I understand the rebuilding part just fine. I'm not disputing any of what Tallon is doing, but the point is that they aren't winning right now. Whether "he's doing it right" or not, there's no reason for people to go see them right now. They will start going if this team ends up as good as we all think it will be. The fact remains, this team has sucked for the better part of two decades, and they still suck right now.

Put it this way: say the Florida Panthers had traded draft positions with the Pittsburgh Penguins from, say, 2004 until 2008, and they were the team that ended up with Crosby and Malkin, won a Cup, had a team near the top of the league, even considering all their playoff struggles, do you think that building would be as empty as it was last night? No, it absolutely would not. It would probably have been sold out. People go to games to see winners, especially in places where the tradition isn't that strong.

I'm not making excuses for anybody. I'm not even saying that they should or shouldn't be moved (I actually think they will be sooner rather than later), but I also think that putting a piss poor product in a brand new market for the better part of 20 years and then throwing your arms up and saying "see, it doesn't work in this market" shows an absolutely mind-boggling lack of business understanding. It's not that the market sucks. It's that the product does.
- buffalofan19

Why is it a team in Buffalo can be a loser and draw 18000 people every night and yet . A team that actually is in the playoff hunt that is young and exciting has about 2000 in the stands on a Saturday Night. The market is soft.
Please do not try and tell me I do not understand business . I have a Bachelor of Commerce degree as well as an MBA . My company I own is also very successful. Please get over yourself . You are not the only intelligent person in here. All it takes is the eyeball test to see the bums in the seats last night . And probably 40% of them were Sabre's fans.

But maybe it is a conspiracy . The game was broadcast over a green screen . The building was actually full and an empty arena was put in the background.

It is like the restaurant and bar business . Any idiot can be busy on Friday and Saturday night. The real smart Bar / restaurant owner finds ways to fill his seats on slower nights . Any owner can fill the seats when you are a cup contender . Strong franchises in good markets fill the seats when the team is weaker or rebuilding.

Why is it a team in Buffalo can be a loser and draw 18000 people every night and yet . A team that actually is in the playoff hunt that is young and exciting has about 2000 in the stands on a Saturday Night. The market is soft.
Please do not try and tell me I do not understand business . I have a Bachelor of Commerce degree as well as an MBA . My company I own is also very successful. Please get over yourself . You are not the only intelligent person in here. All it takes is the eyeball test to see the bums in the seats last night . And probably 40% of them were Sabre's fans.

But maybe it is a conspiracy . The game was broadcast over a green screen . The building was actually full and an empty arena was put in the background.

It is like the restaurant and bar business . Any idiot can be busy on Friday and Saturday night. The real smart Bar / restaurant owner finds ways to fill his seats on slower nights . Any owner can fill the seats when you are a cup contender . Strong franchises in good markets fill the seats when the team is weaker or rebuilding.
- Maximum Signal

Florida is still a new market, though.

How does that bar owner get people to his bar on slower nights? By giving them a reason to come to his bar. He needs something to attract the patrons. A piss poor product isn't the way to do it. And that's exactly what the Panthers have had for the better part of two decades.

And make no mistake, if Buffalo had a brand new expansion franchise in 1993, and they had that sort ineptitude coming out of their building night in and night out, Buffalo would also have problems filling the seats, just like they did from 2002 until 2006...when they were good again. Larry Quinn did an outstanding job of making the team more of an institution, which allowed his to build a stronger season ticket base. However, he still needed the winning product in order to build it, something the Florida Panthers never really had.

Florida is still a new market, though.

How does that bar owner get people to his bar on slower nights? By giving them a reason to come to his bar. He needs something to attract the patrons. A piss poor product isn't the way to do it. And that's exactly what the Panthers have had for the better part of two decades.

And make no mistake, if Buffalo had a brand new expansion franchise in 1993, and they had that sort ineptitude coming out of their building night in and night out, Buffalo would also have problems filling the seats, just like they did from 2002 until 2006...when they were good again. Larry Quinn did an outstanding job of making the team more of an institution, which allowed his to build a stronger season ticket base. However, he still needed the winning product in order to build it, something the Florida Panthers never really had.
- buffalofan19

New Market ? They have been in the League since 1994 - Hardly new. You lost me totally when you gave Larry Quinn any credit . He set this franchise back 10 years.

New Market ? They have been in the League since 1994 - Hardly new. You lost me totally when you gave Larry Quinn any credit . He set this franchise back 10 years.
- Maximum Signal

Larry Quinn is the reason the Sabres' season ticket base is so strong right now. His roster management was poor, but what he did on the business side made the Sabres' selling price to Terry Pegula what it was.

Larry Quinn is the reason the Sabres' season ticket base is so strong right now. His roster management was poor, but what he did on the business side made the Sabres' selling price to Terry Pegula what it was.
- buffalofan19

You greatly over estimate Larry Quinn . He took credit for the hard work of others . Also under the wonderboy we lost a long time relationship with Rochester . Only under Pegula did we get that back.

You greatly over estimate Larry Quinn . He took credit for the hard work of others . Also under the wonderboy we lost a long time relationship with Rochester . Only under Pegula did we get that back.
- Maximum Signal

They lost the Rochester connection in large part due to Rochester's former owner being a jackass. He was as corrupt as they came. It took Pegula buying the team off him to get that back.