Winter Classic Tickets

[loki604]

So Pens season ticket holders are starting to hear about WC tickets. I really hope these BS rumors about all Caps STH getting tickets isn't true. Because I have a half-season plan with the Pens and I'm pretty sure I don't automatically get them.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't 5,000 tickets usually given to the visiting team?

 

[loki604]

Well I just called the Penguins.Half-season ticket holders will get them. In other news, my brother is feeding me false information.

I am assuming they are giving so many tickets to Caps fans (if the rumors are true) to help ramp up the rivalry.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Heinz holds what, about 65K. The Caps have about 10-11K season ticket holders. I wouldn't worry about them filling out your stadium like most of Pitt's opponents do.

 

[pixburgher66]

i don't see why they're getting so many. in my opinion, i feel that mario should adopt the Leonsis theory of salesmen-ship. block out the DC, Virginia, and Maryland area codes. :P

i don't understand why this year should be any different in the amount of tickets sold to the opposing team. all caps STH shouldn't be given opportunity for tickets because it's a Caps away game...some should be released for STH, it's only fair, but to offer them to all isn't fair to the population that are not STH for either team.

 

[pixburgher66]

Heinz holds what, about 65K. The Caps have about 10-11K season ticket holders. I wouldn't worry about them filling out your stadium like most of Pitt's opponents do.

it's not fair to take a knock on the Pitt situation...the stadium isn't on campus. it's 20 minutes away in traffic and most students don't want to have to take a BUS to the game.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

it's not fair to take a knock on the Pitt situation...the stadium isn't on campus. it's 20 minutes away in traffic and most students don't want to have to take a BUS to the game.

And alumni can't fill in a few seats? It is a joke. I is an urban campus and the bus lines are plentiful between the Pitt Campus system and Pitt city system. Season tickets are $25 for students and easy to find for $5-$10 a piece at game time down there.

Pitt football fans are the opposite of Pitt basketball fans. Even when they do go, they leave at halftime. Trust me, I go to like 5-6 games a year.

 

[puckhead]

i don't understand why this year should be any different in the amount of tickets sold to the opposing team. all caps STH shouldn't be given opportunity for tickets because it's a Caps away game...some should be released for STH, it's only fair, but to offer them to all isn't fair to the population that are not STH for either team.

that seems rather greedy of you.

as mentioned, if there are about 65k seats available, offering 10k or so to supporters of the visiting club seems fine. Note, there is a difference between 'supporters' and 'fans'. Leaves you 55k for your 10-15k season ticket holders, and 40-45k for local fans to partake.
complaining about 'not enough' on that breakdown seems petty.

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

How many tickets did Buffalo give to the Penguins??

It is one thing (and not an isolated incident) for an owner to block ticket sales for an 18k seat arena at playoff time. This was not a Leonsis original. It is another thing to block visiting fans from tickets to a nationally televised event in the regular season in a venue that is 3-4 times as big as an arena.

 

[pixburgher66]

that seems rather greedy of you.

as mentioned, if there are about 65k seats available, offering 10k or so to supporters of the visiting club seems fine. Note, there is a difference between 'supporters' and 'fans'. Leaves you 55k for your 10-15k season ticket holders, and 40-45k for local fans to partake.
complaining about 'not enough' on that breakdown seems petty.

also have to factor in the numerous that are given to the NHL, press, countless sponsers, etc. i'm just saying that to offer them to all Caps STH before the general public doesn't seem fair. couple that with my bitterness at the petty Leonsis for blocking out pens fans from buying tickets to Caps home games, i understand how it's viewed as petty.

 

[pixburgher66]

How many tickets did Buffalo give to the Penguins??

It is one thing (and not an isolated incident) for an owner to block ticket sales for an 18k seat arena at playoff time. This was not a Leonsis original. It is another thing to block visiting fans from tickets to a nationally televised event in the regular season in a venue that is 3-4 times as big as an arena.

the only info i can find is this:
In the face of controversy about the quickness of ticket sales, an official spokesperson for the Sabres called it "a testament to how popular the Sabres are and how many people want to be part of the event."[17] However, many Penguins fans were left out by not having the opportunity to purchase the tickets after they were made available to the city hosting the event, and they were frustrated by the lack of exclusivity for Penguins season-ticket holders
it said 40k were available to the public, so 30k were taken up by STH, NHL, Press, etc. so in Heinz, basically it's half the seats given away before the public gets a shot. it's gonna be tough. it'll sell out in a second.

 

[pixburgher66]

and i know it's not a Leonsis original...but it's more the fact that it's a rival team that he does it to, knowing that in the past it was an issue in DC, during the regular season, etc.

 

[sbb122]

Well, i got my invoice today. How nice of the NHL to PICK MY FUCKING SEATS FOR ME!!! I am in section 511 row JJ. I don't know how familiar most of you guys are with Heinz Field but you need a sherpa guide to get to the seats. Oh and they are only 150$ each...

