Spurs facing another non-sellout

[violentkitten]

See the 25,000 new houses over 200K on the North Side, then.

again, how many of those are new san antonio residents versus existing ones who moved into a new house? if they are moving into their first house then most likely their monthly housing costs just went up.

and over the last couple of years the home price to income ratio has grown a little bit much in the US. so someone in a $200k house may have say $50k to 60k in annual income. between the mortgage and any children they have they don't exactly have gobs of disposable income to be blowing on spurs games.

[ploto]

Why aren't they happy with the product?
What changed this year from the last 8 playoff years?

A lot of people did not pick up their option for playoffs tickets-- as well as those who did not purchase additional playoffs packages this year. There are really quite a considerable number of more tickets available for general purchase than in the past. The Spurs need to look long and hard at why their season ticket holders chose to sit out the playoffs.

Also, I have been lambasted on here for criticizing the marketing of the team- the Spurs have acted as if they had to do nothing to get people to the games- that they would just show up.

Also, I have had a number of people tell me that the players themselves have hardly acted like they cared this season- and that turned them off. And ticket prices have gone up every year, as well.

Personally, I think it is all because they traded Rasho.

[MoSpur]

Its a lot cheaper to watch the game like at Buffalo Wild Wings than going to the AT&T Center and paying around $60 for one ticket. I can eat a ton of wings tonight (.40 wing night) and watch the game with a better view at Buffalo Wild Wings. If I went to the game tonight, I'd pay around $120 bucks on tickets. $10 on parking. Like another $25 on food and drinks. Add that up. Its around $145. Give or take a few dollars. If I go somewhere to watch it, the most I would pay is around $40.

[MoSpur]

It has nothing to do with me not being a Spurs fan. Or a good enough fan. If they would lower the prices on tickets and refreshments, it would be a different story.

[Soul_Patch]

Im willing to be a vast majority of Spurs fans don't really use ebay or stubhub Korri. Mr and Mrs. Gonzalez and their entire family who crowd around the tv at the local taco place (stereotypical, but these kinda people are usually the biggest spurs fans) only know about ticketmaster. They probably dont use the internet much, they most likely would kill to go to a spurs game, but when the see 50 dollars a ticket, and count that they would need to spend at least 200 dollars just to get themselves and 2 kids in the door. They say, nah, ill watch at the taco place.

You jump up a tier, to the middle income folks. Id venture to guess a large portion don't wanna be out till 11pm on a tuesday night. Id also venture to guess the same thing, unless you are a big time computer user, you dont really use ebay. You've probably heard of it, but never really did much looking in to it. I know for a fact ive often been asked where i got tickets. When i say ebay, people usually go "oh!! i didnt realise you could get them there!!" so a lot of people never even think about it. And once again price is still a barrier. Even if i bought the 30 dollar tickets on ebay. Thats 60 bucks for 2 people (if i have kids it just go's up obviously) then another 50 at least for food/parking/drinks. So we are spending 120 dollars for a night out. In this economy we just dont have that kind of disposable cash anymore. I drive a 2006 Toyota Tundra double cab. It cost me 70 dollars a week to drive this truck in gas. 280 a month just in gas...this is a bite in my budget, a bit bite. When i can watch a game in 1080i 60" tv for free, or spend 100 to 150 dollars that i really dont have to spend, you can see where my priorities lie. I love the spurs to death, and i wish i could go to every single game...but it is just not financially responsible of me to do so.

The rich folks. Well id venture to guess most of the ones that care have season tickets. The others dont even really know there is a basketball game going on. Then there are the ones who buy the tickets and just try and sell them or dont use them...this is the main reason the majority of the lower level of the stadium is weak when it comes to team support. Hardcore fans cant spend 500 dollars a seat for tickets, so you have seats filled with traveling businessmen not even from SA, and fans who arrive at the second quarter and leave in the third because the only reason they are going to the game is to see or be seen.


The truth is, hardcore fans have been priced out of the games for so long, that they no longer even attempt to go. The uninformed ones assume there are no tickets, and the ones that know there are tickets dont want to spend 150 dollars to sit in the rafters for the night.

