Who Puts Their Money Where There Posts Are?

Since I left Texas in 1995, I have been to every Rockets game at Madison Square Garden(Knicks) and Continental Airlines Arena(Nets). Prior to that, when I went to school at Southwest, I went to every Rockets game in San Antonio. Each time I went to the Alamodome, I got picked on and almost thrown out of the dome twice for being a Rocket fan. If I was living in Houston, I'd prolly buy the weekend season ticket package. I'll always bleed Rocket Red!
GO ROCKETS

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I was watching the Phoenix vs. Seattle game last night on TNT, and I realized, that while the Sonics aren't doing much better than the Rockets, their stands were totally filled. And the players behind the foul line were waving shouting and have those loud air sticks. I'm wondering if they used to hand those out to fans sitting in those sections. Afterall, paying over a hundred and something for just a game should atleast give you some of those loud sticks.

Well, my dad and I went to 1 game this season while i was home on winter break. I stood in the upper deck yelling and cheering for guys to try and stop kobe. True, I can't make other fans yell and scream.

I agree with jeff, that if ticket prices were lower, or if they were available for that matter. (when i tried online to purchase those tickets, none were available.) I know the players would be able to hear us cheering for them if we were on the lower tiers. It simply helps to get hte players psyched. One really exciting moment was during the Sacramento game, when stevie was throwing his hands up and the fans got into it. That has got to be one of the bright spots in my mind of fan support this season.

That's that.
-elie17

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Oh.. so this is how you add a signature huh? coo coo.

 

Embarassing to THE TEAM. Embarassing to the city. Embarassing to actual FANS. Good enough?

Well, yeah, but we still have an understanding of what constitutes 'good fans'. I think it's safe to say Houston is at the end of the spectrum when it comes to that.

I'm not buying this. Ticket prices are high everywhere. Houston is one of the very largest cities in the country, and they only have 2 major sports teams! They lost their only other pro team, for crying out loud! What other proof do you need! Add to that the cost of living in Houston is not that high compared to other large cities. Houston has no excuse! Face it! The city sucks for sports.

The rest of your points, Jeff, I agree with. They just prove that Houston is a sorry sports town, which is what I've been saying all along.

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"I have to say, I don't understand why these Rockets' fans are booing Scottie." -Calvin Murphy

Only on this BBS will you see Hakeem Olajuwon compared to Scottie Pippen.

 

Jeff,

I usually agree with just about everything you say (except for that not-eating-meat thing), but I have to stick up for us out-of-towners on this one.

I lived in Houston for 24 years. I grew up watching the Rockets since I was about 8 or 9 years old. I've been a fan longer than some of the people on this board have been alive. I never went to a Rockets game as a kid because I grew up broke. I was always taught that when given the choice between "entertainment/luxury" and saving money, choose saving money. When I got older I attended a few Rockets games only because I knew one of the Power Dancers and won some trivia contests on 610. By the grace of God and some sheer luck, I'm doing well now and just officially bought my first NBA tickets to watch the Rockets play the Mavericks on March 3rd here in Dallas.

What I'm trying to say is just because I never paid for the games, doesn't mean I don't have the right to be embarrassed or the right to complain. I've never agreed with that. Circumstances in the past stopped me from being able to pay for the games. I'm also saying that just because I don't live in Houston anymore doesn't mean I don't have the right to be embarrassed because I still consider Houston as my "home town". I still talk about it. When something bad happens there, I still feel bad, when the Houston Texans come rolling in, they will be "my team".

Anywho... carry on.

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"No Brain Grant, no trade." -- Typos are a b**** as ZRB is holding Rocket trades hostage while he seeks a brain. Conspiracy theorists say this would explain why Hakeem has yet to be traded...

 

I believe very much that Houston fans are some of the worst sports fans this side of Atlanta.

That being said, I have to take exception to the ticket prices. I was in Houston for Christmas break, and I never could afford to goto a game. The seats I would *like* (upper deck middle) are $50 each!! And no offense, but the $10 and $13 tickets are pretty lame . . . I'd rather just watch it on TV because at least I'd be able to see what's going on . . . wouldn't need an oxygen tank to brave the atmosphere. <a href="http://www.nba.com/rockets/arena.html">The ticket prices</a> are astounding. I see those and just about throw up . . . If I wanted to go and see one game with a friend, and sit in the nicer upper deck seats, it'd cost over $100 . . . I don't know about y'all out there who are ballin', but to those of us in the "working class" (hehe), $100 can buy groceries for a while. Heck, I can buy an 800 Mhz Duron for less.

