Saint Paul attendance question

[Lonewolf]

On Thursday and Sunday, last week, Williams’s Arena had a packed stadium for Gophers women’s basketball games. Although the Men’s basketball team was on the road, many loyal fans would have stayed at home to watch the game. This is also the case for the Minnesota Timberwolves (maybe not – bad season). There are also lots of other activities such such as the Guthrie Theatre and Historic State Theatre. There are scores of multiplex movie theaters in the Twin Cities. There is also the Mall of America. For those who are winter sport enthusiasts, there are several ski slopes including Buck Hill and Afton Alps Ski Areas. As you can see there are a lot of activities going on in the Twin Cities, many of which are more affordable to a family of four than the tickets for Nationals. Lastly, both St. Paul and Minneapolis are commuter cites, thus they empty out in the evening and on weekends, since most people live in the outer ring of suburbs (Outside of the 694-494 interstate loop). Many of these people would prefer activities closer to home than have to drive into St. Paul. These are just some possible reasons why attendance was down this year.

 

[sillylionlove]

I think that there are other factors that are involved. If you have to come from out of town you have to pay for the tickets, the way you are getting there and the logding and of course you have to eat. I think that for some people they just can't afford something like this.

 

[Tinymavy15]

when I saw the events on TV, it looked like a full house. Much better attendance than the GP!

 

[Tonichelle]

Mavy - our section (the one with the judges) was very bare all week

most of the people who were in teh lower bowl were not sitting in the seats they bought... a lot came from the boxes and the second and third levels...

even the final flight of ladies weren't THAT full....

I talked to several rink people and they said that the tickets were sold, but the tickets weren't ever scanned in, meaning the people didn't come... if someone was trying to send a message by not showing up it really didn't work because the USFSA still got the $$ LOL... the excell was way over staffed as they were expecting many more people than were in attendance.


I won't be going to Cleveland, or any other nationals, for a very long time. The USFSA were not fan friendly in the LEAST this year (Best Western Kelly Inn was going to offer a free shuttle to and from the arena for the event and the USFSA/organizing comittee said NO, among other things that annoyed me) and the politiking is just too obvious....

If I do attend any more skating events it will be in Canda or it will be a show... I just don't have the $$ to throw around for the USFSA.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

The ladies and men's short programs were not sold out and there were quite a few seats open. However, on Saturday morning there were 10,000 in attendance to watch the bottom group of ladies in their long program. For the pairs skate and for the free dance and ladies long program, the arena was almost full as you could see on the tv coverage.

In my 6 years of attending Nationals, there has never, repeat never, been much interest in total figure skating. It's expensive to buy all event tickets and travel to the different venues. The Nationals are an American thing and judging by the comments on forums, Ladies is the only division which will garner a big crowd. Skate Dance, Mens and Pairs seem to follow in that order but not nearly as active as Ladies. One thing about this past Nationals that produced interest in attending was the rivalry between the 2 leading men. Otherwise is was Ladies.

Olympic goers will get a ticket to all 4 disciplines because they are at night. I don't know of any 'games' at night except figure skating. Maybe hockey.

As to forum viewers, if their all time favorite skater is no longer active in the Sport, there is little to write about for them. It is now in a new era.

Joe

 

[Tonichelle]

I don't think that Nationals are just an American thing... unless you mean that it's really only getting American people in attendance (but that's not accurate either, I met quite a few Canadians this week lol)...

I do think it is too expensive and that's the main drawback. I did the math and I could have gone to Disney World during the same time as this nationals and SAVED money.... so, yeah... that makes a difference.

 

[gsrossano]

Speaking of attendance and future Nationals, here's one for you that has yet to be announced (I think).

NBC is "suggesting" to USFSA that Nationals adopt an Olympics type schedule -- either spreading it out over two weeks, or holding it on two weekends. For example half the events on one Thurs-Sun and then the second half on the following Thurs-Sun. The idea (I think) is to get more live prime time weekend broadcasts out of the event.

Would this be a great idea, or the end of out of town spectators?

With current ticket prices, all the performances available on FrozenWaterGroupOfBroadcasters.com (you know the web site whose name must not be spoken) for $30 per year, and now spreading it out over two weeks will anyone be motivated to make the trip to Nationals in the future?

 

[Eddie Lee]

.I won't be going to Cleveland, or any other nationals, for a very long time. The USFSA were not fan friendly in the LEAST this year (Best Western Kelly Inn was going to offer a free shuttle to and from the arena for the event and the USFSA/organizing comittee said NO, among other things that annoyed me) and the politiking is just too obvious....

My next trips will be to Los Angeles World's and Vancouver Olympics. In the meantime, I do hope USFS get's rid of its antiquated (egotistical) method of ticket selling which seems to say "Send me your bucks early and I'll get you the best available seats on a first-come basis. By the way, it might be December before you'll receive them and find out just what those big bucks bought. Just trust us"!

Example: Last year, for Spokane, we signed on late with a Travel Agency and knew where our seats would be: Section 117, Row R, I believe. A couple of days into the competition, a couple from Spokane who had been sitting behind us, asked when we had ordered our tickets. When we told them only recently, they were aghast. They had bought theirs in Spokane on the first day all-event tickets had gone on sale!

We all know that USFS holds choice seats for Travel Agencies. And local/national business promoters. Same with rooms in major hotels in vicinty of the arena. By the time these are doled out, skating fans shell out their cash for the left-overs. And as indicated by others, some of these big time sponsors with tickets may never show up to the event. Or maybe they'll show up for Ladies Final, only. Meanwhile their seats are unused for all the other events, unavailable to us diehard fans. I might add that for some of the St. Paul events, the ushers would allow ticket holders to move up to vacant seats nearer the ice provided they would surrender the seat to the ticket holder if he showed up later.

Sparse attendance might force changes. In the meantime, we'll probably continue going, hell or high water!

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I signed up for St.Paul when I was in Spokane. I did get a choice seat because I demanded the section I like to be in (50 yd line). However, the entire row in front of me was open for late commers to the Arena who wanted to see the 'show' otherwise that section was for VIPs and volunteers.

All theatres including those in Lincoln Center hold VIP seats. That's standard.

grossano - Agree. Why get into that expense if it is spread over two weeks? That is why I do not go to the Olys. If NBC wins this type of contract, I hope they show all the divisions LIVE on TV with all the competitors. It will save me a lot of money to sit home and watch the two weekends of TV. I doubt any American network would be so gratious without high ratings.

And, I will miss the tension in the Arena.

tonichelle - Yes there were Canadians there, and Americans travel to Canada to watch their Nationals, but how many Germans flew into St. Paul, not to mention Koreans?

Joe

 

[Mathman]

With current ticket prices, all the performances available on FrozenWaterGroupOfBroadcasters.com (you know the web site whose name must not be spoken)...

All is forgiven with our good friends at FrozenWater now. Note their banner at the top of the Golden Skate page.