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Tailing the Komets

Scoreboard advertising

I'm probably opening a whole can of worms on this, but let's take this into a seperate post.

The cost to the teams to use the scoreboard is $500 per game. That's $20,000-plus per year for the Komets.

I don't have a problem with some ads, I just think this is a bit much. Besides, other that griping about it here, what recourse do we have? LOL. This is all a philosophical discussion because it's not going to change, and I'll bet anybody it's only going  keep getting worse. The whole event, arena, ice and whatever will eventually look like a Sprint Cup car. Again I ask, when is enough enough? For that matter, I'm so sick of not being able to see what happened during a play on TV because of the ad or stats blocking it out.

When does the amount of advertising become a detriment to the event you are watching? To me, I've reached that point. How about everyone else? It used to be one of the joys of watching a sporting event live was that you didn't have to put up with the commerials of TV, but now that's gone.

Yes, I fully understand the need for revenue, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Doesn't there have to be some kind of balance? I'm sure team owners and arena management would say no, that they need as much revenue as they can get, in part to hold ticket costs down. But as their customers don't we have the right to say it's distracting us from the event? If the fans don't say something, when will it ever slow down? Aren't we responsible for helping them define the limit?

Is that old school or just common sense? What do you think?

Don't get me started today. I could be in a bad mood just like that and it would be all over. The Bears lost yesterday, after all. LOL.

Posted in: Komets

Comments

andydunn
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 2:04pm

I love all of the complaints about this. It sort of proves the statement that fort wayne fans are never happy...2 years ago it was when are we getting a new scoreboard now..the scoreboard has too many ads.

Now I have yet to see the scoreboard in person, but from the pictures i have seen it looks nice but ads are crazy on it. I went to a pacers game last season and they have a nice scoreboard, but they don't even have that many ads on at once.

Oh well, not to be a s***stirrer but when can we get the cool panels going all around the arena like most of the NHL teams have? More room for ads!!!!

sigep454
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 2:15pm

Don't get me wrong, I am VERY happy about the new scoreboard. I would not go back to the "light brite" if they took all of the adds off the ice. I also know that we have not seen the full potential of the new scoreboard. I am sure after the first few home games fans will be even more pleased.

myriada
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 2:17pm

Trust me. They have not yet BEGUN to advertise. They won't be happy until the players' uniforms look like race car drivers (as they already do in Europe), every seat and wall has ads on them, and all the players are required to tatoo an advertising logo onto their foreheads at the start of each season. And don't forget those "Wagtime Biscuits Komet Goals", 'cause they're coming too. Mark my words.

But what's this about the scoreboard still costing the Komets $500 a game? Just what are the ads paying for, anyway?

burgee
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 2:52pm

and they raised the concession prices for the same crappy food that makes me sick everytime i eat it. no kidding....sick after wednesdays game, sick doesn't even describe it.

$500 a game, talk about holding your customer hostage. The scoreboard is nice but......at $500 a game i would prefer not to use it.

i remember seeing something in the paper about the new scoreboard coming, but if i would have known they were going to charge the minor league teams $500 a game to use it i would probably have voiced an opinion earlier.

the bears are just lucky they caught the colts in their 2nd preseason.

Just got off the phone and secured the rights to all the walls so i can use glow in the dark paint to put advertisers names on the wall that will show up when the lights are out during special pregame ceremonies.

I think someone should contact beakmans world to see if we can sell them the rights to put their web address on Icy's beak.

All the advertising really doesn't bother me, i do try to support those companies that support the Komets because i want the K's to be successful and around for a long time.

rnbrown
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 3:06pm

Did the Komets or any other team have to pay to use the old scoreboard? Of course, I realize that the old one did not have camera operators since it did'nt have video replay....

Is the team getting to keep any of the advertising revenue, or does the Coliseum keep it also, like they do with the parking and concessions? If the team has to pay to use the scoreboard, which you need for playing a game.....I think they should get at least some of the revenue raised.

Just my thoughts.....for what they're worth.....

rnbrown
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 3:11pm

Burgee,

Was it a certain item (or items) that made you sick the other night, or was it a bad case of sticker shock?

I bought for the wife and I a pretzel w/ cheese, 2 sodas and a cheeseburger platter. Total Cost: $18 Watching the K's win a game: Priceless.

dschebig
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 3:28pm

Since I do not have much time to look at or watch the scoreboard I really do not care about all the adds. I feel like it is just part of doing business. If you really want to know, Kalamazoo sells add space above the urinals. Not one but all of them. You have no choice but to read it while you stand there. I guess it keeps people from writing on the walls. I can not, for obvious reasons, tell you anything about the womens restrooms. I still think Kalamazoo has the best food in the IHL. Affordable and lot of things to choose from and you can get all most all of it at the same stand. The popcorn is always popped fresh. Not on Monday for a Saturday game.

junior78
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 5:09pm

Good post Blake.....I almost unleashed something on my blog this morning because you got me all riled up!

I'll post yours instead and agree w/ you whole heartedly.

burgee
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 5:55pm

i had nachos with meat, cheese and jalapenos, i really think they may fry the chips in grease which may be the cause, this isn't the first time and the only thing similar to all cases is possibly fried foods.

i guess i'll stick to the pulled pork and popcorn all year if i can afford it! Don't drink pop anymore so i get the $5 orange smoothy from the hole in the wall behind 201.

Today i supported these advertisers: Indigital, Burger King and meijer.

burgee
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 6:17pm

you know, come to think of it, everytime i get on this blog i am blasted with an advertisement to buy Blakes book, it must really work because i have already bought 5.

Come to think of it, there are two H U G E fort wayne newspaper banners directly across from where i sit and i have to see them every game, what about Grit or national enquirer, why don't they advertise.

Someone i know has a couple of more books coming out that would really look cool up on that new scoreboard, maybe even switch out the pepsi advertising that goes around in circles one game for the book advertising, now that would be something.

Bears just announced they are changing from Da Bears to Duh bears.

rnbrown
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 7:07pm

Kind of like when the Colts used to be the Dolts!

junior78
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 7:29pm

I didn't know the Dolts changed their name?

bsebring
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 7:33pm

Used to be, Bob? They still are as far as I'm concerned. My brother asked me tonight how the Bears did this weekend, and I said, it didn't matter because they won that first week. Yeah, Baby! They could go 1-15 this year and it would have been an utterly fantastic year! Whenever I see my nephews wearing Dolts stuff, I say, Doesn't that itch? You look like a Smurf in that stuff.

Dang Burgee, does that mean I can put you down for five more of the next one? LOL. Make it 50 and I won't put the ad up here. Yes, that was ad singular, and not mutiple times 20. LOL. That's an idea, maybe I can sell Pepsi an ad on the back cover.

The Komets are allowed to sell some ads on the new scoreboard to make up the $500. I do not know the percentages or limitations on those ads. I'm sure it hasn't been easy to sell any ads in this economy.

Junior, where's your blog? I apologize for not knowing there was one.

kometforlife71
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 7:56pm

It's not just the scoreboard! It's hard to see the lines on the ice, and NAPA jerseys. Well I guess it's good they can get advertising. If the other franchises could get this much adveritsing, the league would be much more stabile. Remember the Columbus Stars? I made it to a game down there, and they had no sponsors on the ice, and the boards had less than Mcmillen's boards. It's no wonder they only lasted 2 months. So I guess what I'm saying is, that it's ok with me as long as we have a team to advertise for.

chuckitt
Mon, 10/13/2008 - 8:36pm

scoreboard is just really big and really busy. im sure we will get used to it. maybe they could get some ads off the ice since they have the big board now. with the price of gas sky rocketing the last few months im shocked that people are upset the concessions have gone up. its just economics people.

komet2turnercup
Tue, 10/14/2008 - 2:40am

Please turn the banner that keeps going around off during the game. It is really distracting. I was watching the Capitals play last night and during the game they have theirs off. The scoreboard is busy but in time we may get used to it.

mark21
Tue, 10/14/2008 - 6:40am

Honestly, my take on it.....who cares...enjoy hockey...in these tough economic times be happy we have a very healthy franchise...if selling ads on the ice insures they are around for another 50 years..I'll take it...there is alot more to complain about than the ads on the scoreboard and ice at the Coliseum......

junior78
Tue, 10/14/2008 - 6:46am

Blake - it's not "my" blog technically, it's finishyourcheck.com. I just moderate it.

And I link ya up w/ proper credit directly to this link.

Greg
Tue, 10/14/2008 - 7:18am

I feel your frustration, but considering how much other hockey teams have problems, it just goes to show how faar the organization is willing to go to keep the Komets here. Plus I think businesses aren't stupid. They know that on average 7000 people will be coming in to watch a hockey game so why not get their name out there. Heck, look no further than the Komets program. For how long has that been nothing more than a business catalog with some hockey stuff thrown in there. We all need to remember that it's still a business.

And for one, I like the new scoreboard.

myriada
Tue, 10/14/2008 - 2:30pm

You know, once upon a time corporations could sponsor a sports team without wanting the stadium re-named after them or insisting that their logos be plastered across everything in sight. Sure, there was some advertising back then, but it was low-key by today's standards. No one is saying that sponsorship is a bad thing. I just wonder what happened to good taste? I realize that pigs will fly before this happens, but wouldn't it be nice if the business world suddenly developed a conscience and willingly restrained themselves just a little? I, for one, would go out of my way to support such a sponsor. Just tell me that you declined to participate in the overkill, and I'm there.

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