With the NCAA tournament coming soon to Fort Wayne, and with few if any comments put up on Blake's blog entries about high school hockey, I was curious, Do folks think Fort Wayne is a good hockey town, is it a good Komets town, or for that matter is it just a good Komets town when the Komets dominate?
Comments
Who is this Blake Sebring and what does he know anyway???
LOL
Is there still a Nellie truce??? Because you sound like one SuperFan.
Kidding of course.
The Komets have tradition going for them. Wizards had summer and fireworks and the Nations past-time going for them, and now the Caps have that what the Wiz had, plus the best ball-park I have stepped foot in for its size. Both teams put on a great show, and are good at what they do. Very marketable teams.
Anyone B2-ing?/?
Homer IceHawk the broadcaster is verbally bashing and beating up the Ref tonight. He just said....."Mr. hutchison, I hope you are happy with yourself, I know if your family was here tonight watching they would be embarrased of you and it is pretty sad when the radio broadcasters in this league can see what you are doing out on the ice, and you seem to have no clue, and that is the way it is with all the refs in this league, it is awful"..........
Wow, easy Homer. You sound like Larry the Loser. You sound kinda like Burgee loving on Hawthorne.....lol
I always say, try and get a TV on a hockey game at any sports bar in this town and they look at you as if your crazy. Then all of the "hillbilly's" complain because poker's not showing.
75% of the fans that go to the games don't know or care how many teams are in the league, type of league that it is (zero relevance in the hockey food chain).
K's fans want W's, period. They don't care about the quality of hockey, because they generally don't understand the game. (not JM/JR/Hit and a few others).
Chaulkers ex-season tix - Sect. 205, R18, seats 1 & 2, you're all more then welcome to them, they've been vacant for 1 year.
Komets win!!!
4-3. 3 points up on PH.
The annual Ice Hawk meltdown is in full effect.
Nice win for the K's... Its nice to see Chwedoruk get going lately... Hukalo with two assists, Thomas w/ two goals, Chwedoruk and Shrock with a goal each... I love seeing the hustlers get their due...
See all you hardcore fans April 3rd.......
Blake: I'd agree with most of what you've said, but I'd also add the relative proximity of Indy and Chicago with their sports teams. I'd go for what either of them have in a heartbeat when I can. I've even passed up Komets games to head to Columbus. Just my opinion.
That's it! I've had enough! You can nellie each other but don't pick on my Jimmy, Hawthorn is the best thing to hit minor pro hockey since sliced bread!
At least you know what stupid calls jimmy is going to make game in and game out, welker, well, he stinks.
Went to the city championship tonight, enjoyed the game with Lil Burgee who is almost taller and if I keep losing weight will be heavier, kid just keeps growing, I need shoe coupons.
Schebig is a cookie eating, dog biscuit buying Nellie!
I'm a hardcore Komet fan because of what it offers for the family, only 2 of 6 of us care about the wins.
The Tincaps...well last season was last season. Great team that was stacked by the Padres with players, many of which could have moved up to AA during the season but were kept in Fort Wayne in order to reward the Tincap ownership and the town for their new ballpark.
The Wizards did not draw well on average even though really there was nothing wrong with wizards stadium for the A level and the teams were competitive at least most seasons.
I believe if the Tincaps don't have at least a team competiting for first place this year you will see a dramatic drop in attendance.
Blake, saw that you bumped my original post. I wasn't able to follow the discussion until just now because I was busy with tonight's game between Homestead and Carroll at Canlan. Full disclosure, InTheBlue is the pseudonym for Anne Argast, and I am the Head Scorer/Statistician for the Fort Wayne Area High School Hockey League.
I think the way blogsters didn't really answer the question says a lot. If we didn't have the Komets, and their established drawing power, I don't think hockey would be a big deal in this town.
It isn't just the high school thing, I actually understand that, though it seems that a lot of people go to the gyms to see HS Basketball, or to the field to see HS Football, long after the kids have graduated and are no longer playing. Why not HS hockey if you love the game?
I am, however, more concerned about the turn-out next weekend for the midwest regionals. I was disappointed last November with the attendance at the MSU/ND game. It would be great for FW to support the Midwest Regionals in a big way because it could lead to even more and bigger events in the future (and not just hockey). I'm just not sure there are enough *hockey* fans to make that happen.
I have a set of grandparents and great grandparents who lived (dead now) in the bush outside a place called Bancroft, about 3 hours northeast of Toronto. They have two ice rinks in Bancroft (one for hockey, the other for curling). We'd go up sometimes at Christmas to visit. (Still do to fish and go rock hounding every summer.) The whole hockey thing in little-town Canada is just different then around here. Those folks are just plain fans of hockey whether it's on a pond, semipro in a little rink (Bancroft's level), juniors, or pro.
