I think everyone has made valid statements. Not one truer than the next. Economy, Texans, prices, and to certain degree, the disinterested fans. But there a couple posts I've read that I disagree with. One, TV broadcasts have absolutely zero to do with low attendance. This is the first year in which they have broadcasted so many home games. They used to show maybe two or three a season when they were on channel 20 and 39. Second, the Rockets and the Astros are seperate issues for me. I personally love baseball more than basketball. However, I freakin' HATE Drayton McLayne, and I HATE what baseball players have become. I don't care if Barry bonds hits 1000 homers in his career. I will no attend another baseball game. They might as well have gone to strike, because I'm spending a dime on that SOB Mclayne. I did go to the Texans game for the experience of it, but now I will support the Rockets more. By the way, did anyone mention traffic and construction as more reasons?
I agree, gr8-1. Things WILL get better. Games like the ones in LA and Dallas will help A LOT. Houstonians who have had only football (or baseball) on their minds and watch ESPN etc. for their sports fix will find them talking about Yao Ming, Steve Francis and the Rockets. I've noticed a big change in national media coverage since the Lakers game and the Mavs game just adds to it. A buzz about the Rockets in the country IS being created. Yao is a phenomenon and Francis is being talked up big-time as a young superstar. This will filter down to Houstonians with time. It shouldn't take things like this to fill the seats, but it's just how Houston is. I've been watching sports in H-town since George Blanda and the AFL. My Dad took me to see the Colt 45's at their temporary stadium while the Dome was being built. We were big U. of H. fans during the Elvin Hayes era. Houstonian sports fans, in general, are a strange and fickle breed, but once they decide they like a team... look out. Can anyone say "Love Ya Blue"?? We're on the right track. There are loads of good ideas here and in the front office with the presence of people like Tim. They should listen, be given some time, and the fans will come. Believe. And if you live in town (I don't) or are coming to visit (I am) then go to the games!
Definetly, as Yao keeps playing like the best center here, and the rest of the team follows, then we should see more attendance, Hell it would have been so great to have been there at the game, cause I yelled so much last night but it was to my tv... People will get back to the great atmosphere where it will be loud and good! ROcks just gotta keep playing great. too bad Stevie wasnt at the top of his game last night then it would have been a win.
This one is for people that use the argument that houston is a "football town". OK if it is a football town, houstonians had a funny way of showing it when the NFL took their team to Tennesse. What 35 people showed up for the rally? If that is the outrage that a football town shows, I am affraid to see what they will do if the Rox move. maybe 3 people will show up. In cleveland people rallied behind the mayor and they took the owner to court so he could not take the Franchise name Browns, and the rights for the Dawg-Pound name away from the city.
ACL1, your statement about the "rally" is just plain ignorant. If you knew anything about the history of the Oilers in Houston you wouldn't have made such a stupid point. I'll just chalk it up to ignorance or perhaps the fact that you get your sports news strictly from blurbs on Sportscenter. Try reading "Oiler Blues" by John Pirkle for a good explanation of why the Oilers left. It may also open your eyes to a team that had an amazing fan base UP UNTIL the owner decided to leave. ------------------------ As far as Rockets attendence, I have a feeling its going to get better. I used to go to a lot of games, but when the ISO started, I quit going. Hell, I quit watching. It was boring basketball. At the beginning of the season, they had some pretty bad ISO-liek moments. Many of my friends and coworkers complained (just like the members of this board) "New offense? Looks like same terrible ISO crap. Dribble, dribble dribble, shoot. YAWN. Who wants the company tickets?" Now, we're fighting over the tickets. I actually am planning on going to the West Grey Tavern tonight just to watch the Rockets. I tried to buy tickets earlier this week and the worst pair of tix they had on ticketmaster were COURTSIDE (700 each...um...cant do that). Last night I turned my 30 minute jog on the YMCA treadmill into a 1.5 hour because I couldnt stop watching the game. People are going to start watching because the buzz is growing. Once they see that its fun again they will go to games. And then they'll keep coming.
