Coyotes tickets slashed to $25 or less for home opener

by James Mirtle on Sep 23, 2009 1:06 PM CDT Comment 61 comments

Yotes-opening_medium

Phoenix Coyotes President and Chief Operating Officer Douglas Moss announced today that the Coyotes will hold a "Welcome Back WhiteOut" during the team’s Home Opener versus the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, Oct. 10 at Jobing.com Arena to celebrate the beginning of the 2009-10 season.

"We’re looking forward to holding the first-ever WhiteOut at Jobing.com Arena at this year’s Home Opener," said Moss. "We received tremendous support from our fans during the summer, so this a way for us to thank them while also celebrating the start of a new hockey season."

The Coyotes are extending a special ticket offer to the public for the Oct. 10 game. All lower bowl seats are available for just $25 while all upper level seats are on sale for only $15. The tickets go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m. and are only available online at www.phoenixcoyotes.com. The NHL has also offered a 15% discount on merchandise at www.shop.nhl.com that will be included with every ticket order through Sept. 30.

All fans in attendance at the game will receive a "Welcome Back WhiteOut" t-shirt and white pom-poms, courtesy of Jobing.com.

>> team release

I wonder if Gary Bettman will be in the front row?

The league knows the importance of this first game in Phoenix, as all eyes in the hockey world are going to be on the attendance figure given all of the turmoil around the franchise. This type of steep, steep discounting is pretty unique for a home opener, generally a team's best attended game of the season, and to me speaks to the fact ticket sales have likely been minuscule to this point.

Get your pom-poms ready Coyotes fans, it's going to be an interesting year.

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The team is going to lose money no matter what this year so cut ticket prices, fill the building, and if the team performs you’ll have converted some new fans and encouraged the discouraged to come back.

by RousselRising on Sep 23, 2009 1:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m amazed this deal was greenlit – when my kid was riding the zamboni during one of the preseason games, I spoke with a couple of the team employees in the tunnel and apparently (and this is definitely hearsay) Moyes has until now prohibited any sort of promotions, ticket deals, or media campaigns with regards to the team. The employees I spoke with are very very upset about it and when I mentioned that Moyes had offered to employ them in another of his companies if JB got the team, they rolled their eyes and laughed. “Not in a million years,” one of them told me.

In light of what happened today in the emergency hearing today, I’m worried that even this isn’t going to help. Balsillie has yet again ignored his own ultimatums and deadlines and now says he’ll be lurking on the scene all season regardless of what the judge rules. How anyone is going to be convinced to buy season tickets with the knowledge that JB might still get the team at some point, I have no idea.

That all said, I have eight lower-bowl tickets spoken for already and I plan to buy another chunk of tickets for some friends of mine who are Canadian expatriates. Not much else I can do.

You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.

by zyllyx on Sep 23, 2009 1:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You can keep your chin up.

Because Balsillie likes to sneak up on you and he might convince your Canadian friends to monkeystomp you while he steals your team!

2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche: Nothing Inspirational Comes to Mind

by Mike @ MHH on Sep 23, 2009 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

First lesson I learned as a Coyotes fan – always cheer with your head up… :)

You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.

by zyllyx on Sep 23, 2009 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How anyone is going to be convinced to buy season tickets with the knowledge that JB might still get the team at some point, I have no idea

You think Reinsdorf was your saviour? Not he or any other potential owner is willing to buy the team without an out-clause in the lease, and the NHL has already said that without a local owner they will move the team.

You can vilify Balsillie all you want, but as soon as Moyes pulled the plug the chances of the Coyotes remaining the Phoenix were slim-to-none, regardless of whether Balsillie had made his offer.

Balsillie offered more to Glendale than anyone else. Remember that when this team is finally shipped off to Kansas City.

by FourFeetOfCurl on Sep 23, 2009 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think Reinsdorf was a savior. IceEdge is the only ownership group that has expressed interest in keeping the team here without an out clause.

Balsillie hasn’t offered anything to Glendale but a bribe and an empty building.

You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.

by zyllyx on Sep 23, 2009 7:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

$25 lower bowl seats for the home opener? Come on, this has to be the banshee cry for hockey in Phoenix.

No offense intended to actual Coyotes fans, but even they have to understand the economics here: if no one’s excited for the home opener that’s probably it.

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by Chemmy on Sep 23, 2009 1:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You’re out your mind Chemmy. For real this time. The team has been put through the wringer this whole summer. We need butts in the seats. It doesn’t matter if they’re full price or not. THis mess had set back the cause of hockey even further and this Could be a good way to jump start it. This isn’t for the entire season. It’s for one game to drive up some interest. And it could work. Saturday game, 6pm start, no whining about arena location or traffic… I like the move.

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by OdinMercer on Sep 23, 2009 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’d like the move if I was getting $25 glass seats to NHL games too. If things are that bad then there’s no way one night of discounted tickets changes things.

