scamperdog
05-14-2006, 08:22 PM
A rose by any other name is a beer
www.kamloopsthisweek.com
By RICK WILE
May 14 2006
The Blazers decision against the consumption of beer in the stands at the ISC doesn't surprise you, does it?
Their hands are somewhat tied in the matter, purely by the mathematics of the situation. Even if they did $2,000 a game with their percentage of sales from the pouring rights holder, it would only come to about $80,000 for the season.
That's roughly the same amount of money that would be lost if there were 200 season-ticket cancellations over the beer in the stands issue.
Of course, there's also a risk of even more cancellations, and, if that happens it works out to about $40,000 to $45,000 dollars in lost revenue for every 100 season ticket cancellations. So any beer profits would be eaten up faster than a college chug-a-lug.
I stand on my column of a year ago when I suggested a special area in the stands be set aside to appease the drinkers and not interfere with families attending games. I know you can't please everyone, but it would be good business to try.
It is worth noting the team has lost an average of more than 500 fans per game over the past three seasons. The 2003-04 campaign brought a decline of 204 fans per game, to an average of 5,169. It dropped by another 197 fans per game for the 2004-05 season to 4,972 and this past season, it fell by 110 fans per game to 4,862.
We're talking about paid attendance here and, we're not even taking into account all of those empty seats disguised as fans for the past few years.
It always amazes me how season tickets are bought and paid for and ticket holders show up sporadically. If the day ever comes to pass that they decide to stop buying because they're not going to games, the red flags will be flying on Lorne Street.
Those alarms could be more deafening than any of those banned noisemakers in the building, as well as the PA system that has had some people up in arms.
Nevertheless, 500 fewer fans per game in the past three years equates to about $250,000 less in revenue. When you add in the severance packages for fired employees, the ink gets a lot redder. They're paying out Mark Ferner and, most recently, Ryan Thorpe (when a settlement is reached).
The biggest ticket was the gassing of then-GM Mike Moore in January of 2004. Do the math and an estimated $200,000 is being spent in severance packages, plus the club has to hire a right-hand man (rumored to be former Calgary assistant Jeff Maher) for coach, and GM Dean Clark, who also has salary renegotiation pending with the Blazers.
Without even counting the cost of a new hiring, but considering the fan loss and, contract settlements, the bill during this worst three year period in franchise history is almost a half million dollars. This after 1.1 million went missing over the previous 10 years.
There is no way to sugar coat things, but it's becoming more urgent for the hockey club turns things around.
The biggest issue is the product on the ice, not the beer on ice. Ultimately, the hockey product will help the Blazers keep the fans they have, and possibly bring back the ones they've lost.
Sit back and have a beer as the clock continues ticking.
www.kamloopsthisweek.com
By RICK WILE
May 14 2006
The Blazers decision against the consumption of beer in the stands at the ISC doesn't surprise you, does it?
Their hands are somewhat tied in the matter, purely by the mathematics of the situation. Even if they did $2,000 a game with their percentage of sales from the pouring rights holder, it would only come to about $80,000 for the season.
That's roughly the same amount of money that would be lost if there were 200 season-ticket cancellations over the beer in the stands issue.
Of course, there's also a risk of even more cancellations, and, if that happens it works out to about $40,000 to $45,000 dollars in lost revenue for every 100 season ticket cancellations. So any beer profits would be eaten up faster than a college chug-a-lug.
I stand on my column of a year ago when I suggested a special area in the stands be set aside to appease the drinkers and not interfere with families attending games. I know you can't please everyone, but it would be good business to try.
It is worth noting the team has lost an average of more than 500 fans per game over the past three seasons. The 2003-04 campaign brought a decline of 204 fans per game, to an average of 5,169. It dropped by another 197 fans per game for the 2004-05 season to 4,972 and this past season, it fell by 110 fans per game to 4,862.
We're talking about paid attendance here and, we're not even taking into account all of those empty seats disguised as fans for the past few years.
It always amazes me how season tickets are bought and paid for and ticket holders show up sporadically. If the day ever comes to pass that they decide to stop buying because they're not going to games, the red flags will be flying on Lorne Street.
Those alarms could be more deafening than any of those banned noisemakers in the building, as well as the PA system that has had some people up in arms.
Nevertheless, 500 fewer fans per game in the past three years equates to about $250,000 less in revenue. When you add in the severance packages for fired employees, the ink gets a lot redder. They're paying out Mark Ferner and, most recently, Ryan Thorpe (when a settlement is reached).
The biggest ticket was the gassing of then-GM Mike Moore in January of 2004. Do the math and an estimated $200,000 is being spent in severance packages, plus the club has to hire a right-hand man (rumored to be former Calgary assistant Jeff Maher) for coach, and GM Dean Clark, who also has salary renegotiation pending with the Blazers.
Without even counting the cost of a new hiring, but considering the fan loss and, contract settlements, the bill during this worst three year period in franchise history is almost a half million dollars. This after 1.1 million went missing over the previous 10 years.
There is no way to sugar coat things, but it's becoming more urgent for the hockey club turns things around.
The biggest issue is the product on the ice, not the beer on ice. Ultimately, the hockey product will help the Blazers keep the fans they have, and possibly bring back the ones they've lost.
Sit back and have a beer as the clock continues ticking.