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Forums :: Blog World :: Paul McCann: Gettin' Antsy - One month to camp!
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Paul McCann
Nashville Predators
Location: Nolensville, TN
Joined: 09.15.2005

Aug 12 @ 3:40 PM ET
Paul McCann: Gettin' Antsy - One month to camp!
FoxMulder
Nashville Predators
Location: Christiana, TN
Joined: 02.26.2018

Aug 13 @ 9:02 AM ET
Just checked out the ticket prices. You have to take out a second mortgage to take a family of 4 to a game. Actual price for a family of four: $436 (after taxes, fees, etc.) for tickets in the 300 section. That doesn't include parking or concessions. ONE GAME.

I get that the more successful the franchise, yada yada yada. I can spend a quarter of that on NHL Ticket and enjoy all kinds of games in the comfort of my own home. No crowds, no drunks, and it's not one night of entertainment, but six months worth.

Squatchy
Nashville Predators
Location: Clarksville, TN
Joined: 05.09.2018

Aug 13 @ 12:44 PM ET
Just checked out the ticket prices. You have to take out a second mortgage to take a family of 4 to a game. Actual price for a family of four: $436 (after taxes, fees, etc.) for tickets in the 300 section. That doesn't include parking or concessions. ONE GAME.

I get that the more successful the franchise, yada yada yada. I can spend a quarter of that on NHL Ticket and enjoy all kinds of games in the comfort of my own home. No crowds, no drunks, and it's not one night of entertainment, but six months worth.


- FoxMulder


You forgot to mention the fun of trying to navigate around construction town U.S.A. Doesn't seem that long ago when the organization still bragged about having one of the lowest average ticket prices in the NHL. Funny how things change when you no longer have to bribe casual fans to get them into the arena. Now you get fleeced in the parking lot, robbed at the ticket booth, and by the time you get to the concession stand, you're being hung over the rafters by your ankles trying to shake out whatever loose change is still in your pockets. That's an issue league wide though, and across all major sports really, unless you're an absolute garbage team or in a garbage market. The average fan is getting priced out, and while I'm not going to pretend to understand Canadian economics, it's probably even worse up there.

I wouldn't think there'd be any bad blood with Girmaldi... Not over a million dollar one year contract. You can't blame a guy for trying to get every cent he can manage, especially when your a bubble player. You could argue he hasn't really done anything in the league yet and should be happy to have a 'almost' guaranteed contract but hey... He milked that playoff performance for everything he could. If the Preds were really miffed at him they could've just said get over yourself and let him walk. Nice player but by no means an essential piece. If he winds up getting waived it'll be over performance and not lingering resentment over arbitration.
FoxMulder
Nashville Predators
Location: Christiana, TN
Joined: 02.26.2018

Aug 13 @ 1:20 PM ET
You forgot to mention the fun of trying to navigate around construction town U.S.A. Doesn't seem that long ago when the organization still bragged about having one of the lowest average ticket prices in the NHL. Funny how things change when you no longer have to bribe casual fans to get them into the arena. Now you get fleeced in the parking lot, robbed at the ticket booth, and by the time you get to the concession stand, you're being hung over the rafters by your ankles trying to shake out whatever loose change is still in your pockets. That's an issue league wide though, and across all major sports really, unless you're an absolute garbage team or in a garbage market. The average fan is getting priced out, and while I'm not going to pretend to understand Canadian economics, it's probably even worse up there.
- Squatchy


It's the same reason I stopped going to Titans games. Well, that and the idiot fans. No doubt the experience in the arena is something that doesn't come across on TV, but is it worth that much? Not to me. If I'm spending half a grand on something, I'll go to the beach, not a hockey game.
wrister
Joined: 12.28.2011

Aug 13 @ 6:04 PM ET
Just checked out the ticket prices. You have to take out a second mortgage to take a family of 4 to a game. Actual price for a family of four: $436 (after taxes, fees, etc.) for tickets in the 300 section. That doesn't include parking or concessions. ONE GAME.

