Bridgeport 'offers' highest prices of any region

[pap49cba]

Rich with the details

 

[FairView]

So for a family of four going to one session tickets alone are just over $200. Add in parking, meal before or after, food at the arena, parking .... you're dropping $300. For lots of families, that's a deal breaker. One other ticket note ... if you're thinking of Kingston and you don't like the end seats in the 200 level that are showing up online now, you can call and order center court on the 300 level by phone. They were very helpful in seat selection.

 

[alexrgct]

Who wants to pay $50 to see UConn obliterate PV A&M? What an asinine decision. I realize Fairfield has no motivation to do anything but maximize profits (which doesn't necessarily mean pack the house with UConn fans), but I think there is a lower price point that would increase attendance and lead to greater revenues.

 

[Wonkster]

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The halcyon days for women's basketball attendance are over.

A hefty majority of fans I personally know simply can't see a reason to leave their house to watch the game live. They figure that they're already paying Cablevision or DirectTV for the service, and their 50 inch HDTV set has a gorgeous picture, so why leave home?

The price of the tickets is not the #1 factor any more. They could give them away, and it wouldn't make that much difference. Reasonably priced HDTV sets represent a paradigm shift for sporting events. Falling attendance is happening all over the country, across many sports.
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[alexrgct]

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The days of wine and roses are over. A hefty majority of fans I personally know simply can't see a reason to leave their house to watch the game live. They figure that they're already paying Cablevision or DirectTV for the service, and their 50 inch HDTV set has a gorgeous picture, so why leave home?

The price of the tickets is not the #1 factor any more. They could give them away, and it wouldn't make that much difference. Reasonably priced HDTV sets represent a paradigm shift for sports events, and it's happeneing all over, across many sports.
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Wonk, I think you've absolutely identified an issue with live event attendance, but you can't just dismiss the pricing issue or say HDTV is the be all, end all. As an anecdotal example, the USF game drew more than 13,000 this season despite being a comparably uninteresting opponent as will be in Bridgeport. And the Bridgeport location should attract coastal fans who are loathe to drive to Hartford, much less Storrs. Like USF, there's a Saturday afternoon game, which is a famil-friendly time. So, what's different? The HDTV situation hasn't changed appreciably since late January.

• Pricing. They totally screwed the pooch here by charging too much for single-game tix. The hope was presumably that by making single-game tix artificially expensive, it would entice people to buy the three-game package. Here's the problem- the Monday game is the better opponent, but the less fan-friendly time. There are all sorts of more creative pricing schemes they could have looked at to entice people to come, but instead they went with a scheme that a) doesn't exactly take a rocket scientist to see through, and b) a lot of people simply can't afford to pay.
• The ESPN3 experience. On Saturday, there are going to be a ton of games going on at once. Maybe some fans would rather stay home, watch the UConn game on TV, and have other games on their computers. That's an option that's less available during the regular season.
• The men's tourney. Hey, that's going on too. But that doesn't explain the drops versus 2004 and 2008.
• Unseasonably warm weather? Don't laugh. It's going to be beautiful out this weekend. That reduces the number of people who want to attend an indoor sporting event.

 

[DaddyChoc]

always cheaper to buy "the package" early... BET 99.00 for ALL games compared to 25.00-30.00 per game if you wanted to see just UConn games.

I think I paid 75.00 for the 1st & 2nd round of the NCAA's held in Hartford a few years back (Maryland, Harvard & UConn).

 

[DaddyChoc]

if you get emails directly from the XL Center (talking about UConn reg. season games now) I think you could save on fees that way also. Build a relationship with the agent, info on file and they'll personal take care of you.. and there's no fee cause you're not using the "online service", its almost like walking up to the window.

 

[Blueballer]

Typical.
Zone pricing for gas and Zone pricing for basketball.
They think everyone in CT is rich.

 

[Wonkster]

.... the Bridgeport location should attract coastal fans who are loathe to drive to Hartford, much less Storrs. Like USF, there's a Saturday afternoon game, which is a family-friendly time. So, what's different? The HDTV situation hasn't changed appreciably since late January.

Ya think so?

I phoned 6 fans I know who live within 20 miles of Harbor Yard, or whatever they're calling it this week. Precisely ONE of them is going to Bridgeport to watch the game; the others are planning on watching it at home. I was shocked. You'd be shocked, too, if I told you their names. They ALL have HDTV sets.

It ain't televison, as such - attendance and prices were climbing in the mid-1990's while CPTV showed every game, but many people didn't have 50" TV's with high def, picture-perfect screens until display component prices dropped in the last few years.

UConn sports (and every other school, too) is facing an existential challenge. Some fresh thinking is mandatory or things will just keep getting worse.
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[mr006]

Tickets for the first rounds at Bpt in 2008 were $58, so it's only $4 more this year, but doing the math, I guess it does work out to a 7% increase. As DC says, it was even more for the same rounds in Hartford. But if they don't get a last minute surge in ticket sales, the price might be coming down in the future, cuz Fairfield (or Sacred Heart, or Hartford U) could host it - in their own gym . Yeah, the halcyon days are over.

BTW, not sure about the parking fees for BB, but when we went to see hockey at Harbor Yard this year, the parking fee had gone from $5 to $10.

 

[Wonkster]

... when we went to see hockey at Harbor Yard this year, the parking fee had gone from $5 to $10.

Lovely - did they provide a free car wash while you were inside the Arena watching the game?
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Sent by my 'RRHOID COLONIC using Crapatalk
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[DaddyChoc]

Ya think so?

