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Post by christopher on Aug 31, 2010 11:16:38 GMT -4
Man, I agree with you that supporting a team like this is tough to do, but, the simple conclusion I draw is that I'd rather have this than no hockey. Wouldn't you? Sure, but unless you're like 14...where were you for the last dozen years while hockey was still being played Personally i'm not wasting my money to be a STH. Yeah, see, thats what I was saying, I haven't been around for the whole time. I went to almost every game for the first 2 seasons and then my grandpa sold his tickets. I was born in 85 and the Eagles started in 97/98?, so, I was only 12/13/14 during the first 2 seasons. Didn't really know much, just wanted to hang with my gramps. I stopped going for a longggg time. Went to maybe a game in like...2004/2005. Then in 07/08 I went to half the games...maybe. And from 08/09 onward, I've only missed a handful. Point of all of that is that I've really only been closely following the team for the last 2 seasons. This will be my third. I can't pretend to understand the situation as well as you do. To me, it all just comes down to wanting to have hockey to go see. If everyone jumps on the "not going to games" bandwagon, how long before the team pulls out? I just don't want to see that happen no matter how bad it gets. I'd like to see some action taken (by the fans) in other means.
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Post by Jack Bauer on Aug 31, 2010 11:22:09 GMT -4
Sure, but unless you're like 14...where were you for the last dozen years while hockey was still being played Personally i'm not wasting my money to be a STH. Yeah, see, thats what I was saying, I haven't been around for the whole time. I went to almost every game for the first 2 seasons and then my grandpa sold his tickets. I was born in 85 and the Eagles started in 97/98?, so, I was only 12/13/14 during the first 2 seasons. Didn't really know much, just wanted to hang with my gramps. I stopped going for a longggg time. Went to maybe a game in like...2004/2005. Then in 07/08 I went to half the games...maybe. And from 08/09 onward, I've only missed a handful. Point of all of that is that I've really only been closely following the team for the last 2 seasons. This will be my third. I can't pretend to understand the situation as well as you do. To me, it all just comes down to wanting to have hockey to go see. If everyone jumps on the "not going to games" bandwagon, how long before the team pulls out? I just don't want to see that happen no matter how bad it gets. I'd like to see some action taken (by the fans) in other means. What other means is there then with the wallet? Personally I look at it like this.... If the team is going to take its fans for granted then as a fan I will take for granted that every 2nd Friday or Sunday during the winter that if I have some free time there will be a hockey team at C200 to watch. There's also zero value to being a STH right now, but thats another thing that comes back to the organization just assuming people will show up regardless of the product and its direction.....with direction being the key part of it all.
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Post by brec7 on Sept 2, 2010 6:41:09 GMT -4
christopher seems to be looking for the perspective of long term fans and where they stand in terms of buying tickets, so for the interest of discussion I'll throw out my history of being an Eagles fan.
I've been a diehard since the team came here. Over the years the only games I've ever missed were when I was off-island and the very rare time I'd have to work during a game (which I would usually go into great effort to not allow happen.)
I can appreciate Jack Bauer's sentiment of not wanting to support the organisation's direction and quite frankly hope that others follow suit. That being said, I find my fanship just too big to just pull myself away from any games. However, it is slipping... for example, THIS year, I think if I was scheduled to work a night, I wouldn't be going through hoops to get off work to see the game.
Now I worry the attitude of fans like myself will prevent the team from making necessary changes. But I also think that souring the fans who still go to the games CAN still negatively effect the organisation. They might still be getting ticket sales from me, yes. But, in a community minded place like CB, hardcore fans are recognisable, and I'm asked by friends (who are casual fans) frequently about the state of the team. If I tell the team is going to suck this year (which is what I HAVE been telling people), I don't think those people are rushing out to buy tickets.
As for the team moving, you can never predict the future, but for the time being we're far away from that. The Eagles outdraw more than half the teams in the league and I would say have more corporate support than most teams as well (take a look at all the ads on the ice, as well as all the new sold out boxes that are being built.) As well, even really poor franchises in the Q are going to have a hard time finding a "greener pasture" to move to... the Eagles aren't going anywhere.
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Post by christopher on Sept 2, 2010 8:54:37 GMT -4
Excellent post, Pat.
I can definitely see both sides of the spectrum. I can see why diehards wouldn't want to support a team that has continually made such poor decisions. I just can't give up something that I LOVE in a town that offers next to nothing to do. I know for 35 nights over the fall/winter that I have some form of entertainment. I won't have to go to Empire Theatres and pay through the nose to see a movie that I don't really want to see.
And then I think of the players. They're kids. I like going to support them. Not their fault that Durocher has raped this team.
I just wish people would voice their opinions in what I THINK is a more effective way. Make a petition of some sort. I'll sign it.
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Post by Clubber Lang on Sept 2, 2010 13:01:14 GMT -4
Excellent post, Pat. I can definitely see both sides of the spectrum. I can see why diehards wouldn't want to support a team that has continually made such poor decisions. I just can't give up something that I LOVE in a town that offers next to nothing to do. I know for 35 nights over the fall/winter that I have some form of entertainment. I won't have to go to Empire Theatres and pay through the nose to see a movie that I don't really want to see. And then I think of the players. They're kids. I like going to support them. Not their fault that Durocher has raped this team. I just wish people would voice their opinions in what I THINK is a more effective way. Make a petition of some sort. I'll sign it. The day we need to sign a petition supporting common sense is the day i stop going to the rink. I would have been glad to support this team last year if they made the trades to better themselves for the next few years as opposed to do what the did and screw themselves for years to come. I wouldn't have had an issue if they completely sold the farm in 06/07 and sucked in 7/8. I did not renew my four season tickets nor do I tend to. I will go to games as Jack had mentioned earlier but i am not going to spend money to support the pays or fill the pockets of decision makers that make obvious mistakes! I can understand taking calculated risks but poor planning.....there is no excuse.
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Post by madman on Sept 2, 2010 13:36:10 GMT -4
For me I have been a season ticket holder since day one but I did not renew this year. First, I think they made some real bad decisions over the last few years such as maybe not adding on when we had Culligan and Slaney (or trading them to set us up for a number of years). Then last year acquiring Adam and then adding on and giving up our prospects for a run that just wasn't there. Also, saying we are going for the Memorial Cup bid and having no (or very limited) assets to build a Memorial Cup team. Plain stupid.
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Post by christopher on Sept 3, 2010 9:01:15 GMT -4
Excellent post, Pat. I can definitely see both sides of the spectrum. I can see why diehards wouldn't want to support a team that has continually made such poor decisions. I just can't give up something that I LOVE in a town that offers next to nothing to do. I know for 35 nights over the fall/winter that I have some form of entertainment. I won't have to go to Empire Theatres and pay through the nose to see a movie that I don't really want to see. And then I think of the players. They're kids. I like going to support them. Not their fault that Durocher has raped this team. I just wish people would voice their opinions in what I THINK is a more effective way. Make a petition of some sort. I'll sign it. The day we need to sign a petition supporting common sense is the day i stop going to the rink. I would have been glad to support this team last year if they made the trades to better themselves for the next few years as opposed to do what the did and screw themselves for years to come. I wouldn't have had an issue if they completely sold the farm in 06/07 and sucked in 7/8. I did not renew my four season tickets nor do I tend to. I will go to games as Jack had mentioned earlier but i am not going to spend money to support the pays or fill the pockets of decision makers that make obvious mistakes! I can understand taking calculated risks but poor planning.....there is no excuse. Maybe a petition wasn't the best example...hahaha. But, you know what I mean...maybe you don't.
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