that's pretty much the case for any city. i was in chicago during the Jordan years and you couldn't get a seat there for a long time...and when he left and the team started to play like crap there were plenty of unsold ones...the stadium was real quiet too...
Like I said before...the reason there aren't much people attend the game is cuz they cover the game on TV locally and nobody want to go when they can stay home and watch it. Rockets owner should do something about this ....like move the games to cable or something and not let me access too much Rockets game on TV...only then will they come see Rockets play. That's one reason why ARco Arena is full in every game, cuz here we hardly get to watch Kings game on TV at all (locally that is).
I think at the halfway point, people will realize the Rockets are in the running for homecourt advantage (although they probably won't get it), and they'll start coming to games, because they'll "count". Ofcourse, the ideal situation would be to have fans coming all the time, but common... I don't think there's a team in the league that can go 4 seasons without playoffs and maintain good attendance. Once the news reports, ESPN, and local stations keep repeating "Rockets win" and "Rockets best defensive team in the league" and "Rockets .5 games behind blabla for 4th seed"...then they'll start coming for sure.
Check eBay... or the old reliable rockets.com I've found tickets for all games at both, if you just do "will call" through the rockets.com (toyota center) ticket link, there are easily as good of deals, and you just pick them up with a photo ID at the TC. Sometimes eBay has "snipers" that get your tickets out from under you by overbidding your price at the last second... also, if you choose eBay (which can be a great deal) look for seats that come with a parking pass if possible. I did a search both on eBay and rockets.com's link, and found comparably priced tickets for the same game. Good hunting!
btw - if you're going in January... do it now! About a month out you will get the best seats for lowest price!
The exchange idea is a good one. You can post that kinda stuff in the "Rockets Classifieds: Buy/Sell/Trade" section, but it's usually pretty barren.
I'm planning to go to 1 or 2 games this year. A decent seat at the upper section cost about 40 dollars, and I'm not even thinking about the lower bowl. Students like me simply can't afford the good seats in Toyota Center, so why not enjoy the game at home? I said this before, and I will say it again! Tim, If the lower bowl are empty, let the fans who are on the upper deck come down to the lower bowl!!!! It will make Rockets themselves look good on TV with pack full of fans cheer for them, and please fans like me who couldn't afford a decent seat!! I mean is not like those rich corporation guy are coming to the game anyways!!
A couple points from a 10 year season ticket holder from the upperdeck: 1. Attendance last night was actually less then 11k. There was no way there were more than 8-9k actually present 2. The seats in the upper deck are horrible compared to Compaq center. You feel totally isolated and out of touch from the game. Compaq center has much better view lines and more intimacy. 3. The arena is now more inconvenient then ever before due traffic and location. 4. Reality is exactly as been stated: People will not start coming especially given the situations listed above until January when the holidays are over, the team wins consistently over the next 10 games and if the team is protecting the home court. last night could have been a disaster had they lost, because people do not want to lose at home and to teams like GS. This team lost a lot of momentum over the past 2-3 years. I did not say 5 years because we still carried some from the playoff years. It was only the last 2-3 that really got bad. But, they seem to be doing well and if they can come back 3-2 from this road trip, things should improve. Still, even for GS in our playoff years, paid attendance was 16500, but actual was always 13k or so..... 5. True, Houston fans like most in the US do get on and off the wagon. Do no discount the fact that there are only 3 cities where this is generally not true: Sac, LAL and NY. Every other sports town is the same as ours. And, quite frankly, I am hearing that it is much easier to get a Knicks ticket these days and also, in LA, the fans do not know any different because when was the last time they did not make the playoffs. In SAC town, things were not so rosey about 8-10 years ago. So, get off Houston fans. it will happen if the team proves itself: they have to work even harder now because of the arena location, ticket prices, rocket fan apathy and NBA oncourt product issues...The league is in identity crisis right now. Maybe James and others will change that. But, with offense down dramatically compared to prior years at this time, they need to get some O going.
Legendz3: you nailed it.....my wife has been preaching organized seat pirating for 10 years on low attendance games, say less than 70% in attendance, announce at the beginning of the 3rd that the fans in the upper deck can move down after half time, to specific sections only and if someone has a ticket for lower, they get the seat, but it would do themselves good to have a lower bowl full because the upper...the upper deck is a tomb! even at discounted prices, it is the stratosphere for sure......I am blown away at the poor planning of this arena in reference to sight lines and distance from top to bottom. the intimacy is gone.
okay, the sorriest game of the night, Bucks vs. Nuggets drew in 12919 people. Sorry houston fans, but our team is a playoff team in a dominant western conference. WHy are yall so reluctant to go to the games!!! Stop worring about teh crap texans, and the off-season astros, and start paying attention to the team that is in the middle of a great season. Comon!!! I was listening to the afternoon show on 610, and hardly no caller was talking about the rockets, instead they were talking about texans and astros. This city just doesnt like basketball. Ironic that the most underapreciated team in this city, is the only major team that won this city a championship, twice in a row...
What they need to do is take the Compaq Center sign down. There's probably a huge mob of people outside the Compaq Center doors every game night wondering where the game is...
I'll chime in with my two bits here: I went to opening night. Total cost for my wife and I: ~200.00. That's insane. I got 50 dollar tickets yes, but spent 100.00 on top of that just for "frosty beverages" and food. Ridiculous, but I enjoyed it. However, I cannot enjoy myself like that all the time. So, I should get cheaper tickets and drink less "frosty beverages". Well, fine. That makes it 30 bucks for the tickets (2 10 dollar versions + fees) and 50 bucks for the beverages = 80 bucks. For 80 bucks I have the worst view in the building, crappy leg room, and the irritation of knowing I spent this much money for it. (Nuts, I have not even included parking...) Anyhow, my couch is comfy. For 10 bucks I get a great view, and my "frosty beverages". I don't think the ambiance is enough for me. I like going to the games, but I also like the satisfaction of knowing my money was well-spent. Choose your poison I suppose: Go the games and feel like I really participated, or stay at home and feel a lot less ripped off. --rhad
After I have sold my invention (anyone know circuit design and want to make a few mil?) and created my video game, I plan to buy the Rockets and implement a way to make sure that the true fans get to fill the arena every night. After the first quarter, any seat that hasn't been filled will be available to any season ticket holders. After the second quarter, empty seats in the lower bowl will become available to anyone in attendance. At halftime, all upper bowl seats will be available at half price and after the 3rd quarter, at a quarter the price. That way, the place gets more and more frenzied as the game wears on.
Anyone can tell me that why packing fee in Toyota center is sky high 15 dollars comparing to free parking in Compaq Center ? I think this is way too much.
the TC needs a crazy, cheap seat fan section in the lower bowl. There seem to be a lot of empty seats behind the goals, if the TC dropped those tickets prices to something affordable for crazy fans, that could be an incentive.
