So far Sunday's game isn't a sell-out

[cardsfanmd]

I know some will get pissy at me for saying this, but how the hell do you not sell out opening day??????!!!!!!!!!!!! Is there really that much other stuff going on in Az this Sunday?

 

[Shane]

I know some will get pissy at me for saying this, but how the hell do you not sell out opening day??????!!!!!!!!!!!! Is there really that much other stuff going on in Az this Sunday?

They can get pissy all they want. Arizona fans on the whole suck. PERIOD! Its really quite the disgrace IMO. Opening freaking day and the team is more talented and promising than ever. Also we are winning the division. I dont care if its after one game or not.

 

[crisper57]

AzCentral is reporting that we are down to 1,000 tickets.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/articles/2008/09/11/20080911cardsticketsupON.html

 

[RonF]

How many tickets can Shane's A$FN: 8,480 bucks buy? Call them up and make some kind of trade Shane, perhaps you can throw in a plaque with the autographed picture of Dennis Green or something.

 

[MadCardDisease]

They can get pissy all they want. Arizona fans on the whole suck. PERIOD! Its really quite the disgrace IMO. Opening freaking day and the team is more talented and promising than ever. Also we are winning the division. I dont care if its after one game or not.

You're right, Arizona fans suck! I'm not going to the game anymore. It's just too embrassing.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I know some will get pissy at me for saying this, but how the hell do you not sell out opening day??????!!!!!!!!!!!! Is there really that much other stuff going on in Az this Sunday?

Quite a few years back, the Eagles were in danger of not selling out opening day against the Cardinals, thus almost causing a blackout. I went and bought a single ticket to Veteran's stadium so I wouldn't miss my opening day game. (BTW, the game eventually did sell out and was televised.)

 

[Desert Rat]

I agree with cardsfanmd, how do you not sell out the season opener???

This indicates that a lot of people don't go to Cardinal games to watch the Cardinals, they want to see the visitors. Most people don't want to pay money to see the Dolphins in person, ergo selling out this game is not a given.

 

[Renz]

I think it's probably more of an economic situation than a team loyalty one. Most people probably can't afford to go to a game in person.

The sad fact is that professional sports has been pricing out the average fan for years. Look at what's happening to the Giants and their new stadium. PSL's are between $20,000 and $30,000 for season tix. Jerra Jones is planning on charging an astounding six figure PSL for lower bowl seats in the Cowboys' new stadium.

Personally, I would rather watch the game at home where I don't have to fight the crowds, traffic, pay for tix, pay concessions etc. I don't think that makes me any less of a fan.

 

[Cheesebeef]

man, that'll suck if the game isn't on TV. Being able to watch all the Cards games was one of the positives I looked forward to when I realized I had to move back to Phoenix to recover from my surgery.

I mean, come on people - we're 1-0 and it's the first home game of the season. not being able to sell this puppie out is pathetic (but I believe Phoenix sports fans are relatively pathetic anyway, so it doesn't completely surprise me).

poop.

 

[azmike74]

I know some will get pissy at me for saying this, but how the hell do you not sell out opening day??????!!!!!!!!!!!! Is there really that much other stuff going on in Az this Sunday?

I am with you cardsfanmd, but I think Arizona is different. The Diamondbacks couldn't sellout games the year after they won the world series. I think Arizona fans as a whole are pretty fickle and will only show up if the sincerely believe the team can win a championship.

As a side note, ASU was ranked in the top 15 in college football and couldn't sell out their Pac 10 opener against Stanford last Saturday.

This is a strange sports town, with the exception of people you will meet on this board, there isn't much passion; that's one of the reasons I love reading the Cardinal section of this board.

 

[Skkorpion]

I doubt it sells out. Cardinals haven't won anything worthwhile yet and ticket prices are too high for some casual or marginally committed fans. Start winning more and more fans will buy. Fact of life.

This isn't a team blessed with multiple generations of fans. As far as a local company buying up the tickets, don't hold your breath. Bill Bidwill hasn't exactly endeared himself to the local movers and shakers over the years.

I don't worry about these things anymore. I buy my tickets and watch the game. Another price increase next year and I might have to give up going. That's life.

 

[HooverDam]

They can get pissy all they want. Arizona fans on the whole suck. PERIOD! Its really quite the disgrace IMO. Opening freaking day and the team is more talented and promising than ever. Also we are winning the division. I dont care if its after one game or not.

Do Arizona fans suck, or does the NFL have a ridiculous rule? Like I said before, the NFLs awful policy told a generation and a half of sports fans in Arizona "you're not important to us", "we don't care if you support your local team" and basically "Screw off." Its not a shock that the Cardinals have been unable to build up a rabid fan base when you combine that its already a immigrant town where people bring loyalties with them, but add to that their consistent lousy seasons and the NFL not showing them on local tv, and of course fan support is flimsy.

 

[cardsfanmd]

I am with you cardsfanmd, but I think Arizona is different. The Diamondbacks couldn't sellout games the year after they won the world series. I think Arizona fans as a whole are pretty fickle and will only show up if the sincerely believe the team can win a championship.

As a side note, ASU was ranked in the top 15 in college football and couldn't sell out their Pac 10 opener against Stanford last Saturday.

This is a strange sports town, with the exception of people you will meet on this board, there isn't much passion; that's one of the reasons I love reading the Cardinal section of this board.

I have been thinking that myself, but being as though I live a few thousand miles away and have never been there, I felt wrong trashing a place/people whom I really know nothing about.

I wont pretend to know the ecominic state of the area or its residents, but I refuse to believe there aren't 80,000 someodd folks who can afford to see their team open its house up for the year. As others have already said, this is more than likely the most promising of a season the Cards have had since the St. Louis days.

I get that the on-field product has left something to be desired, and there are many fans who have been rooting for other teams prior to the Card's arrival, but where is the young population? By that I dont neccessarily mean the twenty-somethings (as many of whom likely cant afford tickets at today's prices) but the folks who were at the ever impressionable 10-15yr old group when the team arrived are in their 30's now and one would think they should be established by now. That is the typical demographic of the heart and soul of most franchises IMO.

 

[Shane]

I have been thinking that myself, but being as though I live a few thousand miles away and have never been there, I felt wrong trashing a place/people whom I really know nothing about.

I wont pretend to know the ecominic state of the area or its residents, but I refuse to believe there aren't 80,000 someodd folks who can afford to see their team open its house up for the year. As others have already said, this is more than likely the most promising of a season the Cards have had since the St. Louis days.

I get that the on-field product has left something to be desired, and there are many fans who have been rooting for other teams prior to the Card's arrival, but where is the young population? By that I dont neccessarily mean the twenty-somethings (as many of whom likely cant afford tickets at today's prices) but the folks who were at the ever impressionable 10-15yr old group when the team arrived are in their 30's now and one would think they should be established by now. That is the typical demographic of the heart and soul of most franchises IMO.

Economics have nothing to do with it IMO. You are talking a metro area that has approx 5 million people. Whole cities where the income would be considered well above average like Scottsdale and Paradise valley etc....

Phoenix area is just a sadly pathetic sports town. I used to buy the whole transplant excuse and that everyone in AZ already had a team when the Cards arrived.

However I have since changed my stance. We are talking TWO FREAKING DECADES this team has been in AZ now. There has been waves of children who were born since the day they got there that could have latched on and thousands upon thousands more that were in that 1-12(12 being the time many kids latch on to football) YOA range that have grown up in AZ and had their first professional team etc..... Add on to that the countless #of people you talk to that absolutely HAVE SWITCHED their allegiance to the Cards over the years. Many who are on this board today.

So really waht is the excuse? Its gotta be the water.

 

[HeavyB3]

So really waht is the excuse? Its gotta be the water.

Silver and black gangster colors are just too freaking cool. Who cares if you know nothing about fooball.

 

[azmike74]

Do Arizona fans suck, or does the NFL have a ridiculous rule? Like I said before, the NFLs awful policy told a generation and a half of sports fans in Arizona "you're not important to us", "we don't care if you support your local team" and basically "Screw off." Its not a shock that the Cardinals have been unable to build up a rabid fan base when you combine that its already a immigrant town where people bring loyalties with them, but add to that their consistent lousy seasons and the NFL not showing them on local tv, and of course fan support is flimsy.

I see where you are coming from Hoover. I was 14 in 1988 and a Chicago Bears fan because 1. my dad liked Green Bay and 2. I thought Walter Payton was the best thing to watch on tv.

I wish the NFL would have waived the blackout rule for Phoenix so young kids could have watched the team. I became a Cards fan because I am proud of Arizona and I happened to be able to afford season tickets for years when they made the playoffs.

I do wonder if every game was televised for the first 5 years, if we would have more Cardinal fans in town.

 

[Shane]

I see where you are coming from Hoover. I was 14 in 1988 and a Chicago Bears fan because 1. my dad liked Green Bay and 2. I thought Walter Payton was the best thing to watch on tv.

