Y'know, as I sit here at work, reading Sports Business Journal (which I somehow was signed up for), it seems as though Houston sports attendance isn't as bad as originally thought. The Astros are ranked 14th in average attendance this year (out of 30 teams) with 28,369 fans/game (filled to an average 69.3% capacity). Sure, it's a -9.5% drop from last year's average, but when compared to other teams, like Cleveland and Colorado (whom are down by over 30% in their average attendance), it doesn't seem quite so bad. In fact, the average change in attendance is -3.3%. The Comets rank 7th in average attendance (out of 14 teams) with 8,295 fans/game (filled to 50.9% capacity). Yes, it's smack in the middle, but not too shabby. The Texans did real well at the gate this year, attracting 69,915 fans/game. I'm not sure how that ranked, when compared to other NFL teams, but capacity at Reliant Stadium is supposedly 69,500 (so where do the extra 415 fans sit?). Therefore, every game was essentially a sell-out. So, now we come to the Rockets, who have been bottom 3 in attendance for the past 2 years now. What happened? Why does attendance suck so? The Rockets are really dragging down the curve for Houston sports (well, for now at least). Will attendance really improve THAT MUCH with a new arena and coach?
So, now we come to the Rockets, who have been bottom 3 in attendance for the past 2 years now. What happened? Why does attendance suck so? The Rockets are really dragging down the curve for Houston sports (well, for now at least). Will attendance really improve THAT MUCH with a new arena and coach? It will improve when we (1) start winning or (2) put an entertaining product on the court. You can win ugly. You can lose with a run & gun, high-paced team. You can't lose and play ugly ball - that's a recipe for disaster, and that's what we've had the last several years. Taking out the rabid basketball fans, people go to games to be entertained. The team has to entertain or its simply not going to work.
The new arena should help in the first couple of years, just as it did for Enron...err...Minute Maid Park and Reliant... To maintain that though, is tough...It's easier for football because there are only 8 home games vs. a gazillion for baseball and basketball...
The other thing is that the Astros have average attendance and they are in the hunt for the NL Central title. The Comets only have average attendance and they have been the most dominant team in that league.
Professional sports is the only business where demand gets criticized for not meeting supply. What a great gig. What a great way to spin it if you're a team owner. "What? You don't want to come see my team? Well then you're just a bad city then!" I'm gonna try to use that at my firm: "What? You don't want to use our legal services? Well then..you're simply not cool. Maybe I should move! How would you like that?? Huh??"
Professional sports is the only business where demand gets criticized for not meeting supply. What a great gig. What a great way to spin it if you're a team owner. Totally agree. People are people, wherever they live. They go to games to be entertained at a reasonable price. Want to get more people to Rockets games? All tickets unsold 30 minutes before tipoff should go for $5. In the short-run, the Rockets might lose money. However, what will happen is you'll get constant sellouts with rabid fans that otherwise may never be able to go. Plus, those people will buy concessions and you'll generate money that way. Once you start getting sellouts, people will start getting tickets in advance, reducing the number of $5 tickets. The atmosphere will become exciting again due to the sellouts -- assuming decently exciting play -- and it will become something to do again. Th fan base will develop, and eventually those $5 buyers might be willing to pay $15 or $20 for tickets and you can raise that last-minute ticket price. It's up the owners to get the fans there, not the other way around.
Bingo! I hate hearing the never ending argument that we're bad fans if we don't sell out games (granted, no one's mentioned that here but it's bound to come up - it always does). Yes, we love our sports but, in the end, this is an entertainment product that they're selling. This is a business (as they're quick to point out when they want a new stadium). Plain and simple... the customer is NEVER to blame if a product doesn't sell. Customers do not have a responsibility to buy anything. If they're not buying, either the product is bad, or it's not being marketed well. BTW, I like your idea to increase attendance Major. Now, why can't sports franchises get creative like this?
a little offtopic -- but Major is among my very favorite posters here. fair...very well reasoned...smart, but not "let me show you how smart i am" smart...great ideas...and seems like a genuinely nice person. anyway...back to bashing Houston for not selling out more games.
One thing I hate about people in this city is that the Rockets don't have great attendance. The Rockets are one of the best teams ever assembled (no, not bein sarcastic), we should be at the top in attendance. I can't blame people too much for not goin though, we were playing at the Compaq Centre. Our attendance better go wayyy up this next year, appreciate the extremely awesome team we have Houston!
huh??? the rockets are cost-prohibitive to the average fan. basketball, like hockey, has become a corporate game. corporations buy suites and blocks of seats...without those, arenas around the country would be virtually empty. we should be at the top in attendance?? are you kidding?? this is a team that underachieved big time last season. this is a team that hasn't been in the playoffs in 4 seasons...in a league that has more teams make the playoffs than don't. that's ridiculous. fans aren't to blame for not attending...put a compelling product on the field and people will show up. but it's the organization's job to bring attendance...it's not the responsibility of a city to buy tickets to a freaking sports event. that's absurd.
That's real easy to SAY. How many games did you attend this year and how many of them did you pay for out of your own pocket? Like Major said, winning ugly is great but losing ugly ain't so great. BTW, I'm a huge Rocket fan but I think it's safe to say that the Rockets are NOT "one of the best teams ever assembled". Les, is that you?
