“I Think The Town’s Really Buzzin'”
November 8th, 2010
Joe’s certain one can guage whether there’s buzz about an NFL team based on increased ticket sales and/or increased ticket demand for said team.
Now Joe’s not talking sellouts, just simply a significant bump in attendance or demand for tickets on the resale market (if a team is already sold out).
If there’s real buzz, people buy a lot more tickets. Plain and simple.
Raiders and Lions fans, both in seriously economically challenged markets that rival Tampa Bay’s plight, proved there is real buzz about their teams and sold out their home games Sunday, avoiding TV blackouts that had plagued those cities.
Today, Raheem Morris was asked about the buzz for the Buccaneers around the Bay area, and the head coach said he’s quite sure the locals are embracing the young Bucs and their exciting brand of football.
“I think the town’s really buzzin’. I think we’re starting to get a little national attention because of me [talking], to be honest with you. I’ve seen me on TV more than anything. My mom called me and told me she sees me more on SportsCenter than she sees me in person,” Morris said.
“I think the buzz is starting to happen from the young football team, the energy it brings, how we’re winning, how we’re calling games. You come to our game yesterday, you see a fleaflicker, you see an onside kick, you see a reverse, you see bonzai blitzes, you see all-out blitzes, all-out pressures, 60-yard touchdown runs, back-shoulder catches in the endzone, and a fourth-and-inches that we get stopped on, it’s just an exciting brand of football that Tampa’s trying to sell to people. And you gotta have a buzz about it.”
Frankly, Joe won’t believe there’s much of a buzz about the Bucs until Joe sees more ticket sales.
Again, Joe’s not talking sellouts, but Joe is talking about people actually using a much greater share of tickets already sold — 6,000 went unused for the Rams game — and an increase in ticket sales.
Official Bucs tickets-sold attendance for the last home game against St. Louis was 42,020. If that number doesn’t jump to 48,000+ on Sunday against Carolina, the biggest Bucs home game in 23 months, don’t ask Joe to believe “the town’s really buzzin’.”
November 8th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
This team is playing the most exciting brand of Football we’ve ever seen in Tampa. Still believe the biggest problem is the recession. The one that’s supposedly over, but people are still outta work and losing their houses. I don’t know how you couldn’t be excited about this team. Every week, my wife and I are on the edge of our seats. And this team delivers. The touchdowns to Benn and Williams, the Throws by Freeman, the Runs By Blount. Just great fun to watch this offense! And Tampa’s offenses have ALWAYS SUCKED! Well, not now!! And we are getting better every game. Hope next year our defense starts to show the same signs of life! Loving me some Bucs!
November 8th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
I think Tampa is a unique market… not similar to Detriot or Oakland. I think Jacksonville is probably the closest to our plight.
In a recession? check.
Great weather? check.
Relocated football fans? check.
Rebuilding football team? check.
Easier and Cheaper to watch Direct TV? check.
It’s a tough sell. Especially this year.
Although I don’t live in Tampa, there IS a buzz about the team on all media sources.
Coach Morris gets it right…
“…“I think the buzz is starting to happen from the young football team, the energy it brings, how we’re winning, how we’re calling games. You come to our game yesterday, you see a fleaflicker, you see an onside kick, you see a reverse, you see bonzai blitzes, you see all-out blitzes, all-out pressures, 60-yard touchdown runs, back-shoulder catches in the endzone, and a fourth-and-inches that we get stopped on, it’s just an exciting brand of football…”
But THAT is not enough to bring fans to the stadium. They’ll need to get into the playoffs THIS year to sell that stadium out. JMHO.
I love this team. It’s the only professional sports team I give any attention to… there is a buzz.
November 8th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
If there’s such thing as a “buzz,” this team has it right now…..and the reason why is extremely simple. The Bucs have been on the road, so we’ve gotten to watch them.
The Glazers are putting a pretty entertaining product on the field right now…..it would be beneficial to them if they put the team on TV (or did everything in their power to help that become a reality), especially against a team the Bucs should beat in the Panthers.
