Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

Looking at ticketmaster, you can get lower level corner seats for some games (as long as you buy a pair of them) for $52.50 apiece before the fees. After the fees, the seats cost around $60 - which is still very reasonable for a lower level seat at an NHL game.

Yeah, it's terrible. Many of the seats between the bluelines are corporate (think gold M seats on tv that are often empty). The donations are done because the U can get away with demanding them - when you have a season ticket wait list a couple thousand deep that moves like 10 spots per year, obviously, some of these people will get sick of waiting and will just pony up the $$$ to get seats now. I don't think it's worth the cost, and many others don't either - so despite the fact we are clearly devout fans who have followed the team for many years, we aren't in the building. I used to attend a few games a year, buying SRO's to 4 games or so - but I thought it just wasn't worth the cost / hassle to do that. I could go to a game at any other school in the country for less than this and not be forced to deal with the SRO bull**** of moving from seat to seat when the idiotic late-arriving morons show up to claim them. As Brent mentioned before, you could go up to Houghton when UW plays there, and you could probably land 3 tickets in a great seating area (between the bluelines) for the same cost as a single ticket at Mariucci + parking.

Cost, limited ticket availability, having to deal with SRO or scalpers, traffic, and parking are all huge factors. Other entertainment options are certainly there as well, but I would consider them to be a secondary factor in all of this. Most of the people who would go to a Gopher game are primarily hockey fans. A musical in downtown Minneapolis isn't going to dissuade them from going to a hockey game. So the real choice being made is whether or not they want to attend a hockey game - if they do, then it's whether or not to go to Mariucci, the X, or a local high school game. The other source of competition is ironically the Gophers being on tv - while the contract generates money for the U, it also keeps a lot of people at home. Why deal with all the issues I named when you can comfortably sit at home, drink, and watch the team on a huge tv?

And here I thought you were just crappy fans.

I have similar frustration where the Hawks are concerned as I can no longer justify going to the few games a year that my son and I would go to. We've been priced out unless we want to sit at the top of the UC.

I used to buy a few games in the 200's for $65 a seat. Now, all of those tickets were gone before the general public on sale date and to buy those on eBay or from a broker is at least $200 per ticket. Our entire family can go to two Badger games for the cost of one Hawks ticket. Just can't justify $400 for one NHL game. I buy Centre Ice and get the entire season on my big screen for $150 or whatever it is.

People here in Madison complain about a $2 per seat rate increase. We have it pretty good imo.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

And here I thought you were just crappy fans.

Ha. As luck would have it, some of the worst fans happen to be the ones with tickets to the games. Those of us who have a reasonable amount of hockey knowledge *and* who would make noise in the arena are usually watching at home or at one of the local bars in a massive raucous group. I've also heard that they no longer offer season tickets to students for both games of every series - now students must pick Friday or Saturday games. I don't know if this is because there's higher student ticket demand than before, or if the U is reducing the student seating in order to sell more season tickets and pocket more money (student rate is somewhere in the $10-15 per game range, while the general public must be $35-40).

I have similar frustration where the Hawks are concerned as I can no longer justify going to the few games a year that my son and I would go to. We've been priced out unless we want to sit at the top of the UC.

Sounds sadly familiar. Maybe the U will have to start catering to the fans more with the team struggling, but I doubt it'll happen. I can't imagine tons of people are excited to renew season tickets with a donation to see a team finish in the middle to lower tier of the WCHA three years straight.

I used to buy a few games in the 200's for $65 a seat. Now, all of those tickets were gone before the general public on sale date and to buy those on eBay or from a broker is at least $200 per ticket. Our entire family can go to two Badger games for the cost of one Hawks ticket. Just can't justify $400 for one NHL game. I buy Centre Ice and get the entire season on my big screen for $150 or whatever it is.

This leads me to wonder just how sustainable the professional sports business model is. TV technology has progressed to the point that most people now have a 42" flatscreen with HD capability. We have either reached the point - or are very close to it - where other than the "in person atmosphere" of a sporting event, the home viewing experience will match the one at the stadium - from its best seats. I think many more people will ask the same question as many of us Gopher fans have already asked: why go to the games and pay $x for the ticket(s), $y for the parking, and $z for the concessions when we can stay home and see it on a kick*** tv for $0 with none of the hassle?

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

This leads me to wonder just how sustainable the professional sports business model is. TV technology has progressed to the point that most people now have a 42" flatscreen with HD capability. We have either reached the point - or are very close to it - where other than the "in person atmosphere" of a sporting event, the home viewing experience will match the one at the stadium - from its best seats. I think many more people will ask the same question as many of us Gopher fans have already asked: why go to the games and pay $x for the ticket(s), $y for the parking, and $z for the concessions when we can stay home and see it on a kick*** tv for $0 with none of the hassle?

And unfortunately, that is the point where they will charge, and receive, more for Centre Ice and probably put games, including college, on PPV instead of free TV. The ******** will get their money one way or another.

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

I know Bakunin has pretty much already addressed this, but I typed up a response this morning and never got around to hitting submit....

