1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Salguero: Dolphins still struggling to sell tickets

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Serpico Jones, Mar 24, 2013.

  1. CRAZYFACE

    CRAZYFACE Active Member

    230
    70
    28
    Sep 13, 2011
    England
    Interesting read. Don't give up yet. I'm not, as yet, fully clued up with everything, but notice that some players I actually recognise have gone. Is that a bad thing? They contributed to our inadequacies! Last season was one for Philbin to asses, and some "key" players have been removed, I hope Bess will go too, some players have been brought in. Can they be any worse? Lets hope not. I'm hopeful for next season. Have we got a decent running back yet?
     
  2. vt_dolfan

    vt_dolfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    Lol...

    Id rather hang out with ya'll , eat good food, get drunk...watch the game on NFL Sunday Ticket. But...if I lived in Fl...there is no doubt...Id have season tickets.
     
    djphinfan and Section126 like this.
  3. jw3102

    jw3102 season ticket holder

    7,760
    3,486
    113
    Sep 4, 2010
    Maui, Hawaii
    There are plenty of houses for sale in South Florida for you to purchase. I don't know what your occupation is, but unemployment is down in South Florida, so you should be able to find a job. Come on down and don't forget, there are still thousands of seats to choose from at Sun Life Stadium. When your not attending games, there are plenty of other entertainment options available to you.
     
    shula_guy likes this.
  4. PhinishLine

    PhinishLine Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    4,276
    2,893
    113
    Dec 3, 2007
    Maryland
    And while everything you said is certainly true, does that mean that the status quo should be maintained? Some of us that are out of towners are Miami fans because we have roots in Florida. We'd love to stay in South Florida and go to every game but South Florida isnt an industrial boon for the country. We support the team all over the country and we are Dolphins fans just like you guys. I think we have a right to complain just as much as anyone regardless of us living locally or not. Miami isn't the only transplant city in the country. I think just as Jeff Ireland has to go through evaluation so should the fans. Jeff Ireland stating, 'Because that is the way it has always been done' doesn't fly with the owner and it doesn't fly with the fans, so why should the fanbase respond in turn, "Because that is the way it always has been." These are the Miami Dolphins....not the Ross Dolphins. Get off the couch...buy a ticket....and go eat a hot dog. I'm not saying you gotta get season tickets and be at every game, but every local in South Florida and out of towners (that can) should go see one game at the stadium a year. I think that would go a long way.

    .
     
  5. Desides

    Desides Well-Known Member

    38,949
    20,033
    113
    Nov 28, 2007
    Pembroke Pines, FL
    Which fanbases? Which sports?

    People keep saying this but offer no evidence to support it.
     
    oakelmpine likes this.
  6. jw3102

    jw3102 season ticket holder

    7,760
    3,486
    113
    Sep 4, 2010
    Maui, Hawaii
    Certainly you can complain if you want to. I just notice that it is usually fans of other teams or fans who don't live in the South Florida who actually complain about the fair weather fans in South Florida the most. Those of us who do live here and have for many years are used to the attitude of the casual fan and it just doesn't bother us as much as it appears to bother the fans from around the country.

    We know that once the Dolphins begin winning on a consistent basis, the stands will start to fill up again. If they continue to lose, fans will stay away. That is the reality of the South Florida sports scene and it has been that way as long as I have lived in South Florida. As I stated earlier, it doesn't matter if it is the Dolphins, Heat, Marlins, Panthers, or Hurricanes. Large crowds show up for big games and winning teams. They stay away for inconsequential games or losing teams.

    It is great to tell fans to get off their couch and go to games, but that is not the culture of most of the sports fans in South Florida. They will support a winner and go to the winners games, but except for the hard core fans, South Florida fans would rather do anything else than go the games of losing teams. Just because you might not understand the South Florida sports fan or agree with the, "win or I'm not attending the game attitude", isn't going to change the fact that this is the attitude for the majority of the sports fans in this area.

    I wish every Dolphin game was a sell out and the stands were filled each week. I am realist enough to know that isn't going to happen until the Dolphins start winning again on a consistent basis. Whether I agree with this or not is irrelevant, it is just the way it is here in South Florida.
     
  7. jw3102

    jw3102 season ticket holder

    7,760
    3,486
    113
    Sep 4, 2010
    Maui, Hawaii
    If you just go on line and look at the overall attendance at NFL games in recent years, you will see that the Dolphins are in the bottom five in average attendance.

    Others teams with losing records or non playoff teams in recent years have continued to have much larger attendance than the Dolphins. Some of these teams include the Cowboys, Jets, Panthers, Cardinals, Chiefs, Browns, and the Bills.

    Except for the Jets and Cowboys, the population in South Florida is much larger than any of those other teams.

    The Dolphins also had by far, the lowest TV ratings of any NFL team in their local market in 2012. Even though they finished in the middle of the pack, record wise. As a fan base, we really don't support our teams when they are down as much as fans around much of the country do. The Redskins, Packers, Bears, and the Broncos have had full stadiums, year after year, even when they were not good teams in the past.

