"Rowdy fans not used to live hockey"

Found over on Puck Daddy today, a bit by Steven Ovadia about rowdy fans in proportion to ticket prices.

The problem is that tickets to sporting events, especially post-season sporting events, are very, very expensive. When people buy tickets to these kinds of events, it usually represents a lot of their money. And people want to get their money's worth. So you see fans getting drunk, either at the game or before the game, to help ensure they have a good time.

Going to games (hockey and otherwise) used to be a casual thing. It wasn't much different than going to a movie. Fans didn't go crazy at games because it just wasn't that big a deal. It wasn't a unique experience. It wasn't something you do just once or twice a season.

Now, for lots of fans, it's just not feasible to regularly attend games. And so when fans do get to attend a game, they often end up so excited, they make poor choices, whether drinking too much or trashing someone's car because it has Quebecois plates.

You see the difference when you sit in a season tickets holders section. Season ticket holders usually are pretty even keeled. I've never sat in a season ticket section and seen anyone conspicuously drunk or acting out. I think it's because they're used to regularly attending games. They know they'll be back at the arena soon, so they don't feel a compulsion to make the most of every second they're watching a game.

For the most part I agree with this, season ticket holders in general are a more subdued group.  Don't get me wrong, season ticket holders are some of the most passionate fans, but as mentioned, we know we'll be back.  Though I'll say, when we had to give up our seats to make room for TV cameras, we sat near some season ticket holders that were ... less than pleasant.  I know they're an exception, but still.  Made for a miserable game (didn't help that the boys lost).

But while the fans are often paying a high price for tickets, the NHL is also paying a high price: It's cultivating a generation of hockey fans who don't know how to behave at a hockey game.

The NHL, and sports in general, has always had some kind of drunk/rowdy fan component. That's never going to disappear. But the recent cases of fans acting out, at NHL games, but also at other sporting events, is only going to get worse unless teams make a commitment to making games affordable to the average fan. 

Obviously, this is an idealistic view.  Professional athletes make millions of dollars and teams need ticket sales to generate revenue for operating costs and salaries.  An amateur team like the Americans don't have to deal with the player salary aspect of it they are still a business that needs to generate revenue.

That being said, I don't believe the ticket prices for the Americans are outrageous.  I know there were some who were upset that walk-up prices increased with each round of the playoffs (by a dollar).  As a STH I had my playoff ticket packages so didn't bother me, plus I'm not wanting to bring my family of 4 (who will also want pizza, donuts, sodas, etc).  Still seemed like a flimsy complaint to me, but whatever.

Another thing people need to realize is that the Toyota Center is not the Americans' building.  They use it.  It's the City of Kennewick's building.  So if you want changes, talk to the city.  Hell, I'd settle for soap dispensers in the restrooms that work.

It all comes out in the wash.  Frankly I'm not going to look up ticket prices for other WHL teams.  I know the AMS are waaaayyyyy cheaper than going to a Winterhawks game.  Which is ridiculous for that shithole Memorial Coliseum.  But one advantage is that we don't have to pay for parking.  I know that doesn't seem like much, but it adds up.  Thirty-six regular season home games, $2 a game for parking (which is what it used to be), that's $72 over the course of the season, not including pre-season or playoffs.  Currently that cost is built in to the price of the tickets, and I think it's less than $2.  

Going full circle, it's an interesting viewpoint concerning the NHL, not really applicable at the junior level.  There are plenty of (overly) rowdy non-STH fans that come to the games (and buy their kids those goddamn horns) and that's great, the team and the sport needs those fans too.  I don't think lowering ticket prices would in any way be sound economic decision for the Americans.

I'm also not entirely sure if any of this post made sense, that article just caught my eye and I've been neglecting this baby.  I'll try to actually get some player recaps done this weekend.