All I was taking umbrage with was the notion that there's so much to do up there...

This is the comment that piqued my interest:

Not true....In Rodensota, Wild Hockey is King...Gofer hockey is dependent on whether or not they are relevant...

My response to Blackheart was not an attempt to slam any other program or fanbase. The fact is that besides BC there isn't another another Div I hockey program with an arena this size at a school that is Div I in all sports (meaning even more competition), that charges as much as it does, that also resides within the same metro as 4 major professional franchises. To that you can add in the serious draw of HS hockey. I realize that they don't all play at the same time, but there's only so much money to spend during the year in a bad economy (local youth hockey participation isn't down in MN because the Gophers aren't winning), especially when there are legitimate athletic altervatives. Gophers games sell out, but the corpies aren't attending nor making sure that their unused tickets get to true fans. It stinks but the fact is there is a combination of extenuating circumstances (economy, W-L, local competition, corporate seat holders) that contribute to the local situation that can't be said to be the same everywhere else. Is it what it is, but I don't think it's fair to portray the fans as bad.

 

[thebrain]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

This leads me to wonder just how sustainable the professional sports business model is. TV technology has progressed to the point that most people now have a 42" flatscreen with HD capability. We have either reached the point - or are very close to it - where other than the "in person atmosphere" of a sporting event, the home viewing experience will match the one at the stadium - from its best seats. I think many more people will ask the same question as many of us Gopher fans have already asked: why go to the games and pay $x for the ticket(s), $y for the parking, and $z for the concessions when we can stay home and see it on a kick*** tv for $0 with none of the hassle?

This is one of the reasons for the NFL blackout rule. I could see more leagues going this way or the way of a tape-delay. More so the tape-delay.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

Nope. I must admit your creativity is astounding though.

1. Solid goaltender, but not worthy of playing every game. Doesn't steal too many games anymore like he did his freshman year. Should have split time all season with Patterson, who is an equally capable goaltender, especially when Lucia said he screwed up with the goaltending situation last year in not putting Patterson in enough.
2. It seems to be a general consensus among us Gopher fans that while Schroeder is a great player, he is a playmaker that needs great players around him to finish what he starts. He had Stoa last year, a natural goal scorer that took a lot of Schroeder's passes and scored. Schroeder clearly plays well at WJC's as well when he has a great supporting cast. This year, although Cepis is a good player and Budish is up-and-coming, both lack the skill and finishing ability of a Stoa-type player.
3. It's generally accepted that Fischer has been by and large a terrible disappointment in all four of his years at the U, although he has played better as of late, which isn't saying a whole lot.

Allow me to correct myself...
1. He's an umotivated, untalented spoiled rodent sieve.
2. Aright, he's not too bad.
3. He's an umotivated, untalented spoiled rodent.

Hey, 2 out of 3 right isn't too bad for just typing out of my ***! That percent is right in line with the save percentage range of Kaptain Kangassroo. Does that mean I'm an unmotivated, untalented, spoiled BADger poster? Enjoy yourselves....

 

[WisconsinWildcard]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

(student rate is somewhere in the $10-15 per game range

Us "students" at the KC have it much better than that. It is a little over $5 a game for us (buying both Friday and Saturday night). Unfortunately, I still do not think we sell out student tickets every year and most of the time, our third deck is empty unless we are playing a highly ranked team (I hate fans that only come to those games! I think you should support your team every week).

How is the student attendence up there? Does it improve greatly depending on who you play? Also, I hear they check student IDs in the student section there...true? I would like to go to a game in the student section there sometime but if that is the case, I think I would be hardpressed to find a student willing to give me their ID

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

Us "students" at the KC have it much better than that. It is a little over $5 a game for us (buying both Friday and Saturday night). Unfortunately, I still do not think we sell out student tickets every year and most of the time, our third deck is empty unless we are playing a highly ranked team (I hate fans that only come to those games! I think you should support your team every week).

I'm pretty sure we do sell out, at least that's what the ticket website said. Like you said though, the 3rd tier usually isn't full. Man, I wish I had that sort of cash, where I could spend over $100 on tickets and then not use them.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

Man, I wish I had that sort of cash, where I could spend over $100 on tickets and then not use them.

Perhaps you could take some economics lessons from the football student section, maybe they'll tell you their secret about how they can blow $500 on football tickets that they don't care about.

<strike>Frankly, I'd take it easy on students who don't use their tickets for the 300 level. I've seen the view from those seats. You can't even see the near side goal from most of them.</strike> Actually, forget that... isn't the student section "general admission" now?

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

<strike>Frankly, I'd take it easy on students who don't use their tickets for the 300 level. I've seen the view from those seats. You can't even see the near side goal from most of them.</strike> Actually, forget that... isn't the student section "general admission" now?

Yeah, I guess I understand not wanting to sit in the way back of the 300 level, the view isn't great from back there, still don't like seeing it empty though.

It is general admission now, first come first served get the best seats.