    This is just the way it is in South Florida and like it or not, we have to live with it. The benefit of course is we have the pleasure of living in South Florida year round, while many of the fans of other teams don't have this good fortune.
     
  8. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

    44,356
    22,480
    113
    Mar 22, 2008
    I'm not sure I'd describe it as "worst fan bases", but it is in the bottom half of football markets.

    The reality is that South Florida has the second highest inequality of wealth in the nation. The middle class in the area has shrunk drastically. Poor people can't afford to go to games. So essentially you're relying more and more on the wealthy to buy tickets. And the wealthy sure as hell aren't spending money to sit outside in the sweltering heat in Sun Life stadium. This and the rise of international tourism are both two big trends that should bring into question the long-term viability of the market.

    And to be clear, I'm not judging anyone as a fan. As I said, if a city were full of people like me, the stadium would be empty. But when you look at South Florida as a football market, it isn't a bright outlook.
     
  9. Section126

    Section126 We are better than you. Luxury Box

    47,525
    72,483
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    Miami, Florida
    Not sure that's true.
     
  10. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

    72,252
    43,684
    113
    Nov 27, 2007
    Not only do I like to watch the game at home, but I like to watch the recording of it on my DVR.

    - Don't have to wait through all the commercials
    - I can keep the wife happy be doing stuff with her during the day
    - Don't have to wait through time outs or huddles or injuries or reviews
    - Won't miss any part of the game because I can pause
    - Knock the whole game out in an hour to an hour and a half.
     
    steveincolorado likes this.
  11. steveincolorado

    steveincolorado Spook, Storme & Pebbles

    11,511
    3,069
    113
    Mar 23, 2008
    Colorado
    There were times last year that I went golfing instead of staying home and watch games. After golf, I could watch the Dolphins in a hour and half.
     
    Fin D likes this.
  12. PhinishLine

    PhinishLine Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    4,276
    2,893
    113
    Dec 3, 2007
    Maryland
    I can dig it. Maybe when I make my return to South Florida one of these days, I'll be the same way. Doubt I'll ever be a Heat fan though.
     
  13. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    31,608
    55,632
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    I feel you brother, one time I had to watch a Dolphins game on Tivo 'cause I was so engrossed with a 5,000 piece jigsaw puzzle of a Thomas Kinkaide painting.
     
  14. oakelmpine

    oakelmpine New Member

    3,328
    339
    0
    Oct 16, 2012
    The real problem is that this losing era of the Dolphins is contributing to a loss of a whole generation of fans. There are kids growing up now, that are 14,15 and 16 years old that think the Miami Dolphins are a joke franchise. This is when a lot of kids are made fans for life.

    The longer they go, without putting together a winning era, their fan base will continue to erode.
     
    NolesNPhinsFan likes this.
  15. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

    72,252
    43,684
    113
    Nov 27, 2007
    Putting together puzzles is way more fun than golf, less aggravating to.
     
  16. oakelmpine

    oakelmpine New Member

    3,328
    339
    0
    Oct 16, 2012
    Especially when you are paying to see a losing, boring product. In hindsight, Parcells may have been the worst thing that could have happened to the Dolphins.
     
  17. Anonymous

    Anonymous Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    13,969
    3,367
    113
    Jul 5, 2009
    You may be right, but it seems the attendance struggles have recently started. Like I said, before the 1-15 season, our attendance was doing fine, whether we were winning or losing.
     
  18. oakelmpine

    oakelmpine New Member

    3,328
    339
    0
    Oct 16, 2012
    and I gave examples of how fanbases act exactly like South Fla's in an earlier post, but they seem to just ignore those facts.
     
  19. Desides

    Desides Well-Known Member

    38,949
    20,033
    113
    Nov 28, 2007
    Pembroke Pines, FL
    This has nothing to do with the question I asked.
     
  20. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

    44,356
    22,480
    113
    Mar 22, 2008
    Right, and the economic trends you see all started right around that time.
     
  21. DearbornDolfan

    DearbornDolfan Active Member

    375
    146
    43
    Mar 7, 2009
    I was a fan for life after watching my first Dolphins game. I was three. Then again, my little brother had two new teams yearly until he settled on the Broncos.
     
  22. jw3102

    jw3102 season ticket holder

    7,760
    3,486
    113
    Sep 4, 2010
    Maui, Hawaii
    Since I usually play golf at least five days a week, I can certainly relate to your desire to play a round of golf when you get the chance. In fact, other than going to see the Dolphins or Hurricane football games, there is nothing I enjoy more than spending time at the golf course.
     
    steveincolorado likes this.
  23. Anonymous

    Anonymous Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    13,969
    3,367
    113
    Jul 5, 2009
    Ok, so in this instance, the conclusion seems to be that the decline in the economy is the reason for the poor Dolphins attendance. So, why is it you are calling Miami a bad football town?
     
