It could be worse. We could affix ourselves to political parties like we do sport teams and have similarly high expectations. Pick any party. It'll be just as big of a let down.
I'm a season ticket holder and I won't be renewing my seats next year for the following reasons: -The main benefit of season tickets is playoff rights - which evaporates if you're not going to the playoffs. -It's much harder to resell tickets when the team is doing poorly if you have to miss a game. -I am sick and tired of having to buy preseason games. I had to buy 2 pairs of preseason games this year (about $400 total) along with my regular season games. -When the team is struggling, the ticket office slashes single game prices. Why should I pay full price for season tickets (minus a very small season ticket holder discount) when, the next thing you know, you can buy a 20 game pack for $99? Or enter a promo code to get half off tickets anywhere in the arena (which I've seen at least twice already this season)? -Tickets are much easier to be had, and had for a bargain, on craiglsist when the team is doing poorly. You almost always get better seats for your dollar. Why? Because season ticket holders are selling their tickets for bargains for all the reasons I listed above! I am a die hard fan, and I never miss a game. But next year I will not miss a lot more games from my couch. Edit: I shouldn't say I will be attending less games next year. I can see myself going to just as many, if not more (split season tickets so I don't go to every game) because of the good deals I mentioned above. It just doesn't make very good financial sense to me to be a season ticket holder when the team isn't playing well.
I'm a STH, and will be renewing. I haven't gone to many this season, because of a new baby, and it definitely makes it tougher to sell games when they are struggling, since you usually rely on fair weather people to buy them after the fact. But so be it. We might move from our current seats to a slightly cheaper set, but otherwise, I like being a season ticket holder. It's a sacrifice out of our budget that we make for a team we love, and it's tough when things are going bad, but it's still going to root on my team. I still like the players, and will go to watch them and cheer for them regardless.
Because of grad school the past two years I haven't been able to afford season tickets, but now that I'm finally done and making some good money I plan to buy at least a half season package next year. I'm pretty hopeful I'll be able to get some sweet seats so I can get a great look at Kyrie Irving, Terrence Jones or Enes kanter next year.
I will not be thinking less of the fans that give them up for financial reasons though. Atleast for me, a strong resale market is critical for me putting a large amount of money into tickets. Still renewing for the following reasons: 1. New trade policy. They put a grade on each game and allow even swaps or upgrades between those games. The only thing that this is dependant on is selling a few of the bad games. Have not had to eat a ticket yet this year and only have a pair for the Orlando game to sell for the rest of this month. 2. % discount dependant on # of years being a season ticket holder. Even if it is a pair in the $10 tans, I want to get that huge discount for being a 20 yr season ticket holder. 3. Team experiences and swag The team has had some duds, but most have been excellent. Got to go to the first press conference to announce Martell and JJ, bowl with Sergio, chat with Brian Grant, and a closet full of Blazer clothing. Taking my kids to the holiday event next weekend and the pre-game chalktalk (they called and offered it for free) before the Clippers. My friends get a tour of the practice facility plus go to the pregame shotaround before the doors open. There are others, but you get the idea. Will just say that ticket sales are always tough before the holidays. Having a losing team makes it worse. Do not get locked into thinking you will not renew because Nov and Dec are rough. It will get better and I expect the team is going to make sure season ticket holders enjoy this season.
Did not get the return on my Orlando tickets that I had hoped, but my Laker tickets sold today for a big enough profit to afford six individual games for free. Do not have another ticket unsold until January. I still love you bandwagoners!
I would trade every player we have for the 15 healthiest, non-injured, athletic players with good FG% history. THEN, I'd hire a coach. Every player we have is either injured, slowed by age, unhappy to be here, lazy on D, or a backup at best. I see nothing concrete to build around at all. In an amazing display shortsightedness Larry Miller completely traded away this team's identity. There's very little worth salvaging. If LaMarcus was more of a vocal leader he could be the one. He will have a long career.
No. I am just wondering when you think Miller took over at GM and destroyed this team. Was it the Camby trade? T. Outlaw and Blake were both backups. Despite Outlaw getting a big contract and more minutes, his production has not been stellar. Blake is still the same Blake in LA. Was it the Martell trade where Minnesota regretted it so much they filed a greivance with the league? Was it the Bayless trade, that ended up with him being dealt again almost immediately?
Who is it you think is so bad? Outlaw (starter), Blake, and Webster (later injured) immediately became key players on their new teams. Looking at Bayless' per-minute stats in Toronto, I see he's doing well.
What is this ridiculous nonsense about trying to get out of season tickets ASAP? There is no refund on tickets if a season doesn't go as planned, which leads me to believe the OP is making all of this crap up.
Went to the Chalk Talk as a bonus tonight. Talked with Dale Schlueter (sp?) and got his autograph. Won a signed Nic Batum ball. Would have scored big getting a signed B Roy shoe if I had known the youngest players on the team (Elliot and Luke have the same B Day). I only guessed Elliot. Lucked out at the game as well, scoring two Nutcracker tickets from the blimp envelope drops. It is a great day to be a Blazer!
Unemployment rate has little to do with it. The Rose Garden only seats 20,000. The metro area has a few million. Season tickets aren't primarily sold to the unemployed. barfo
I got out last year for a) ridiculous price increases, b) team not getting me playoff tickets (they "apologized", but I didn't get tickets), c) it's not worth a 7hr round trip drive on top of the 5k a year to get frustrated at poor play. I can do that on my couch, DVR'd, so I can do something else with my evening and watch it at my leisure. Totally random statement: I wish Barrett would just shut up about the shot clock. We get it.
I can certainly understand that, since I am at the very most a 30 minute round trip drive and I still prefer to do it on my couch. With the supermodels. barfo
Love with 33 and 15 last night against NYK. 3-5 from behind the arc. He's now averaging 20 and 15 and shooting 40% from downtown.
