blaze89
09-24-2005, 01:39 AM
Saints aiming for initial sellout
09/24/2005
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
A high-ranking New Orleans Saints official hit the airwaves Friday, urging fans to buy the remaining 17,000 tickets for the team's Oct.2 game with the Buffalo Bills at the Alamodome.
Saints executive vice president Arnold Fielkow's 24-hour media blitz underscored the franchise's urgency to sell out San Antonio's first NFL regular-season game.
"We want to sell out all three games we will play in the Alamodome, but our efforts through next week will be on selling out the Buffalo game," Fielkow said. "That's our top priority because our team certainly wants to play before a full house, and we also want the (television) blackout lifted for the community."
The NFL usually blacks out games within 75 miles of the stadium if all tickets are not sold 72 hours before kickoff.
Fielkow said he is optimistic the Oct.2 game will sell out by Thursday. He also stressed good seats are available.
On Friday, fans bought approximately 1,000 tickets for the Buffalo game, the Saints said.
"We are very appreciative as an organization of the support fans in San Antonio have demonstrated so far," Fielkow said. "The sale of 100,000 tickets (for the three games) in the first 72 hours they went on sale was outstanding, and we are grateful. Now, the next step is to sell out the Buffalo game."
With approximately 6,000 tickets remaining for the Oct.16 game against the Atlanta Falcons and quarterback Michael Vick, the hurricane-displaced Saints are all but certain they will play before at least one capacity crowd at the 65,000-seat Alamodome.
But the Bills and the Detroit Lions, who play the Saints on Dec.24, lack a marquee player such as Vick. As of Tuesday, approximately 40,000 tickets remained for the Detroit game.
Still, the Saints and city officials remain optimistic all three games will sell out.
"The community has been very supportive of our organization," Fielkow said. "At the same time, we will need the support of the entire business community and all of the city's football fans to make these (sellouts) happen."
Some critics say ticket sales for the games with Buffalo and Detroit would be greater had the Saints not limited the sale of three-game packs to fans calling the team's ticket line. But team officials said fans made it clear last week they preferred to buy tickets on an individual-game basis.
"People wanted to see the games of their choice, so we catered to their needs," Saints marketing director Conrad "Connie" Kowal said. "We wanted to let them see the games they wanted."
The Saints also are allowing sponsors to tailor packages to fit their needs.
"The response (from the business community) has been outstanding," Fielkow said.
Fielkow also praised the Saints' sales staff.
"They have performed magnificently, especially in light of the fact that some of them have personal issues back in New Orleans," Fielkow said. "But to sell over 100,000 tickets and a multitude of sponsorships is a testament to the outstanding nature of our staff and to the outstanding support we have received in San Antonio."
The Alamodome box office will be open today from 10a.m.-5p.m. Tickets can also be bought by calling the Saints at (210) 208-9520 or TicketMaster at (800) 877-0898 or by going on-line at neworleanssaints.com or ticketmaster.com.
LINK (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/football/nfl/stories/MYSA092405.1C.FBNsaints.bills.224de5b5.html)
09/24/2005
Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer
A high-ranking New Orleans Saints official hit the airwaves Friday, urging fans to buy the remaining 17,000 tickets for the team's Oct.2 game with the Buffalo Bills at the Alamodome.
Saints executive vice president Arnold Fielkow's 24-hour media blitz underscored the franchise's urgency to sell out San Antonio's first NFL regular-season game.
"We want to sell out all three games we will play in the Alamodome, but our efforts through next week will be on selling out the Buffalo game," Fielkow said. "That's our top priority because our team certainly wants to play before a full house, and we also want the (television) blackout lifted for the community."
The NFL usually blacks out games within 75 miles of the stadium if all tickets are not sold 72 hours before kickoff.
Fielkow said he is optimistic the Oct.2 game will sell out by Thursday. He also stressed good seats are available.
On Friday, fans bought approximately 1,000 tickets for the Buffalo game, the Saints said.
"We are very appreciative as an organization of the support fans in San Antonio have demonstrated so far," Fielkow said. "The sale of 100,000 tickets (for the three games) in the first 72 hours they went on sale was outstanding, and we are grateful. Now, the next step is to sell out the Buffalo game."
With approximately 6,000 tickets remaining for the Oct.16 game against the Atlanta Falcons and quarterback Michael Vick, the hurricane-displaced Saints are all but certain they will play before at least one capacity crowd at the 65,000-seat Alamodome.
But the Bills and the Detroit Lions, who play the Saints on Dec.24, lack a marquee player such as Vick. As of Tuesday, approximately 40,000 tickets remained for the Detroit game.
Still, the Saints and city officials remain optimistic all three games will sell out.
"The community has been very supportive of our organization," Fielkow said. "At the same time, we will need the support of the entire business community and all of the city's football fans to make these (sellouts) happen."
Some critics say ticket sales for the games with Buffalo and Detroit would be greater had the Saints not limited the sale of three-game packs to fans calling the team's ticket line. But team officials said fans made it clear last week they preferred to buy tickets on an individual-game basis.
"People wanted to see the games of their choice, so we catered to their needs," Saints marketing director Conrad "Connie" Kowal said. "We wanted to let them see the games they wanted."
The Saints also are allowing sponsors to tailor packages to fit their needs.
"The response (from the business community) has been outstanding," Fielkow said.
Fielkow also praised the Saints' sales staff.
"They have performed magnificently, especially in light of the fact that some of them have personal issues back in New Orleans," Fielkow said. "But to sell over 100,000 tickets and a multitude of sponsorships is a testament to the outstanding nature of our staff and to the outstanding support we have received in San Antonio."
The Alamodome box office will be open today from 10a.m.-5p.m. Tickets can also be bought by calling the Saints at (210) 208-9520 or TicketMaster at (800) 877-0898 or by going on-line at neworleanssaints.com or ticketmaster.com.
LINK (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/football/nfl/stories/MYSA092405.1C.FBNsaints.bills.224de5b5.html)