The Panthers' great ticket giveaway

by James Mirtle on Oct 12, 2008 11:49 PM CDT Comment 18 comments

We've seen all sorts of wacky promotions in the NHL, especially from teams that have traditionally had trouble selling tickets, but this season in Florida, they're literally giving them away.

All you need is a driver's license:

The promotion advises that: "It may be your first game, but it won't be your last." The small print goes onto say that the invitation is "good one time only" and that the program "will remain in effect until everybody in Florida experiences the excitement of a Panthers game at least once."

We'll just call it "indefinitely."

In order to get the tickets, Florida residents simply have to fill out this two-step form that involves entering your contact info and choosing which game you'd like to attend.

The Panthers have had a tough time selling tickets for almost every year of their existence, but did manage to pull in an announced crowd of 18,401 (96-per-cent capacity) for Saturday's home opener. The team has averaged between 15,000 and 16,000 as an "announced" ticket figure the past eight seasons, but is widely regarded as the league leader in giveaways.

Florida reportedly comped an average of about 2,800 tickets a game in 2006-07, which was actually down from 4,150 per game (!) in 2005-06.

A lot of people have experienced freebies in South Florida in the past, which makes you wonder just how this new promotion is going to be any more persuasive in terms of wooing repeat customers. If anything, I imagine it will outrage season's ticket holders who forked out real dollars to attend games that apparently don't have much value at all.
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Anyone know where to get fake Florida driver's licenses?

by saskhab on Oct 13, 2008 1:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I wish they'd do that in Minnesota, like that will happen..

by Evan Johnson on Oct 13, 2008 1:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Have you ever had a whiff of desperation that was so intense, you felt bad for even giving it any attention at all, as it would just validate said desperation?

Panthers Hockey: It'll do that to you.

by the-jumbotron.com on Oct 13, 2008 2:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

1)They might want to try to make the playoffs more tha once/decade. Nothing builds fans like actually winning!

by FAUX RUMORS on Oct 13, 2008 6:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Not only don't they draw at home, they don't help out the teams that they are visiting either. Look at the promos in the cities they visit too. The only sold out ones will be where there is a large STH base boosted by big promos.

So, how much are they being subsidized?

by Valerie on Oct 13, 2008 8:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow...I sure missed this one. Hadn't heard a thing about it.

by Whale4ever on Oct 13, 2008 9:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

moving them to kansas city would totally solve this problem.

by pete on Oct 13, 2008 10:21 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

"Florida's Driver License"?

How about a "Florida Driver's License?" Does that work?

Epic Fail. They even put that phrase in the flyer twice.

Of course, it's more important that the Spanish version was typed correctly.

by Docciavelli on Oct 13, 2008 12:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

""moving them to kansas city would totally solve this problem."" . . . would it really? everyone thinks that. maybe for a couple of years, then they'd be right back in the same situation after the new wore off.

by Anonymous on Oct 13, 2008 12:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't move to Kansas City either...

...nah, SEATLLE!!! Now there is some REAL MONEY in that market. Lots of corporate HQ's (Microsoft, Starbucks, Home Depot, etc.); no NBA team to contend with; a hockey history AND a natural rivarly with Vancouver. Wayyyyyyy better alternative than K.C. (and Florida for that matter).

by Anonymous on Oct 13, 2008 1:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The best team in KHL draws 7.000 with 10 dollar tickets.
Djurgarden in Stockholm draws 6.000 per game.
Let's move Panthers to NHL's European division...

by Anonymous on Oct 13, 2008 1:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

My old FL license is still good. If we look enough alike, it's yours! Maybe I'm too handsome to pass as you. So wear a hat. And grow a beard. I can't help you on the weight difference.

by Mike Check on Oct 13, 2008 2:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Anyone else curious about where they got those survey numbers?

A lineup for Canadiens season tickets?

by The Gate To The Groin For Yannick Bertrand on Oct 13, 2008 3:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Darn, they show a Flyers game on the ticket but no Flyers games to pick from :(

by John on Oct 13, 2008 6:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

2002 or so in Pittburgh all I had to do to receive TWO free tickets was sign up for their Web Based Mailing List! That's it! 2 tickets a week later for a game against the Buffalo Sabres! Those tickets now go for 60+ dollars a piece and they were giving them away 6 years ago! Here's to hope for you Florida!

by Anonymous on Oct 13, 2008 8:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

this team will be in Winnipeg in 2-3 years...where every ticket will be PAID FOR! What a silly league the NHL has turned into. Why exactly did they leave hartford and Winnipeg? For this?

by Anonymous on Oct 14, 2008 8:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs