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I think a lot of the well-off San Antonians already have tickets and those are the natives. Most upper middle-class transplants could care less, im afraid.
Extra Stout. I will give you one thing.
I DO think it a large majority of people find it a lot more appealing and exciting to root for the "up and coming underdog" vs the "tried and true ho/hum always win champs"
These probably can account for some of the lack in sales, but these are not really the true fans imho, just people who love to watch a scrapper break the odds.
But couple that with all the other factors, and you see what we get.
I think a lot of the well-off San Antonians already have tickets and those are the natives. Most upper middle-class transplants could care less, im afraid.
I don't think is has anything to do with Spurs fans finding their team "boring."
Several possibilities: Our city has become jaded. We're "used" to Spurs being in playoffs, so people who would normally buy WCF tickets are waiting for the Finals?
People really are poorer now than in the past.
Or people don't want to watch the Spurs play the Jazz. It really may be that simple.
People not selling out games, leaving before the game is over...
If it was Spurs vs Mavericks, we would not be having this discussion.
Yep, I blame SPURS marketing for not joing other NBA teams in the "blackout, white out or silver out themes....everyone else is doing it.....
and when is it the right time to get a YOUNGER more enthusiastic PA guy? I've been to a game or two and its gotten to a point where u wish the guy would do the spurs a favor by rolling over and playing dead , since the SPURS WON't do anything about it
People really underestimate the effect that the ridiculous gas prices are having on the economy.
peoples yearly salaries are decreasing every day they decide it needs to be higher.
I am actually somewhat good friends with the VP of spurs marketing / public relations.
We play cards about once or twice a week, when he isn't out of town.
He is an old fart though and has been with the organization for quite a while.
trip him up when he's heading down the stairs.....
or maybe some marketing classes at UTSA might help
what's the ticket count?
I agree. But honestly from what i can sqeak out of him (he never really gets into talking business much) is that his main focus at least is on the corporate clients. Now that is not to say people under him aren't more intuned to the every day sports fan, but man LP has some insane stories about whining and dining big clients in Vegas for the Allstar game and i think he also mentioned dropping big $$ for some folks in Miami for one of their games there.
ID kill for that job
salt lake city can't make flautas worth a .
So, bottom line, it really doesn't matter financially for the Spurs if the upper level is not sold out.
It just looks bad?
It's sad, but I think it's because Spurs fan hit that emotional high somebody previously mentioned with the Suns series.
I was working in the newsroom the night the Spurs closed out the Suns (at about 11:00-ish). I got out of work at 12:15 a.m. and tried to head home by getting on 37-South by the Alamodome, but I was blocked off at Commerce by SAPD and forced to go right.
Why, you ask?
Spurs fans were celebrating by driving through downtown, honking their horns and such like this was the NBA Championship.
While I was waiting at one light (being held to let traffic through), I spoke with one of the police officers and I asked him if they expected this and he flat out said, "No."
Don't get me wrong, San Antonio is always looking for an excuse to party, but celebrating a return to glory win against the Suns (getting back to the WCF) like it's O'Brien #4 is simply weak.
i said so. the championship is over. the spurs won. the are you all trying to do with this jazz team?
the NBA playoffs peaked early.
case closed.
I honestly haven't seen LP since the playoffs started, moreso cause im broke and not going to play poker
Their cash cows are the luxury suites and the 20's. Those are the guys that invest a lot of money into the organization in more ways than ticket sales.
They do have people devoted to these concerns though, it just isnt top priority.
I hate it...i really do. One of my biggest gripes about todays sports teams and even big named music acts is that they price out the real hardcore do or die fans.
but...a business is a business.
it, more tickets for me
I also think the scalpers might be having a big effect. As I drove in for the game Sunday I easily drove past 15 people waving around 4 tickets each. Earlier that day TM didn't have any decent upper level tix left; they were all out on the street while people sat at home wishing they had tickets. I know playoff tix are expensive but maybe some drink and food specials would bring more people in. I mean a free hot dog to the first 500 people in the door could mean more families could afford to put out for the tickets.
Scalpers = tickets sold.
We're not talking about empty seats, we're talking about unsold seats.
The even sadder part: to true NBA fans, the Jazz are a great team.
Let me preface this by saying I don't really hate any team or player in any sports (I could probably count them on one hand).
Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer are two of my favorite guys to watch play. Mehmet Okur is great because when he's on, he can kill you from 19' + and that's a good damn team in the visiting locker room.
Truth be told, the Spurs simply aren't the status symbol they are in other cities (IE: Mavericks fan bringing that up when talking about their crowds).
While I will acknowledge the rising price of tickets and costs of living (which is why I'm working tonight covering one of the other professional franchises in town), some Spurs fans have become complacent.
There isn't just one factor causing this, though. It's a combination of many that are resulting in these blocks of tickets going unsold (because while people would notice the empties if they were there, had the Spurs reported a sell-out, this discussion wouldn't be happening).
if spurs did a blackout would they sell out?
You know what's funny...I pray it's not that easy to get this game sold out.
who knows, but better marketing rather than blaming the fans would do it ...I support the spurs as much as I can! (afford) ...t-shirts, mugs, tickets etc. But to blame the FANS is wrong. I ask myself everyday. Why do we invest the money, the time, and the finger nail biting, th hoarse voices and the thrash talking for the spurs...A fan shows their support in many ways not just in the SEATS!
you know maybe they could lower their prices to regular season
and people would still have some money
gas also is alot more then what it is
what does the average person in sa make?
how far does he have to drive to go to work?
