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Forums :: Blog World :: Justin Lowe: Fast Friday: Hawks Lose (again) and Rockford Reinforcements
Author Message
-Doh-
Location: VA
Joined: 10.05.2015

Mar 24 @ 10:46 AM ET
You are a 100 level guy and I'm a 300 level guy. I have to play phone tag EVERY time I call these people but as a 100 level guy you should never have to.

I'm easy on my rep as I tell her I understand you are doing the work of 5 people, the American way, but the business model of playing phone tag with a customer spending 80k minimum for 8 100 level tickets problematic at best and says much to me. ....... It's what I simply call the McD residue and Rocky is gonna pay in a big way for this way of doing things until the Hawks are a top 5 team with playoff success.

- Mr Ricochet


Maybe. But there is a waiting line to get tickets. People that will to gamble that they will suffer through a few awful years to be there when/if the Hawks regain elite status.

As an example Bulls attendance in the post Jordan era has shrunk slightly, but their attendance is still very high considering the kind of teams they have fielded for the last 20 years. 12 of the last 20 years the bulls were below .500, some years far below. Bulls average ticket price has gone up 34% in the last 10 years.

Season tickets are only a small % of overall revenue. So playing to less than a full house will not mean that much.

Blackhawk ticket prices have seen a meteoric rise because of the Hawks success. I doubt they come down.
StLBravesFan
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: IL
Joined: 07.03.2011

Mar 24 @ 10:47 AM ET
You are a 100 level guy and I'm a 300 level guy. I have to play phone tag EVERY time I call these people but as a 100 level guy you should never have to.

I'm easy on my rep as I tell her I understand you are doing the work of 5 people, the American way, but the business model of playing phone tag with a customer spending 80k minimum for 8 100 level tickets problematic at best and says much to me. ....... It's what I simply call the McD residue and Rocky is gonna pay in a big way for this way of doing things until the Hawks are a top 5 team with playoff success.

- Mr Ricochet


No customer should ever have to.
StLBravesFan
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: IL
Joined: 07.03.2011

Mar 24 @ 10:52 AM ET
If you have X-Finity, that would be TBS, and they have the NCAA B.B. tourney games tonight.
- BobP.


It’s on WPWR - that’s 184 on Xfinity HD.
bogiedoc
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: VA
Joined: 09.27.2011

Mar 24 @ 10:53 AM ET
As much as anything Red Wings makes my skin crawl it's sad to see the empty seats in Detroilet. And yes even in a hockey rich place like Detroit people won't come to see a loser. Chicago who is not as hockey mad as a state like Michigan will be worse off IMO especially with the Cubs taking such a large share of the sports dollar.

McD did his job in spades. His job was to extract every nickel in every and all conceivable situations from any and all fans. As I mentioned to the ticket people they now have to deal with the McD residue while the Hawks transition to whatever they end up being. ....... More dysfunction between coach and GM along with the McD residue can make this very expensive going forward for Rocky.

But the buck stops with Rocky. Q and StanBowPops&McD are what they are and it's up to him to put the right people in the right spots to make this right. I have no answers to the multiple conundrums that face Rocky but that is way above my or any other fans' pay grade.

As far as renewals I was at the Boston game a couple weeks back. So many of the faces I've seen over the last 8 yrs aren't there. The few people I talked to it was maybe 50/50 split as far as renewing. Most understood this day was coming but not being able to sell unused tickets at face value was the reason for not renewing. The price is just so high as ticket prices have tripled in 8 yrs.

- Mr Ricochet


teams have bull markets and bear markets; and some have mega bull and bear markets

the hawks had a 8 year megabull market; season ticket holders were well rewarded for their $$'s spent via playoffs and championships and a lucrative secondary market...

i have no sympathy for you season ticket holders who whine and cry now; renew don't renew....
35Tony0
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Springfield, IL
Joined: 05.10.2015

Mar 24 @ 11:06 AM ET
One could make a valid argument 'Hawks tickets were actually under fair market value prior to the Cup years.
With success came increased costs, some of that reflected in ticket price.
An out of town schmo like me even has to pay a premium price to see the boys in an opponent's arena.
TJYTJY
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 05.23.2017

Mar 24 @ 11:17 AM ET
teams have bull markets and bear markets; and some have mega bull and bear markets

the hawks had a 8 year megabull market; season ticket holders were well rewarded for their $$'s spent via playoffs and championships and a lucrative secondary market...

i have no sympathy for you season ticket holders who whine and cry now; renew don't renew....