Pension Plan Puppets*
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by Chemmy on Sep 23, 2009 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It doesn’t change things forever and I was going to spend 25 on a ticket anyways. But it gets some actual positive interest in the team for at least a day.

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by OdinMercer on Sep 23, 2009 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

All they are trying to change are perceptions. The perception up north (for a lot of people) is that there are no hockey fans in Phoenix because of bad fans. If Phoenix has decent attendance for the home opener, regardless of price, it shows the fans are willing to come out, but are staying away because of management.

The 2009-10 Colorado Avalanche: Aiming for the Charity Point
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Sep 23, 2009 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s not what this proves. This proves that for one night people will spend $15 to see a major professional sporting event.

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by Chemmy on Sep 24, 2009 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree. But what it actually proves and what people perceive it to be are different.

The 2009-10 Colorado Avalanche: Aiming for the Charity Point
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Sep 24, 2009 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Expos used to put decent crowds in the Big O on dollar hot dog day, but I recall precisely no one arguing that it proved anything about Montreal as a baseball town or that it altered anyone’s perception of the truth about it either.

Over at Out of Left Field, they’re pointing out that Bulldogs tickets are more expensive than this. Not to mention most Manitoba Moose tickets and all tickets for the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux(!!!).

by dzuunmod on Sep 24, 2009 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The prices are comparable...

to the “other” pro hockey team in AZ, your Arizona Sundogs! Tickets at the beautiful Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott will run you $32-$14.

The beer is cheaper in Prescott, but they don’t have an in-arena Hooters like in Glendale.

by bison on Sep 24, 2009 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, the next thing you know, a team will start giving away a car at every home game just to get fans to come to the games.

I don’t care how they do it, the Coyotes and their fans deserve the chance to fill the house and have a fun evening of hockey.

More fun than a stick to the face!
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by Dirk Hoag on Sep 23, 2009 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Never Happen

A team that did that kind of thing to attract fans would be destined to fail.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Sep 23, 2009 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not just a car! A Pontiac T1000!

My sister actually won one of these at a game during the Dead Things era. Apparently she went to the game with a boyfriend (he bought the tix), she was sitting in the winning seat, she got the car and then dumped him shortly afterwards! :)

by SDWingNut on Sep 23, 2009 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

An American car costs $15,000.

In most NHL arenas tickets in the front row are around $200 (at least). Giving those seats away for $25 means that on each seat you’ve given up $175 in revenue compared to other markets for your promotion.

$15,000 divided by $175 is 85 seats. If Phoenix gave away 85 front row seats for $25 those two promotions would be roughly equivalent.

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by Chemmy on Sep 24, 2009 9:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

An American car costs $15,000 if you’re buying a cheap hatchback.

The average price for an American-built sedan is about $25,000.

But anyway…

You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.

by zyllyx on Sep 24, 2009 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

When a sports franchise gives away a big ticket item like a car, are they paying the sticker price though?

by dzuunmod on Sep 24, 2009 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s an equivalency – the sponsorship is calculated in terms of the product’s worth. The franchise doesn’t BUY the car to give away, the car dealership provides a car worth a certain amount and calls it a $25k or whatever corporate sponsorship.

You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.

by zyllyx on Sep 24, 2009 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is what I’m saying, 15K, 25K: it doesn’t matter to the club either way.

by dzuunmod on Sep 24, 2009 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If I could go to the Caps home opener and get lower level seats for $25, I would die of bliss.

"My face is my mask."

by jakeshapiro on Sep 23, 2009 1:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I might buy four seats and stretch my legs out a bit.

Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com

by James Mirtle on Sep 23, 2009 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damn, not a Coyote fan, tho I sympathize with the nonsense they are going thru – might have to look into a weekend in Phoenix just to enjoy an inexpensive hockey game.

Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?

by ang6666 on Sep 23, 2009 1:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You’re welcome to join us! I don’t care if you cheer for the Blue Jackets or Balsillie – if you buy a ticket, I’ll be a happy man.

You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.

by zyllyx on Sep 23, 2009 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

can I wear my Sharks jersey? :)

Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?

by ang6666 on Sep 23, 2009 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Show up nude for all I care as long as your check doesn’t bounce… ;)

You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.

by zyllyx on Sep 23, 2009 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ha ha! and here I am posting bout this over at FTF to see if I can get others to join me! flights aren’t that expensive … just need to find a place to crash, car … etc etc … tho am considering googlemap’ing to see how long of a drive it is. decisions decisions … :)

Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?

by ang6666 on Sep 23, 2009 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tell you what, If FTF travels here you can all camp out on the couch / air mattress and whatever else I have. I’ll even make you all breakfast with mimosas.

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JaredFromLondon: ...Odin, he's cool.

by OdinMercer on Sep 23, 2009 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

… just need to find a place to crash, car … etc etc …
When I first read that I wondered why you wanted to wreck your car, and what the etc’s were that you are willing to wreck. The kids don’t call you “Mr. Glass” do they?

by Frisby on Sep 23, 2009 11:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just so everyone knows, this Jets fan is NOT ok with how they are destroying the “whiteout”.

it’s a playoff tradition. period.

figure out a different way to have fans show support for the team.

ps. i’m not going to touch the $25 lower level seat garbage.

by bradenonline on Sep 23, 2009 1:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I hope I can be as bitter and distasteful when the Coyotes leave as you obviously are. Thank you for setting the bar so high!

