They have to make up for the 17 "lost" home games somehow, right?


I gave up on the raising ticket prices crusade a few years ago. I'm content to watch the game in HD at home or in a local watering hole. Heck, I can even order a beer in OT if i want to.

Absoutely...

There's also a fine line between raising ticket prices and gouging your fans who came back for the product.

They've given the company line of price increases are necessary for scouting, player development, getting players, coaches etc for the last few years. This has been by far and away their largest increase over the last few years.
- CaptainBlackhawk

They have to make up for the lost half a season this year......... One way or another the only people who pay is the fans.

They have to make up for the 17 "lost" home games somehow, right?


I gave up on the raising ticket prices crusade a few years ago. I'm content to watch the game in HD at home or in a local watering hole. Heck, I can even order a beer in OT if i want to.
- InvisibleOrange

I'm with you! I go to a handful of games, most are spent with my family or friends on my couch drinking decently priced beer and decently priced food.

Off the top of my head I don't know. I just was telling my brother - this only means NEXT YEARS playoff money is going to be even that much more expensive.

They are literally trying to squeeze every dollar out of the fans now while the team is competing for a championship knowing that when this core is gone, they start to suck again, season ticket renewals will go in the toilet. Hiilarious.
- CaptainBlackhawk

No one puts a gun to anyone's head. If the tickets are too expensive, don't buy them. If the entertainment value isn't worth the cost of the tickets, don't buy them. If you don't want other people to profit from you, don't buy them. Your call.

No one puts a gun to anyone's head. If the tickets are too expensive, don't buy them. If the entertainment value isn't worth the cost of the tickets, don't buy them. If you don't want other people to profit from you, don't buy them. Your call.
- paulr

Agreed. The Blackhawks (any many other pro sports teams) keep raising ticket prices because they know they can. Teams won't stop raising prices until the market shows it cannot bear it anymore.

No one puts a gun to anyone's head. If the tickets are too expensive, don't buy them. If the entertainment value isn't worth the cost of the tickets, don't buy them. If you don't want other people to profit from you, don't buy them. Your call.
- paulr

Thanks! This is something I obviously didn't know!

BTW: I'm allowed to complain when they've raised ticket prices 140% in four seasons after having season tickets before this team became good again. That's all this is .. a complaint. Especially when they give STHers the same song and dance as to why it's increasing.

Agreed. The Blackhawks (any many other pro sports teams) keep raising ticket prices because they know they can. Teams won't stop raising prices until the market shows it cannot bear it anymore.
- DarthKane

They are just pricing the normal joe hockey fans out of the arena. The way to make money is to sell season tickets to corporations. They don't care if season tickets go up, rarely do they care about the product on the ice. Wrigley Field is a good example. I am a die hard Cubs fan! I will only go once or twice a year to share the same experience with my kids as my dad did when I was young. Nothing but dopes and cell phone checking yuppies there, not what I remember when going to games as a kid.

Guys, Rocky has to raise prices. The Hawks are still losing money! Selling out hundreds of consecutive 21,000 seat games is an absolute money pit... especially when you own a piece of the building and the parking to go a long with it. Hell, all the real money is in the beer and liquor sold in the stadium... its a shame Rocky doesn't have a piece of that action. Poor guy is probably struggling to put food on the table. He looks malnourished.

But seriously- like others have said, if its too rich for your blood, watch at home.

Guys, Rocky has to raise prices. The Hawks are still losing money! Selling out hundreds of consecutive 21,000 seat games is an absolute money pit... especially when you own a piece of the building and the parking to go a long with it. Hell, all the real money is in the beer and liquor sold in the stadium... its a shame Rocky doesn't have a piece of that action. Poor guy is probably struggling to put food on the table. He looks malnourished.

But seriously- like others have said, if its too rich for your blood, watch at home.
- AceRatbang

Rocky Wirtz owns one of the largest liquor distributorships in the entire country. Without knowing any knowledge of this I'd be FLOORED if they aren't distributing into the UC.

