|
Post by sc74 on Feb 22, 2024 13:16:22 GMT -4
According to Mikael Lalancette, the QMJHL could finally reduce its schedule from 68 to 64 games. The vote is taking place today. Per his sources, the league will have enough votes to go on with it. 2/3 of the teams must approve for the change to happen.
|
|
|
Post by Jack Bauer on Feb 22, 2024 13:38:19 GMT -4
Always interesting to see a business essentially give back revenue. 4 games is probably 8000 tickets or so for most teams....30,000 for some big markets.
We all know the league isn't healthy enough that teams can afford to give away 2 more homes games so what is the other side of this? They think players will be healthier? Scheduling will be easier and lead to a cheaper road schedule?
Personally any time I see 3 games in 4-5 days in 1 market I cant help but think the scheduling hurts the home team as casuals can't afford 3 games in such a short time period. So if the goal is to limit those quirks I can see upside to that.
But overall still seems like an odd time to purposely decrease revenue.
|
|
|
Post by heyref on Feb 22, 2024 14:03:58 GMT -4
Always interesting to see a business essentially give back revenue. 4 games is probably 8000 tickets or so for most teams....30,000 for some big markets. We all know the league isn't healthy enough that teams can afford to give away 2 more homes games so what is the other side of this? They think players will be healthier? Scheduling will be easier and lead to a cheaper road schedule? Personally any time I see 3 games in 4-5 days in 1 market I cant help but think the scheduling hurts the home team as casuals can't afford 3 games in such a short time period. So if the goal is to limit those quirks I can see upside to that. But overall still seems like an odd time to purposely decrease revenue. Good points.... but only 2 of the games would be home games so the "give back" would be half of that.
|
|
|
Post by lirette on Feb 22, 2024 14:38:30 GMT -4
Always interesting to see a business essentially give back revenue. 4 games is probably 8000 tickets or so for most teams....30,000 for some big markets. We all know the league isn't healthy enough that teams can afford to give away 2 more homes games so what is the other side of this? They think players will be healthier? Scheduling will be easier and lead to a cheaper road schedule? Personally any time I see 3 games in 4-5 days in 1 market I cant help but think the scheduling hurts the home team as casuals can't afford 3 games in such a short time period. So if the goal is to limit those quirks I can see upside to that. But overall still seems like an odd time to purposely decrease revenue. Good points.... but only 2 of the games would be home games so the "give back" would be half of that. It also costs to travel so you are getting that money back, for teams like Cape Breton who require hotels everywhere its not an insignificant amount. Just looking at the most recent schedule I dont think we need games as early as Dec 28th. Give the kids an extra break with families and bring everyone back for games on Dec 30th. 30/31st can be big revenue generating games. I would also consider cutting the season 1 weekend earlier if possible, but im guessing the other changes will be to try and limit 3 in 3's. Also if teams can get creative enough and put enough effort into 1 or 2 promotion/theme nights whatever then can get closer to making up the revenue loss from 2 less games. Most teams have at least 1500-2000 empty seats (some more) on any given night.
|
|
|
Post by Jack Bauer on Feb 22, 2024 15:36:05 GMT -4
Good points.... but only 2 of the games would be home games so the "give back" would be half of that. It also costs to travel so you are getting that money back, for teams like Cape Breton who require hotels everywhere its not an insignificant amount. Just looking at the most recent schedule I dont think we need games as early as Dec 28th. Give the kids an extra break with families and bring everyone back for games on Dec 30th. 30/31st can be big revenue generating games. I would also consider cutting the season 1 weekend earlier if possible, but im guessing the other changes will be to try and limit 3 in 3's. Also if teams can get creative enough and put enough effort into 1 or 2 promotion/theme nights whatever then can get closer to making up the revenue loss from 2 less games. Most teams have at least 1500-2000 empty seats (some more) on any given night. Agreed for sure around the marketing aspect of smarter promotions meaning minimal hits. I'm curious about where that line exists between profitable or not. As we keep making the schedule shorter there's clearly data backing up that the league has been playing too many games for the revenue it brings in. Smarter scheduling and smarter marketing could/should make it all come out as a net gain if the scheduling is done right.
