'Basically, we see too many red jerseys.'

[dmiles2186]

I hadn't heard much of this policy until I heard that home opener season tickets had to be bought in a bundle or something like that.

[tweet][/tweet]

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/p ... 2abea.html

The Blues will start selling single-game tickets for the 2013-14 season on Saturday.

Tickets will be available beginning at 10 a.m. at the Ford Box Office at Scottrade Center and all participating Ticketmaster outlets, including Ticketmaster.com.

The Blues will be holding an open house at Scottrade Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for fans interested in learning more about season-ticket options.

There are four games on the 2013-14 schedule that are not available via single-game ticket purchases: Opening night Oct. 3 (Nashville), Oct. 9 (Chicago), Dec. 28 (Chicago) and Apr. 13 (Detroit).

The Blues are one of the NHL teams this season, including Nashville, which are requiring fans to buy tickets to multiple games in order to acquire them for meetings against Chicago.

In recent years, the Blackhawks have attracted huge crowds to Scottrade Center, at times taking over the in-game atmosphere, and that could continue after the 'Hawks won their second Stanley Cup in four years in 2012-13.

But this season, tickets to those four aforementioned games are available only as part of full- and half-season tickets, or 12-game and hat-trick plans. Games are divided into three price categories: Gold, Silver and Bronze.

For more information, go to stlblues.com.

[glen a richter]

The only game I ever went to at STC was v. Chicago. Flew in and out during a miserable ice storm that delayed my getting home by 2 days but I specifically wanted to see a rival--and was rewarded with a great win that immediately preceded (if memory serves me) an epic collapse. I wasn't hauling all the way out to St. Louis to see them play the farking Rangers. Not every out of towner is a Hawks fan. Though I do agree there are way too many red jerseys when I watch the games on TV, this policy kind of sucks.

[JPonder94]

I hate this "promotion." You know why? Done for the wrong reasons! Do you really think that they really care who sits in the seats? I mean, they do, but they don't.

Take a look at the "Hat Trick" Plan. It's the aforementioned games and then you have to choose between two sh*t games to add to it. This is just a ploy to sell tickets to the crapfest games that no one will be buying tickets to. Nashville's "promotion" is the same. Just a bunch of crap to get us to spend the money.

I would be fine with this if they just came out and said why they are doing it. Be honest. Stop acting like you actually care who shows up to the games, you just want asses in seats for 41 games. If they just said that, all would be forgiven.

[/end rant]

[dmiles2186]

I was at the game David Perron made his return from a concussion. As you'll recall, he scored a goal that night, the place went nuts. Well, part of it. At least 50-70% of the arena was Blackhawks fans and at one point, they started booing when they put Perron on the Jumbotron. I know on this board and in Flashchat, when we have a home game against the 'Cawks, a majority of us complain about the fact that our arena is being loaned out as UC South. I get this policy makes you buy some crappy games, but honestly, other teams do this sort of thing too. And what's wrong with our organization trying to limit the takeover of our stadium? Sure, they want people in the seats, but I'm happy that our organization would much rather they be filled by Note wearing folk than bandwagoneers wearing red. Maybe that's just me.

At the same time, with ticket resale websites out there, I'm guessing 'Hawks fans will get their tickets that way and maybe nothing will change. But you can't fault Stillman and Co. for trying.

[glen a richter]

I totally understand not wanting the enemy taking over the house, but it seems extreme. If they want to encourage more Blues fans to show up to the games there's a few ways to do that, one being ensuring a kickass product is on the ice, or maybe having cheaper tickets made available to select games exclusively for partial season ticket holders.

[cprice12]

At the same time, with ticket resale websites out there, I'm guessing 'Hawks fans will get their tickets that way and maybe nothing will change. But you can't fault Stillman and Co. for trying.

Bingo.
The vast majority of visiting Hawks & Wings fans will just get their tickets from Stubhub or wherever (I'm sure they already do anyway). And if Blues fans want to buy the single game tickets, they can get them on Stubhub as well.
Nobody is forcing you to buy those tickets from the Blues. If you don't want the crap games tacked on to the premiere games, then buy your tickets on Stubhub. (which I do anyway...it's cheaper)

At first there may be outrage by some fans, but if you stop and think about your ticket options, it ends up being a non-issue.

[cardsfan04]

The only thing I really don't like about this is the need to do it. I hate everything about the Blackhawks, but their fans really do travel well. It's awful going to a home game outnumbered by opposing fans. It's even worse doing that when you have a good team.

[philco_3]

Well I usually get together with friends to have an season opener drink fest downtown and then the game...guess that wont happen this year.

