Monthly Archives: November 2010
Thanks to everyone who called in and who tried to call in. Brian Compton of NHL.com and I covered some of the important topics this week in the eyes of Islanders fans. We hope you’ll enjoy. Comments on this segment are welcomed.
CB at FANHOUSE: The “NHL Cycle” weekly recap (NYI)
EDITOR’S NOTE: The next SNY “Islanders Interactive” fan call-in show is set to be recorded on Tuesday at 12:15 pm. Stay tuned for final details later in the day.
There are plenty of times when the Islanders’ failure to finalize an arena development deal appropriately comes into play when discussing the franchise’s shortcomings.
However, just as fans are not lining up to buy tickets, it is impossible to buy into the recent team-fed propaganda that the Islanders’ existing attendance problem has anything to do with the state of their arena.
That’s because the notion is complete nonsense.
In a small article about the Islanders’ attendance buried in Newsday the day after Thanksgiving (subscription required), general manager Garth Snow said the following:
There are a lot of ingredients as to why it is what it is. I think the building is a part of it, but winning plays a part as well.
Snow only got the lack of winning part right. There are three “ingredients” that have combined for a nosedive in attendance this season:
1. The Islanders raised ticket prices, in some cases significantly enough to turn off season subscribers, partial plan holders and the individual game buyers. According to a recent report, Islanders’ over-the-counter prices are now four dollars higher than the NHL average despite a roster at the salary cap floor.
2. Without the gift of the Summer of Tavares, the Islanders in 2010 may have tinkered with their defense, but did nothing on even a borderline-”wow” level to improve the team.
3. The poor economy, which has a lot of people thinking twice about spending big cash on sporting events.
It was the perfect spitstorm.
The math is really simple. Other than brokers buying up blocks of season packages so they could get first crack at tickets for “The Wall,” Dave Mathews, Taylor Swift and other in-demand concerts, the Islanders had little reason to expect a jump in attendance. By the home opener (not sold out), the team was already offering seats at drastically reduced prices. The Islanders also offer promotions like the Family Fun Pack, but these often come across like whims, instead of long-term strategy.
Fact is, with a small season subscriber base, attendance would still be down from recent seasons even if the Islanders were playing NHL .500 hockey at the quarter-pole. It would still be down if Kyle Okposo and Mark Streit were healthy. Tickets would still be readily available on StubHub for as low as $6. With most seats face valued at $65 – $150, the Islanders (like the rest of the NHL) are not a walk-up business. Teams usually do not sell 5,000 tickets on the day of a game, like in Major League Baseball. If the Islanders move 2,000 on gamenight, including Loudville and any other bargains, it is justifiable cause for celebration.
If the Islanders really cannot fully comprehend why attendance is down, perhaps they could look back to 2001 at the effect of adding Chris Osgood, Adrian Aucoin, Alexei Yashin and Michael Peca to the roster and a charismatic newcomer named Peter Laviolette behind the bench. Averaging an announced 9,000 over Thanksgiving weekend nine seasons later? It’s not the decrepit building’s fault. The building was decrepit in 2001.
Yes, winning means a lot. So does trying harder to put a winning team on the ice. The Islanders chose to stick with the very slow and often unsteady rebuild, which could still turn out to be the right move some year. But the organization should not blame the dismal attendance on anything but the real reasons why.
Going forward, let’s hope the Islanders stick to their “no excuses” mantra off the ice as well. Their only concern should be fixing the problem and bringing fans back into the building to support the team.
NOTES
As reported by Katie Strang, Jack Hillen and Andrew MacDonald have resumed skating with the team…Josh Bailey suffered what the team has termed a “minor pectoral strain” while playing for Bridgeport over the weekend and is listed as out day-to-day.
Brian Compton of NHL.com and I hope you will call in on Tuesday from 12:15 – 12:45 pm as we record the latest episode of our “Islanders Interactive” call-in show. No pressure, but the broadcast is the only one of its kind on the air or on the web for Islanders fans. It’s only as good as you make it. Stay tuned for final details, posted later in the day.
Tomorrow, November 30th, SOCIAL (across the street from the Coliseum) is hosting a special event for hockey fans. For just $50 – a special price exclusively for Point Blank readers - included are Islanders game tickets, a three-course meal from Danny Gagnon of “Top Chef” and personal visits to your table by center Rob Schremp and defenseman Andrew MacDonald. Autograph requests and the taking of photographs are highly encouraged.
Again, for 50 bucks, you get a ticket to a game – face value: more than $50 – a visit with a pair of current Islanders and a great meal. Not a bad way to spend a night. Seating is very limited by SOCIAL so every fan can have enough time to meet with Schremp and MacDonald. The event is open to all ages, but you’ll want to book your seat at the table today.
For reservations call 917.848.8984 and ask for Max.
Or email max.feinberg@socialsportskitchen.com
Mention Point Blank for discount
Comments relevant to this post are welcomed.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JIGGS!
Thanks to the Hall of Fame broadcaster for his time. Comments relevant to this video are invited. More Monday, plus our next “Islanders Interactive” call-in show will be recorded Tuesday at 12:15 pm.
FANHOUSE: Isles snap 14-game winless streak
OPEN TO FANS OF ALL AGES
$50: get game ticket, dinner, autographs, meet-and-greet with Rob Schremp and Andrew MacDonald
For reservations, call 917.848.8984
Or email max.feinberg@socialsportskitchen.com
Mention Point Blank for discount
The Islanders are now on a three-game points streak, and are just eight points out of the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference.
If it took beating the equally beat-up Devils today to end the 14-game losing streak, so be it. The Islanders needed a victory any way they could get it and, frankly, the Islanders players and coaches deserved some sort of break after a month of hell. They also needed the psychological lift with six days before their next game.
