Cragg on Ticket Prices

paultzman

paultzman

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“Our ticketing strategies were very sound in trying to reach our budget numbers and increasing value to the Red White Club - but we overshot how many games we could support in MSG. We will adjust next season - thus lowering the overall season ticket package.”

“ To be clear - single game tickets were up only slightly in a couple of areas, lower in some prime seats, and stable in most - including the vast majority of the building. Putting us more in line with competition and peers.”
 
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[quote="Paultzman" post=376482]“Our ticketing strategies were very sound in trying to reach our budget numbers and increasing value to the Red White Club - but we overshot how many games we could support in MSG. We will adjust next season - thus lowering the overall season ticket package.”

“ To be clear - single game tickets were up only slightly in a couple of areas, lower in some prime seats, and stable in most - including the vast majority of the building. Putting us more in line with competition and peers.”[/quote]

Thus weening off games played at MSG.
 
[quote="newsman13" post=376483][quote="Paultzman" post=376482]“Our ticketing strategies were very sound in trying to reach our budget numbers and increasing value to the Red White Club - but we overshot how many games we could support in MSG. We will adjust next season - thus lowering the overall season ticket package.”

“ To be clear - single game tickets were up only slightly in a couple of areas, lower in some prime seats, and stable in most - including the vast majority of the building. Putting us more in line with competition and peers.”[/quote]

Thus weening off games played at MSG.[/quote]

I’m not sure weaning but certainly overestimated strength of crowds on a down season with a new coach etc. Some of these games don’t need to be in Msg, and some do. Next year at least one or two will be swapped for uconn who will certainly be an MSG game. Too bad Cuse doesn’t want to play us any more but they should. As we get better it will all change again. It seems at least that Cragg is aware of the issues and seems he’s fully understanding on how to address them. They certainly overshot with prices this year. In time maybe.
 
As I don’t need to make a donation to keep my CA seats, less games at MSG will make it harder to justify paying the $500 contribution for two center court seats at MSG. May have to move to an end zone.
 
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On next year’s schedule Cragg;

“ We are in schedule mode now - 20 Big East games next year along with a home Big Ten contest and road game at Texas Tech. We will definitely look for creative home games as we do want to maximize fan experience and fill the stands more in 2020-21.”
 
Cragg re: two Barclay’s games next year; “Those will be the only likely neutral games next year”
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=376490]On next year’s schedule Cragg;

“ We are in schedule mode now - 20 Big East games next year along with a home Big Ten contest and road game at Texas Tech. We will definitely look for creative home games as we do want to maximize fan experience and fill the stands more in 2020-21.”[/quote]

Possibility that we could see Texas Tech twice. Big 12 challenge down there, and NIT season tip off at Barclays Center. I'm sure the NIT will make sure that we don't face each other in the first round, but in a four team tournament, anything's possible.
 
[quote="newsman13" post=376483][quote="Paultzman" post=376482]“Our ticketing strategies were very sound in trying to reach our budget numbers and increasing value to the Red White Club - but we overshot how many games we could support in MSG. We will adjust next season - thus lowering the overall season ticket package.”

“ To be clear - single game tickets were up only slightly in a couple of areas, lower in some prime seats, and stable in most - including the vast majority of the building. Putting us more in line with competition and peers.”[/quote]

Thus weening off games played at MSG.[/quote]

I've been asking this for awhile, and it hasn't happened, but:

When do we reach the point of no return WRT MSG? When is the Garden just going to say, "sorry, no more games for you. You don't help us out any, and we can fill those dates with better events"? It seems like it's getting closer and closer to that, but it's also seemed like that for a long time now, and hasn't happened.

It looks, from afar anyway, that St. John's is one of those people/things that Dolan likes, and we know that he has a big loyalty factor. He could be pressuring lower level Garden execs to get a deal done for us every year, when some others might tell him that it's not financially prudent.

If that's the case, then maybe we shouldn't be rooting for him to sell the Knicks.
 
Right now, we are in a poor bargaining position with MSG. It's either there or on campus. When the new arena, at Belmont, is available, SJU has a very viable alternative to MSG.
If there is room to schedule a pre-Big East game at MSG, we should consider Duke, Notre Dame, Dayton and West Virginia as possible opponents. I think they would all have strong ticket-selling potential.
 