You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.

by zyllyx on Sep 23, 2009 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

the white-outs been destroyed long before this promotion.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Sep 23, 2009 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A "white out’ seems appropriate as it looks like the powers that be are waving the flag of surrender on hockey in the desert. Its not an IF, but when the team leaves. The only issue(s) is where and who will control the franchise

I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else

by Fauxrumors on Sep 23, 2009 1:44 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

ta da

They could also paint the seats white.

by yrmom on Sep 23, 2009 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or...

…just drape white sheets over the empty seats in the upper deck.

by HockeyinHD on Sep 23, 2009 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Coyotes wouldn’t be the first team to do that either.

(see: Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland A’s)

by Afino on Sep 24, 2009 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hm...

Damn, for those prices, it’s worth it to grab a cheap Southwest flight and get front row seats for when the Sharks roll into town…except I’d be giving the Coyotes money, ergo justifying that turd Bettman.

by Fultron on Sep 23, 2009 2:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

it’s for one night only … not when they are playing the Sharks … but I’m considering going just to support Coyote fans and the bullshit they have had to go thru this summer

Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?

by ang6666 on Sep 23, 2009 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Doooo iiiiit!

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by OdinMercer on Sep 23, 2009 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What an awkward situation.

I still believe in Ryan Garko...........

by 49er16 on Sep 23, 2009 2:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd Love to be there

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The 2009-10 Colorado Avalanche: Aiming for the Charity Point
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Sep 23, 2009 5:06 PM CDT reply actions 3 recs

Sometimes you make me ashamed to know you…

2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche: Nothing Inspirational Comes to Mind

by Mike @ MHH on Sep 23, 2009 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sometimes?

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JaredFromLondon: ...Odin, he's cool.

by OdinMercer on Sep 23, 2009 7:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nothing says “team support” than all the fans showing up in the jersey color of the other team.

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by poploser on Sep 23, 2009 6:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

it shows plenty of support … for the fans, for the players, for the city … that even tho we aren’t Coyote fans, we support them wanting to keep their team and are willing to show up by land, sea and air!

Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?

by ang6666 on Sep 23, 2009 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who is in control of the Coyotes pricing right now?

by thisisbrian on Sep 23, 2009 6:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I would bet the league had a say in this.

Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com

by James Mirtle on Sep 23, 2009 7:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It wasn’t Moyes I can tell you that. (Thank god)

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JaredFromLondon: ...Odin, he's cool.

by OdinMercer on Sep 23, 2009 7:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is what I don’t get..
If it was the league, they can make a sellout look great for their case, but who takes the financial hit for practically giving away top tickets?

by thisisbrian on Sep 24, 2009 1:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

..if the league isn’t in control of the team, then whoever is would have had to ok this, and then they’d be the one losing money in the name of bolstering the league’s assertion that PHX is a sustainable market.

by thisisbrian on Sep 24, 2009 1:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

at this point, I think the League would care more about the show of support, rather than losing a few more bucks.

Glen Sather is a Hockey Genius.

http://glensathersucks.com/
http://twitter.com/ThGeneralissimo

by poploser on Sep 24, 2009 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it’s more a situation where everyone knows that the team is probably leaving at some point and they wanted to have ONE GAME where there was a packed house and an electric atmosphere no matter how poor the team was on the ice.

That may mean nothing to the rest of you fine folks but for me, a STH, I appreciate the gesture. In fact, instead of bitching about a refund or rebate because I bought at full price, I’m actually buying more tickets for friends so they can be there for it.

Maybe if some of you had spent the summer being shat upon by all sides and twisted so tight that you bleed out your eyeballs, it might help explain my thought process there.

The number of true THRILLING MOMENTS this franchise has given the city can be counted on half a hand. Who can blame us for wanting another – even if it means “pissing on the Whiteout tradition” or “giving away seats in some lame promotion”?

You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.

by zyllyx on Sep 24, 2009 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So if Leafs preseason ticket prices are too high, and the Coyotes are slashing regular season ticket prices, then the solution to this mess is simple: move the Coyotes to Hamilton but then have the Leafs play home games in Glendale. Who needs a bankrupcy judge for this?

by Arenacale on Sep 23, 2009 7:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Insult to injury… you’d really inflict the Leafs on us? There ARE Geneva conventions and international laws prohibiting torture, you know.

You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.

by zyllyx on Sep 23, 2009 7:38 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

I would be offended and give you the finger, but I’m still trying to reacquire my arms after selling them off for a chance to purchase Leafs tickets. Suffice to say, I still didn’t have enough money.

Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell

by bkblades on Sep 24, 2009 1:48 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs