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Post by johnt on Mar 13, 2008 11:44:52 GMT -5
The Spirit announced this morning that our 1st home play-off game will be on Saturday, March 22nd, at 7:11pm. Date of the 2nd home game is dependent on who our opponent will be.
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Post by bpfox on Mar 13, 2008 15:22:00 GMT -5
No big surprise here, Canadians don't like Saturday games at home. Hockey Night in Canada effects attendance. If the Spirit go against the Rangers, Knights, or the Soo, look for game one to be Friday night, if it's Windsor, game one will be most likely be Thursday. Peace.
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Post by Sparky on Mar 13, 2008 16:24:17 GMT -5
I wonder how the ice will be after "Friday night football at the Dow"?
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Post by aj0512 on Mar 13, 2008 18:09:13 GMT -5
I like the decision to let the public know when the first playoff game is more in advance. It doesn't seem like we've done that the past 2 years, or maybe it's just me. I don't believe we've yet to have a playoff game with the attendance over 4000 so hopefully that will change this year.
Also, I do believe that Kitchener started their playoff series last season against Sarnia on a Thursday. I could be wrong though.
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Post by bpfox on Mar 13, 2008 18:38:17 GMT -5
Thursday is the earliest that the playoffs can start. Teams may opt for that to give them a day off between games. I was just looking at the regular season where many teams, including the ones I mentioned, prefer Friday night home games. Windsor, on the other hand, prefers Thursdays. Peace.
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Post by MidlandSpiritFan on Mar 13, 2008 22:14:57 GMT -5
If Saginaw plays the Soo in the 1st round it means the series will be an alternating home game format instead of the 2-2-1-1-1 format used last year. A bit surprising given the travel distance.
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Post by MidlandSpiritFan on Mar 13, 2008 22:18:50 GMT -5
I don't believe we've yet to have a playoff game with the attendance over 4000 so hopefully that will change this year. When do the local schools have spring break this year?? I know that has had an impact on attendance in the 1st round. I missed both Guelph games 2 years ago because I was on Spring Break vacation. Both of those games were week night games which did not help matters either. Last season I did get to games 1 and 2 against the Soo but missed game 5 because I was on a Spring Break vacation. I was riding home from MBS airport when McNeill tied game 6 late in the 3rd period and then listened to the disappointing finish when I got home. It would have sure been nice to be able to attend a game 7, but alas, it was not meant to be. |
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Post by bpfox on Mar 13, 2008 22:39:28 GMT -5
The big thing you have to remember about playoff attendance is the fact that Saginaw has a fairly high number of corporate season ticket holders. Many of these corporations do not buy the playoff package. It simply is something they don't budget for. That means all of those folks who go to games because somebody gave them tickets are most likey not coming to the playoff games. It is also very difficult to schedule group sales because you just don't know far enough in advance when the games will be played to be effective with group sales. You take coporate seats and group sales away and it is next to impossable to make up the difference with walk up traffic. So don't get too excited about attendance and don't expect big numbers. Don't feel too bad for the Spirit, they will still be making plenty of money since expense budgets are based on the regular season, the playoff money is extra. It's all good.
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Post by MidlandSpiritFan on Mar 13, 2008 23:50:21 GMT -5
The big thing you have to remember about playoff attendance is the fact that Saginaw has a fairly high number of corporate season ticket holders. Many of these corporations do not buy the playoff package. It simply is something they don't budget for. That means all of those folks who go to games because somebody gave them tickets are most likey not coming to the playoff games. It is also very difficult to schedule group sales because you just don't know far enough in advance when the games will be played to be effective with group sales. You take coporate seats and group sales away and it is next to impossable to make up the difference with walk up traffic. So don't get too excited about attendance and don't expect big numbers. Don't feel too bad for the Spirit, they will still be making plenty of money since expense budgets are based on the regular season, the playoff money is extra. It's all good. I forgot all about "The Suits" and group sales. Excellent point!! |
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Post by spiritfan8 on Mar 14, 2008 1:23:50 GMT -5
I wonder how the ice will be after "Friday night football at the Dow"? This is a very pertinent--and frightening--question, given the state of our ice WITHOUT football this season. The scheduling of the Sting (the football Sting) can't be making the Spirit too happy. |
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Post by igive2 on Mar 14, 2008 7:52:23 GMT -5
Don't feel too bad for the Spirit, they will still be making plenty of money since expense budgets are based on the regular season, the playoff money is extra. It's all good. What's also extra for the Spirit is the Playoff Expense. Things like bus trips, extra weeks at billets, hotels, equipment etc. for playoff time is also not factored into the yearly budget. Most teams operate in this fashion. Two separate budgets. One for regular season. One for playoffs and BOTH come with an expense. |
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Post by IGive1 on Mar 14, 2008 10:14:37 GMT -5
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Post by eric8199 on Mar 14, 2008 10:30:43 GMT -5
Local beat reporter gets in wrong Imagine that. |
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Post by donjohnson on Mar 14, 2008 10:38:40 GMT -5
Igive, learn to read...there's absolutely nothing wrong with that article. I don't normally defend the shark but everything's right in the article. It says the playoffs begin March 22 at the Dow...seems right to me. There's even a sentence that says, it's unsure who they'll play and when they'll begin.
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Post by IGive1 on Mar 14, 2008 11:01:39 GMT -5
Here is the first sentence in the article:
"The Saginaw Spirit will open the Ontario Hockey League playoffs at home in The Dow Event Center's Wendler Arena on Saturday, March 22."
That is factually incorrect. They will open the playoffs on the road.
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