I do once in a while. But I think you get a better view of what's actually going on from the 300s. Being able to see the plays developing is pretty cool. Well, when you have a good team that is.
- HonkFortheGoose

Its cool every now and again but in the Aud we were right on the blue line on the glass, then once the move over been in sec 100 row 3 which was awesome for Hasek Miller but wont be as cool with Lehner.

I like seeing the play develop upstairs

Dont forget Boyes
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Coho

Dont forget Boyes
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

Brad Boyes actually played well when he first got here...then they tried to make him play center.

The Russ Brandon hate is hilarious... "What has he done with the Bills?" Oh well idk, broke records this year for season ticket sales... The home opener is not even going on sale to the general public and every game will be a sell out.... Seems his marketing, which is his job(not player movement or knowing there names) is going pretty well for him. Everyone who watches the Bills knew this was going to happen. The day Pegula took over the Bill he wanted Brandon to take over both and he turned it down, they are buddies and this is going to do wonders for the Sabres and the Arena. Everyone knew Blacks days were numbere after the Patty L fiasco.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

With the Pegulas buying the team, the hire of Rex Ryan, and the moves Whaley made in the offseason (acquiring McCoy, Clay, and Incognito; resigning Hughes), there was no need for marketing this year -- the three mentioned naturally took care of that.

With the Pegulas buying the team, the hire of Rex Ryan, and the moves Whaley made in the offseason (acquiring McCoy, Clay, and Incognito; resigning Hughes), there was no need for marketing this year -- the three mentioned naturally took care of that.
- rcostel77

So the previous 10 years then....

The Russ Brandon hate is hilarious... "What has he done with the Bills?" Oh well idk, broke records this year for season ticket sales... The home opener is not even going on sale to the general public and every game will be a sell out.... Seems his marketing, which is his job(not player movement or knowing there names) is going pretty well for him. Everyone who watches the Bills knew this was going to happen. The day Pegula took over the Bill he wanted Brandon to take over both and he turned it down, they are buddies and this is going to do wonders for the Sabres and the Arena. Everyone knew Blacks days were numbere after the Patty L fiasco.
- CoHo_to_B-Lo

I don't get the idea of marketing in sports. Teams market themselves with two things. The players on the team and the W's in the results. Plus in Buffalo people are falling over to go see bad teams play, let alone good ones. You could publish the Bills schedule on a Post-it and stick it to the outside of a Taco Bell and the same amount of people would show up.

Brad Boyes actually played well when he first got here...then they tried to make him play center.
- buffalofan19

FYI Ott is also a center.

I don't get the idea of marketing in sports. Teams market themselves with two things. The players on the team and the W's in the results. Plus in Buffalo people are falling over to go see bad teams play, let alone good ones. You could publish the Bills schedule on a Post-it and stick it to the outside of a Taco Bell and the same amount of people would show up.
- sambarugh

there more to it than selling tickets. if you don't get it, thats fine. I don't entirely get it either, which is why it's not my job.

I don't get the idea of marketing in sports. Teams market themselves with two things. The players on the team and the W's in the results. Plus in Buffalo people are falling over to go see bad teams play, let alone good ones. You could publish the Bills schedule on a Post-it and stick it to the outside of a Taco Bell and the same amount of people would show up.
- sambarugh

This is awesome.

I don't get the idea of marketing in sports. Teams market themselves with two things. The players on the team and the W's in the results. Plus in Buffalo people are falling over to go see bad teams play, let alone good ones. You could publish the Bills schedule on a Post-it and stick it to the outside of a Taco Bell and the same amount of people would show up.
- sambarugh

It's not just about selling tickets. It's about getting companies to buy advertising, on the boards, in the stadium, on TV commercials, stadium naming rights, etc. Marketing is just as big a part of professional sports as just about any other industry.

Im trying to figure out what happened with black this last year. He entirely shut the fans out. He cancelled his weekly radio show with GR, he became non-existent. I wonder if that was his doing or was the Org beginning the pulling of the plug on Black.

there more to it than selling tickets. if you don't get it, thats fine. I don't entirely get it either, which is why it's not my job.
- seedy

Not for marketing. There may be more to the job of President, but in any capacity, marketing directly relates back selling the product.

there more to it than selling tickets. if you don't get it, thats fine. I don't entirely get it either, which is why it's not my job.
- seedy

Correct. There is more to it. The actual fan experience in the venue makes a difference as well.

To be honest, I get irritated at Sabres games because every year they come out saying there's more food options, but they neglect to tell you that 90% of them are only available in the 200 level and you have to have a 200 level ticket to have access to it.