[Winning Unlimited]

Here's a fun fact: I transfered to FSU. This won't help the red jerseys at Blues games. But hey, 4 games in Florida in the first two months.

[Kreegz2]

Here's a fun fact: I transfered to FSU. This won't help the red jerseys at Blues games. But hey, 4 games in Florida in the first two months.

Where are you seeing this? I only count two games in Florida for the entire season on the 1st and 2nd of November. I plan on road tripping the 4 hours down to Sunrise to watch them play the Panthers and then driving back up here to Tampa to watch them the next night.

[JPonder94]

Here's a fun fact: I transfered to FSU. This won't help the red jerseys at Blues games. But hey, 4 games in Florida in the first two months.

Where are you seeing this? I only count two games in Florida for the entire season on the 1st and 2nd of November. I plan on road tripping the 4 hours down to Sunrise to watch them play the Panthers and then driving back up here to Tampa to watch them the next night.

Maybe he's counting the two games against the Jaguars and Dolphins.

[Shanahan19]

The idea screams bad organization.

If you're concerned of Hawks or Wings (get over it already they are in the East now) fans taking over, then build a high quality product in Saint Louis that the fans will sell out these games long before the game is played. God forbid other teams have such a fan base that many of them travel around to watch them.

Focus on your own organization and quit worrying if a guy wears a Hawks hat. Build a fan base.

I never see Joe Louis Arena, Madison Square or Air Canada worrying about out of town fans of the opposing team.

[theohall]

Here's a fun fact: I transfered to FSU. This won't help the red jerseys at Blues games. But hey, 4 games in Florida in the first two months.

Where are you seeing this? I only count two games in Florida for the entire season on the 1st and 2nd of November. I plan on road tripping the 4 hours down to Sunrise to watch them play the Panthers and then driving back up here to Tampa to watch them the next night.

I get to attend the game in Tampa.

[cprice12]

The idea screams bad organization.

If you're concerned of Hawks or Wings (get over it already they are in the East now) fans taking over, then build a high quality product in Saint Louis that the fans will sell out these games long before the game is played. God forbid other teams have such a fan base that many of them travel around to watch them.

Focus on your own organization and quit worrying if a guy wears a Hawks hat. Build a fan base.

I never see Joe Louis Arena, Madison Square or Air Canada worrying about out of town fans of the opposing team.

Don't be fooled.
They're not worried about opposing fans at all.
It's just something they are saying to distract from the simple fact they want to sell more tickets to the less desirable games. And never mind the fact that this PR statement won't even work. Opposing Hawks fans will still be at STC in force. Like I said before, they'll get their tickets on Stubhub or somewhere similar, like most do anyway.

[cprice12]

Well I usually get together with friends to have an season opener drink fest downtown and then the game...guess that wont happen this year.

Why not?

[kodos]

To me this is almost like an invitation to the Blackhawks fans to fill our building even more. I think it's going to have the exact opposite effect.

If (shudder) I was a Hawks fan, and I learned that one of my division rivals was taking steps to keep me out of their stadium, I would want to go even more.

There can't be anything more satisfying than to be in your opponents building and see more of your teams fans in attendance than the home team.

I agree that it completely blows from our perspective, but what can we do about it? It is what it is. Winning brings in fans and the Blackhawks are winning and the Blues are always losers. That's the reality of the situation.

[philco_3]

Well I usually get together with friends to have an season opener drink fest downtown and then the game...guess that wont happen this year.

Why not?

Home opener is not on sale. It was part of that "we dont want your money if your a fan of Nashville, Chicago or Detroit."

[cprice12]

Well I usually get together with friends to have an season opener drink fest downtown and then the game...guess that wont happen this year.

Why not?

Home opener is not on sale. It was part of that "we dont want your money if your a fan of Nashville, Chicago or Detroit."

Not on sale through the Blues or Ticketmaster. But like I said...Stubhub or other ticket brokers will have tickets for the home opener.
You can go if you want.
That's how I buy my regular season tickets anyway. They're usually cheaper.

[APOD]

I never go to home opener games anyway, but I know alot of you guys do and all this does is push you guys away kind of a slap in the face.

I would like to go to a hawks game though guess Ill have to look on stubhub or ebay.......or go to chicago cause they wont care if I were blue there

[cardsfan04]

Tickets got expensive this year anyway. I think they might be going to a pricing plan that has different rates for different games or something. My dad and I go to the home opener most years, but it was going to be $60/ticket for up high on the ends. If they can sell out at that price, good for them I guess. But, that's a pretty big increase over previous years. That's not a complaint per se. I've been advocating an increase in ticket prices for a couple of years now if it meant a higher payroll and a more stable franchise. But, I didn't anticipate this much of an increase.