We keep paying the rent. As long as we do they will have us. 6 or 7 SJU games is easy money for them.
 
[quote="SJU61982" post=376525][quote="newsman13" post=376483][quote="Paultzman" post=376482]“Our ticketing strategies were very sound in trying to reach our budget numbers and increasing value to the Red White Club - but we overshot how many games we could support in MSG. We will adjust next season - thus lowering the overall season ticket package.”

“ To be clear - single game tickets were up only slightly in a couple of areas, lower in some prime seats, and stable in most - including the vast majority of the building. Putting us more in line with competition and peers.”[/quote]

Thus weening off games played at MSG.[/quote]

I've been asking this for awhile, and it hasn't happened, but:

When do we reach the point of no return WRT MSG? When is the Garden just going to say, "sorry, no more games for you. You don't help us out any, and we can fill those dates with better events"? It seems like it's getting closer and closer to that, but it's also seemed like that for a long time now, and hasn't happened.

It looks, from afar anyway, that St. John's is one of those people/things that Dolan likes, and we know that he has a big loyalty factor. He could be pressuring lower level Garden execs to get a deal done for us every year, when some others might tell him that it's not financially prudent.

If that's the case, then maybe we shouldn't be rooting for him to sell the Knicks.[/quote]

We pay them rent just like anyone else would I'm sure. It's not like they have events every single day there. They don't want to lose the 5-7 potential days when the Garden won't be dark. Also a lot of our weekend games parlay with Knicks/Rangers and I'm sure that also keeps the costs down.
 
[quote="Las Vegan" post=376535]Right now, we are in a poor bargaining position with MSG. It's either there or on campus. When the new arena, at Belmont, is available, SJU has a very viable alternative to MSG.
[/quote]

I've said this before, but I really wouldn't mind making the Belmont arena our new full time home, when it opens. It's right on the Queens/LI border, so that satisfies probably 90% of the fanbase.

Maybe we could do something like Seton Hall does (though less so this year, obviously) at the Rock, where they close off the upper bowl. I always felt that was effective in bringing more of a homecourt advantage, to a pro style arena, and that's something we could use, because MSG is either empty, or 60% opposing fans, so we gain no advantage. It's why I don't like bringing recruits to games there. I always fear that they'll wind up loving the other team more, when they see that spirited crowd.

I also think we could get a more favorable schedule, playing there. We'd be second only to the Islanders WRT dates and times. At MSG, we're fourth at most, behind the Knicks, Rangers, and Billy Joel, and then there's all those other events the Garden has, like the Dog Show, the Rodeo, The Big 10 Challenge, Z100s Jingle Ball, etc. That's why we play so many noon weekend games there. There really aren't any other spots where they can take us. At Belmont, IMO, we'll get a fairer shake.
 
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[quote="SJU61982" post=376547][quote="Las Vegan" post=376535]Right now, we are in a poor bargaining position with MSG. It's either there or on campus. When the new arena, at Belmont, is available, SJU has a very viable alternative to MSG.
[/quote]

I've said this before, but I really wouldn't mind making the Belmont arena our new full time home, when it opens. It's right on the Queens/LI border, so that satisfies probably 90% of the fanbase.

Maybe we could do something like Seton Hall does (though less so this year, obviously) at the Rock, where they close off the upper bowl. I always felt that was effective in bringing more of a homecourt advantage, to a pro style arena, and that's something we could use, because MSG is either empty, or 60% opposing fans, so we gain no advantage. It's why I don't like bringing recruits to games there. I always fear that they'll wind up loving the other team more, when they see that spirited crowd.

