Attendance at Pittsburgh

[mookie1995]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

Go to a bar. You can drink and have a good time. Then tell them you want a six pack of yuengling to go. Easy as hell and also on the order of absurd. But the rules, and the thinking is, you've been a great time all night... go ahead and take a sixer to go home with.

i'm pretty sure i learned everyone that there are liquor stores (state stores) and beer distributors. if you want beer you need to find a distributor... but you could also go into any bar and get six packs to go.

if peeps didn't pay attention that is their loss.


also, i had kdka fm on the radio driving home and was happy to hear on the morning following a pens win and a pirates win, the talk was all on.... the stillers draft! heard long (20-25 min) interviews with offensive linemen from san jose st among others.

stillers come 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, ....156th in order in town. accept

anybody hit up yinzers in the strip to get some stillers gear? the guys in there talked frozen four with me saturday afternoon.

the city could not have been better.
well done.

i was even happy with the 40 minute drive to monessen to my mom's both nights. that NEVER happens

 

[J.D.]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

I visited york, PA back in october and had no trouble finding a place to buy a case of yuengling

 

[wolverineTrumpet]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

www.churchbrew.com

It was sweet indeed.

We went to church on Sunday. Good beer and good food.

My friend and I drove down Saturday morning (only a ~4 hour drive for us), so we missed out on Thursday, but it looked lousy on tv. I was happy to see it looked more full Saturday. We had no problem finding tickets on the street. The only problem was it landed me in the St, Clooud section where I met a knowledgable St. Cloud fan and he didn't fit my stereotype.

Found plenty to do in Pittsburgh (although we were only there a day). Loved seeing hockey fans in most of the places we went.

Not sure why the dislike of Pittsburgh. Maybe it's the lack of public transportation, but living near Detroit, I'm used to that.

 

[theprofromdover]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

www.churchbrew.com

It was sweet indeed.

We had our Midwest Hockey Tours annual meeting there on Saturday.

 

[CLS]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

Re: Pennsylvania beer sales law. Confused me also. Glad we drove and had room in our car, came home with the better part of a case of Torpedo (and a couple of growlers from a brewpub we liked).

Re: Pittsburgh. Our only complaint was that we found the freeway system very confusing and in some cases poorly signed. Consol Energy Center is a very nice facility. Wish there were more to do near the arena.

Re: Attendance. I’m also not worried at all. I was very concerned that there’d be a disaster. I’d rather have a near-sellout in which the actual number of butts in the seats is close to the number of tickets sold than have “sellouts” like Columbus. Be interested to hear what FF attendance mavens like pgb have to say, but my hope is that the number of lottery participants and the secondary market have stabilized so that everyone who wants a ticket can get one and so that every ticket that gets bought gets used.

 

[Craig P.]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

Also, it didn't help the TV angle that all of the Lowell fans left after game one, and there were loads of empty seats in plain view of the camera. Sure, they lost, but they also did the same thing in the HE semifinal after they beat PC, mass exodus before the BU-BC semi that left a large chunk of seats open. That one puzzled me...you've already paid for your ticket, you've won your game and now get to see who you'll play in the final, and it's a huge rivalry game, why leave?

That's standard practice for the team-specific sections at the Frozen Four. The early game sections always clear out, win or lose, and attendance is usually somewhat sparse for the two losing semifinal teams' sections in the championship game.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

Good crowd tonight. Some parts of rows vacant, but no large empty blocks, even in the St. Cloud, UML, and NCAA sections. Well done Cinderella fans, UML and St. Cloud fans, neutrals and locals.

When evaluating non-traditional host cities over the years, one indicator I've used is whether attendance improves on Saturday. Pittsburgh passed this test very nicely.

As we entered the tournament, there were a lot of tickets available on the NCAA Ticket Exchange, Ticketmaster and of course the secondary market. By one report, approximately 600 tickets were returned at the last minute, apparently by the participating schools. So there was quite a bit of slack to pick up. And yet the building was very close to full Saturday night. Credit must go to Pittsburgh locals, who almost certainly accounted for a majority of the last minute sales.

Note that it's not be entirely fair to compare Pittsburgh's performance with that of previous cities. To the best of my knowledge, Ticketmaster's interactive seating chart, along with other features designed to make last minute ordering both more visible and easier, are new this year. Still, Pittsburgh got the job done.

 

[COHockey]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

So I bought a single ticket knowing that I would not go, but keeping my priority points, and knowing I had a Penguins STH to give it to. Well, I got his report back. It was his first NCAA hockey game ever.

