Re: UNH Wildcats 2015-2016 (Part Two) - Managing Decreasing Expectations
Chuck, Greg and wildcatdc,
I have never been a fan of UNH games at the Verizon Wireless. I do understand the reasoning as even 5000-6000 paying customers makes more money for the school than far less at the Whit (students, President, athletics and foundation use comp or reduced tickets). Students do not get free tickets to the Verizon and Maine games are generally a big draw. Our own football team and Patriots playoff games have reduced the gate significantly over the past few years.
I realize Chuck feels our season ticket-holders were mistreated over the past 5-6 years and now knowing he does not own tickets, he does not have a stake in the game. I feel the same way Greg does as my tickets at the Verizon are not close to my tickets at the Whitt and I asked and the Verizon and Foundation have many of the prime seats at center ice. For one game per year, I suck it up with our large gang of fans and enjoy it for what it is.
I know most organizations try to maximize their revenues and profits as UNH was not different when they started charging ridiculous amounts when we were in contention year in and year out. We had season tickets at 470 dollars per seat 5-6 years ago and most fans with UNH connection now pays 307 dollars per seat. I think this is a fair amount for excellent hockey. It is not as lively as Snively was and giving the students both ends until season ticket sales increase would be a good start. Student tickets were gone by early afternoon on Monday. This would fill more seats in the arena while school is in session. They also have under 13 kids club tickets for all sports for 165 dollars per year. This includes men's hockey tickets and football. They go out of their way to get kids excited about hockey and in the long run it is the best way (along with students who become addicted to UNH hockey while attending) to feed the future pipeline of fans.
Chuck, if you knew how few season ticket-holder's there are for football you would cough up a baby. Hockey is still king at UNH other than homecoming and some playoff games. It is more of a boozefest than diehard fans attending football games. When hockey is doing well and the games are not televised, we have more fans than almost all schools in hockey east. We hold a good position even after the financial meltdown and missing the playoffs regularly.
Hockey East attendance per game
2007-2008 NH, BC, Maine
2008-2009 NH, BC, BU
2009-2010 NH, Mass-Amherst,BU
2010-2011 BC, NH, BU
2011-2012 BC, Maine, NH
2012-2013 BC, NH, Lowell
2013-2014 BC, Lowell, UNH
2014-2015 BC, NH, Lowell (very little difference between the 3 teams)
I guess those complaining can give constructive advice to our athletic department and the marketing and ticketing departments within athletics. I am sure they are doing the very best that they can. I would prefer to have all of our home games at the Whit, have Maine as 2 home one year 2 away the next. I can live with the Portland/Manchester games mid-week in December and a trip up to VT in early January. It would be nice to get a few shutdown defense-men with some offensive skills, but we had one this year who did not get through our admissions. He was quickly accepted into UConn the same day UNH rejected him. I see the future as being bright as our incoming class is very good, our freshman and sophomores are taking on larger roles and let us hope we are competitive in hockey east the rest of this year.
Thanks to all for sharing their insights relating to our hockey team. I will predict a significant turnaround for our team and attendance if Snively65 and Chuck dig deep into the kids and grand-kids piggy banks to buy season tickets for the rest of this year and into the future. If they do not, maybe it is time they find a way to convince others to buy season tickets (even if it is for them to just be invited to games).
I hope I see you all this Friday night against Dartmouth. Happy Holidays for all!
While I generally agree with the tone of your post, just because Chuck doesn't have season tickets doesn't mean that he doesn't have a stake in the game. He's a fan, a much more loyal fan that several I come across in the arena every home game, so I do believe his opinion counts for something. But as a season ticket holder, my biggest complaint these days (and I am not alone on this) is how UNH offers discounted tickets for all available seats. Since you are also a season ticket holder, how do you feel when you sit down in your seat and find out that the guy next to you has picked up tickets for 2/3 the price you are paying? I know UNH has lowered season ticket prices over the years but, frankly, we are still treated as sheep just as we have ever since the Whit opened.
Regarding attendance, I went to the watered down media guide that the UNH issues now and found that that the top four Hockey East schools in terms of total attendance in all games were UConn, BC, Lowell, and UNH. As percentage of capacity, it was UVM (93%), Lowell (85%), UNH (83%) and Maine (81%). BC was at 67%, BU at 77% and UConn, because of an official capacity of 9,000 (it might be less when the cover the upper bowl), is 60%. And UNH's percentage is based on a capacity of 6,110. When the Whit opened, I believe the capacity was listed at just over 6,000. When Marty became AD, he had the capacity adjusted to 6,500 or so because, he told me, that is the way they do at Big Ten schools where every person in the building, including spectators and staff was to be included. Now it is 6,110. Maybe there are fewer folks working at the Whit these days? Regardless of all this, to be honest, these figures surprised me since my unsophisticated eyeball test always estimates the attendance lower than what is announced. But even if UNH is fudging the figures a bit, the fact that the program is still in the top 3 or 4 in attendance speaks to the interest in the Seacoast area for UNH Hockey.
That brings me to the missed opportunity department. 1932, you say that the marketing department does their best but, honestly, I beg to differ. While UNH routinely has youth hockey teams skate for 10 minutes between periods, I think that they could do more. When UNH plays at BC during semester break, I am always amazed at how many young kids are at the games. Turns out that BC promotes discounted tickets at times that the students are off campus and, ironically, these games usually produce some of the highest attendance figures of the year for BC. UNH should follow suit for two reasons. First you fill the seats and make more in concessions (these kids eat a lot of junk) and, second, you're building fan loyalty for the next generation.
I will not go on as Chuck has about how UNH is missing the mark by never promoting the program in the far reaches of the state but it's never too late to try. Years ago I talked to Umile about the idea of UNH conducting a few practices during the season in other parts of the state, maybe Manchester, Concord, Nashua to, you know, promote the team statewide. This is something Shawn Walsh did when he first got to Maine but, no surprise, the coach had no interest. I can understand that, he's focused on the team not the marketing. But wouldn't that be a great idea to follow through on?
BTW Chuck, we had a North Country version of the Beanpot - UNH, Maine, UVM, Lowell (the Governors Cup) for a few years before it faded. We also had the Blue/Green tournament, co-hosted by UNH and Dartmouth for several years, that faded as well. Priorities change over the years. I know Umile wanted to get away from playing Dartmouth during the holidays because he had his eyes on the bigger tournaments out west - GLI, Badger Showdown, etc. From what I gather, he now has less interest in doing that sort of thing. Since we are playing Maine twice the week between Christmas and New Years, maybe we can figure away to play somebody else during that time. Might be something Souza looks at once he takes over.
I am surprised Football season ticket sales are so low, though. I guess it's that "build it and they will come" naivete (sp?) that's building the new stadium. Good for them. I wish all involved nothing but the best, I really do. And I hope it takes off, just like the place across the street did two decades ago. A rising tide lifts all boats, right? 