Oh well. I guess we'll see on the 27th.
TinCaps Dropoff???
Maybe or not.
I bet overall interest and season ticket sells will increase, plus more corporate sells I would assume.
Honestly, them being competitive and winning made zero difference to me. At the "A" level in Minor Baseball, it is about the sport and game itself, and the big part for me is where the game is....the ballpark.
I don't want to get into a debate whether or not Parkview Field was needed or not, or whether the other stadium was ok or not.....bottomline for me, I like the sport of baseball, and I love a ballpark with a bigtime feel and with character. And the new ballpark gives me that. It truly is an awesome place to see the game I grew up playing and grew up loving.
Anyone here been to PNC Park in Pittsburgh??? Incredible place to see a game. The team there stinks as we all know, but the ballpark is one of the best ever, for a newer park.
Parkview Field gives me that same feel in ballparks. There is something special to me about watching a good baseball game under the lights, relaxing, enjoying your family and friends, and a great ballpark.
The NCAA hockey may have priced itself out of the game right away, even though they reduced the tickets later. $77 for three games is pretty stiff in this town.
I always get in trouble for saying this, but I would bet that most TinCaps fans could not tell you any three players on the field. They change so often. It's an entertainment option, and the TinCaps do a fantastic job at that.
Blueline.... yes i am in section 215 im not a STH, but i do sit in the same section for every game. Everyone that is a STHer in 215 knows how i am! And i am asked to tone it done on certain days. Maybe i should just buy season tickets, but i never know when i can make games due to my job. ( on call 2 weeks off 2 weeks ) If you have heard the loud mouth with a mohawk in 215 that would be me! I dont cuss but i do say some obscene comments.
Blake,
On your last comment about being able to name any TinCaps players....I would agree with that. Last season Kathleen went with a group to a game, had a great time, etc. However, she barely remembers that they won that day, let alone any details of the game.
Of course, I suppose I could say the same thing about the Mad Ants game that I took our car club to last night with the tickets I won at school.
Decker, Clark, Zornes, Dykstra, & Castro
I'm a hillbilly and I like hockey, MMA & football.
Into the Blue, great question and response...
The way I look at it is that Ft Wayne is a great Komets town first and a good hockey town second... I think if non-Komets hockey games were advertised better there would be a better turnout. Now, I dont watch alot of local tv; but do listen to alot of radio and I just havent heard that much in regards to the NCAA tournament thats coming up, maybe there will be more this week as it gets closer??... I know there is nothing that high school hockey can do in regards to advertising, so thats always going to be family and friends at those games (and with the lack of seating at Canlan, from people are saying, I dont see that changing). I was unable to attend the last Notre Dame game at the coliseum due to work; but am going to the regionals... Gonna be some great hockey played and I am very much looking forward to it!
I would also like to add that I think Budgets come into play in a big way. Alot of peoples entertainment budgets are devoted to Komets hockey and I believe that it has to be a special event for people to use more of that budget to come to non-Komet hockey events.
Another point I would like to make is that I believe that hockey attendance in this town is always in some form of a turnover... What I mean is that someone in one of these threads mentioned that the hockey crowd seems to be alot older and I think the reasons for this is kids. I believe that when alot of people get to the age where thier kids are starting to be involved in more after school activities like sports, band, choir, etc... those fans are going to be following their children at their events regardless of how hockey crazy they are. Personally, I have 3 kids and they all seem to have something going on in thier various activities 7 days a week and that pretty much dominates my week both budget and time wise. Would I selfishly rather be at the Komets game, heck yes; but my family comes first... So I think you will nnormally see older people and families with younger kids at the games and the turnover is constant...
I know this has gotten long so I will sign off for now...
Ok, some things.
#1 - I agree with Hit when he states that people are bashed for not being rah-rah with others. Sorry. I can't be part of that. I don't feel it makes me a fairweather fan because I choose to look at things realistically and say "what needs to change to make the team more successful?" I say this not only with the Komets, but with my other teams, the Reds and the Bengals. Yet, it always seems to me that there are some who feel the need to constantly bash others when their opinions differ. So, I'm just going to throw it out there now. I'm not allowed (by some others standards) not to post anything they perceive as "negative", but they can "bash" me and others, our posts, our opinions, our writing styles, etc., and it's fine. How does that work?
#2 - I agree with Blake about Fort Wayne's greatness as a sports town. He gave valid points about teams that haven't survived and what teams need to do to survive. The Komets and TinCaps have figured it out. The Frankes and Mike Nutter (GM of the TinCaps) have done a great job in realizing what fans want and doing their best to bring the absolute best entertainment value to us.