First of all he said that he enjoyed all the fans coming in, especially the college-age girls (he is a 70-something disabled vet and widow) and was able to talk to a lot of people. He was indeed surprised at the number of empty seats but I explained how that works, and it occurring every Frozen Four. He said that every time there is a threat of bad weather there are empty seats at Penguins games, but with the national exposure, he was thinking more would be sitting in the better seats.

He thought the crowd control went pretty smooth, but he noticed more staff and ushers than at a normal Penguins game.

He was especially happy in seeing all the different jerseys and fans from across the nation come in. He spoke with a couple of UMD fans (he was born in Minnesota) between games and got a free rum and coke from some Yale girls that were doing some mutual innocent flirting with him before the game on Thursday.

He was very happy with everyone who sat in section 108 (sorry, I forgot the row and seat), especially when his bladder was full second game on Thursday more than once. If you spoke with a 70-something guy with a vet hat in section 108, thanks.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

Re: Attendance. I’m also not worried at all. I was very concerned that there’d be a disaster. I’d rather have a near-sellout in which the actual number of butts in the seats is close to the number of tickets sold than have “sellouts” like Columbus. Be interested to hear what FF attendance mavens like pgb have to say, but my hope is that the number of lottery participants and the secondary market have stabilized so that everyone who wants a ticket can get one and so that every ticket that gets bought gets used.

You describe a supply/demand equilibrium which has many positive attributes. If this is the objective, it was more or less achieved in St. Louis, Denver, DC, Tampa and now Pittsburgh.

I've come to believe that the NCAA Committee is making this something of a priority when selecting sites. If so, they're to be commended. Since we're often quick to criticize when something goes wrong, credit should be given when due. In any event, we can reevaluate this in a few months when the next round of sites is announced. The chatter is that both St. Louis and Denver are among those filing applications. If both those cities win, that will be further evidence that "comfortably filled buildings" is being used as a factor in the selection process.

 

[COHockey]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

I've come to believe that the NCAA Committee is making this something of a priority when selecting sites. If so, they're to be commended. Since we're often quick to criticize when something goes wrong, credit should be given when due. In any event, we can reevaluate this in a few months when the next round of sites is announced. The chatter is that both St. Louis and Denver are among those filing applications. If both those cities win, that will be further evidence that "comfortably filled buildings" is being used as a factor in the selection process.

To me, this is important. I had entered into the lottery for the previous years before St Louis, but only got my first point there. I have a point in every lottery since (except Denver), and go every year (except when we missed St Paul due to the birth of my son, and this year since we discovered both at last years Frozen Four and since then that he does not travel by air very well). I do not care so much who goes to the Frozen Four as long as I can go. Maybe with my points I can start getting better seats.

 

[Hoover]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

This was my first Frozen Four but I thought attendance was fine, especially Saturday.

It was my first Frozen Four also, and I thought Pittsburgh did very well as a host. I thought attendance for Saturday would suffer with Lowell and St. Cloud out, but was pleasantly surprised at the almost full house for the final.

I'm hooked now on the FF (after attending only regionals the past 6 years) - and will try to make it to more FF's in the future.

 

[Patman]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

That's standard practice for the team-specific sections at the Frozen Four. The early game sections always clear out, win or lose, and attendance is usually somewhat sparse for the two losing semifinal teams' sections in the championship game.

You lose you want to sulk, you win you want to party. In theory I wouldn't mind being around for the second game... but really.

 

[Greg Ambrose]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

I know I am late getting my comments in but I have to relate my experience at the Consol Energy Center. Our group had tickets in Section 105 directly to the left of the Quinnipiac section. When Thursday's semi between QU and St. Cloud started, the Quinnipiac students decided that they were going to stand, just like I am sure they do (and just about every other school does) at their own rink. By the end of the first period they had gotten the message that standing was not going to fly, that they had to sit out of courtesy for the other fans behind and to the left of them.

Come the final on Saturday, the students did the exact same thing. I fully expected that the ushers would once again come down, remind them of their obligations to those around them and sit. Instead, five or so minutes went by and they were still standing. So I and another gentleman went up to the top of the section and asked an usher to take care of the problem. The response we got was, "sit down or we'll escort you from the arena." Flabbergasted, I turned around and sat down, hoping against hope that the kids would finally sit. When they didn't I went back up to the top, talked to the same usher who gave me the same ultimatum. I asked to speak to his boss, who as it turned out (or at least I was told he was) the president of the Penguins.

So I start talking to the Prez, telling him how I have been to every FF since 1992, (30 in all) and had never experienced a situation like this. I told him that I had paid $100 for the ticket to the final and expected to be able to sit in my seat. His response? "This game if for the college kids, not you." He pulls out his wallet, hands me $50 and walks away. I had no idea what to say (a shocking development for those who know me), and went back to my seat. Ultimately we were finally able to go to customer service and have them move our seats to behind the net.