I know a guy that pays $3.60 per gallon for gas
he has to work 3 days to pay for gas out of 14
Guys, it's not money. Really.
If this was Spurs vs Mavs, this place would be SOLD OUT (and not just because of MavFans, although that would help).
Hmm, maybe SLC needs to offer free airfare to SA?
Wow.
1. Where is he buying gas?
2. What kind of car does he drive?
hey, if there are hardcore fans who can afford it then yeah, get your ass to the at&t tonight.
do you also realize that people bought houses on loans when people thought interst rates would never go up
I say on tv the guys loan is going to go from 1600 a month to 2200 a month
lives in caGuys, it's not money. Really.
If this was Spurs vs Mavs, this place would be SOLD OUT (and not just because of MavFans, although that would help).
Hmm, maybe SLC needs to offer free airfare to SA?
Wow.
1. Where is he buying gas?
2. What kind of car does he drive?
not sure
but that is what he spends on gas and his wife
wife works
he has to work 2 days to pay for their babysitter though to
Yes, my elderly moms is about 25miles (one way) because gas is 3$ a gallon I reluctantly have to put off the daily visits. (and like other americans own like the biggest gas guzzler suv)...my husband has to work a full day to make money for gas for a week...thats how dumb it has gotten! THIS IS THE USA....we're not supposed be getting screw'd we are the ONES that are supposed to b doing the srewing....
Dam if i had a scratch ticket and hit it ..I would starve just to watch the SPURS play!!!!
Did I say that? Spurs don't do anything to drum up excitement anymore. When i started watching basketball (granted, I started watching right when Admiral came in), I nearly got sick of all the commercials for the Spurs I'd see.
I haven't seen anything advertising or trying to get the city pumped for the Spurs in years.
Advertising is NOT all about making sure people know there's a game and how to buy tickets, it's about generating an atmosphere about it. The Spurs no longer try in that regard.
And just for a laugh. A person in the elevator today asked if the Spurs were playing tonight. And then who they were playing.
No, the people are not cheap, they are poor. Half the city can't afford to go to the playoff games.
Also the Jazz are not a highly marketable team to s out big bucks to go see. Even if it is the conference finals. Its not like the spurs have never gotten there before.
If it was the first time for the spurs the excitement level would be higher and there would be no problem with sellouts.
Last edited by rascal; 05-22-2007 at 11:34 AM.
I wouldn't say poor either...but the CHOICES we are confronted with make it hard......gas for the car to go to work or a SPURS ticket....? hmmmmmm and about that person saying the spurs don't generate the excitement is very true....other than the Tim Duncan HEB commercials where is all marketing at?
Just a couple of notes at approximately 11:30, Tuesday AM.
1. The cheapest price on spurs.com for 2 tickets: $174 each plus fees.
2. There are 614 tickets available on ticket exchange, only 144 of which are under $100.
So not only are there unsold seats, there are seats competing with the unsold seats. And this doesn't include ebay and others reselling.
Does this have any bearing on anything? I don't know. I was just curious as to what's available.
as for the jazz, they were handing out free t-shirts to 'paint the energy solutions arena blue' in the 2nd round. i'd also suppose that the salt lake city msa has a larger number of white collar professionals pulling down large salaries than in the san antonio one. the spurs do a ty job marketing their team up the I-35 corridor when, as mentioned above, they could promote the team well in san marcos and austin. the spurs definitely feel en led to a sold out arena enough that they have jacked up ticket prices for the wcf and have done jack to promote the game. plus when you go all i see is holt's hand out looking for more and more $.
In 2000, the mean income of the wealthiest 20% of San Antonians was $119,000.
That was seven years ago. San Antonio is wealthier now, and the dollar has been devalued. My best guesstimate is that they are averaging $140,000 now.
Are all the rich people driving Hummer H2's that get 7 mpg? Is that why gas prices are keeping so many people from buying tickets?
I couldn't agree with this take more. The season ticket holders will be there, but those up in the rafters, as Kori pointed out, are going to be feeling the pinch of paying higher prices with each round. I don't think this series has sex appeal to the Spurs fans YET, and my guess is the masses would rather just watch these initial games against Utah from their own homes or at a bar or party with friends. If the series is 2-2 coming back to San Antonio, for example, I bet the place sells out. But at 1-0 against Utah, the masses, i.e. the casual limited-knowledge fans, are going to save their bucks. Many fans will budget for one, MAYBE two playoff games live. I'm sure the vast majority are assuming that the Spurs will get by Utah, then there will be a mad rush for the Finals tickets.
I just hope to the Spurs are not getting jinxed or something. Utah will NOT be a pushover. Utah is an outstanding home team, and all they have to do is take care of business at home and the Spurs are in danger of elimination in seven. , if Utah steals tonights game, I'll be concerned.
Last edited by GrandeDavid; 05-22-2007 at 11:47 AM. Reason: spell correction
They mentioned this on ESPN first take this morning about a lot of unsold tickets for tonight as well. It is crappy enough that Spurs fans have to deal with the perception of being boring as a team but now people can rag on them for their own city not even loving them.
http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/saipe/saipe.cgi
est median household income in salt lake county was $50,420 in 2004.
est median household income in bexar county was $38,832 in 2004.
You guys are really hung up on this free cheap T-shirt thing.
Is this really what's keeping people away?
ESPN needs to learn how to MARKET their products too!
That would be idiotic on so many levels.
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