Houston fans are usually pretty bad, but add in the huge ticket prices and it's a recipe for crap a la attendance. Let's face it, even fairly devoted fans won't pay that much to see a team that will have a 60% or so chance of a good game.

I'd love to see the Rockets in Houston, but it's just too much. And I realize that ticket prices are high everywhere, but the Rockets' prices are absurd. Most everywhere else has cheaper, or at least MORE REASONABLY priced tickets.

There's also more to the cost of a game than tickets. Parking (what is it now?), gas to the stadium (Houston is so big, it could be another state . . . it takes me 45 minutes to get there in mild traffic!), and any other miscellaneous charges (food, etc.).

Les, if you read this board at all . . . PLEASE, PLEASE allow those of us who would be loud fans into the arena!

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"Any answer that can't be questioned is no answer at all. It's gibberish. It's the jabbering of startled monkeys flinging dung at the moon" -- Scott Christensen -- www.ewav.com

 

I'm a UT student and went to 3 games over break while back home in Sugar Land: Sonics,Jazz,and Kings. Got my tickets for $10 each. Ended up sitting first row behind Greg Osterfag and Olden Polynice, whom I gave a good earful of taunts. During the Kings game, I moved down to like the 8th row, parallel to the FT line. Apparently the guy in front of me had just been promoted to president of his company.....Anyways, this just shows that all of ya'll living in Houston need to get out and buy the cheap seats. The country club fans usually don't show up on weeknites, so move on down.

Damn it's hard as hell to type while you're piss drunk at 4 freakin 30 in the morning. CC.net rules!!!!

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"Oh No..."
-Bill Walton in 97 just before Stockton's buzzer beater

 

let's sign dennis rodman he'll bring in a crowd

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"Wahooo"-homer
I'm not only a fan but I'm also the bartender at clutchcity chat
For the last time I'm not Tybrave!!!!!

 

I don't like this locking out of fans who don't live in Houston. I might not be able to go to the games all the time (have been at the summit numerous times, by the way) but I might still have an opinion on it so why tell me to shut up about it already in the post starting the thread?

 

I gotta agree with Jeff....

I mean, since when is it our "civic duty" to support the Rockets? People will attend the games when they feel a need to. Period. Perhaps the Rockets need to concentrate on putting a better product on the floor. The 2 championship years are really a mute point. People are not buying tickets to see THAT team, they are being asked to pay to see the current one. The Rockets have instituted a corporate-friendly price structure and that is exactly the atmosphere they are getting

I think the 2 championship years proved that if the Rockets are winning, people will come. The team is mediocre at best now and so is attendance. So be it. This is a business...The Rockets are not giving away any tickets, so it is up to them to market their product, or improve it to generate more revenue. As to how this reflects on "Houston as a sports town"...I couldn't care less. It is not high on my list of community concerns. I mean, I listen to sports radio and these hosts are running their traps about attendance and how it is appaling. HELLO!!!! When is the last time these losers bought a ticket or a season package. They stroll in with their press pass and don't pay a thing (for the most part). You know, I am sure Hanks got a lot of money for "Castaway" but the studio did not ask me to contribute to it, the local cinema showing the movie did not ask me to help pay for the building they are showing it in. This movie will make it or break it on it merits, the studios marketing, name value of the actors, etc. As will the Rockets make it on their merits, win-loss record, superstar value etc. THEY have the added advantage of being able to milk the community for assistance. (I mean, vote for the arena or we are gone, AND if you dont come out to the games and spend your money, you are lousy fans?)

BTW, if the Rockets are having this problem with thier price structure, how in the hell will this city support a proposed NHL team with an even more inflated price and less of a support base? (Perhaps this is best left for another thread in another forum)



[This message has been edited by stringthing (edited January 21, 2001).]

 

Ticket prices can't always be blamed. Prices are high in the cities that fill their arenas as well. There are nose bleeds for $10 bucks so that can't be an excuse. Granted the River Oaks folks probably aren't hanging out here so we'll never know why they aren't going to the games.

I've been to about 10 games this season. Some company tickets, others I have bought and sat higher up. I don't have as much a problem with the empty seats as I do the fans who sit on their hands. That's been a sore spot for me for a long time. For example: When is the last time you saw a Rockets fan wearing a big 'fro in support of Moochie and Carlos? I can't remember the last time I've seen a crazy rabid Rockets fan. I haven't seen "the wave" since the Comets season...(I know there are some wave-haters out there).