I have to wonder if anybody else has had this experience, either in Pittsburgh or at another FF. I am not babe in the woods when it comes to this stuff. I have been attending UNH games for 40 years, have been in dozens of college rinks and know that kids stand. But I have also been to plenty of tournament games - Beanpot, ECAC, HE, NCAA - and have never encountered this type of problem. My suggestion to the NCAA is to stick the student sections in the end zones where, if they stand, they won't be ruining the view of those who sit on either side of them. I know that next year I will try to find out where the student sections will be before I order tickets.

BTW, I had a pretty good time in Pittsburgh, better than I had anticipated. Only problem for me was that the bar we went to before the final - the Fifth St. Pub - was closed after the game. Quite a business model, 18,000 plus thirsty fans ready to celebrate or drown their sorrows right down the street on a Saturday night and you decide to close? What gives?

 

[JF_Gophers]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

Re: Pittsburgh. Our only complaint was that we found the freeway system very confusing and in some cases poorly signed. Consol Energy Center is a very nice facility. Wish there were more to do near the arena.

Having lived here now for nearly 10 months, I agree. The freeway system in and around downtown Pittsburgh is absurd.

5-way stops where 3 of the directions are ramps and very little signage to indicate which off-shoot is the one you want. Exit ramps that split 3-times heading in various directions, again with little to no signage. Even with GPS it can be difficult to get every turn correct.

I don't really get why its such a cluster. But it is.

 

[jgoph]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

We were in 105 and talked to the ushers several times and asked them to "do the right thing". In addition there were more fans than seats so I asked him to check tickets. His response was they were directed from NCAA to allow them to stand and he wouldn't check tickets. I asked if they allow fans at the Penguin games to stand the whole game, he wouldn't respond. Late in the game usher came down and hauled out one drunk fan.

Several Quinnipiac fans in our section also complained to no avail. A very brave Sioux fan sitting next to us made her way into the middle of the 1st row to talk to the ringleader. He was not very nice to her and told her to get lost. The upper part of the section (many more adults) actually sat for a few minutes, then gave up and stood.

We have attended since 1996 and only experienced this a couple years ago with some Notre Dame fans. The ushers came down several time to tell them to sit, eventually the fans got the message. My friend sent an email to someone at Quin and I will do the same,plus to NCAA. I agree put them in end sections.

 

[matt]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

I know I am late getting my comments in but I have to relate my experience at the Consol Energy Center. Our group had tickets in Section 105 directly to the left of the Quinnipiac section. When Thursday's semi between QU and St. Cloud started, the Quinnipiac students decided that they were going to stand, just like I am sure they do (and just about every other school does) at their own rink. By the end of the first period they had gotten the message that standing was not going to fly, that they had to sit out of courtesy for the other fans behind and to the left of them.

Come the final on Saturday, the students did the exact same thing. I fully expected that the ushers would once again come down, remind them of their obligations to those around them and sit. Instead, five or so minutes went by and they were still standing. So I and another gentleman went up to the top of the section and asked an usher to take care of the problem. The response we got was, "sit down or we'll escort you from the arena." Flabbergasted, I turned around and sat down, hoping against hope that the kids would finally sit. When they didn't I went back up to the top, talked to the same usher who gave me the same ultimatum. I asked to speak to his boss, who as it turned out (or at least I was told he was) the president of the Penguins.

So I start talking to the Prez, telling him how I have been to every FF since 1992, (30 in all) and had never experienced a situation like this. I told him that I had paid $100 for the ticket to the final and expected to be able to sit in my seat. His response? "This game if for the college kids, not you." He pulls out his wallet, hands me $50 and walks away. I had no idea what to say (a shocking development for those who know me), and went back to my seat. Ultimately we were finally able to go to customer service and have them move our seats to behind the net.

I have to wonder if anybody else has had this experience, either in Pittsburgh or at another FF. I am not babe in the woods when it comes to this stuff. I have been attending UNH games for 40 years, have been in dozens of college rinks and know that kids stand. But I have also been to plenty of tournament games - Beanpot, ECAC, HE, NCAA - and have never encountered this type of problem. My suggestion to the NCAA is to stick the student sections in the end zones where, if they stand, they won't be ruining the view of those who sit on either side of them. I know that next year I will try to find out where the student sections will be before I order tickets.

BTW, I had a pretty good time in Pittsburgh, better than I had anticipated. Only problem for me was that the bar we went to before the final - the Fifth St. Pub - was closed after the game. Quite a business model, 18,000 plus thirsty fans ready to celebrate or drown their sorrows right down the street on a Saturday night and you decide to close? What gives?