I'll just scalp tickets even more this upcoming season - when 2013 was my highest season doing so.

Thanks! This is something I obviously didn't know!

BTW: I'm allowed to complain when they've raised ticket prices 140% in four seasons after having season tickets before this team became good again. That's all this is .. a complaint. Especially when they give STHers the same song and dance as to why it's increasing.
- CaptainBlackhawk

I feel bad, well not feel bad but at least can see your point. People who have supported this team in good times and bad will just say screw it. They are ok with that knowing someone is lined up behind you.

Rocky Wirtz owns one of the largest liquor distributorships in the entire country. Without knowing any knowledge of this I'd be FLOORED if they aren't distributing into the UC.
- CaptainBlackhawk

I don't think he used his sarcastic font properly on that post.

I feel bad, well not feel bad but at least can see your point. People who have supported this team in good times and bad will just say screw it. They are ok with that knowing someone is lined up behind you.
- droe411

Oh they could care less - they have a 12K season ticket waiting list. They could probably raise ticket prices another $40.00 for the cheap seats and still not have an issue selling their season ticket packages.

I'd be much happier if they said, "We are good, going to continue to be good, know we have a large season ticket waiting list so if you aren't OK with the price increase we have others waiting behind you" vs. the "Well.. we have scouts, arena costs, player development etc".

I don't think he used his sarcastic font properly on that post.
- droe411

I got the sarcasm throughout the post - wasn't sure if he meant it with THAT.

They are just pricing the normal joe hockey fans out of the arena. The way to make money is to sell season tickets to corporations. They don't care if season tickets go up, rarely do they care about the product on the ice. Wrigley Field is a good example. I am a die hard Cubs fan! I will only go once or twice a year to share the same experience with my kids as my dad did when I was young. Nothing but dopes and cell phone checking yuppies there, not what I remember when going to games as a kid.
- droe411

I'm glad the sense of understanding tkt prices is much better here than one particular Cubs site. Same people b!tch endlessly about prices yet fork over some serious coin for ST's. Unbelievable. Sure the Cubs shaft STH'ers by underpricing single game tkts later on in a season but some folks steadfastly continue to buy ST's then b!tch. They just won't do what the rest of us did; get rid of our ST's. And stop going period. If the 'Hawks ever approach that cliff, it'll be seen in a rapidly dropped wait list and plethora of empty seats.

I'm glad the sense of understanding tkt prices is much better here than one particular Cubs site. Same people b!tch endlessly about prices yet fork over some serious coin for ST's. Unbelievable. Sure the Cubs shaft STH'ers by underpricing single game tkts later on in a season but some folks steadfastly continue to buy ST's then b!tch. They just won't do what the rest of us did; get rid of our ST's. And stop going period. If the 'Hawks ever approach that cliff, it'll be seen in a rapidly dropped wait list and plethora of empty seats.
- blackhawk24

the minute that Toews/Kane etc are gone.. that happens. Maybe give it one season after that.

Yes -- you, my friend, and I are the only 2 Bollus bashers here. The part above I highlighted was what I was referring to as well. No, I don't know Bollus' daily routine nor do I really care to.

However, what I do know is that, from their play, guys like Toews, Kane, Leddy, Frolik, Kruger, Hjalmarsson and Saad have been hitting the gym. Of course, it's a foregone comment that Hossa leads everyone there -- stud #1 on this club!

We can all point to certain things with each player:

Toews: even stronger on his skates with the puck
Kane: wrist healed, much better shot and endurance during his shifts
Leddy: much stronger along the boards
Frolik: motor never stops running
Kruger: clearly more speed and strength
Hjalmarsson: more speed this year for sure
Saad: hey, he made the club and impressed as the year went along. "nuff said.

And then we have Bollus.
Cripes, even when "healthy" he looked worse than me skating, like he was carrying a huge load in his drawers. No jump. etc etc

If those are traits of a gym rat, a guy working out all the time, I guess I'll take the Bobby Hull route and drink myself to stardom.
- savvyone-1

Are we still on for a Bollus party this summer?

