Kings Attendance (merged)

acisking

acisking

Bench
#1
#1
6th said:
Back to the grades.......Once again, I would like an A for myself. I went to the game. They still have won every game that I have attended this year. I'm 5 for 5. I'll take some of the credit. Thank You! :p
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On TV Arco seems relatively empty still...I suppose the news that the Kings are coming back hasn't really spread fast enough yet.

How is the environment in the arena now 6th? Do you get a sense that the audience feels something building up again or has the slide from the glory years continued?
 
VF21

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#2
#2
I moved this to its own thread since the grade thread will be moved to the archives tomorrow...

As far as the excitement level goes, anyone who goes into Arco is immediately impressed with the energy in the building. I've only been to two games so far this year but the positive feelings and support for the players and the coach is incredible.

It's going to take a while for people to commit to coming back. The Maloofs are offering a bunch of ticket deals but it's the holidays. A lot of people just don't have the money to spare at the moment - remember, the unemployment rate out here is still rising with no real relief in sight.
 
Section 101

Section 101

All-Star
#3
#3
People at the games are into it. There just arent enough there.

Sad part is the last 4 games they gave season ticket holders extra tickets to one of the 4 games. If that was with the freebies it's going to really look bad tomorrow.
 
Emma

Emma

Starter
#4
#4
Last year average attendance was 12517, this year it's 12,266. Why? Well, for one, the teams we've played were not big draws, for two, the past two years buying tickets was a waste of money.

If the fans felt like they were completely ripped off when paying good money for tickets last year, it would be reasonable to assume they aren't going to start trickling back in until we sniff the playoffs, we trade for a big name, or we begin to dominate Lakers / Rockets style with a string of 20+ wins in a row.
 
Bricklayer

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
#5
#5
ryanandty said:
If the fans felt like they were completely ripped off when paying good money for tickets last year, it would be reasonable to assume they aren't going to start trickling back in until we sniff the playoffs, we trade for a big name, or we begin to dominate Lakers / Rockets style with a string of 20+ wins in a row.
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It shouldn't take THAT much. The earlier threads of this type I thought were preamture -- you aren't going to turn around a fanbase that dropped to dead last in the league after years of boring basketball with a three game win streak or whatever. Takes a while for word to trickle out. But word should be trickling here at some point. I'm not asking for a huge 5,000 head a night surge, but I would expect to start seeing the needle get nudged upward here. It the Kings continue to play competitive ball and attendance continues to flatline deep into the season, the patient may in fact be dead and the Sacramento future of the franchise would be very much in doubt.

Wish I knew what the TV ratings looked like -- at least if more people are turning on their TVs you could just blame the attendance on finanical duress but know that there was an underlying interest.
 
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VF21

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#7
#7
ryanandty said:
Last year average attendance was 12517, this year it's 12,266. Why? Well, for one, the teams we've played were not big draws, for two, the past two years buying tickets was a waste of money.
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Those figures are totally misleading, IMHO. You're dealing with a season average when you talk about the 12,517 and that just doesn't reflect the true picture. If you remember, at the end of last year the attendance was absolutely horrible... well below 10,000 on a nightly basis.

This year, however, you're only talking about 9 home games so far, and although we've got a long way to go, interest is definitely growing. The patient is improving; just don't expect too much too soon.
 
T

The Hammer

All-Star
#8
#8
Bricklayer said:
Wish I knew what the TV ratings looked like -- at least if more people are turning on their TVs you could just blame the attendance on finanical duress but know that there was an underlying interest.
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I haven't seen the TV ratings either, but I would be SHOCKED if they hadn't at least marginally improved this year. I mean it's hard to deny that there is a bounty of excitement about the team now... plus these guys are a blast to watch, and TV is free! (well kind of)

I would guess that if indeed the ratings are up, you gotta think the Maloofs are reading that the same way you suggest, Brick. A positive sign, and one that indicates the economy is primarily to blame, rather than hurt feelings or an irreparable relationship.
 
K

Kingsguy881

Guest
#9
#9
VF21 said:
Those figures are totally misleading, IMHO. You're dealing with a season average when you talk about the 12,517 and that just doesn't reflect the true picture. If you remember, at the end of last year the attendance was absolutely horrible... well below 10,000 on a nightly basis.

This year, however, you're only talking about 9 home games so far, and although we've got a long way to go, interest is definitely growing. The patient is improving; just don't expect too much too soon.
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They've won 7 of those 9. So the people that are going are getting their moneys worth. THATS gotta account for something in the long run. There will be a couple/few sellouts by the end of the year, there is no quit in this team and people can get behind that.
 
S

Seanathon81

Prospect
#10
#10
Kings Attendance

I've been to every home kings game this season. (Luckily for me my Fiance's work place gets tickets and 5-6 go unclaimed and I am more than willing to pick them up and go). I've noticed attendance has improved slowly but surely since early in the season and peaked at about the Bulls game of which they loss and then dropped three straight on the road and attendance slumped again. I was just curious what everyone's thoughts were on what it will take to finally string together a couple big home sell outs. In my opinion a big win against the Lakers would fully reawaken the Kingdom. Nothing would get the juices flowing again like a big win against Kobe and company and a couple jabs in the media post game by Phil Jackson. This subject is very troublesome to me because i've been a Sacramento Native since 84 and I for one would hate seeing the Kings leave for another city.
 
C

CBO

Prospect
#11
#11
Well...

For what it's worth, I bought tickets for my dad and I for the day after Christmas, and they were sold out. Had to find some on ebay.

But, it is against the Lakers which always draws a crowd.
 
Dime Dropper

Dime Dropper

All-Star
#12
#12
At the very least, interest is picking up alot. There are many new posters on this site that weren't here last year. That, in itself, is encouraging.
 
Circa_1985_Fan

Circa_1985_Fan

All-Star
#13
#13
Seanathon81 said:
I've been to every home kings game this season. (Luckily for me my Fiance's work place gets tickets and 5-6 go unclaimed and I am more than willing to pick them up and go). I've noticed attendance has improved slowly but surely since early in the season and peaked at about the Bulls game of which they loss and then dropped three straight on the road and attendance slumped again. I was just curious what everyone's thoughts were on what it will take to finally string together a couple big home sell outs. In my opinion a big win against the Lakers would fully reawaken the Kingdom. Nothing would get the juices flowing again like a big win against Kobe and company and a couple jabs in the media post game by Phil Jackson. This subject is very troublesome to me because i've been a Sacramento Native since 84 and I for one would hate seeing the Kings leave for another city.
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I don't even think we're needing a win, I think December 26th is going to be ALOT of fun! Th Kingdom has turned over and is ALMOST fully awake...I know I didn't forget what Kobe proclaimed to the city of Sacramento after the last time he was here: 'Oh, I love Sacramento now, there's more Laker fans than Kings fans, it's like a home game for us at Arco now...'. Yeah...ummm...hello Mr. Bryant, we 'Laker' fans in Sactown can't WAIT to see you again in a few weeks!!!
 
pdxKingsFan

pdxKingsFan

So Ordinary That It's Truly Quite Extraordinary
Staff member
#14
#14
If you are in Sac and have tickets the best thing you can do is drag a non-believer to a game with you. I had a hard time getting anyone to go with me, ultimately went with my stepdad to the Knicks game. We watched part of the Friday game on tv together too and he seemed pretty excited about the young guys by the end and said he would make more of an effort to watch games now.

For those that are younger and don't remember the Kings as perrenial cellar dwellars you may not know that there was always a lot of buzz about the team no matter how awful they were so some people in the 35+ crowd may just tune out the current excitement because they remember how we convinced ourselves for years that the long list of scrubs passing through town were potential all-stars.
 
kennadog

kennadog

Dog On It!
#15
#15
I'm a little concerned by the low attendance, I won't lie. Although the people that are at the games are much more excited and into the games, than last year (don't even ask).

I do have to remind myself that Sacramento is a government town, full of goverrnment employees who are suffering through one of the worst housing market declines in the US, the generally bad economy, plus the 15% cut in their pay. That all adds up to a market that's been hit harder than most economically.

Still, that could also just add more reasons for the team to be unable to make it here financially much longer. I believe the Maloofs don't want to move the franchise, but I worry they will have no choice financially, at some point. I try not to think about it too much and just keep doing what I can to support the team here in Sacramento.
 
bibbinator

bibbinator

Bench
#16
#16
Times are tough in Sac in general. It used to be that the banks would give money to any fool with a pulse. Dropping a $50+ per at a NBA game was no big deal for a lot of people. That's different now. I see it in my craigslist transactions. There are lots of people selling off their stuff in foreclosure sales.

Paying that much to watch a bad team lose is unappealing. Thankfully the Kings are good this year, makes the sale a little easier, but not easy.


Slightly OT, but I thinking the NBA is slowly but surely suffocating itself by not being regularly on broadcast TV. How are they going to hook new fans if they make them pay to watch and hide the content so well in the cable system?
 
Rockmeister

Rockmeister

All-Star
#17
#17
My cousin and I bought the 16-game package this year. I do like attending the games, however, I have noticed that more of the Kings game are in HD. I have a 56" tv and love watching anything in HD. Had I known that they were going to have more games in HD, I would have never bought the game package.

With the economy, I'm also thinking that many people own a plasma tv with HD and probably are choosing to watch the games at home due to it.
 
pdxKingsFan

pdxKingsFan

So Ordinary That It's Truly Quite Extraordinary
Staff member
#18
#18
bibbinator said:
Slightly OT, but I thinking the NBA is slowly but surely suffocating itself by not being regularly on broadcast TV. How are they going to hook new fans if they make them pay to watch and hide the content so well in the cable system?
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I don't know, seems even the people that can least afford basic cable aren't willing to make that sacrifice. The people I know that don't get cable or satellite don't watch broadcast TV period.
 