You sat next to a student section, a student section from a school that has never been to the final before, and, lo and behold, they did what they do at hockey games!
What, exactly, is the problem?

 

[mookie1995]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

Y'all picked your seats. Be smart next time and grab first row center ice balcony.
Or pick the corners behind the invited schools

Your choice

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

I was in 104-J with the Q students in front of us. Many near and behind me (Q faithful I might add) loudly complained about the standing and were basically told the same thing... "there's nothing we can do". After several minutes, we all just decided to stand. Personally, I had no problem with the kids doing what they normally do but I did feel bad for the others, especially the older folks, who weren't able to stand for an entire game.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

...So I and another gentleman went up to the top of the section and asked an usher to take care of the problem. The response we got was, "sit down or we'll escort you from the arena." Flabbergasted, I turned around and sat down, hoping against hope that the kids would finally sit. When they didn't I went back up to the top, talked to the same usher who gave me the same ultimatum. I asked to speak to his boss, who as it turned out (or at least I was told he was) the president of the Penguins.

So I start talking to the Prez, telling him how I have been to every FF since 1992, (30 in all) and had never experienced a situation like this. I told him that I had paid $100 for the ticket to the final and expected to be able to sit in my seat. His response? "This game if for the college kids, not you." He pulls out his wallet, hands me $50 and walks away. I had no idea what to say (a shocking development for those who know me), and went back to my seat. Ultimately we were finally able to go to customer service and have them move our seats to behind the net.

Stunningly bad customer service. Issues are raised at both the staff and management levels:

The Rank and File Usher: Sounds like the guy's hands were tied from above, and that he was frustrated with the situation. So he decided to vent his frustration on the customer. Understandable? Perhaps. Acceptable? No. The usher's job is to solve problems, not pour gas on the fire.

Supervisor: President of the Penguins? I certainly hope you were fed a line on that one. Treating a customer in such a condescending, disrespectful manner falls below minimum standards. If the "rot" goes all the way to the top, it calls into question whether the NCAA should work with Pittsburgh again. I'm really disappointed to be typing that, as I had previously thought of this event as uniformly well run. Personally I had several short, informal conversations with ushers and elevator operators and they were all positive. But if management's idea of customer service is to "give 'em their money back and tell them to go to h*ll," there may be a problem that's beyond solving.

...My suggestion to the NCAA is to stick the student sections in the end zones where, if they stand, they won't be ruining the view of those who sit on either side of them. I know that next year I will try to find out where the student sections will be before I order tickets.

Y'all picked your seats. Be smart next time and grab first row center ice balcony.
Or pick the corners behind the invited schools

Your choice

The participating school allotments have been in roughly the same place since 2007 in St. Louis. (With the obvious exception of Detroit.) In other words, on the sides, approximately on the goal lines. Yes, buyers who feel as Greg does should avoid the corners. But in fairness to Greg, the NCAA and the host arenas could be more forthcoming with this information.

I was in 104-J with the Q students in front of us. Many near and behind me (Q faithful I might add) loudly complained about the standing and were basically told the same thing... "there's nothing we can do". After several minutes, we all just decided to stand. Personally, I had no problem with the kids doing what they normally do but I did feel bad for the others, especially the older folks, who weren't able to stand for an entire game.

When somebody chooses to crash the student section, they assume the risk. However, as per the above, Frozen Four ticket buyers aren't really being given enough information to be held accountable for this particular "choice." Sure the smart buyer reads the USCHO ticket threads. But the host arena shouldn't be acting like such reading is required homework. At the very least that's an unrealistic stand.

In general, your reaction is the correct one. But let me nitpick on one point. Being physically unable to stand for an entire game isn't the correct standard. Nor is being "older" some sort of disability. Most people of most ages could stand for a full game if they absolutely had to. The point is they shouldn't have to; they've paid for seating, not standing room.

A $200 ticket package doesn't entitle one to a luxury suite. But it should be a sufficient investment to yield an unobstructed view of the games in reasonable comfort.

 

[LtPowers]

Re: Attendance at Pittsburgh

Having lived here now for nearly 10 months, I agree. The freeway system in and around downtown Pittsburgh is absurd.

5-way stops where 3 of the directions are ramps and very little signage to indicate which off-shoot is the one you want. Exit ramps that split 3-times heading in various directions, again with little to no signage. Even with GPS it can be difficult to get every turn correct.

I don't really get why its such a cluster. But it is.

A combination of geography and general PennDOT incompetence, I suspect.


Powers &8^]