Playing a New Jersey team without Zach Parise, Martin Brodeur, Jamie Langenbrunner and with a lost-at-sea Ilya Kovalchuk, the shorthanded Islanders won today’s matinee, 2-0, behind goals from Jesse Joensuu and Rob Schremp. Rick DiPietro had his third consecutive solid outing in goal, looking especially sharp in the third period to maintain the shutout while the Islanders were out-shot 13-1. As usual, give DiPietro credit for having the presence of mind to acknowledge the fans after the game for sticking with the team through the 14 losses.
Radek Martinek and Mark Eaton each logged more than 25 minutes for Jack Capuano, who earned his first victory in the NHL as a head coach.
The Islanders play a home-and-home against the rival Rangers next Thursday (at the NVMC) and Friday (at MSG).
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This Tuesday, November 30th, SOCIAL (across the street from the Coliseum) is hosting a special event for hockey fans. For just $50 – a special price exclusively for Point Blank readers, included are Islanders game tickets, a three-course meal from Danny Gagnon of “Top Chef” and personal visits to your table by center Rob Schremp and defenseman Andrew MacDonald.
Autograph requests and the taking of photographs are highly encouraged.
The restaurant is offering a significant discount exclusively to Point Blank readers. Each fan will also receive from Schremp and MacDonald a voucher for one complimentary ticket to the Islanders 2010-11 home game of his or her choice. Sparky and the Dragon and Islanders Ice Girls will be in attendance.
So for 50 bucks, you get a ticket to a game – face value: um, more than $50 – a visit with a pair of current Islanders and a great meal. Not a bad way to spend a night.
Seating is very limited by SOCIAL, so that every fan can have enough time to meet with Schremp and MacDonald. The event is open to all ages, but you’ll want to book your seat at the table by Monday..
For reservations call 917.848.8984 and ask for Max.
Or email max.feinberg@socialsportskitchen.com
Mention Point Blank for discount
Since this is NOT a Point Blank event, please contact SOCIAL directly for details on the night with Schremp and MacDonald.
Comments on the event and the Islanders’ victory this afternoon are encouraged. See you next week.
Thanks to an invitation from Greg, I joined a few other NHL writers in giving hockey-related thanks this holiday season. Read our lists here. Hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving.
FanHouse: For Schwartz Family, Time to be Thankful
The Islanders are hosting a Food Drive with Island Harvest at the game on Friday afternoon. If you bring three non-perishable food items to the matinee at the NVMC against New Jersey, you will receive one ticket voucher for an upcoming game.
The Islanders are limiting the offer to one ticket voucher per family. The voucher can be redeemed for one ticket to either a Dec. game vs. Anaheim or a Jan. game vs. Vancouver.
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The Islanders lost their 14th consecutive game tonight, 4-3 in overtime on a goal by Jakob Voracek. Earlier in the overtime, with the Islanders clearly pressing play to end the month-long losing streak, Frans Nielsen and Travis Hamonic made wonderful plays but were stopped by Mathieu Garon.
Jack Capuano’s team now has points in two straight, and played decently tonight. Just not enough to close the deal and get a win. They were out-shot by Columbus, 38-24.
Biggest positive: in his NHL debut, Hamonic played a very strong game. Also: Rick DiPietro played well enough to earn more steady starts from Capuano.
The Islanders try to avoid a franchise record-tying 15th straight loss on Friday. They face the also-woeful Devils on Friday. After then, it’s a week before a home-and-home against the Rangers.
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Two weeks ago, it was Scott Gordon cited for one of his Yogi-isms in “They Said It.” The Islanders make the latest edition of Sports Illustrated in the “Who’s Hot, Who’s Not” segment in the Scorecard section on page 15. Listed as Hot is “Revis Island.” Listed as not: “Long Island.”
“The Islanders canned head coach Scott Gordon,” writes the mag, “and why not? They’re now 4-13-4 (including 13 straight Ls) and ranked 29th in attendance. On Nov. 16 they fired a shot at the media who were covering the wreckage by revoking one reporter’s credentials.”
I disagree with one thing: the New York Islanders are not just a Long Island team. As the name suggests, they represent all of New York and have fans all over the metropolitan area.
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I listened to about half of tonight’s game on Radio Hofstra University in my car. To my eternal respect, but not astonishment, play-by-play announcer Chris King has not let one atom of cynicism or woe-is-me enter his broadcasting. King’s call of tonight’s game was crisp and fact-filled, and backed by passion to the final buzzer.
King has been with the Islanders for many of their lean years, but remains an ardent fan of the team and loyal advocate for the organization. Whenever this turns around for the Islanders, here’s hoping they never forget his dedication.
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Happy Thanksgiving to all the readers of Point Blank. Here’s to a blessed weekend for you and your family. Thanks for your loyalty these last two weeks. Thanks for your loyalty and readership these last two years and two months.
My sincere gratitude also to the members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (the New York and national chapters) for their amazing support. Many of them have been very public in their support by writing and tweeting about this issue, so to them I am especially indebted. I’d also like to thank the many broadcasters who have shed light on the credential issue. Finally, thanks to my employers and the staffs at AOL FanHouse and SNY for being there and helping me find other stories to report on and talk about.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Comments.
10:25 am - NYI have sent Josh Bailey “on loan” to Bridgeport of the AHL. If Bailey plays one more game in the NHL, he has to clear waivers before being sent down. Gutsy move by Garth Snow, who has watched Bailey go pointless in 13 games despite major icetime. A step back for Bailey, who was rushed as an 18-year-old by the Islanders, but he’s a mature young man who can handle this. Comments.