- bogiedoc


I really was only stating about the process of renewing or not renewing the tickets. The team made that process very difficult. They tried to imply that you are foolish to give up the tickets. If their waiting list is as rock solid as they imply, they should not have any problem filling those seats. I think once they start calling the people on the list more rejection will set in..McD residue.
StLBravesFan
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: IL
Joined: 07.03.2011

Mar 24 @ 11:59 AM ET
One could make a valid argument 'Hawks tickets were actually under fair market value prior to the Cup years.
With success came increased costs, some of that reflected in ticket price.
An out of town schmo like me even has to pay a premium price to see the boys in an opponent's arena.

- 35Tony0


Ticket prices - primary from the Hawks or secondary market - depend on demand (since there is a fixed supply of ~21,000).

Cost has very little to do with it.
BobP.
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Joliet, IL
Joined: 12.29.2010

Mar 24 @ 12:11 PM ET
It’s on WPWR - that’s 184 on Xfinity HD.
- StLBravesFan


Thanks. Didn't know that. Too many stations and i don't know what half of them are.
Theo Fox
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 06.18.2016

Mar 24 @ 12:18 PM ET
You might be able to stream it here…………

http://scorelive-hd.cf/li...ogs&c=USA%3A+AHL&m=hockey

- BobP.

Thanks for the link!

Have you been able to consistently get a live HD stream? Or does it buffer and stall a lot? Seems like a great site. I live on the West Coast now so would be nice to be able to catch some Hogs games.
StLBravesFan
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: IL
Joined: 07.03.2011

Mar 24 @ 12:19 PM ET
Thanks. Didn't know that. Too many stations and i don't know what half of them are.
- BobP.


And nothing good on any of them.
ObeseOprah
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 01.17.2014

Mar 24 @ 12:22 PM ET
Enjoy your posts especially on prospects, Orca.

Don't know your situation but every summer in Plymouth Michigan in late July early August Finland, Sweden, Canada and USA meet for 4 games each in what's called the WJC Summer Showcase to make final decisions on their WJC rosters. ..... You will see upcoming and current 1st rd picks all over the ice. If you can make the trip, 260 miles from Chicago, its the best hockey value I've come across. Here are the rosters of the 17 WJCSS: https://www.nhl.com/news/...wcase-preview/c-290490506

Watched Svechnikov as a 16 yr old for a season in the USHL and thought this kid will go #1 in a couple yrs. This kid at that time showed everything in a 6ft 3in 190lb package as a 16yr old. His skills aside he showed a high IQ, very high compete and in a Hossa fashion a dogged determination on the defensive side of the puck. Yes you see power players succeed but this kids IQ, compete and determination defensively will make him different. .... His backhander rivals some wrist shots, he's freakishly strong like Hossa and just as determined. I'd compare him to Hossa.

Then I saw Dahlin at the WJCSS. He was dinged and he was reported to maybe not play so I didn't have him circled. Sweden was playing Finland and from behind the net came #6 (IIRC) with the puck with a powerful stride showing multiple gears and head up. I thought yeeesh who is this, looked at the roster and it was Dahlin. From that first shift you could see what the hype was all about and as the game went on he confirmed it with every shift. A 17-18 yr old with 19-20 yr old NHL 1st rounders all over the ice this kid stood out in a big way. Had the look of a generational player. For all his physical talent IMO his IQ was his best asset. ...... Took over the game most every shift. Lidstrom with more power.

Hughes will be interesting. Playing as a 16 yr old for the NTDP they play 30 USHL games and the rest of the 40 games vs North Dakota, Boston U, Boston College and NCAA powerhouses and internationally. A supreme skater another who's IQ stands out. He simply quarterbacks in all 3 zones and his skating with his IQ makes him a threat in every zone but at 5ft 7-8in his size is the worry. .... Torey Krug is a comparison and as good a skater as Krug is Hughes is better IMO. He succeeded against 20+ old players as a 16-17 yr old with the NTDP so he's shown ability vs much older, mature and bigger players. As mentioned it'll be interesting to see where he goes and will only slip because of his size. Maybe a scenario where you can trade down a few spots and still grab the kid if he's your guy.

Again if you can make a WJCSS it's great value. A couple hundred people in the place crawling with scouts, agents and parents of players. Most are happy to talk hockey with even slugs like me.

Edit: Babcock and Lou Lamoriello were just standing against the rail watching the game. If it's your thing you just walk up and talk to these guys.

- Mr Ricochet


Wow that looks awesome. Thanks for the info

35Tony0
Season Ticket Holder
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Springfield, IL
Joined: 05.10.2015

Mar 24 @ 12:31 PM ET
Ticket prices - primary from the Hawks or secondary market - depend on demand (since there is a fixed supply of ~21,000).

Cost has very little to do with it.

- StLBravesFan

From my point of view, cost to me has everything to do with it.
jhawk59
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 02.15.2013

Mar 24 @ 12:39 PM ET
Thanks for the link!