[Soul_Patch]

A lot of people did not pick up their option for playoffs tickets-- as well as those who did not purchase additional playoffs packages this year. There are really quite a considerable number of more tickets available for general purchase than in the past. The Spurs need to look long and hard at why their season ticket holders chose to sit out the playoffs.

Id be willing to guess, and this is just my opinion, that the reason this is happening is because the majority of season ticket holders these days dont really give a about the spurs.

I know the company i used to work for bought 6 season tickets every year somewhere down in the lower 100's. I used to go in and work on the Pres's PC and see the box sitting on or in his desk and drool over the thought of being able to go to these games. What is worse is 95% of the time they went to customers who didnt even care about the spurs or basketball, or they were just not even used at all and left empty.

Why would a corporation care about spending all that extra cash on the playoffs.

[2centsworth]

I will be so disappointed in this town if we don't sell out. I agree the spurs PR department sucks and I understand how the $9 hot dog and $6 beer puts a sour taste in your mouth, but still it's the WCF.

[ObiwanGinobili]

Toyota has some season tickets, and thye bought some x-tra playoff tickets.
they've been randomly handing them out to the employees...... god I wish Emo would "win" one! I'd use it myself and make him stay home with the kids!

[Mixability]

And I thought the "hardcore" fans were the ones who didn't have season tickets. If you sit in the lower section, you weren't a "true" fan. The nosebleeds have the best fans.

[MadDog73]

Toyota has some season tickets, and thye bought some x-tra playoff tickets.
they've been randomly handing them out to the employees...... god I wish Emo would "win" one! I'd use it myself and make him stay home with the kids!

Good point.

If my boss gave me a free ticket, I would go...

Come on, H-E-B, Toyota, Valero... spend some of your profits for the good of the city!

[leemajors]

I'm not sure what you mean by this.

It's very easy to get to - it's right off the freeway. Parking is very easy and much cheaper and closer to the arena than most other NBA facilities.



Does this mean halftime shows? Yes, they still suck

the last 2 times i went Valor and Quick Change were awesome! i could have sworn the curly haired dude from color me badd was in Valor.

[MoSpur]

I don't agree with the opinion that the true fans sit up in the nosebleeds. I do admit some of the rowdier fans sit up there, but there are a lot of hardcore fans down in the lower level. I just think the prices are too high. Tickets, food, drinks, and parking.

[SAtoDallas]

64 bucks apiece for the cheapest tickets available. If I could afford that plus a hotel room my ass would be driving down. We have free tickets to the rangers game on Wednesday and I'd definitely blow that off.

That's exactly what I paid for game six, our seats were the second to the last row. Plus we paid 95 dollars for two nights for a hotel. But if I lived in SA I spend the money again to see a WCF game.

[Sec24Row7]

I thought upper deck fans were the "REAL" spurs fan. Yet they can't even show up to the game?

That's the last i want to hear about the lower bowl being less enthusiastic about the game than the upper deck...

How big of a fan base can there be in the upper deck when you won't even buy all the tickets?


Case Closed.

[Soul_Patch]

These Fans cannot afford to spend over 100 dollars every other night for home games. just not doable.

maybe throw some of your money up in the rafters next game and we can all be happy.

[Sec24Row7]

I can't afford my ticket either... but I buy it...

[Extra Stout]

Tickets at Energy Solutions Arena are more expensive than their AT&T Center equivalents.

Salt Lake City and its environs are less affluent than San Antonio.

Games 3 and 4 sold out in 15 minutes.

The Jazz had 6 home games in the first two rounds, just like the Spurs.

Cut the excuses. San Antonio just has bad fans. $60 for a ticket is not bad at all for the Western Conference Finals, and I will be helping myself to Game 5. I never imagined I'd have the opportunity.

The team is SOOOOOOO gone from SA once these le runs are over. That building won't even be half full most nights.

[Soul_Patch]

Cut the excuses. San Antonio just has bad fans.

This is just ignorant. When you pay my bills, ill go ahead and give you the pleasure of telling me what i can and cannot afford.

[MoSpur]

I can't afford my ticket either... but I buy it...