It's stupid poop like that. If you're not going to the games, you probably don't realize it.

Or even things like giving the season ticket holders at least a small discount on concessions. If you have people committing to being in your building 41 times a year, you can't figure out a way to give them like a 50 cent discount on a soda??

It's not just about selling tickets. It's about getting companies to buy advertising, on the boards, in the stadium, on TV commercials, stadium naming rights, etc. Marketing is just as big a part of professional sports as just about any other industry.
- buffalofan19

I think we're crossing wires here. Obviously those jobs have to be done by someone, but it certainly isn't by the President of the company.

Also for pro sports it's not that hard to get advertisers. I doubt the marketing department of the Sabres has to cold call companies to get their name on the boards.

It's not just about selling tickets. It's about getting companies to buy advertising, on the boards, in the stadium, on TV commercials, stadium naming rights, etc. Marketing is just as big a part of professional sports as just about any other industry.
- buffalofan19

Correct. The bulk of the money made in sports in no longer made on tickets. Big corporations want to cling onto not only the teams market size for advertising but apparent success as well.

Correct. The bulk of the money made in sports in no longer made on tickets. Big corporations want to cling onto not only the teams market size for advertising but apparent success as well.
- Buffalo--Sabres

I can't understand why the NHL is so stubborn to not get on ESPN to go with their coverage on NBC and NHL network

45 or so games a week is enough to keep everyone happy and like it or not, the nhl fan base grows in the states if on ESPN

I think we're crossing wires here. Obviously those jobs have to be done by someone, but it certainly isn't by the President of the company.

Also for pro sports it's not that hard to get advertisers. I doubt the marketing department of the Sabres has to cold call companies to get their name on the boards.
- sambarugh

Look at the companies the Bills get to advertise and then look at the companies the Sabres get and tell me there isn't a big difference. That's all about marketing. Hopefully, Brandon helps the Sabres get a bigger presence in that regard.

Im trying to figure out what happened with black this last year. He entirely shut the fans out. He cancelled his weekly radio show with GR, he became non-existent. I wonder if that was his doing or was the Org beginning the pulling of the plug on Black.
- ImThatGuy

He made out with one of the Pegula girls...

How do you get fans to cheer about a cow poopting on the grass?
- TheSabresTaco

Put down a giant bingo board I a field and let them buys squares. Make it gambling.

Correct. There is more to it. The actual fan experience in the venue makes a difference as well.

To be honest, I get irritated at Sabres games because every year they come out saying there's more food options, but they neglect to tell you that 90% of them are only available in the 200 level and you have to have a 200 level ticket to have access to it.

It's stupid poop like that. If you're not going to the games, you probably don't realize it.

Or even things like giving the season ticket holders at least a small discount on concessions. If you have people committing to being in your building 41 times a year, you can't figure out a way to give them like a 50 cent discount on a soda??
- HonkFortheGoose

Easy as pie, each season ticket hold gets a prepaid Sabres card that has $100 on it to use throughout the season on concessions or merchandise. Of course that is not my 1.5 Million dollars so I can say that no issue.

Put down a giant bingo board I a field and let them buys squares. Make it gambling.
- Der Kaiser

Was Ted Nolan allowed to talk to Peggy?

Or even things like giving the season ticket holders at least a small discount on concessions. If you have people committing to being in your building 41 times a year, you can't figure out a way to give them like a 50 cent discount on a soda??
- HonkFortheGoose

WTF is that????

Look at the companies the Bills get to advertise and then look at the companies the Sabres get and tell me there isn't a big difference. That's all about marketing. Hopefully, Brandon helps the Sabres get a bigger presence in that regard.
- buffalofan19

This has a lot to do with NFL V NHL too. The NFL you just get more exposure, period.

I can't understand why the NHL is so stubborn to not get on ESPN to go with their coverage on NBC and NHL network

45 or so games a week is enough to keep everyone happy and like it or not, the nhl fan base grows in the states if on ESPN
- homiedclown

We've had this argument before. The NHL is growing at a steady pace. It's never going to be at the level of the big 3. It just isn't. Before the Sportsnet deal, NBC gave the NHL its biggest TV deal in history, something ESPN wasn't willing to do. The caveat was to give NBC exclusive rights. As a fan, I don't like that, but any NHL exec who doesn't take a deal like that should be fired on the spot.

This has a lot to do with NFL V NHL too. The NFL you just get more exposure, period.
- ImThatGuy

You do, but a guy with NFL connections won't hurt. I'm not going to expect the Sabres to be on equal footing, but it's also naive to think someone with better connections, and make no mistake, Brandon has them, can improve that dramatically.