This is from a story that's going to run next week after I talked to Michael Franke:
What does that mean for the fans, as far a ticket prices?
``Last year I think we did a 38-game plan and we're doing a 40-game plan again this year,'' Franke said. ``Included in that will be the regular season, exhibition games and also will be the possibility of an expanded playoff format which we'll be discussing at our summer meetings. It depends whether you have more teams or just to change up what we're doing right now. Maybe we get into a situation where if you have seven or eight teams, maybe the first team gets a bye and maybe the next four teams play for the first round. We're talking about a lot of different things, but that will be determined in June.
``It also opens up for other things, too, that we may have interest in doing in talking to other leagues. Maybe one of these years we'll get an expanded playoff in that will include the winner of one league versus the winner of another league. You just never know.''
Ticket prices will be going up slightly for season-ticket holders and $1 across the board for all general admission tickets, Franke said.
``We were going to go up $2 and we thought that was too much,'' he said. ``We saw a double digit percentage increases in a lot of our expenses this year from insurance, worker's compensation and travel. Like everybody, you just have to figure out a way to cover your expenses. We're hoping to make up a lot of the difference in group sales and in the fans who buy tickets the day of the games.''
Comments
I like the idea of the different winners of the leagues playing each other. That could be really fun!
Bouchard "goal" ALL-TIME LEADING GOAL SCORER.
"Maybe one of these years we
Well I don't think we'll be renewing season tickets if we are paying more for less games. Anyone else also think the season ticket holders event this year is a joke??
That or pc 75% is joke of year.
I guess I would've had a lot less of a problem if he would've stopped after he talked about the cost of insurance, worker's compensation, and travel increasing. All of those things are understandable and I can deal with that. However, when the candy-coating and smoke-blowing started with acting like we'll be getting more for our money, I got a bit lost/frustrated. Just say "Hey, costs have gone up and this is what we have to do to keep up with them, along with the other teams in the league Fort Wayne owns." You don't need to act like we're paying for things that aren't going to happen or that are dreams just to try to divert attention away from increased costs.
Regardless of our reactions, thank you for asking him for us, Blake.
so so expense to watch komet hockey :(
The season ticket holder event? You mean the fact that there wasn't one until some people complained and now they are "allowing" us to come to a practice? Lame. Maybe next year they will allow us to take our favorite players jersey home and wash it and bring it back... (after a $400 deposit, of course.)
I've been noticing as of late that when people on here complain about things, stuff is responded to with actions... Maybe more people are reading this thing than we had previously thought?
3 less games to travel to, 3 less games to pay players for, 3 less weeks to be paying insurances, etc... How much will those savings help offset the increases they are seeing?
It surely wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that we are losing a team in Muskegon that can support itself, I mean they should have been able to, maybe not now since they are WWAAAAAAAAYYYYY over the salary cap. Oh and the fact that when Evansville is announced as the new Great Member of the IHL.....our season ticket money will be going to that fine team to keep them in operation.
Let me get this straight:
1. Lower the amount of games
2. Lower the salary cap
3. Lower the veteran limits on the roster.
4. Stay in a league with Geographic Footrpint and less cost.
5. Raise ticket prices.
6. Give excuses, multiple ones and see what one people will buy.
7. Throw out a pipe-dream like a multi-league playoff tournament that will never happen just to get people excited and hopefully blind them while we raise their ticket prices.
8. Add Evansville to the league that has no "real" facility to play in that can generate any "real" revenue for their operating costs. Hoping that maybe the IHL can move that team into a big new arena that hasn't been built yet that has no guarantees as to what hockey team if any goes into that unbuilt arena.
9. Bring in Chicago next year that had a poor track record in their first go-around in the UHL where they lacked "real" fan support and lost oodles of money in an arena that was so happy they were there that they decided to raise their rent on them.
10. Continue to prop-up Flint and pay their way in a building that has no owner, a team that has no owner (allegedly) and claim that Fort Wayne has no ownership in that team in an area that is economically and most likely permanently drepressed economically....forever.
11.
I left eleven open for someone else to continue if they want to, because I have put way too much effort into this post all ready and I wouldn't want to be a bad example for PC. LOL
I can't believe that they are actually going to pass on ticket increases to a fan-base that is obviously paying the way for this entire league called the IHL.....
I think it is time to find a new league with some teams that can at least lose their own money, and not ours.
I think Hit put more than 75% in his post.
That sure would be nice FW but let's face it, how many people are actually active on here? Ten, twelve? A few more? If we had several hundred or a few thousand on here complaining then maybe it would get listened too. Next game compare the people sitting in your row to the number of people in the building and think about it.
I guess I'll find out tomorrow how much season tickets are going up. If general seating is going up $1.00 then I would hope season tickets would be less then that per game plus picking up two more games, sort of, possibly, kind of, maybe. Does that mean more exhibition games since the regular season will be shorter? Maybe a couple of NAHL games instead of one?
JM, I'm glad I wasn't drinking anything when I read your comment! That was good.