Some people have higher priorities. You saying you can't afford it, but buy it doesn't sound too smart.

[Sec24Row7]

ROFL... overreaction forum..

[Sec24Row7]

Some people have higher priorities. You saying you can't afford it, but buy it doesn't sound too smart.

So i make cuts other places to go to spurs games?

Yah that's really stupid...

lol

[MoSpur]

I'd rather finish building my house than go cheer for the Spurs in person. Sorry if that makes me a bad fan. I seriously doubt that Tim, Manu, Tony, or any other player will fork over the $$$ I need to finish building the house.

[Soul_Patch]

I would love LOVE to have my student loans paid off, and my doctors bills gone. I dream about the day i can afford 2 season tickets in the lower levels.


Just not happening yet, so i wait.

It is very simple though. If you are having trouble selling tickets at a certain price, lower said price untill you reach an equilibrium.

anyway..i dont care if tickets were 2 dollars right now, i just spent 10k on wife's doctors, so im flat broke for a bit.

[Extra Stout]

This is just ignorant. When you pay my bills, ill go ahead and give you the pleasure of telling me what i can and cannot afford.

There are nearly 2 million people in San Antonio and the surrounding area. 18,000 seats represents less than 1% of the population. I'd imagine the upper 25% on the income scale of the San Antonio area can afford tickets. That means only 1 out of every 25 people who can afford tickets have to buy them for the game to sell out.

The Spurs just aren't a priority, I guess. I remember back in the day when the city would virtually shut down when Spurs playoffs games were on. People would give their left nut to be at the arena on game day.

In bandwagony Houston, people give up their Sundays to watch a perennially losing Texans team, and a middling Astros team, more readily than San Antonians will to watch their dynastic Spurs in the penultimate round of the playoffs.

If you're working class, this doesn't apply to you. Go to your venue of choice and enjoy yourself. It is the upper middle class and the wealthy who go to games, and in San Antonio, this part of the fan base apparently is the worst in the country.

Now I understand why Mav fan, and Laker fan, and Sun fan can get good seats, and drown out the home fans on occasion.

But working-class people get a pass no matter what. It's not your responsibility to bankrupt yourself buying tickets. Don't worry about it.

[The Go For 4]

Maybe many people are taking the WCF for granted and are saving up for Finals tickets, just a thought.

I agree with you.

[The_Worlds_finest]

Hey any of you jerk offs whinning about not selling out the att center go buy all the remaining tickets and give them out free since money is obviously no object..

[polandprzem]

where do you live? i'm referring to those who grew up in san antonio and are living in other cities because that's where their careers have taken them. there are quite a few in this forum who fit that bill.

I live in Poland

Poland is a country in Europe

[Nbadan]

Why pay all this money when you can watch the game close-up in HD at home for free or at your favorite pub for half the cost of a ticket?

[ploto]

Remember when only 2 years ago the tickets would be gone in 5 minutes and people would complain how it was so unfair that they could not get tickets? Where are all those people? I guess people wanted to play Dallas...

[Extra Stout]

I seriously wonder how many local so-called fans jumped off the bandwagon after Horry hip-checked that nice little white man.

[austinfan]

I agree with the others who've mentioned gas prices as a factor. They may not be the main reason, but they're an influence nevertheless, especially because summer hasn't even officially begun and you know they'll probably hit $3.50-4.00 before the public's outrage meter explodes.

And maybe I'm just not looking in the right places, but I rarely see the Spurs marketed here in Austin. We're only an hour's drive away, have tons--and I mean tons--of people with disposable incomes moving here from California and the Northeast, and don't have a pro franchise of our own. Why aren't these people being offered a package for an overnight stay of hotel/Spurs game/Riverwalk restaurant to gradually build up fan loyalty? It's not like they come here with a diehard attachment to the UT teams.

[Nbadan]

The NBA has a image problem, and its also reflected in TV viewer-ship. Nobody likes mediocrity. everyone wants to see the dominant team either win or get beat.

[MoSpur]

I simply can't afford to go to a game at this particular moment. End of story. I have a huge project on my hand that requires most of my money.