Many of you have to keep in mind that the majority of the blame does not rest with the fans. Nor does Tim deserve all the blame. He only inherited the “sinking ship”. His only mistake was getting rid of the people that were bailing water and keeping the ship afloat. You have to look at the history of the rockets and their relationships with the fans. Before les took over you had many ticket packages to choose from. One of the first things he did was to take all that away. The fan had two choices. Buy a season ticket or an individual ticket. As you remember, after the championships it was the hardest ticket in town to get. The game evolved into a place for the well-connected, the die-hard fans dressed in blue and red got pushed out by the businessmen in their suits. The front office right or wrong had a philosophy of lets sell a season ticket and not worry about the rest of the season. Their worst fears were selling half-season tickets and not being able to sell the other games. The rockets on the surface seemed to get lazy. All the tickets sold, no need to market the team or connect with the fan. Basically, job done! If you look deeper and down the hall towards the executive wing you will see that it was all about MONEY. They (les) weren’t about to spend any money on marketing or god forbid on the fans. Why should he, the tickets were sold right. Unfortunately, this attitude caused the fan support to dwindle and die on the vine. When the other NBA teams were giving the STHs nice gifts in the price range of $75 – 200, the rockets gave the season ticket holders a $2.75 piece of plastic. Does that make sense when some of these season ticket holders were shelling out more than 10K and up for seats. The rockets have taken, taken, and taken some more. Don’t give me, “but the rockets have donated more than 5 million dollars to local Houston charities.” Whose money was it? Do you think les dished out 5 mill? No, they collected it from you, me, and other sponsors. It wasn’t the rockets money, it was Houston’s money. They collected it and turned right around and gave it back. Taking all the credit! They still are unwilling to spend the cash needed to get the job done. For example what have they done in the Asian community. They had the chance to be a sponsor on an Asian radio station and they said no. It cost too much they said. Instead of reinvesting dollars back into the vary community that is buying tickets to see Yao, they snuffed them. The Asian community will figure it out too and stop buying tickets. Tim, we do not fault you for the terrible situation you are in. But if you do not figure it out soon, I’m afraid you will be next through the revolving door of the rockets front office. And you will join the biggest fraternity in town. The fraternal order of X-rockets employees. Good luck!
Hey just quick post... Do you guys think that Channel 51 playing every single game contributes in part to the low attendance? I've been a pretty hardcore Rocket fan since '93 when I was living in West Texas (Midland) and I was obsessed (9 years old at the time...) and yeah I thought that if I ever got the chance to go see the Rockets I would in a heart beat. So yeah I finally moved to Houston from New Orleans this past year and I have yet to go to a game, even with the Yao Ming excitement and stuff... and I'm just as big a as ever but I'm finding that in all honesty its far easier to sit in my house on Friday nights watchin the game on Ch. 51 rather than making the trip all the way out to The Summit.... er... Compaq Center But yeah, getting to the point, I'd say if I didn't have the luxury of watching every game on TV I'd probably be more motivated to make the trip out to the arena... I dunno... I guess that's something for the marketing guys and such to think about...
To me, watching clear out, one one one basketball is not fun. I can see that at my local gym. The last two years have consisted of Moochie, Cuttino, and Francis, clearing out and playing one on one. We will see a change now that we are no longer a donut team, and have committed to some team ball. For the last two years I have been lurking here. Everyone has complained about our selfish brand of basketball. It is not marketing. People do not complain about something they LIKE. Add it up. I think that era is officially over. Bring on the Ming Dynasty.
It's so nice. i am so glad the post up game is back. Yao is awesome. The next BIG thing. Our offense is going to go through a total change, now around Yao. He is the new future...along with Steve.
This is my 3rd year as a season ticket holder. I bought the full package - season at $59 level in 2000, and 1/2 season package in 2001 and 1/2 season this year. I drive to games from Beaumont, and the 41 games plus pre season games was a lot of driving. It is hard to be a fan from Beaumont- no games are televised.
Rslay, wow! Interesting insight! I too felt the air of upper class in Houston when I was there. I saw it in my family too. It was like they were always looking towards that consummate "old lady that drove the large Cadillac, with the reading specs, pure Republican conservative, with oil money." "Basketball? What's that?", they would ask. Isn't that what kids play? Is it a good business? It's a totally different culture. Football just reeks old Texas oil fields; Oilers. But, you don't have to worry about Yao. He'll bring the fans... But the rich "folk" will try and get a piece... Those old fuddy dudies will invite Yao over to their River Oak mansions, serve him caviar, sit around and try and make small talk. They will later name drop that they've had Yao over to their homes. Especially when they have businesses in the Asian market place. Good Texas politics. Sigh...
Well, I think the decline in the attendance is due to high ticket prices. Just recently I wanted to take my wife to a Rockets game (the Hakeem retirement one to be exact). She has never been to a Rockets game so I want her first one to be one that she can at least see decently. So I did a search for lower prom seats and I found some seats for roughy for about 145.00 for two seats. I didn't think that was bad considening that is is lower prom until I priced the tickets in SBC Center (san Antonio) and American Airlines Arena (Dallas). And to my surprize, it would have been cheaper for me to go to another city and see the Rockets. I believe Dallas was the cheaper priced one at 80 dollars for two tickets (lower prom) and the two in San Antonio was 95 for two tickets.
Didn't the last Rockets game, with Washington, sell out? Or at least come real close? I saw the attendance at 16 thousand something, and I'm pretty sure I remember capacity being 16 thousand something (pretty damn small). Can anyone confirm or deny? If it was, I certainly hope it was because of improved play, and not just because of Jordan
Yes, it was 16,285 sell out. But, it was more due to Jordan AND Yao (after the Dallas game). It wasn't because of Francis; see the Cleveland game! 8000 fans. (Some might have thought that Yao's Laker performance was luck)
last game over 16000 ha? I guess MJ fans showed up again see my first post on this thread. by the way when reason fails insults fly. about the Oilers leaving, browns were leaving cleveland under same conditions; a selfish hated owner wanted a bigger stadium that the city wouldn't give him. Still their fans ( more than 35) showed up to support and keep theri team in town. I beleieve what I see and not how a newspaper writer tries to spin it.