 

[dash]

Well, i got my invoice today. How nice of the NHL to PICK MY FUCKING SEATS FOR ME!!! I am in section 511 row JJ. I don't know how familiar most of you guys are with Heinz Field but you need a sherpa guide to get to the seats. Oh and they are only 150$ each...

That blows!!

/Although I'm confident you could find many takers for those ducats above the $150 price tag.

 

[puckhead]

or maybe try the squeaky wheel route for an upgrade

 

[sbb122]

That blows!!

/Although I'm confident you could find many takers for those ducats above the $150 price tag.

Very true dash. Was just disappointed that we were "assigned" seats. But on the other hand i should consider myself lucky i am guaranteed tickets.

 

[elocomotive]

i don't see why they're getting so many. in my opinion, i feel that mario should adopt the Leonsis theory of salesmen-ship. block out the DC, Virginia, and Maryland area codes. :P.

Please remember this is a REGULAR season game in a 65,000 capacity stadium. No reason all Capitals season ticket holders shouldn't be given a chance to buy a ticket comensurate with their plan (I'm not one, so this isn't a biased opinion with regards to myself). It's a NHL game in a NON-NHL stadium. So supporters of both teams who shell out tons of money should get a chance to see it since it doesn't happen very often. After that, naturally, more Pens' fans are going to be there. But with such a large stadium, it'd be terrible if the NHL didn't extend an offer to all season ticket holders of both teams.

 

[elocomotive]

and i know it's not a Leonsis original...but it's more the fact that it's a rival team that he does it to, knowing that in the past it was an issue in DC, during the regular season, etc.

A couple things...

(1) Leonsis did this during the playoffs, not the regular season.
(2) That was in HIS building. His team was leasing it (and he now owns it) and with any ticketed event where you own or have the rights to the premises, you have a right to decide who can be in your building and what they can do or not do. Just like if you're in my house, I can ask you to leave for any reason I choose. A ticket does not confer any kind of property right, it's a license revocable at any time.
(3) To my knowledge, Heinz Field is being leased/rented for this event by the NHL, not the Penguins or the Capitals. So, they have no obligation to fans of either team, although clearly it's within their interest to make those fan bases happy and makes sense to offer both teams' "supporters" (people who pays $1,000s every year and make the NHL a ton of revenue) a block of tickets, knowing that there will be plenty of Penguins fans buying the tickets anyway b/c the game is local.

 

[elocomotive]

That blows!!

/Although I'm confident you could find many takers for those ducats above the $150 price tag.

Wanna sell 'em?

 

[BOSSMANPC]

So Pens season ticket holders are starting to hear about WC tickets. I really hope these BS rumors about all Caps STH getting tickets isn't true. Because I have a half-season plan with the Pens and I'm pretty sure I don't automatically get them.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't 5,000 tickets usually given to the visiting team?

loki, we had the same problem here. People were pissed they couldn't get tickets but the Sabres cut off ticket sales (to the locals) to allow people from out of town to get them.

People will always find something to bitch about I guess.

 

[elocomotive]

Just an FYI from Ted Leonsis' Web site. Looks like Caps' fans with full- or partial-season ticket plans will be able to buy tickets.

WARNING - This may make some Penguins' fans cry or become violant...

From August 3rd posting on "Ted's Take"...



Before the drop of the puck at the first Winter Classic, I was emailing Gary Bettman about the possibility of the Capitals participating in what has become a signature event for the league. We wanted to host a game, but the NHL wanted to pair us with Pittsburgh, showcasing one of the best rivalries in the NHL. Since Pittsburgh had been the visiting team in a prior Winter Classic, the thought was the Penguins should be given the opportunity to host a game. So we agreed, but also were assured we would be able to host a Winter Classic in the upcoming years. That’s a win-win for us.

As our fan base has grown and its level of interest and intensity has escalated, we knew a significant number of Caps fans would want to be a part of the franchise’s first Winter Classic appearance. Therefore, one of the most important aspects of our Winter Classic discussions was our ability to secure enough tickets to accommodate our season-ticket holders.

This was an extremely challenging process, but a necessary one for our plan holders. And I thank Commissioner Bettman and his staff for working with us and making this a reality for Caps fans.

I am excited to announce that ALL suite and club seat holders as well as ALL full and partial season-ticket accounts will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. In the upcoming days plan holders will be receiving details in the mail pertaining to the Winter Classic and their season-ticket account.

As you might imagine, we have received thousands of requests from Caps fans who would like to buy tickets but don’t own season tickets. We will have an extremely limited amount of travel packages that will be available for the general public, including a three-day, two-night option and a one-day trip opportunity. Please keep an eye out in the next couple of weeks for those details on WashingtonCaps.com and through our Ice Chips newsletter.

We’re playing at Heinz Field, and I know they have a huge ketchup bottle that turns the scoreboard red whenever the Steelers enter the “red zone.” I think it would be hospitable of us to bring our own version of “red” and show the NBC audience how to Rock the Red on New Year’s Day.

See you in Pittsburgh!