DaveWBuf Posted February 11, 2006 Posted February 11, 2006 It would be the first time in a long time that they had a playoff caliber team play a home game at the Ralph
EndZoneCrew Posted February 11, 2006 Posted February 11, 2006 Eddie I hate to differ with you but how many people actually pay to see hockey games in Buffalo? If people DID go they would be taking money they would be paying for a regular game and depress sales of several regular games. You would have some come into town just for this game but most of the people going would be the same fans who see them downtown. 600867[/snapback] Well they have supported this team with the exception of the 02-04 seasons....and for an "event" like this, you have to be kidding yourself if you don't think WNY would come out in full boar....However, living in Virginia, maybe you have lost touch with the way WNY'ers are!
BillsWatch Posted February 11, 2006 Posted February 11, 2006 Well they have supported this team with the exception of the 02-04 seasons....and for an "event" like this, you have to be kidding yourself if you don't think WNY would come out in full boar....However, living in Virginia, maybe you have lost touch with the way WNY'ers are! 600904[/snapback] No what I am saying that money spent that day would most likely would come from coffers of other games so the Sabres would gain some publicity but not net any money from such a stunt.
CBusBillsFan Posted February 12, 2006 Posted February 12, 2006 As for the game the Bucks just couldn't pull it off. They have been hit hard with injuries and Wisconsin is just a better team. It looked like a great atmosphere though, wish I could have gone. I for one would make the trip up to Buffalo to see a game between the Sabres and Leafs. I think that many people would, and not just limited to Buffalo or Toronto fans. There are some rumors floating around that OSU-Michigan are in talks about playing a game outdoors in the Big House. I think it will happen sometime, just not anytime soon. Next year Boston College and Boston are playing in Fenway Park. They are looking for two Midwestern rivals to play as well. It is looking like MSU-UM at the moment, but OSU is also in the mix.
Lori Posted February 12, 2006 Posted February 12, 2006 Eddie I hate to differ with you but how many people actually pay to see hockey games in Buffalo? If people DID go they would be taking money they would be paying for a regular game and depress sales of several regular games. You would have some come into town just for this game but most of the people going would be the same fans who see them downtown. 600867[/snapback] Eight sellouts in the last eleven games. Not Adelphia-freebie-padded sellouts, either. I haven't been to a Sabres game since they played at the Aud. Would I go to the Ralph to watch an outdoor game? You damn betcha...
PromoTheRobot Posted February 12, 2006 Posted February 12, 2006 I would suggest making your feelings known to the Sabres. If enough people e-mailed them supporting the idea of an outdoor game, I'm sure they would try to do it. I also think a Leafs/Sabes game would sell out, although there may be more Leafs fans in RWS. I can't find this year's average ticket price, but in 2004 it was about $36. A full arena means a gross of $650,000. Even at an average price of $25, a full RWS means a gross of $1.8 Million! I think it comes down to whether the Sabres feel fans will show up. If they can't sell out HSBC, I can see why they would be afraid to have to fill RWS. But then again, an RWS game would be a a major event. A spectacle, The battle on the border! Like I said, there may be more Leafs fans, but I am positive they could sell the game out. PTR
Lori Posted February 12, 2006 Posted February 12, 2006 One more note to add to Promo's last post -- football seating probably wouldn't equal hockey seating. Not sure they'd even try to sell some of the upper deck, since you'd never be able to see the puck from up there. The Wisky-OSU game yesterday got about 40,000 in 72,000-seat Lambeau Field. UW won, and the entire team celebrated with a Lambeau Leap. Very cool... and I don't mean temperature-wise...
Just Jack Posted February 12, 2006 Posted February 12, 2006 One more note to add to Promo's last post -- football seating probably wouldn't equal hockey seating. Not sure they'd even try to sell some of the upper deck, since you'd never be able to see the puck from up there. The Wisky-OSU game yesterday got about 40,000 in 72,000-seat Lambeau Field. UW won, and the entire team celebrated with a Lambeau Leap. Very cool... and I don't mean temperature-wise... 601435[/snapback] I wonder if my PSL for the Van Miller club gives me first rights to my seats for any non-football event.
Lori Posted February 12, 2006 Posted February 12, 2006 I wonder if my PSL for the Van Miller club gives me first rights to my seats for any non-football event. 601438[/snapback] Yes. We had dibs for the DCI (Drum Corps International) World Championships when they were last held at the Ralph... 2003, I think? Not sure quite how that works, since we're in the Kelly Club and they didn't open up the away side of the stadium. I do know that the DCI website couldn't even take orders for those seats until after the Bills suite/clubseat owners had a chance to order them, though...
BillsFan Trapped in Pats Land Posted February 13, 2006 Posted February 13, 2006 Hockey outdoors I would make the 5 hr trip up for that. 600349[/snapback] There's some talk of a Boston College - Boston University game at Fenway Park next season. As a loyal BU alum, I would jump on that ticket.
30dive Posted February 13, 2006 Posted February 13, 2006 We'd come up from Richmond. Hell we freeze our asses off every year for a Bills game in December. If they sold 40,000 tickets at the average price of $25 per that comes to a cool $1mil. If the Sabres are presently averaging $36 per seat with 18,000 seats that is apx. $650,000.00 or this game would be a plus of about $350,000.00 minus the cost to use the stadium, minus, minus, minus the Sabre's could make a couple bucks plus some pretty good national media exposure, read PR. Oh what the hell, just do it Marv or is that Brandon or oh hell which VP would be in charge of this? Maybe it would be a good time for Ralph and Tommy G to start talking??!!
Guest BackInDaDay Posted February 13, 2006 Posted February 13, 2006 Maybe it would be a good time for Ralph and Tommy G to start talking??!! 601845[/snapback] Hand over the Bills at center ice?
LabattBlue Posted February 13, 2006 Posted February 13, 2006 One more note to add to Promo's last post -- football seating probably wouldn't equal hockey seating. Not sure they'd even try to sell some of the upper deck, since you'd never be able to see the puck from up there. 601435[/snapback] Considering the boards would block part of your sight line in terms of following the puck, I would have to believe that the seats in the upper deck would be preferred over the end zone seats(especially the lower rows). But then again, I've always been a fan of the upper deck vantage point at RWS.
WVUFootball29 Posted February 14, 2006 Posted February 14, 2006 this could be an amazing idea...let alone the ticket sales between the rival Sabres and Leafs, which are nearly always sellouts at both arena, but the sponsorship and television opportunities for an event like this are nearly endless. Could you imagine the type of crowd and hype this event could garner if the game had serious playoff implications? The NHL, Sabres and Leafs would be foolish not to seriously consider this, especially with the NHL attempting to recover from a labor strike. Heck, if the game at the Ralph went well, who is to say the game next year couldn't be held at the Skydome? If this event is coordinated correctly and the fans really embrace it, we could be looking at the birth of the NHL's version of the Backyard Brawl.
PromoTheRobot Posted February 14, 2006 Posted February 14, 2006 One more note to add to Promo's last post -- football seating probably wouldn't equal hockey seating. Not sure they'd even try to sell some of the upper deck, since you'd never be able to see the puck from up there. The Wisky-OSU game yesterday got about 40,000 in 72,000-seat Lambeau Field. UW won, and the entire team celebrated with a Lambeau Leap. Very cool... and I don't mean temperature-wise... 601435[/snapback] If the Sabres play the Leafs, you can pretty much be assured of a sellout, although more than half the fans would be rooting for the Leafs. Even the Canadiens would probably sell out. As far as sight lines go, no one would go to the game for the view. More to be part of a special event. Put the game on the Jumbotron if you want to watch it up close. Just do it. PTR
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