Circa_1985_Fan

Circa_1985_Fan

All-Star
#19
#19
Rockmeister said:
My cousin and I bought the 16-game package this year. I do like attending the games, however, I have noticed that more of the Kings game are in HD. I have a 56" tv and love watching anything in HD. Had I known that they were going to have more games in HD, I would have never bought the game package.

With the economy, I'm also thinking that many people own a plasma tv with HD and probably are choosing to watch the games at home due to it.
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Whoa, 56' plasma HD!!...maybe one day, my wife and I are satisfied with our 30' inch non plasma to watch the games on. Maybe that's why we haven't been to any games this year, it's hard enough to pay rent, let alone buy Kings tickets. That hasn't curbed my enthusiasm or our team though.:)
 
bibbinator

bibbinator

Bench
#21
#21
pdxKingsFan said:
I don't know, seems even the people that can least afford basic cable aren't willing to make that sacrifice. The people I know that don't get cable or satellite don't watch broadcast TV period.
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I don't have cable. I only watch broadcast TV for sports, primarily basketball and Olympics.

The fact is, it's hard to be an NBA fan without choosing to pay directly for it. If NBC had a contract to broadcast 6 games during the weekend and a featured game, say, every Thursday night a lot of people would run across the sport and get interested, the networks still have pull. As it stands now the casual viewer is NOT going to run across the NBA on TV usually, and if he does, he won't find it again without some effort. Good marketers make it easy for people to get access to their product. The NBA walls it off.

KF is filled with diehard fans who will pay for LeaguePass, but the sport needs casual fans too and that means making good product easily available. It isn't right now. The casual fan is largely shut out of the NBA.
 
pdxKingsFan

pdxKingsFan

So Ordinary That It's Truly Quite Extraordinary
Staff member
#22
#22
6 broadcast games during the weekend and a featured game on Thursdays on one network? No non-cable network would touch that. I am not even sure ESPN would want that deal.
 
S

swisshh

Starter
#23
#23
It will take a couple of months for the city to believe in the team again and not just see it as a .500 display in a soft schedule.

And then it will take even more to change the economy and justify the extra expense.

Ultimately, the Kings have to become the social aspect of Sacramento again. In the team's downfall there has been some actual *gasp* culture in the city and there are places to go, things to do worth being social about. It is no longer just what the Kings did yesterday as a subject of conversation.
 
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kennadog

kennadog

Dog On It!
#25
#25
swisshh said:
Ultimately, the Kings have to become the social aspect of Sacramento again. In the team's downfall there has been some actual *gasp* culture in the city and there are places to go, things to do worth being social about. It is no longer just what the Kings did yesterday as a subject of conversation.
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Well cities with more cultural options than Sacramento draw more fans than the Kings have in recent seasons. I still think it has to do more with Sacramento's particular combination of economic woes added to the NBA-hell season last year.

I've reached a time in my life when I can afford to spend a little on myself, so I go to some games. Then I often watch them all over again on my TV. :D
 
BritishColumbia

BritishColumbia

Bench
#26
#26
Circa_1985_Fan said:
Whoa, 56' plasma HD!!...maybe one day, my wife and I are satisfied with our 30' inch non plasma to watch the games on. Maybe that's why we haven't been to any games this year, it's hard enough to pay rent, let alone buy Kings tickets. That hasn't curbed my enthusiasm or our team though.:)
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A little bit off topic, but LCD is better than plasma :)

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Now, about the Kings ..... There is a fan-rate system (at least here in Vancouver) - are you Philadelphia Flyers or Pittsburgh Penguins?

Pittsburgh - great, super loud fans, love their players, excited about their team, support their players no matter what, great attendance WHEN the Pens is a winning team. Bad results - no fans, no excitement, nothing.

Philadelphia - bitter fans, criticize their team a lot but support the team and attend games notwithstanding the Flyers results.

The question is who we are now? Not 20-15 years ago, just now.
I understand that economy is terrible and the team was not the best in the world. However, we are talking about a 2M region with only one Big Four league team. Plus, we like to call ourselves the best basketball fans in the world.
I do not live in Sacramento but I visit it and SF a lot and I just do not see any passion now on the streets. Here in BC, you see people walking around with the Canucks T-shirts and caps everywhere 24/7 and talking about last 5-10 games. You feel like it is the Canucks territory, they bleed Canucks blue.

So, is it (the Kings) only entertainment for us, just like theater where you need good actors to attract spectators? Do we need a good 'product' to be excited and attend games?
I am really scared that we fool ourselves with that the-passion-will-be-back stuff. Every time I watch the Kings game on TV and see so many empty seats, it scares me. It might turn off the league and brothers more than anything and we need them all to build a new arena and keep the team in Sacramento.
I hope that more people will attend games ... and soon.
 
Emma

Emma

Starter
#30
#30
IDidntDoDat said:
Lazy a*s people
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Poor @** people dumping money under the Christmas tree rather than blowing it on a night out. (People like me)

Edit: If you wanna save money on parking, my dad (who lives in the area) has said that people park in that Raley's / Kohls parking center across the corner from the arena and walk there all the time. It's much better lit, patrolled by security, and you can get some big spoon yogurt afterwards :)
 
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