  24. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

    44,356
    22,480
    113
    Mar 22, 2008
    Because the economics dictate it?
     
  25. DearbornDolfan

    DearbornDolfan Active Member

    375
    146
    43
    Mar 7, 2009
    Because Rust Belt cities that have been harder hit for longer still manage better attendance.
     
  26. Anonymous

    Anonymous Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    13,969
    3,367
    113
    Jul 5, 2009
    I don't think calling Miami a bad football town is accurate when the economy is the reason why attendance is low, though.
     
  27. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    111,652
    67,546
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    no argument here on those things.
     
    steveincolorado likes this.
  28. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

    44,356
    22,480
    113
    Mar 22, 2008
    Why not? The economics are probably the most important thing.
     
  29. Muck

    Muck Throwback Uniform Crusader Retired Administrator

    14,523
    22,246
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    Sunny Florida
    Very true.

    I had season tickets in 2007. Nothing like driving 4.5 hours down, unenthused knowing the team is going to lose badly. Then watching them lose badly and driving back after an hour in stadium traffic. Halfway thru I'd had enough. Great seats but I struggled to even give them away. I finally cancelled in 2010. I wasn't going to waste my time/money after they kept Sparano.

    Understand that one of my dreams was to be a season ticket holder. I was proud of it.

    I realize non-locals are a different case. But judging from the empty seats, I think a lot of people feel similarly. Winning is part of it. The other part we're with Stephen Ross; we want an exciting product. Not 3 yards and a cloud of dust. We want to be entertained.
     

  30. Nothing stopping you out of town fans from buying tickets and flying in for the games. You are sitting here judging other fans and questioning their devotion when it could just as easily be turned on you. If your so concerned about empty seats then buy season tickets and fly in or donate your seats to fellow fans who cant afford them. Why are you being so selfish?
     
  31. DearbornDolfan

    DearbornDolfan Active Member

    375
    146
    43
    Mar 7, 2009
    Except the fact that I work and go to school, so I don't have that sort of disposable income.
     
  32. Muck

    Muck Throwback Uniform Crusader Retired Administrator

    14,523
    22,246
    113
    Nov 25, 2007
    Sunny Florida
    Now if the Dolphins ever did like Green Bay and sold 'worthless' shares of the team to fans for $250 a pop, bet your *** I'd be all over that. They could be the worst team in history, and I still couldn't get mine fast enough.
     
    Finrunner and PhinishLine like this.
  33. PhinishLine

    PhinishLine Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    4,276
    2,893
    113
    Dec 3, 2007
    Maryland
    Who says out of town fans don't fly in and see games? While I'd love to do it every weekend, the way my marriage is set up...

    Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
     
  34. Local fans have bills too but that isn't stopping some of you from judging them. Many locall fans want to go to games but feel like they are being good fans bu holding out intil the team improves. Its just a matter of perspective. Nobody likes having someone else qiestion their team devotion. You don't have to agree but you should respect your fellow fans.
     
  35. You guys don't do it enough to be good fans or the localed would all be complaining thst they coild not get tickets
     
  36. Anonymous

    Anonymous Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    13,969
    3,367
    113
    Jul 5, 2009
    Because calling the fanbase or city bad is unfair when the cause is something that is out of their control.

    Even when the team sucked, and we went through the Ricky Williams/Saban/Culpepper years, the fans still came out. That's not a bad sports town or bad fanbase.
     
  37. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

    44,356
    22,480
    113
    Mar 22, 2008
    The fact that the middle class has imploded in South Florida is very pertinent in assessing the strength of S Fla as a football market.
     
  38. Finrunner

    Finrunner Season Ticket Holder

    2,385
    1,117
    113
    Dec 11, 2007
    Yep. Me too!

    How much would I have to buy to have a "worthless" say in front office decisions?
     
  39. jw3102

    jw3102 season ticket holder

    7,760
    3,486
    113
    Sep 4, 2010
    Maui, Hawaii
    I agree that there are many empty seats when the Jets and Giants are bad teams. The main difference from those fans and the fans in South Florida is that in New York, fans may stay away from games during losing seasons, but they also renew their season tickets every year, for fear they will lose them forever to someone on the waiting lists for both these teams.

    In South Florida, season ticket sales have been decreasing for the last several years and there is no waiting list to worry about, if you choose not to renew your season tickets. You can always get season tickets to Dolphin games any year you want to.

    It really doesn't matter how many people are in the stands. All that matters is how many tickets are sold for each game. In South Florida, the number of tickets sold for the games keeps going down. In New York, all the games are completely sold out for each game, no matter how bad the Jets or Giants might be.
     
  40. DearbornDolfan

    DearbornDolfan Active Member

    375
    146
    43
    Mar 7, 2009
    Difference is I would have to buy a plane ticket and a game ticket. Plane tickets are quite a bit more expensive than game tickets.
     
    steveincolorado likes this.

Share This Page