I don't know if someone posted it earlier, but Emery and Bolland out for game #2.

http://www.chicagotribune...-20130502,0,2627992.story

No one puts a gun to anyone's head. If the tickets are too expensive, don't buy them. If the entertainment value isn't worth the cost of the tickets, don't buy them. If you don't want other people to profit from you, don't buy them. Your call.
- paulr

Agreed... just posting the information for season ticket holders. I have no problem just going to 1 or 2 games/year and investing the rest into Center Ice package.

The part that makes me is watching passionate fans get priced out of ever going and seeing some that just picked up seats since the Hawks have been good sitting on their hands or not knowing what the H is going on out there but I guess that is inevitable and they have the right to do that... to no-show, to sell to brokers, or spend half the game in the concourse, etc because they own them and that is life.

The atmosphere in the building is nowhere close to where it was though in 2009-2010 and it's not coming back any time soon with more and more of the fan base being priced out, which is unfortunate. Winning will cure all... just haven't seen us on the right side of the handshake line for 3 years.

Are we still on for a Bollus party this summer?
- EKolb13

Oh yes, Eli, SteveRain I think has the planning almost complete. If Bollus comes back to play this year, it might be considered the 8th wonder of the (sports) world. I think we should just give Bollus the "man of glass" moniker. He's just not what I expect out of a hockey player -- baseball, yes -- basketball, yes -- hockey, NO WAY.

Many are ripping on good old Patrick Sharp and while I agree he hasn't earned anywhere near his new salary -- it's clear he's playing hurt and sacking up as best as could be expected. THAT is why Sharpie is wearing an "A" on his jersey.

And why Bollus sits once again.

The myth that is Dave Bolland hopefully continues long enough into summer to get something of value for him. Let someone else deal with his inability to see the ice on a regular basis.

oops, sorry, got off-track there. Bollus party. Yes. Now we are going to be tasked to come up with a new drink in his honor . . . . hmm, gotta think about that . . .

the pens are on course to win this thing...they are big, deep, and play grt tm gme with a grt pp DESPITE stars: Malkin, Neal, Crosby and a host of others being in and out the line-up all year.

Who is going to beat them? Can the Bruins take them to 7? I don't see another team that give a worthy challenge to the Pens over 6 or 7 gmes?
- bogiedoc

Pens are formidable, but they are playing the Isles. Let's see what happens when the competition improves.

Noticed that.
- John Jaeckel

I would go so far as to say he may be hitting a wall. Seems to be wanting to get rid of the puck before he needs to resulting in very wild, off the mark passes. I'd say the last 4-5 games or so I've noticed this.

Pens are formidable, but they are playing the Isles. Let's see what happens when the competition improves.
- ArlingtonRob

I have the Isles winning it against the Wild in my Bracket... So you're saying I may be wrong..

He seemed to mesh well last year. Must be that he developed a bit of a tude not being in the line-up night in and night out.
- nickmo2699

I would too

Oh yes, Eli, SteveRain I think has the planning almost complete. If Bollus comes back to play this year, it might be considered the 8th wonder of the (sports) world. I think we should just give Bollus the "man of glass" moniker. He's just not what I expect out of a hockey player -- baseball, yes -- basketball, yes -- hockey, NO WAY.

Many are ripping on good old Patrick Sharp and while I agree he hasn't earned anywhere near his new salary -- it's clear he's playing hurt and sacking up as best as could be expected. THAT is why Sharpie is wearing an "A" on his jersey.

And why Bollus sits once again.

The myth that is Dave Bolland hopefully continues long enough into summer to get something of value for him. Let someone else deal with his inability to see the ice on a regular basis.

oops, sorry, got off-track there. Bollus party. Yes. Now we are going to be tasked to come up with a new drink in his honor . . . . hmm, gotta think about that . . .
- savvyone-1

What's Bolland's current injury?

What's Bolland's current injury?
- AceRatbang

He said his back was bothering him in the year...not sure WHAT THE PHUCK it is now ?