I do think the Texans will turn out some rowdy fans and that will be fun.

Old School

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I voted YES!

 

Assuming the business you indicate running is something other than this Web site, let's hope you treat your paying customers with quite a bit more respect than the people on this Web site who dare to have a differing opinion.


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Tom Archer
www.sourcedna.com

 

When the Oilers lost to the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game, 75,000 fans welcomed them home. I was one of the many. They were a team, not just a group of talented athletes, and the fans became part of that.

Pro sports have changed. The owners are not concerned with the average fan. It is the Luxury Seats, Corporate Sponsors, Sport for the Rich. The Cleveland Browns never had an attendance problem, or a lack of fan support. A new stadium and higher revenue drove them to Baltimore.

The players also share part of the blame. They drive up ticket prices to. 100 mil salaries to play a game? Haven't been to an Astro's game since the strike and doubt if I ever will again. The NBA almost lost me to.

I have been to games of every pro sport in Houston. It seems at the Aeros and Comets, people are there because they want to be. At some of the Rockets games, people seem to be there because they can. I really believe cost has a lot to do with it. Also, it isn't just Houston. Attendance for the entire NBA is declining. As the average score declines, so does attendance.

I'm proud to be a Houston fan. If the Owners and Players don't have to apologize for the high cost, then you don't have to apologize for the fans that don't show, whatever their reason. You can also be proud of the way the city acts when we do win a Championship. You don't have to fear for your life or property.

If that means we aren't good fans, I wouldn't want it any other way .

 

i live too far outside of houston too make it very often.

But we buy four tickets(floor) and split them between four other families.

Thats about 8 games each. We try to work it out so that we get the weekend games so we dont have to drive back at 1 O'Clock.(the other four families live in houston or Humble)

I say for an out of towner we do our part.(We live about two hours away)

IMHO, basketball is just losing fans. Most kids aren't very interested in watching sports, but in lpaying it.(I am a middle Schooler so i do know).

Hopefully this trend will stop and we will get some more fans.

We can also attribute some of this to high ticket prices.

$30 bucks a month and you get about 12 rockets games on TV. For $50 you can get about the same view for one game and one person.

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President of the Charles Barkley fan club...Oh he retired? When?

 

Stringthing,Smoke,and Jeff hit on most of the notes I was thinking of.I was fortunate to have the priviledge of having parents who had season tickets,so I was able to see Rudy,Calvin,Chicken man,Moses,etc...Over the LAST 16 years,I probably average 10-15 games a year(not including playoff games).I understand ticket prices will go up and that's life in the big city these days.Over the last 7-8 years, I have seen the Summit dominated by many corporate,big money fans that eat up quite a few of the seats and atmosphere.It has become increasingly difficult for your average hardcore fan to get in.In addition, the attitude of most of these people seems to be one of almost ambivalance,So much so that it appears they all ate 20-30 mg of valium.Some are there just to be seen and talk incessantly about everything under the sun while the game is going on.Houston fans can be a rabid bunch,but those very fans are getting locked out by the perceived lack of access to the building.As was mentioned before,there is more than one way to skin a CAT...Walking up and buying tickets outside in the lots or at the windows and moving down(at least to the front of the top)almost always works......5-50 bucks depending on where you want to be and who you happen to run into.Work those scalpers or look at people(like a family or someone who looks like he has one,is there alone ,and just wants to get into the building) and you'll be surprised at the results.Sometimes it works out if you wait till tip off and then you can get a steal of a deal.I know it is not in all's personality to do this,but when you see the dividends it pays you can get comfortable with it!My buddies and I have connections,but when we have that spontaneous chance where we have the time,and can get away from our wives and women,we go to the old standby walkup and it always works.(even for big games)The Rockets are also at the end of the glory days of the Dream era and are making the transition to the Francis era.Quite a few people,unfortunately don't identify with this team yet.The way I look at it though, if you are a real fan,you never stop wanting to or actually going.......I know it's easy to pop on the box and watch our guys.That's fine,the creature comforts of home are great....I love that too.
Let's everyone save up the bucks,get off the couch, and claim back the building.....If enough of us do it ,WE WILL BE HEARD AND WILL FILL IT UP!!

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[This message has been edited by hardwood (edited January 22, 2001).]

