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Is the Bloom Finally Off the
Rose?
Will attendance slip this year?
| 9/25/13 - By Paul Krill -
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One thing that can't be debated about the Sharks
has been the level of fan support throughout the team's history. Fans have
always been there for the team, even though we deserve better than what we have
gotten. (As in, we see other teams that routinely play to half-empty houses win
Stanley Cups but that pinnacle of on-ice success never happens for us.)
Some recent developments, though, have me wondering if the bloom is
finally off the rose for the Sharks after 20 years in San Jose (Yes, the arena
turned 20 in August). Have the Sharks had one-too-many second-round playoff
exits for the fans to stomach? Has the novelty of a major pro sports team
locating in the South Bay finally faded away?
Perhaps some signs are
pointing to this. What I'm referring to is the difficulty I've had so far
selling off tickets to games I can't attend and the relatively short line for
Sharks tickets the morning tickets went on sale to the general public at the
Box Office a couple weeks ago.
Usually, I'm able to sell off tickets
pretty easily and early on craigslist - maybe there will be a couple of games a
year that are difficult to sell but that's it. This season, though, I've still
got about 10 games going begging, even though I offer the tickets at a really
great price, below what the official Box Office or ticket services would
charge. And when I log onto craigslist, I see piles and piles of Sharks tickets
on there for sale.
Of course, it doesn't help that the Sharks include
full-priced exhibition tickets, always a thorn in the side of season
ticketholders, in the ticket package. These low-demand tickets are a tough sell
even at a huge discount. (The best thing about last season's lockout? No
pre-season tickets.)
(If you're wondering why I don't go to all the games,
it's because of a change in circumstances - family obligations that did not
exist when I first signed up for tickets in 1992. I'll bet a few of you reading
this may not even have been born by then.)
We'll find out soon enough
if demand for Sharks tickets ends up being as strong as ever or whether it
tumbles. Early signs are not good. Of course, winning will help. In the
meantime, I'm wondering if I'll be able to sell off what tickets I can't use or
if these will become expensive bookmarks or fodder for the weekly paper
recycling collection.
Contact Paul at at pjkrillsharks@yahoo.com
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