So, did I read this thing right, they are including playoff tickets in the season ticket package this year instead of billing us for them after the first of the year....?
If that is the case, I have no problem with this, as long as we get our balance of tickets unused back onto our accounts for the next season....
that meaning unused playoff tickets.
Noooo Fort Wayne fans aren't cheap.....
Hey Snuff, we might be fine with ticket price increases if we were in a situation where our money wasn't the key to keep the whole league afloat. At what point does someone say....this IHL thing isn't working???
FW, you said exactly what I wanted to say about Franke's comments. I wish he would've just come right out and said that costs had gone up rather than say a bunch of crap that really means nothing at this point.
As for the season ticket holders party, I was one of the people that complained, so I guess I shouldn't complain anymore about the format of it, especially since we're actually getting a party. But in reality, how hard would it be for them to rent out the Appleseed room (or something similar) and have a nice get-together with the team and season ticket holders? Honestly, I think the STH-ers expectations for a party are fairly simple--the chance to mingle with the players and have the opportunity to take pictures/get autographs in a family-friendly environment. With the way it is now, how are people going to get pictures or autographs if they're unable to skate for whatever reason (disabled, do not own skates, etc.)? Did anyone in management stop to consider these things? I think it's pretty obvious that this was thrown together at the last minute.
Hit et all, if you don't like the league, don't like the product, don't like the ticket prices, don't go! Unless it is included in this health care bill the government is not yet going to make you purchase Komets tickets. Give it a year or two and that might change but for now you still have control over that portion of your money.
If I go to a restaurant and don't like the food, I don't go back. I don't keep going back and complaining.
The fact is, and I will call BS if you guys deny it, if nothing had changed with the league and they had raised ticket prices by $2-$3 a ticket you guys still would have moaned.
Fine. Nobody likes to have to pay more for things. I don't, you don't. We can agree on that.
Some things are more important than others when it comes to paying whatever price is asked. Hockey tickets are not one of them.
I get sick and tired of the Frankes being blamed for all that goes wrong in this town. I hope, I REALLY hope they go dark next year. Then we can see what you do with yourself all winter. I am sure the few hundred dollars you don't pay for season tickets can be put to great use at one of the other "entertainment" venues in town?
Growl.... I need a Pepsi.
Thank you for another season of komet hockey to look forward to. We are so lucky to have the group we have running the komets.
I love birdies, chuck a pucks, rubber chickens and foam light bulbs, my new zoo jungle wild wednesday Burgee jersey, my retro jersey that Reg stopped me in the hallway to discuss, and the new foo foo drinks that my sons friend makes for me everygame. And last but not least, I love jimmie
Mr. Snuff: You REALLY can't think of anything else to do around here in the winter? Next time you're at a game, pay attention to those people who do not go into the same restroom as you. Those are called women. They are God's gift to the rest of us slugs on the planet and you should talk to one sometime. Cherish them. Treat them well. Compliment them. Be honest with them. Make them smile and laugh, even if it means letting yourself lose some things. They will keep you warm and more than occupied during the winter. The best part of it is, if you do all of the things listed above, they do not go away after April. Trust me, I won't steer you wrong.
He does that pretty well. FW. That's why I was best man at his wedding.
I thought Frozen was asking me out.....ooops. So sorry. He had me at "slugs"........
11. If you don't like 1-10, don't renew your season tickets. But of course, continue to run the team, league, and all hockey blogs from home.
Lol Blake I don't know how well I do it since she keeps throwing things at me! haha.
Frozen thanks for making my point. If you aren't happy with the entertainment provided by the Komets either due to the product on ice or the price for the product, just stop going. The continued spew of anger at the Frankes and about the league they play in makes no sense. If you don't enjoy it, don't do it!
Hmm, still no season ticket info packet. Maybe I'm not being invited back next season??
I got the letter for season ticket info. The letter is dated March 18 and got it Friday when I came back from school.
Quick info:
$100 deposit required by May 28.
Must pay in full by July 30.
The letter does say for 40 home games.
Prices:
Lower Arena-- $625 (Adult), $475 (Seniors/Students), $300 (Children)
Upper Arena-- $550 (Adult), $400 (Seniors/Students), $275 (Children)
Pepsi Zone-- $425 (Adult), $300 (Seniors/Students), $250 (Children)
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So, it is a joke. So is the season ticket holder party.
Toledo Walleye ECHL glass season tickets(36) and Indoor Football tickets(8) all for $504
Komets IHL glass season tickets = $625
Say what you want about the ECHL, but the players are younger, faster, and are trying to make it somewhere. The games are much more entertaining. The facility in Toledo isn't to shabby either. I'll be spending more time there next year. Let me know when the Komets come back to reality and maybe I'll come back.
The ECHL is a fine league and Toledo has themselves a very nice arena. Will be interesting to see how many of their teams are back next year but I am sure it will be good hockey and well worth the drive no matter how close/far you are. Have fun next season :)
I didn't get mine either?