 

Ok I tried to stay away from this thread but I just couldn't. Ok we all know Houston is the 4th or 5th biggest city in the nation(last time I checked). The city is pretty wealthy, has a lot of big business's and such. However Houston is one of the cheapest cities to live in, comparing to other major metropolitan cities in the US it is the cheapest by far. So why is it that we just don't go to the games? Is it because there is other sporting events? Yeah those Astros were great last year... No.
Do Houstonians work longer hours than other city residents for the most part no they work the same hours, as a matter of fact Houston along with the rest of the south is one of the few cities in the nation where most everything is closed on Sundays(man i miss that about Houston). The fact of the matter is Houston fans are some of the biggest bandwagon fans ever. We win they show up(except on mothers day) we lose and all of a sudden Houston becomes a fun place with so many other things to do.

Ok so you say its the ticket prices and that if they were winning then you might show up to more games.

I agree that the ticket prices are high, actualy very high, 4th highest in the NBA right now. I also agree that not everyone can afford these tickets, however last time I checked the Summit *cough, cough* Compaq Center didn't seat 2,000,000 people, it sat only 16,000 people. With the cost of living in Houston so low there is no reason the Rockets shouldn't be selling out every game. I think asking people to go to every game is unreasonable, but going to 5-10 games in a year is very fair.

After I researched the subject a little more I found that Houston is actualy a $1.53 cheaper than the NBA avg. for total cost of an outing to an NBA game. If you want to check it out here is the site. Pretty cool for squashing arguments with your friends.

http://www.teammarketing.com/2000_NBA_FCI.pdf

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"We need to fockass".....Dream back in the day

 

ZRB - The team may not be doing that well, but even the clipper fans are louder than the Rocket fans. They get more attendence, despite being 13-28. The Rockets are under .500 at home because of their rather massive lack of home court advantage.

A vicious circle/chicken-and-egg problem. The team loses at home because no fans show up. No fans show up because the team loses at home.

Freak - It's simply embarassing to have such a great organization like the Rockets do and have such a piss-poor fan-base. And we shouldn't have to go to 15-20 games a year!

I don't know about you, but I go to games because I like going to see Rocket games. Don't you? You make it sound like Rocket games are torture. That no one would ever choose to go to a game. That the only reason people go to games is to fill the stands. People go to games because they enjoy them and have fun.

I'll agree with you, tHEfREAK, lets say we do have the worst fans in all the world. So what? What's your point?

Are you trying to rally Houstonians to become better fans? Are you trying to guilt cc.net readers into attending more games? Are you just b****ing for no good reason?

TheFreak - Houston just doesn't care, and they don't deserve pro sports.

Fine, we don't deserve pro sports. They are apparently here to stay. New stadiums for three major sports have been approved.

Did all three teams make a huge mistake by staying in Houston? Are you suggesting that the Rockets/Astros/Texans should leave Houston?

TheFreak - Well, yeah, but we still have an understanding of what constitutes 'good fans'. I think it's safe to say Houston is at the end of the spectrum when it comes to that.

OK. So what? What's your point? Pointless whining. All it serves to do is irritate people like me who spent $2k on season tickets and yell my heart out at every game. So what if Houston does have poor fans?

Vengeance - There's also more to the cost of a game than tickets. Parking (what is it now?) . . . and any other miscellaneous charges (food, etc.).

Rockets parking is FREE! (Actually included in the price of the ticket) It costs NOTHING to part at the Summit for games. I can't f*cking believe someone is f*cking whining about the f*cking free parking.

That said, I do think Summit bourbon is too expensive.

You have to buy the $10 and $13 seats in advance. PLAN AHEAD and buy them in advance. Then come sit down with me in $46 seats.

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I've been to every home game and had a great time. Our arena is over 3/4 full on average.

Who cares if Houston has sh!tty fans? Who cares if there's 4k empty seats? I don't.

Why are whining about sh!tty fans to begin with?

Houston has the worst fans on earth. Fine. I still love going to see the Rockets live.

[This message has been edited by jamcracker (edited January 22, 2001).]

 

That's interesting. We definitely have among the lowest COI Index in the nation. This also means salaries are usually adjusted lower as well. Why are ticket prices so out-of-whack with COI?

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"No Brain Grant, no trade." -- Typos are a b**** as ZRB is holding Rocket trades hostage while he seeks a brain. Conspiracy theorists say this would explain why Hakeem has yet to be traded...

 

Because Les has no suites, no parking revenue, and a mediocre television/radio package. When the new arena opens up, things *should* be much more in line with the rest of the league.



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