Have you been able to consistently get a live HD stream? Or does it buffer and stall a lot? Seems like a great site. I live on the West Coast now so would be nice to be able to catch some Hogs games.

- AEL_Fox

Can you stream a wolves broadcast when they play Rockford. Billy Gardner still does color. The ahl site I heard is not always a good feed.
Mr Ricochet
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Joliet, IL
Joined: 04.19.2009

Mar 24 @ 12:46 PM ET
Somewhere in my treasures are some tickets and scorecards from some Cubs games I went to with my father in the 50s. I have no idea where - I know I saved them, don’t think they were thrown out, but I have no idea where.

I have fond memories of this being a 4-newspaper city - I’m guessing in 5 years we won’t have any general-interest newspapers. Sports Illustrated and Newsweek and Life coming to the house every week, going to Sears for a new appliance, or Marshall Fields...or any retail store (and how many of those will be around in 5 years).

Times change - it’s not just the cost of the stub tickets - it’s also the efficiency of not having to have some place print them and mail them and account for them at the gate and...much easier to upload them and scan the smart phone. Want a souvenir? Take a selfie with the kid your iPhone.

We alte-cockers May not like it, but our world is fast changing (and, in certain situations, disappearing).

- StLBravesFan


Yep, times change and that's a good thing overall but the day will never come when a selfie can replace the feel and look of a stub as a keepsake. How to you get Hossa to sign your selfie? ... And I previously agreed that eliminating a ticket is cheaper and more efficient but that some costs are justifiable and IMO tickets are one of them.

Also accounting for tickets is no different in hand or digitally. I can lose the thing digitally as easily as any other way. Simply said it's the cost to make and mail them that is saved while my price tripled in 8 yrs. Raise pop a nickel or charge the customer if he wants hard copies. I asked and was told that's not an option.
Mr Ricochet
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Joliet, IL
Joined: 04.19.2009

Mar 24 @ 12:53 PM ET
Maybe. But there is a waiting line to get tickets. People that will to gamble that they will suffer through a few awful years to be there when/if the Hawks regain elite status.

As an example Bulls attendance in the post Jordan era has shrunk slightly, but their attendance is still very high considering the kind of teams they have fielded for the last 20 years. 12 of the last 20 years the bulls were below .500, some years far below. Bulls average ticket price has gone up 34% in the last 10 years.

Season tickets are only a small % of overall revenue. So playing to less than a full house will not mean that much.

Blackhawk ticket prices have seen a meteoric rise because of the Hawks success. I doubt they come down.

- -Doh-


We'll soon see if the Hawks sell the full compliment of tickets earmarked for season packages. I highly doubt it. ........... What happens off the ice will be as interesting as what happens on it next yr. Would love to hear from anyone who was on the waiting list. If they are gonna pony up.

I also think comparing Jordan, the greatest athlete on the planet for 10 yrs, to anything Blackhawks isn't comparable and would add Chicago is more a hoops town than hockey. .... As expensive as a Hawk ticket is a Bulls ticket is even more.
Mr Ricochet
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Joliet, IL
Joined: 04.19.2009

Mar 24 @ 12:58 PM ET
No customer should ever have to.
- StLBravesFan


20 yrs ago maybe. As little of business as I even care to understand I have no problem with a model that says we're gonna take care of the guy spending 80k ahead of the guy spending 8k.

I'm willing to be inconvenienced to the extent I want my club to stay solvent. Take the 80k before he changes his mind or gets run over by a truck and drive to his office to get the check if need be.
EnzoD
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Denver, CO
Joined: 02.19.2014

Mar 24 @ 12:58 PM ET
Yep, times change and that's a good thing overall but the day will never come when a selfie can replace the feel and look of a stub as a keepsake. How to you get Hossa to sign your selfie? ... And I previously agreed that eliminating a ticket is cheaper and more efficient but that some costs are justifiable and IMO tickets are one of them.

Also accounting for tickets is no different in hand or digitally. I can lose the thing digitally as easily as any other way. Simply said it's the cost to make and mail them that is saved while my price tripled in 8 yrs. Raise pop a nickel or charge the customer if he wants hard copies. I asked and was told that's not an option.

- Mr Ricochet


Saves the trees! But I agree Rico I have a growing collection of sporting and music ticket stubs that have been negatively impacted by the digital E-Tickets. If only the US Gov't was smart enough to use Hemp products for printing opposed to timber, it would be a non-issue. However, until they utilize hemp for paper, I understand the E-tix and think it's a good idea.
BobP.
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Joliet, IL
Joined: 12.29.2010

Mar 24 @ 12:59 PM ET
Thanks for the link!