November 8th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Done.
November 8th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
JOe here,
@NotARocketSurgeon.
You could check off all the same things in Oakland. Loads of transplants there (joe’s lived there), the California economy, good weather, rebuilding team, etc. And while the Oakland-San Francisco market is about 50 percent larger than Tampa’s, it’s a two-team town, where the Niners are king.
There’s plenty of buzz among hardcore fans, but Joe’s got to see something at the box office to believe it’s spread around the community, just like in Oakland and Detroit.
November 8th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
I would do anything to be in Tampa so I could go to next weeks game. I can’t imagine living there and not going to this one. I think we dominate this one and give the Panthers some of thier own medicine with Blount running wild.
November 8th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Not A Rocket Surgeon:
At least at Jacksonville you have great tailgating options/experience plus the Gator Bowl has a huge sports bar (Bud Zone) you can sit in and, if so inclined, watch other games while watching the game on the field… in air conditioning too!
Joe’s not anti-CITS, Joe just thinks it’s extremely overrated.
November 8th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
JDouble: Totally agree. I know I will be there and expect to see a big game out of Mr. Blount as well. As for the buzz I definetly think the loyal fans are starting to get excited but it will take a little more to get new members on board. I know I’m feeling it……my wife gave birth to our first child(son) on Halloween and you KNOW the Bucs were on in the room while she was delivering. Even the doc turned around to watch a play between pushes…..classic 🙂
November 8th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
“Buzzin” or yawning.
I am guessing yawning.
November 8th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Eric= Buzzkill
November 8th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
“Joe’s not anti-CITS, Joe just thinks it’s extremely overrated.”
When did going to a football (or baseball for that matter) game become more about the stadium and less about the game and being with your fellow fans.
The CITS is a great palce to see a game. Comfortable seats and great views from every seat in the place. If you need more than that you’re probably not there for the football anyway.
November 8th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Wow, Raheem got to be on Sportcenter for his “talking”. Well, I guess he achieved what he he wanted. Now back to reality. No buzz, except for whatever goofball thing he says next.
November 8th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
Tampon2- the next thing he says on Bspn will probably be” I’m honored to win coach of the year, and , now that I’ve signed a six year extension with the Team, can’t wait to get back to work!”. The loud cheer heard throughout Tampa will unfortunately muffle the sad Lil splashes made by Eric, Thomas, and Tampon2, as they land in the Bay, having jumped from the Skyway . . .
November 8th, 2010 at 6:15 pm
Unfortunately, there isn’t going to be much buzz among the general community until the Bucs go back to the playoffs. Sure, the die hards (all of us on here) are extremely encouraged with the direction the team is going and see good things ahead. If that doesn’t translate into more wins and a playoff home game (very unlikely, though it could happen if the Bucs get some things to go their way) I’m not sure we’ll sell out Ray Jay more than once or twice this year. The only hope I have held out is weeks 15 and 16 (Lions and Seahawks). If the Bucs are in with a chance to clinch a playoff spot for one or both of those games, I think we’ll see a sizable attendance spike that may or may not result in a sellout (one should hope that it would).
The recession has hit the Tampa Bay area harder than many areas of the country, so that undoubtedly has a lot to do with the attendance. Simply stated, even where we sit in 329, it is too expensive for many people (let alone families) to go to a game. When the Lightning are 4th in the Eastern Conference, and rank 21st in overall attendance despite being a more affordable game to attend, it speaks volumes to the economic plight of the area.
I think a lot of goodwill has been used up by the Glazers with the fans, and I believe that may be a big part of it. People may simply be avoiding the stadium in favor of their TVs and/or sports bars, and we all know how easy it is to get around a blacked out Bucs game. Many people nowadays feel that the HDTV in their living room is a better experience than actually attending a game. I certainly don’t feel that way, but I won’t begrudge people that do. To each their own.
In semi related news, I got an e-mail from the Bucs over the weekend offering me a free upgrade to club level for the Panthers game this weekend. Is this something they just started doing for season ticket holders? Pretty cool thing to do if so.