I phoned 6 fans I know who live within 20 miles of Harbor Yard, or whatever they're calling it this week. Precisely ONE of them is going to Bridgeport to watch the game; the others are planning on watching it at home. I was shocked. You'd be shocked, too, if I told you their names. They ALL have HDTV sets.

It ain't televison, as such - attendance and prices were climbing in the mid-1990's while CPTV showed every game, but many people didn't have 50" TV's with high def, picture-perfect screens until display component prices dropped in the last few years.

UConn sports (and every other school, too) is facing an existential challenge. Some fresh thinking is mandatory or things will just keep getting worse.
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now I dont feel so bad when I mention that Im 5 minutes away from the XL Center and didnt attend the UConn vs U of WeGetStompedOften games!

 

[ASweet3781]

Different times. You can watch games on HD TV's in your living room for free or on the internet.

Quite frankly if you want higher attendance for the NCAA games the BET is gonna have to leave Hartford for a couple years. Too much postseason basketball options to pay for in CT. It would be a shame if we don't have a loud large crowd for the girls in Kingston as those games are even more important than the BET.

 

[Icebear]

No one has mentioned that with the regional in Kingston there is, also, motivation for folks to skip the first rounds for better games within a very reasonable drive. Limited dollars available go for the upgrade.

 

[DaddyChoc]

No one has mentioned that with the regional in Kingston there is, also, motivation for folks to skip the first rounds for better games within a very reasonable drive. Limited dollars available go for the upgrade.

not when you live in the BPort area... diehard fans knew this long ago, especially when the Huskies dont play in at area much. They beg for games down there (didnt care against whom) now show up.

Fairfield area residents dont have a spare 200.00 is hard to believe.

HDTV and Comfort is key to the drop in attendance

 

[Icebear]

Didn't mean it was everyone, DC, but I don't care where one lives there are always those who will need to make that decision. That would include plenty in Bridgeport, plus a lot of Fairfield County money has always gone to NYC for pro sports.

 

[jsloanjr]

When will they learn to stop gauging the UCONN fans.......Geno is right, let someone else fill the seats and let UCONN sshow up an enjoy the weekend. Why we got into this mess again next season.......Have every game on TV is the problem and the solution to fans with less $$$ to spend and no travel expenses....

 

[alexrgct]

Again- if it's about HDTVs, why did a crappy USF game draw 13,000 this January? The HDTV effect on live attendance is a real issue. But a terrible game in Hartford drew 13,000 a month and a half ago. What's the difference?

 

[alexrgct]

When will they learn to stop gauging the UCONN fans.......Geno is right, let someone else fill the seats and let UCONN sshow up an enjoy the weekend. Why we got into this mess again next season.......Have every game on TV is the problem and the solution to fans with less $$$ to spend and no travel expenses....

UConn has no say in Farfield bidding on the games. It does have a say on its own bidding, and UConn decided to bid on opening rounds for next year because a) they're losing a couple of home games due to the Bahamas tournament, and b) even if attendance won't be great for those games, they'll still make some money. They have the facility, thy have the parking lots, might as well use them.

 

[alexrgct]

Didn't mean it was everyone, DC, but I don't care where one lives there are always those who will need to make that decision. That would include plenty in Bridgeport, plus a lot of Fairfield County money has always gone to NYC for pro sports.

Absolutely, Ice. With four games in New England over the course of nine days, and the better games being cheaper (albeit harder to get to), it's quite possible the two venues are cannibalizing each other's business a bit.

 

[pap49cba]

Rich with a few more comparisons....

"Lowest all-session is $27 (Nashville), avg. $47.91; Lowest single game is $16 (Baton Rouge/Nashville), avg. $22.09."

 

[DaddyChoc]

Again- if it's about HDTVs, why did a crappy USF game draw 13,000 this January? The HDTV effect on live attendance is a real issue. But a terrible game in Hartford drew 13,000 a month and a half ago. What's the difference?

Saturday at 1pm... against a better team than P-View! Doty's return after missing a game and on the strength of beating Syracuse by 41pts a few days earlier (Tiff had 35). Some knew it was the last game of the season at the XL Center for them (ND was at the XL Center but at 9pm on a Monday 15k)

 

[rockyno1]

I think a large part of the problem is poor publicity on behalf of the Webster Bank Arena, the City of Bridgeport, the NCAA, and the sponsors. It hasn't been hyped up. Also several news articles, including the one referenced at the beginning of this blog from Rich Elliot at the CT Post, say "$41 for single game tickets". That is not correct. It should say $41 for single session because there are 2 games on Saturday. People might think they need to pay $82 to see both of Saturday's games.

 

[meyers7]

on too. But that doesn't explain the drops versus 2004 and 2008.

• Unseasonably warm weather? Don't laugh. It's going to be beautiful out this weekend. That reduces the number of people who want to attend an indoor sporting event.

Agreed. I'm not going to even be watching it Sat afternoon. I'll be out doing something??? But not inside. I'll record it, or watch it on ESPN3 (just use a HDMI cable and hook it up to the bigger screen HDTV) later Sat night.

If it was an evening game, I would think about driving down, but not in the middle of a (supposedly) beautiful Sat afternoon.

 

[Tonyc]

Gotta wonder whats going to happen over the next few years with the recruits UConn has coming in. UConn will be stomping every team they play with a bench better then most teams. So gotta wonder if fans will attend the games. I agree TV is taking over. I prefer being at the games. You see much more, and its alot more fun however a good point a family of 4 with snacks, lunch parking etc is going to pay a steep price. Hate to say it but eventually they are going to have to make it more affordable for middle America.