I wish the NFL would have waived the blackout rule for Phoenix so young kids could have watched the team. I became a Cards fan because I am proud of Arizona and I happened to be able to afford season tickets for years when they made the playoffs.

I do wonder if every game was televised for the first 5 years, if we would have more Cardinal fans in town.

Doubtful. Phoenix is what it is. The local area was still getting all of the away games on TV(thats approx 150 games). They also were given the chance to watch sellouts that mean something back in 98 and latch on them then when they stunned the Cowboys in the 1st round. Still didnt happen.

 

[azmike74]

So really waht is the excuse? Its gotta be the water.

I don't know what the excuse is, Shane. People I work with, who don't even watch football, try to be cool by talking smack about the Cardinals and for years it worked, but they don't suck the way they used to.
The year they made the playoffs (97 or 98), I remember being abused all year by NFC east fans. They would fly across the country because they thought it was a sure win (and mostly it was). But anyway, there were empty seats all year, except the last 2 home games against the Chargers and, crap, I think the Saints. That year was great because the Cards beat the Cowboys in the playoffs, but next year it was the same old story at Sun Devil Stadium.
I don't know why, but Phoenix does have crappy sports fans.

Phoenix also hates good beer (most my friends love bud light or coors light)

 

[seesred]

Here is where we stand..

The Cardinals asked for and received an extension for the TV blackout deadline in order to sell the last chunk of tickets available for Sunday’s home opener. About 1,000 tickets remained Thursday afternoon at the normal 72-hour deadline. The Cards have until 1:15 p.m. Friday to sell out and remove the blackout. CBS (Ch. 5 in the Valley) will carry the game on television.

GBR
40

 

[ajcardfan]

Actually, the very last game, the Broncos game, was "sold out" by the last 2,000 tickets being donated to military bases in the area.

I thought the Dolphins game was the toughest one to sell out, but that would be offset by it being the opener. The Rams game will be even tougher to sell the tickets for I bet.

 

[Shane]

Actually, the very last game, the Broncos game, was "sold out" by the last 2,000 tickets being donated to military bases in the area.

I thought the Dolphins game was the toughest one to sell out, but that would be offset by it being the opener. The Rams game will be even tougher to sell the tickets for I bet.

No doubt that will be the hardest one to sell IMO.

 

[phillycard]

Quite a few years back, the Eagles were in danger of not selling out opening day against the Cardinals, thus almost causing a blackout. I went and bought a single ticket to Veteran's stadium so I wouldn't miss my opening day game. (BTW, the game eventually did sell out and was televised.)

JG, I think that game WAS blacked out. I recall a co-worker having to listen on the radio. I went to the game too and got a copy of the game tape from another co-worker whos mom lived in AZ. One of the few times the eagles have been blacked out.

 

[ajcardfan]

Sounds like it's a little tougher than usual to sell NFL tickets this year. It has to be the economy.

Ticket sales seem to be lagging in several NFL cities. Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio reminded fans yesterday that the team could use some help from a loud crowd; Jacksonville hasn’t sold out Sunday’s game yet. Although the Bengals’ home opener is technically considered a sellout, tickets are available online at significantly less than face value. The Dolphins are struggling to sell season tickets. The Chargers received a 24-hour extension to sell all their tickets last week, and did so only when the local FOX affiliate purchased the remainders. The Cardinals have been given a 24-hour extension this week.

 

[ThunderCard]

Sounds like it's a little tougher than usual to sell NFL tickets this year. It has to be the economy.

I think AJ nailed it. Look at the hit in housing prices for Phoenix. Some are down 50-60% in two years ( www.zillow.com ) . People all of the sudden see negative equity in there house ( 50K- 200K ) and get really stressed. They shut down except for buying the basics like groceries, gas etc and stop splurging on other stuff like NFL games. Then there is a secondary effect on it as well and that is what I am suffering from. The secondary effect is you see everyone else stop splurging and watching people get laid off so you start saving a lot more in case the same thing happens to you. I went from spending about $1500 on stuff I did not need to about $300 a month.

Also the Dolphins going 1-15 last year does not help either.

 

[RedLine]

Economics have nothing to do with it IMO. You are talking a metro area that has approx 5 million people. Whole cities where the income would be considered well above average like Scottsdale and Paradise valley etc....

Shane, I have to disagree... I buy 2 extra cheap seats so I can offer them to friends. Last year I sold all of them easy, even the preseason.

This year, I can't hardly give them away for what they cost me. I've already eaten the preseason and maybe the fish, too.

I think it's the 40% bump in ticket price, high gas prices, and the non-stop media and dems telling everyone the economy sucks. JMO