I get that the more successful the franchise, yada yada yada. I can spend a quarter of that on NHL Ticket and enjoy all kinds of games in the comfort of my own home. No crowds, no drunks, and it's not one night of entertainment, but six months worth.


- FoxMulder



“Year of the Fan”.
blueline
Nashville Predators
Location: Old Hickory, TN
Joined: 07.22.2007

Aug 14 @ 10:49 AM ET
A reflection...

Day-1 full season ticket holder. I'm fortunate to be able to be able to afford lower bowl seats that I moved to beginning w/2005 season when Preds offered half off for the first year to relocate to LB.

For Preds first season in 1998 the cost for our four seats in Sec 319, second row from the front, were $4,680 - that's for the full 41-home game season - less than $30 per seat/per game. In addition, I could get downtown in 20 minutes and park for $5 or even for free if you knew where to park.

Now it's excessive expenses, wasted time, mounting frustrations and even potentially dangerous considering some of the characters that have taken over downtown.

I find myself constantly rethinking everything and questioning if it's not time to bail.

blueline
Nashville Predators
Location: Old Hickory, TN
Joined: 07.22.2007

Aug 14 @ 11:24 AM ET
To be fair, the organization does reward season ticket holders with much better pricing than those buying tix for individual games. That process is understood and is good business, especially in light of ticket demand above what's available along with current heightened interest in all things Predator related. In addition, the Preds further reward those season ticket holders who make long-term commitments.

My main concerns nowadays are just getting in and out of town in a reasonable amount of time and of finding workable parking.
jochfr
Buffalo Sabres
Location: Nashville , TN
Joined: 07.11.2009

Aug 14 @ 12:09 PM ET
To be fair, the organization does reward season ticket holders with much better pricing than those buying tix for individual games. That process is understood and is good business, especially in light of ticket demand above what's available along with current heightened interest in all things Predator related. In addition, the Preds further reward those season ticket holders who make long-term commitments.

My main concerns nowadays are just getting in and out of town in a reasonable amount of time and of finding workable parking.

- blueline


I pretty much uber every time or park at my friends condo at 5th & Main and walk over to the arena.
Sometimes I park by the stadium (free) and walk over the pedestrian bridge.
It's a cold walk in January though.
FoxMulder
Nashville Predators
Location: Christiana, TN
Joined: 02.26.2018

Aug 14 @ 12:38 PM ET
To be fair, the organization does reward season ticket holders with much better pricing than those buying tix for individual games. That process is understood and is good business, especially in light of ticket demand above what's available along with current heightened interest in all things Predator related. In addition, the Preds further reward those season ticket holders who make long-term commitments.

My main concerns nowadays are just getting in and out of town in a reasonable amount of time and of finding workable parking.

- blueline


When I was single, a season ticket was wonderful. With a family? Not so much. Most of the games are during the week, the entire season is during the school year. Hard to make a 41 game commitment with extra curriculuars. It would be nice to catch a game now and then, but that isn't an option anymore, even with smaller game packs. Even getting everyone to 10 games would be a chore.

I wonder if the marketing/sales team for the Preds understand just how expensive and inconvenient attending a game downtown for a family really is now. Probably not. I get the feeling they assume everyone lives downtown now.
Squatchy
Nashville Predators
Location: Clarksville, TN
Joined: 05.09.2018

Aug 14 @ 1:12 PM ET
To be fair, the organization does reward season ticket holders with much better pricing than those buying tix for individual games. That process is understood and is good business, especially in light of ticket demand above what's available along with current heightened interest in all things Predator related. In addition, the Preds further reward those season ticket holders who make long-term commitments.

My main concerns nowadays are just getting in and out of town in a reasonable amount of time and of finding workable parking.

