Wings Fans - Why are we not selling out the Joe?

Question

I live in Florida now, but having a hard time understanding this ticket issue. I waited for years to get my season tickets. What is the deal?

I have considered the economy, but the Tigers and Lions are selling out. Have people just lost interest in the Wings?

I hear price over and over again, but when I lived in Detroit people didn't care how much seats were. We sold out like 800 straight games. Is it true there were seats available for playoff games?

Answer 1

There are a bunch of reasons. Economy, Ticket prices, competition with the Tigers and Pistons. No more Yzerman, repercussions from the lockout season. The game has changed, ie... excessive penalties and rule changes. Plus alot of people have become complacent since the team wins, makes the playoffs each year, its almost like its expected, so why go. My point of veiw, cant say I am right, but thats some reasons I dont go anymore, I always watch the games though.

Answer 2

It's economics, fueled by terrible ticket pricing policies. Yes, the tigers sell well, but ticket prices aren't anywhere near what it costs to go to a Wings game. The Lions only play 8 games a year, so selling tickets is easier there, too. The Wings offer a few tickets for $9-$25, but most of them are $60-80-100, and they don't offer single games util a month before the date. Prior to that you have to buy expensive "packages." The reduction of attendance has nothing to do with the support of the team, just bad business practices at JLA.

Answer 3

well the Wings have been one of the Top ticket prices in the country for years now, and Detroit has fallen on some hard times. But most important is the Red Hot Tigers are pulling the entertainment dollar right now they were in the world series in 2006. The Wings were the only good team in town for years, then the Pistons, but we are an original team in the American League in Ball and original 6 in Hockey, and the original NFL for that matter, but america loves baseball and the Tigers are hot hot hot, that baseball is still the big seat in america, because its so hard to be competitive in that billion dollar game. Peace.

Go Red Wings
Go Tigers
Go Pistons
poor LIONS (beautiful stadium though beautiful)

Answer 4

Haley- Your looking at last years stats, look at 2008 those are supposedly this year.
Tiger tickets are affordable, you can get ground seats for 27 dollars. 27 dollars at a Wings game will give you standing seats in the middle deck. Another reason is because people are sick of success the playoffs are guaranteed every year so people figure whats the point of going to a game. Lions sell out because there are only 8 home games a year. For the most part a good chunk of Red Wings fans have moved out of Michigan because of jobs, like you and your family.

Answer 5

Welcome to Florida. Hot enough for ya? I am guessing you are comparing the packed house at Tampa to the packed house in Detroit. Really there is not a big difference between the attendance of both arenas.
Well, the tickets are a bit more expensive than Lightning tickets, and the ticket packages in Detroit somewhat stink. The Red wings cheap tickets are $22 -$27. The Lightning have tickets for $17-$27. With the Lighting you can see 10 games in a pack for $100. For the same price with the Red Wings you get 2 games, the Great Lakes Invitational, $10 for beer, and a T-shirt. I am thinking, "Keep the t-shirt and give me another game."

I guess I didn't know Detroit had a attendance problem, because ESPN states they are #2.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2007

edit: Thanks vinny. I am drinking left-over eggnog.

Answer 6

i recall having a difficult time getting tickets for the individual game(s) i wanted. never really had money for a package, some games of which i wasn't interested in. also, companies probably cut back on those lower bowl "suit and tie" tickets for economic reasons. can't afford to eat there. better stop at mcdonalds on the way down. what does a beer cost now? 10 bucks to park, does that include a wash? many of us have moved further away from the city. particular in michigan these days, i believe the average middle class family, sadly, can't handle this one night out w/o blowing the budget to hell. can't deny they have a great product on the ice, i'm excited about them, but many choose to watch at home. and as mentioned previously, don't underestimate the effect the retirement of steve yzerman has had. in this area, many eyes, including mine, welled up when that jersey went up to the rafters.

Answer 7

I read a few months ago in a non-hockey article, that Detroit's economy is slowing down. Maybe it has something to do with the currency exchange with Canada and the city being so close, I don't know, I'm not an economy expert and that's just a guess.

Answer 8

Somebody also told me this....dont know if it is true...if someone could tell me?....
Its a pain in the Butt to come accross the border from Canada to watch a Wings game, and there were a decent percentage that came from Canada! Can anyone tell me if this is true at all? Or was someone just running their mouth to look good?

Answer 9

Michigan economy.

Answer 10

yes i think its the economy and maybe the tiger tickets are cheeper