 

[Punudski]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

RinkPig = vw = uw14. I'll bet you a 12 pack that posts from these "guys" are coming from the same address....his parent's address.

You know, I have to say that uw14 seems to have made some drastic improvements in the last few months. However, I am not sure if a) uw14 has actually matured a bit, or b) VW has raised the bar so high that uw14 can no longer compete for most ridiculous (read: idiotic) posts by a Badger fan. Hey! I'm not really arguing here, but I wanted to point out the steps that uw14 has made recently (in my eyes, anyways).

Also, with all this talk about tickets, I'm looking for some for Friday. I posted over in the tickets forum. Thought we had them, found out today that my buddy didn't have them...

 

[RinkPig]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

Some weekend predictions:

1. Grotting will cheap shot some Gopher with a hit that is twice as dirty as anything Marvin has ever done; and Eaves will cry when Lucia or Flynn beat down Grotting in retaliation.... and of course the same Badgers fans who are crying over the Marvin thing will all say it wasn't bad and/or the Gopher guy had it coming.

2. Nick "the quick" Leddy will show why he is the best former Minnesota HS hockey defensive recruit to play in the WCHA since Ballard. 2 goals for the former EP Eagle. 0 for McDouchie and GardenCock.

3. Drunkin Badger fans making their first trip to Minny will realize how much better our state is than that hell hole they call Wisconsin...they will decide to move here and join all the other transplants that have infested our state from the East....thus, their children will lower our standardized test scores ... on a positive though, our economy will get a boost from increase in liquor sales, Copenhagen, Nascar T-shirts, and blaze orange hunting jackets.

4. After the Gophers smoke Becky Badger, Rinkpig will put ChuckSwartz in his place yet again with his clever quips and spot on analysis on how The Golden Gophers beat you dirty Badgers dispite the fact this is our worst team since the Wooger years.

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

4. After the Gophers smoke Becky Badger, Rinkpig will put ChuckSwartz in his place yet again with his clever quips and spot on analysis on how The Golden Gophers beat you dirty Badgers dispite the fact this is our worst team since the Wooger years.

I'm still waiting for you to rebuttal my answers to your first set of questions. Here is the link if you're too stupid to find it.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

I'm still waiting for you to rebuttal my answers to your first set of questions. Here is the link if your too stupid to find it.

Fail.

Not to encourage him, but I had to point this out.

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

Fail.

Not to encourage him, but I had to point this out.

Funny part is I actually thought about that as I was writing it, yet still failed to do it correctly. I'm far from a scholar, I'll readily admit that.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

No posts since 10:53 pm? This series has all the fire and brimestone of a Tech UAA matchup. I even leave myself open to ridicule by ripping Kangass and no rodent fans does anything. What is this world coming too?

I guess the humbled rodent fans are a rather boring bunch. I kind of miss the rodentsota arrogance. But I don't miss it enough to want to see them not suck.

 

[4four4]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

No posts since 10:53 pm? This series has all the fire and brimestone of a Tech UAA matchup. I even leave myself open to ridicule by ripping Kangass and no rodent fans does anything. What is this world coming too?

I guess the humbled rodent fans are a rather boring bunch. I kind of miss the rodentsota arrogance. But I don't miss it enough to want to see them not suck.

The season is over and we don't care. Pretty simple. We would rather talk about if Don Luica should be coaching or if the players are responding. Heck we would rather talk about the Section finals or the Twins.

 

[Skeeterman]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

Are the gophers in the high school playoffs? That's who's playing at Target Center

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

The season is over and we don't care. Pretty simple. We would rather talk about if Don Luica should be coaching or if the players are responding. Heck we would rather talk about the Section finals or the Twins.

It's been amazingly quiet this season with you guys struggling and NoDak not up to their usual level.

As for us, while we're good, I don't feel overly confident about our chances. Being hopeful doesn't inspire me to talk very much smack.

 

[uwbadgers14]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

Some weekend predictions:

1. Grotting will cheap shot some Gopher with a hit that is twice as dirty as anything Marvin has ever done; and Eaves will cry when Lucia or Flynn beat down Grotting in retaliation.... and of course the same Badgers fans who are crying over the Marvin thing will all say it wasn't bad and/or the Gopher guy had it coming.

2. Nick "the quick" Leddy will show why he is the best former Minnesota HS hockey defensive recruit to play in the WCHA since Ballard. 2 goals for the former EP Eagle. 0 for McDouchie and GardenCock.

3. Drunkin Badger fans making their first trip to Minny will realize how much better our state is than that hell hole they call Wisconsin...they will decide to move here and join all the other transplants that have infested our state from the East....thus, their children will lower our standardized test scores ... on a positive though, our economy will get a boost from increase in liquor sales, Copenhagen, Nascar T-shirts, and blaze orange hunting jackets.

4. After the Gophers smoke Becky Badger, Rinkpig will put ChuckSwartz in his place yet again with his clever quips and spot on analysis on how The Golden Gophers beat you dirty Badgers dispite the fact this is our worst team since the Wooger years.

WOW!!! I got nothing