#3 - As far as being able to name TinCaps, that can be difficult. As part of a host family, you realize quickly that players are moved quite a bit and very quickly. We had 2 original players (Tekotte and Darnell), and by the end of the all-star break Darnell was moved up. We ended up getting a player from short-season Eugene, who was moved in 2 weeks, and then a pitcher from the previous year (Harrington) was moved in. That's the nature of the beast in minor league baseball.
#4 - I think the majority of season ticket holders and fans go to the Komets and even the TinCaps for their love of the game. Players come and go, but it's the game that always brings us back.
Have a great day everyone and GO KOMETS!!!
Andrea: Very well written. I like what you've said and all of your points made. I honestly just wish you wrote more because I tend to agree with you and you bring up great points for thought. I feel your pain with baseball and football teams, though lately the Colts haven't caused me too many problems (but the late 80s and most of the 90s were tough). The White Sox kill me every year, but I still love them as my team. That does not mean I will keep my mouth shut when I'm talking to people about them and discussing our opinions on what they need or how they could improve. That's part of the fun of being a sports fan, isn't it? To me it would get boring to just support every single thing a team does blindly. I guess I'm just not as big of a follower as some others and enjoy thinking for myself, looking at things from different angles and possibilities. However, I do not think that means I like my teams any less than anyone else.
Thank you FrozenWater. I appreciate your kind words. I think you are 100% correct; being able to discuss opinions about sports and our favorite teams is part of the fun in being a fan. Again, thanks for the kind words, and I hope that you have a great day.
Fort Wayne hasn't had the Komets for 57 years because they are a fair weather town. Fort Wayne is a very good hockey town when the Komets are not doing so well and Fort Wayne is a great hockey town when the Komets are winning.
I just wish I still lived in the Fort so I could see the Komets again.
Blake do you have access to attendance numbers during the Mike Torchia/Peter Ing era of Komets Hockey? I went to more than a few games at that time where the arena seemed more than half empty.
MR SNUFF' Cookie eating, dog biscuit buying Nellie here. I remember those years and you are absolutely right on about the attendance at that time. When Welker owned the team attendance would have been really good on some Saturday nights at 4,000 total. He did not know what he was doing. We almost lost our team back than. In fact it did move to Albany, NY where he went belly up. It was the Franke family that purchased the Flint Spirits and move them to the "Fort". We all owe them a huge debt of gratitude for that. Bob Britt didn't have a clue what he was doing either. Colin Lister and Ken Ullyot put all they had into Komet Hockey before them. They spent the time and their money to educate Fort Wayne people about the game. They also spent huge sums of their own money to keep the IHL a float during hard times. I said my piece now I need to go take some of those pills Burgee takes. Mine are tan, yellow and white. No Foo Foo's can't mix any alcohol.
Scooter, I'll have to come look you up the next time I steal Jungle Monkey's seats....just kidding, JM....I do think I'm headed your way soon, though...yep, Sunday, April 11th game, we'll be in your section. The mohawk should make you easier to find. :)
And Intotheblue...I think you were my professor....thanks for all you did for helping my sorry butt thru your class! LOL. And I must say, I watch high school hockey, pros like the Komets, NHL, AHL, ECHL, and even all levels of kids's games out at Canlan and McMillan. But I don't think that my schedule will allow me to hit those NCAA games (or the budget, yikes). I do hope they draw well, though. I know the Notre Dame game drew fairly well, but not as well as people were hoping.
The Ncaa did price itself out. I don't know about the ticket drops though because online it still says it is 85 dollars for and adult. I thought about going and taking my 4 year old but then they wanted 75 dollars for him which is just plain nuts. As far as fair weathered fans I know the Itt family isn't considered that lol. Both of my kids went to home games and they were only a week old...hell my daughter went to bloomington for a road game when she was less than three weeks old!!
You know, JR, I just read your long response at the middle of the page and had something to add....you mentioned that people have kids's activities to take into consideration. So true. A lot of people who are die-hard hockey fans can't be at the Komet games anymore when their kids get involved in hockey. That would be the case with me. We can't go to the Friday night games anymore because the kids's games are sometimes at 7:10 AM Saturday morning, which means I need to have him there and dressed before then. Yikes. And next year is travel, which means I'll be gone half the weekends, and 2 practices during the week, so any weeknight games would probably be gone for us as well. So for someone to judge fanship by attendance alone would really be a shame, as Blake's anonymous poster has done. Lots of people would love to be there, but for many reasons, can't.
BLB, QUIT SLEEPING IN. HA-HA/Also bid high on the Mitch Woods jersey.
Funny....game is at 9:40 Saturday, so the coffee will actually have kicked in by then. Sorry, locker room....I'll be in high gear when I get there! Last regular season game for this session....go Jason's team!!
I already have a Generation 1 and 2 Camo jersey... do I really need a Gen 3? Its for a good cause. Maybe I'll hold out to buy the giant bobblehead at the end of the season..