Have you been able to consistently get a live HD stream? Or does it buffer and stall a lot? Seems like a great site. I live on the West Coast now so would be nice to be able to catch some Hogs games.

- AEL_Fox



Sorry, but i can't vouch for how good it is or isn't. Was looking for something earlier for another post and stumbled upon it. Try it i guess, and i hope it works out well for you guys.

Think i'll be watching Loyola tonight.
Mr Ricochet
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Joliet, IL
Joined: 04.19.2009

Mar 24 @ 1:03 PM ET
teams have bull markets and bear markets; and some have mega bull and bear markets

the hawks had a 8 year megabull market; season ticket holders were well rewarded for their $$'s spent via playoffs and championships and a lucrative secondary market...

i have no sympathy for you season ticket holders who whine and cry now; renew don't renew....

- bogiedoc


You do understand there is not a possible way I could care less by your lack of empathy?

Indeed, McD grabbed what was there during the bull market as he should as a modern business man. He also understands that the residue of max profit during the bull market will make the bear market more damaging.

Short of Dollar Bill rising from the grave I think most fans will support the franchise in some way.
Mr Ricochet
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Joliet, IL
Joined: 04.19.2009

Mar 24 @ 1:09 PM ET
Saves the trees! But I agree Rico I have a growing collection of sporting and music ticket stubs that have been negatively impacted by the digital E-Tickets. If only the US Gov't was smart enough to use Hemp products for printing opposed to timber, it would be a non-issue. However, until they utilize hemp for paper, I understand the E-tix and think it's a good idea.
- EnzoD


For those old enough to remember going home with a new album and opening it up and reading the thing from front to back as well as looking at the artwork dwarfs a CD or a download. For many as intoxicating as the music and part of the experience that makes it so good and memorable.

With the whole country, sans the confederacy, smoking weed in the next 20 yrs hemp should soon utilized to its fullest extent.
Theo Fox
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 06.18.2016

Mar 24 @ 1:17 PM ET
Can you stream a wolves broadcast when they play Rockford. Billy Gardner still does color. The ahl site I heard is not always a good feed.
- jhawk59

Not sure. Anything minor league isn't going to be high quality, unfortunately. Different sport, but isn't there a lawsuit between MLB and minor leaguers about them not earning minimum wage?

Heard a radio news story about this recently how many baseball minor leaguers have to live with host families to make ends meet. If I heard correctly, the worst scenario found was a minor leaguer earning $5,500 for the whole year. And don't some try to have a 2nd job given how paltry they are paid? Is the same for minor league hockey players?
Theo Fox
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 06.18.2016

Mar 24 @ 1:20 PM ET
Sorry, but i can't vouch for how good it is or isn't. Was looking for something earlier for another post and stumbled upon it. Try it i guess, and i hope it works out well for you guys.

Think i'll be watching Loyola tonight.

- BobP.

No worries. I'll check out the link when the game is live.

I'll be watching the Loyola game as well, plus the Michigan game (wife is an alum). She has the Wolverines winning the whole thing. Her boss is a Michigan alum, too, but he has Duke. I have Kansas.
Theo Fox
Chicago Blackhawks
Joined: 06.18.2016

Mar 24 @ 1:24 PM ET
For those old enough to remember going home with a new album and opening it up and reading the thing from front to back as well as looking at the artwork dwarfs a CD or a download. For many as intoxicating as the music and part of the experience that makes it so good and memorable.

With the whole country, sans the confederacy, smoking weed in the next 20 yrs hemp should soon utilized to its fullest extent.

- Mr Ricochet

My buddy and I used to spin music in high school and college. We used to go to Gramaphone Records a lot on Clark just north of Diversey. Loved just browsing through the vinyl and buying stacks of records. Although they specialized in dance music like house, techno, jungle, trance, etc. they did also sell albums.
bogiedoc
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: VA
Joined: 09.27.2011

Mar 24 @ 1:54 PM ET
I really was only stating about the process of renewing or not renewing the tickets. The team made that process very difficult. They tried to imply that you are foolish to give up the tickets. If their waiting list is as rock solid as they imply, they should not have any problem filling those seats. I think once they start calling the people on the list more rejection will set in..McD residue.
- TJYTJY


I was not referencing you directly. I have no issues with complaints about questionable or poor customer service...whether the team is winning championships or in the gutter (like now). A customer or ticket purchaser should expect courteous and straight forward service and help.
EnzoD
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Denver, CO
Joined: 02.19.2014

Mar 24 @ 3:01 PM ET
Saad-Toews-Kane
Debrincat-Schmaltz-Tzchuk
Hayden-Anisimov-Hinostroza
??-Kampf-??

Keith-John Carlson
Forsling-Seabrook
Jokiharju/Gustafson/Rutta-Murphy

Crow
Grubaeur


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