feel special for little to no money out of the K's pockets...
I would love to see the frankes W-2 from the past 20+ years.
I would love to see some of the tens of billions of dollars that our Federal Government has sent over to Iraq that at this time is still unaccounted for; but I dont see that happening anytime soon either...lol
If your upset about something as lame as this ad, don't even come to the games.
komets123, you must have missed the discussion we had on salary cap violations about a month or so ago? Remember Blake's comments on it? Violating salary caps is a thing of the past, and even then it was limited to the lowest of leagues, like the earlier version of the UHL.
Everything is closely monitored these days, including the jobs their wives have. Teams don't violate salary caps, OK?
Wink Wink....lol
Hit, I agree with you on the bobble heads. I've gotten them all but it sure wasn't easy and one time after having a whole bunch of people cut in front of us I got to the table just as they ran out. A friend gave me one of theirs that year.
And watching people bring every kid in their neighborhood to get bobble heads drives me nuts. Listen to them talk and you soon learn for a lot of them it's their first hockey game.
I think security should have more of a presence in the lobbies and lines should be formed and monitored to stop the cutting in when the doors open. I also think STH should get one no matter when or even if they get to that game.
On the other hand I have no idea what I'm going to do with them....... :-(