I also think we could get a more favorable schedule, playing there. We'd be second only to the Islanders WRT dates and times. At MSG, we're fourth at most, behind the Knicks, Rangers, and Billy Joel, and then there's all those other events the Garden has, like the Dog Show, the Rodeo, The Big 10 Challenge, Z100s Jingle Ball, etc. That's why we play so many noon weekend games there. There really aren't any other spots where they can take us. At Belmont, IMO, we'll get a fairer shake.[/quote]

It isn’t going to be a substitute for MSG. We need MSG. It’s our home away from campus. That said, having a great new arena at Belmont is a fantastic new option that really opens up more for us because it is soooo close to campus. Maybe SJU wants to start a D1 ice hockey team? ;-)
 
[quote="MCNPA" post=376550][quote="SJU61982" post=376547][quote="Las Vegan" post=376535]Right now, we are in a poor bargaining position with MSG. It's either there or on campus. When the new arena, at Belmont, is available, SJU has a very viable alternative to MSG.
[/quote]

I've said this before, but I really wouldn't mind making the Belmont arena our new full time home, when it opens. It's right on the Queens/LI border, so that satisfies probably 90% of the fanbase.

Maybe we could do something like Seton Hall does (though less so this year, obviously) at the Rock, where they close off the upper bowl. I always felt that was effective in bringing more of a homecourt advantage, to a pro style arena, and that's something we could use, because MSG is either empty, or 60% opposing fans, so we gain no advantage. It's why I don't like bringing recruits to games there. I always fear that they'll wind up loving the other team more, when they see that spirited crowd.

I also think we could get a more favorable schedule, playing there. We'd be second only to the Islanders WRT dates and times. At MSG, we're fourth at most, behind the Knicks, Rangers, and Billy Joel, and then there's all those other events the Garden has, like the Dog Show, the Rodeo, The Big 10 Challenge, Z100s Jingle Ball, etc. That's why we play so many noon weekend games there. There really aren't any other spots where they can take us. At Belmont, IMO, we'll get a fairer shake.[/quote]

It isn’t going to be a substitute for MSG. We need MSG. It’s our home away from campus. That said, having a great new arena at Belmont is a fantastic new option that really opens up more for us because it is soooo close to campus. Maybe SJU wants to start a D1 ice hockey team? ;-)[/quote]

It's not going to replace MSG, I know that, but maybe it should. If you want to maximize your win total, while keeping recruiting strong, it might be the way to go.

CA is worthless, we know that. Great atmosphere when rocking, but not a recruiting tool.

MSG is also not all it's cracked up to be, for us. What advantage do we have for that? All the other Big East schools can at least guarantee to a kid, that he'll play there in the Big East Tournament? Obviously, a few extra games per year does not make a big difference to these kids. Also, what are you going to sell the building on? The Knicks? There's a nice laugh. High School kids today only know the Knicks as losers.

Belmont arena will be state of the art (hopefully), with a smaller, more intimate atmosphere (if we take a page from Seton Hall's book), and with a more favorable schedule of dates. Hopefully, we can turn it into our version of the Dunkin Donuts Center, in Providence. That's what I'm looking for.
 
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The number of games SJU plays at MSG could be reduced but the relationship has lasted almost ninety years and has been an important connection for both parties. Today SJU is a very small part of MSG's schedule but although it happened about seventy years ago SJU played an important part in MSG's college basketball program maintaining its status after the nineteen fifties basketball scandal which MSG was very appreciate of.
College coaches and ADs all over the country blamed MSG for the players accepting bribes to control the point spread. It was the gambling environment at MSG that caused the problem and many schools refused to schedule games there. MSG cancelled some fifteen doubleheaders a year in the early fifties and attendance dropped about fifty per cent for the games that were played there.
SJU was put under pressure to play elsewhere and while they had no great option to move the games to they stayed at MSG and by the late fifties the Jackson / Seiden teams played to near capacity crowds. There have been a number of college basketball scandals since then which didn't phase the public in the least but that one had a major effect.
I think the connection between SJU and MSG will continue.
 
I would be very unhappy if we replace MSG with Belmont, but replacing CA with Belmont would be great. I don't see that happening, though.
 
[quote="Adam" post=376560]I would be very unhappy if we replace MSG with Belmont, but replacing CA with Belmont would be great. I don't see that happening, though.[/quote]

If keeping MSG is everyone's top priority, then I don't want to hear complaints re: all of the noon start times (yes, I know we had some at CA this year). It may be the price we have to pay to keep playing there.

Not directed at just you, Adam, but a message to the fanbase in general.
 
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