- blueline


The team does treat it's season ticket holder well, I'm assuming most organizations do, but it sucks that average fans who can't shell out for season tickets, now can't even afford to go to a single game without months of planning ahead. (When you can afford to go the season ticket route you're usually a tier above the average fan) When I had a lot more disposal income, I could go to about a dozen games a year, park, get a fairly good seat and even buy a drink and a slice of something that passed for pizza all for around a hundred dollars. Now you're lucky if a hundred can get one person through the door. Now that I'm married with kids, I just can't justify spending $400-600 for a single night out no no matter how much the fam would like to go. I understand the economics, and supply and demand and everything... Nothing's going to change as long as the team is popular. Can't change it, but doesn't mean I can't whine about it though.

It sucks on a personal level, because one of the reasons I became a fan of this team was the accessibility to it in those early days. I love seeing how much the fanbase has grown and how the city has taken to the team after 15 years of shrugging their shoulders at them, but I do miss not having to skip a mortgage payment just so I can go to a game. It's all good though, I enjoy watching the games on T.V. Anyone still claiming Hockey is not a good T.V. product is full of crap. I especially love watching on DVR where I can ff through the intermissions and 45 minutes of offside and goaltender interference reviews.
FoxMulder
Nashville Predators
Location: Christiana, TN
Joined: 02.26.2018

Aug 14 @ 2:54 PM ET


It sucks on a personal level, because one of the reasons I became a fan of this team was the accessibility to it in those early days. I love seeing how much the fanbase has grown and how the city has taken to the team after 15 years of shrugging their shoulders at them, but I do miss not having to skip a mortgage payment just so I can go to a game. It's all good though, I enjoy watching the games on T.V. Anyone still claiming Hockey is not a good T.V. product is full of crap. I especially love watching on DVR where I can ff through the intermissions and 45 minutes of offside and goaltender interference reviews.

- Squatchy


Especially the edited replays that FS TN has the day after a game. They shorten it down to two hours. That comes in handy for those 9:30 start times on the west coast that I can never stay up to see. I still say NHL Ticket is the best value. We already get every Preds game, but most of the national games are not that great, with ticket, I have my pick of which games I want to see. Comes in handy when all NBC shows is Philly and Pittsburgh or Chicago.
PREDX1
Nashville Predators
Location: Rock City, TN
Joined: 10.05.2011

Aug 15 @ 9:59 PM ET
Thank the Gods for HD TV, I bet hockey has benefited from that tech more than any other sport...

Does anyone remember the COMET TAIL when the puck was shot???????

The team does treat it's season ticket holder well, I'm assuming most organizations do, but it sucks that average fans who can't shell out for season tickets, now can't even afford to go to a single game without months of planning ahead. (When you can afford to go the season ticket route you're usually a tier above the average fan) When I had a lot more disposal income, I could go to about a dozen games a year, park, get a fairly good seat and even buy a drink and a slice of something that passed for pizza all for around a hundred dollars. Now you're lucky if a hundred can get one person through the door. Now that I'm married with kids, I just can't justify spending $400-600 for a single night out no no matter how much the fam would like to go. I understand the economics, and supply and demand and everything... Nothing's going to change as long as the team is popular. Can't change it, but doesn't mean I can't whine about it though.

It sucks on a personal level, because one of the reasons I became a fan of this team was the accessibility to it in those early days. I love seeing how much the fanbase has grown and how the city has taken to the team after 15 years of shrugging their shoulders at them, but I do miss not having to skip a mortgage payment just so I can go to a game. It's all good though, I enjoy watching the games on T.V. Anyone still claiming Hockey is not a good T.V. product is full of crap. I especially love watching on DVR where I can ff through the intermissions and 45 minutes of offside and goaltender interference reviews.

- Squatchy

Squatchy
Nashville Predators
Location: Clarksville, TN
Joined: 05.09.2018

Aug 15 @ 10:31 PM ET
Thank the Gods for HD TV, I bet hockey has benefited from that tech more than any other sport...

Does anyone remember the COMET TAIL when the puck was shot???????

- PREDX1


I do now, Yuck.

HD has done wonders for Hockey. Being able to follow the puck is vital. Making NHL players look like they were firing Hadoukens was not the way to do it. Especially when their stupid light tricks couldn't seem to keep up with the puck half the time.