|
|
|
Post by heyref on Feb 22, 2024 15:46:59 GMT -4
I like the idea of getting rid of the 3 in 3s...but at the same time they are also a cost cutting measure. We are never going to see Cape Breton Halifax or Charlottetown go to Quebec for fewer than 3 games at a time....that just wouldn't make sense economically. The same works for the Quebec teams traveling to the Maritimes.....maybe "require" them to be 3 games in 4 days minimum? If they really are concerned with the health if the players.
|
|
|
Post by sc74 on Feb 22, 2024 16:31:33 GMT -4
I like the idea of getting rid of the 3 in 3s...but at the same time they are also a cost cutting measure. We are never going to see Cape Breton Halifax or Charlottetown go to Quebec for fewer than 3 games at a time....that just wouldn't make sense economically. The same works for the Quebec teams traveling to the Maritimes.....maybe "require" them to be 3 games in 4 days minimum? If they really are concerned with the health if the players. If it's about money, wouldn't it make more sense to just play 2 games in 2 days and go back home? That means one less night at the hotel and one less day of meals on the road. As an example, Cape Breton has 4 three games road trip in Quebec this season. If you go down to 2 with 3 games and 2 with 2 games, isn't it better financially? Of course, it would mean not visiting 2 of the Quebec rinks per season.
|
|
|
Post by trueblue on Feb 23, 2024 9:27:43 GMT -4
I mean, am I really going to get worked up as a STH about losing 2 Wednesday home games against Maritimes teams that we match up against like 8 times a year?
No.
|
|
|
Post by Jack Bauer on Feb 23, 2024 9:56:13 GMT -4
I mean, am I really going to get worked up as a STH about losing 2 Wednesday home games against Maritimes teams that we match up against like 8 times a year? No. What if the price is the same? I don't think anyone cares about the number of games. But people will certainly care if the cost for 32 games is the same as it was for 34.
|
|
|
Post by Mika on Feb 23, 2024 10:11:07 GMT -4
Not a huge deal overall. Like trueblue says, it's likely two Wednesday games vs teams we see a ton anyway in the season.
More theme nights would be a good way to bring in extra revenue to cover the loss of those games. Islanders recently did 90s night, and definitely more could've been done for that, but it was a decent crowd like the Islander Day matinee game.
It's something teams can overcome though with better marketing and options for merchandise.
|
|
|
Post by JEagle on Feb 23, 2024 12:10:01 GMT -4
The Q should confirm going to 64 games today for next season, still a home and road game against each Québec based team.
|
|
|
Post by Penguins23® on Feb 23, 2024 12:40:06 GMT -4
Schedule reduction confirmed. They also amended the waiver rules.
"Other regulatory changes include a change to the claims process. Previously, during training camps (held in August), any 19- or 20-year-old player who was cut would become available to claim by other teams in the league. From now on, 18-year-old players in the same situation will also have this option.
The aim is to give every player as many opportunities as possible to play in the league."
|
|
|
Post by sherwood1020 on Feb 23, 2024 12:55:57 GMT -4
Shrinkflation hits the Q
|
|
|
Post by elementz on Feb 23, 2024 13:19:28 GMT -4
My guess is season ticket cost won't reduce either to reflect the missing 2 home games.
|
|
|
Post by sherwood1020 on Feb 23, 2024 14:23:24 GMT -4
My guess is season ticket cost won't reduce either to reflect the missing 2 home games. That's my thoughts as well, ticket prices will continue to rise for STH, while getting 2 less games to take in. I understand the reasoning though with 16 out of 18 teams in the league operating at a loss every year, any money saved is useful for the teams operating/travel cost.
|
|