[MadDog73]

I seriously wonder how many local so-called fans jumped off the bandwagon after Horry hip-checked that nice little white man.

Really? You think that's the reason the games aren't selling out?

[Extra Stout]

The NBA has a image problem, and its also reflected in TV viewer-ship. Nobody likes mediocrity. everyone wants to see the dominant team either win or get beat.

But to have an "image" problem in San Antonio itself?

I guess maybe Popvich should call up another team and offer to trade Tim Duncan for some young, brash balla who will generate excitement and sell tickets. Because apparently contending for championship every year doesn't do the trick, so maybe a .500 team that scores a bunch of points will do better. Maybe he can give Don Nelson a call. Do you think Golden State fans would be interested in having Duncan on their team, as "boring" as he is?

[fyatuk]

You're a complete ing idiot if you can't see why 20 million people in a metro area will drive the prices up more for a 20 thousand seat arena than a metro area with 2 million people.

I"ll leave it at that.

You're also neglecting the standard of living, average salary, etc. SA is flat out smaller and poorer, etc. It really is a stupid comparison.

[fyatuk]

Lack of advertising, promotion, and prices all contribute to poor ticket sales.

From what I've seen, Holt has no interest in putting any real money into a decent advertising scheme.

Yup. When the Stars and Rampage are more heavily advertised than the Spurs, you know management is taking the fans for granted when it comes to ticket sales.

And I don't think the Stars and Rampage are given enough love in the advertisement gig.

[Extra Stout]

Really? You think that's the reason the games aren't selling out?

Well, there has to be some reason. The "waaah, tickets are too expensive, even though they're cheaper than in any other NBA market, and this is a one-horse town with no compe ion for the pro sports dollar" doesn't fly.

I can't believe my good fortune that I actually can get tickets to a Western Conference Finals game without needing connections. That shouldn't be possible. It is ridiculous.

Is it just that well-off San Antonians really don't care about the Spurs? Would a high-scoring team that barely qualifies for the playoffs, like Golden State, have wider appeal?

[maxpower]

I think there are alot of reasons that factor into why this is happening.



2. Prices of Tickets. I know there are tons of tickets on Ebay, StubHub, etc. But the original sales of tickets from Ticketmaster, is where the casual fan is going to start. Sorry, maybe some of you can afford $54 bucks for a seat half way up Club 200 for every home playoff game, but I can't. I got a damn good deal on my HD TV that I spent my entire tax return on and I'm going to get a of a lot of good use out of it. I can see the action way better on my TV than I ever could at the ATT, and having friends over is just as good as any playoff experience in an arena (sans The Finals).



4. Prices of The Game Experience. Let's say we spend that $54 per ticket. That's about $120 with taxes and "convenience" charges for two people. Cheapest parking is $8 (I'm not sure if that's still right, I haven't been to a game since last season.) Then if you want a soda or beer that's what like $6 to $7 (so $14 for two people, and that's just one beverage). God forbid you want to eat at the game (easily $25 for two people). And these silly vendors don't even take credit/debit cards for pete's sake! You could easily spend $150-$175 for ONE game. That's ing insane!


I love the Spurs to death but if they want to put the blame entirely on the Spurs being "spoiled" or "lazy" or whatever that's there prerogative. I just think they just take these factors into consideration before they go throwing all this blame on us.

A friend who has bought/priced tickets for the spurs first 2 series told me the same seats she bought last round were bumped
$20 this round. And this is up in the 200 level maybe in the 10-13 row towards the center. I don't know about you but that is quite a jump. I bought tix there last series for about $35. Add Ticketscalper fees and each ticket was $43. Unfortunately there is no alternative for casual fans and I can see how they would be turned off.

While the experience there is great. You can't overlook the draw of the hi-def experience with friends, food and drink...for much much less.

[MadDog73]

Yup. When the Stars and Rampage are more heavily advertised than the Spurs, you know management is taking the fans for granted when it comes to ticket sales.

And I don't think the Stars and Rampage are given enough love in the advertisement gig.

WTF? Are your serious?

You think there are Spus fans in San Antonio who don't know there is a game tonight?