November 8th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Eric- go buy that “I love Raheem” shirt! That’ll wake you up!
November 8th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Oh, maybe a few generations ago.
November 8th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
Besides those who simply can’t afford to go, I really hope the fans come out and support the team on Sunday. I, like most people on this board who don’t live in Tampa, would love more than anything to go to every game. Those who do live in Tampa should really take advantage of the opportunity to support them. They have exceeded everyone’s expectations this year, and they deserve to have a real home field advantage from those who have the means to go.
November 8th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
We are in for a tough stretch after this home game. I really hope we can fill the place up and show these young guys what it’s like to have home field advantage. All they know how to do so far is lose at home in an empty stadium.
November 8th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
The Glazers are acting selfish. Last year, they buy up all the home games during a wasted 3-13 season but can’t even buy all the seats FOR ONE, NOT EVEN ONE game during an exciting season and one that has a lot of promise. Why?
November 8th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
@Patrick,
I agree they probably should have bought out the Steelers game, since it was so close to being a sellout (only because there were so many Steeler’s fans). However, you can’t seriously expect them to buy 10,000-20,000 seats for every game. I’ve found in having my own business that it’s always much easier to spend someone else’s money than your own (I’m constantly having my employees tell me to “just buy this or just buy that”. The Glazers did it most games last year, but you can’t expect them to do it every year. There’s a big difference between being selfish and running a business successfully. This is a business, and buying tickets out for every game is not a great business decision. I wouldn’t accuse them of being selfish until they can get at least in the vicinity of a full stadium.
November 8th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
I usually catch a buzz at the game. This place is buzzin all the time, just not about the Bucs. How will they have money to catch a buzz with the price of a game at the CITS? We need a “crack” down. If everyone will please stop catching a buzz there will be plenty of money left for the Bucs’ games.
Even in a down economy, people always manage to find enough money to catch a buzz.
November 8th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Hawaiian,
Well you’re much easier on the Glazers that i will be. Last year when the Glazers bought the seats it was simple – it was a tax write-off and it allowed them to still keep their part of the TV contact $$$
The Glazers have jacked up the prices of parking, concessions, admission fees, skyboxes, etc., because they had a winning product, all the time they were spending less and less so their profit margin was still good.
The Glazers can’t do a ‘give away’ like the Rays did because that would only piss off season ticket holders. Instead they need to just reduce their ticket prices across the board and promote it that way – just like Wal-Mart did with their rollback campaign a few years ago.
What the Glazers need to do is make going to RayJay and EXPERIENCE that can’t be duplicated on TV. Special events, freebies, access to players/cheerleaders….it can be done IF the owners want to do it.
As for Oakland and Detroit selling out – in Oakland they’ve been wandering in the wilderness almost as long as Moses and the gang so winning 3 in a row is just downright more fun that watching water come from a rock!
With Detroit I mean come on! What else is there to do in Michigan? Go to a Michigan college game? Rick Rodrigez is less popular than Malcom Glazer.
In Tampa there are many more things to do – Busch Gardens, fishing, swimming, etc.,
November 8th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
The Glazers aren’t buying tickets because of the upcoming CBA. They need leverage to drive down the revenue sharing terms with the players union.
November 8th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Mr. Lucky,
I agree with pretty much everything you said. However, it would still be a write-off this year, so that doesn’t really explain why they did it last year but not this year. And correct me if I’m wrong (Joe would probably know better than us), but I don’t think whether or not a game is sold out has any effect on the TV money the Glazers receive. I do agree that the owners are probably more hesitant to buy the tickets with the CBA upcoming (did I just agree with Buc You???). I just think it’s easy to blame the owners (some of which is probably deserved), but at the same time the fans that are able to afford the game should be there. Otherwise, they don’t have a right to complain about what the owners are not doing.
November 8th, 2010 at 10:52 pm
@Hawaiian Buc
Not saying they have to buy EVERY game. But why can’t they buy just one or two? Don’t see how it can hurt. Maybe it would help change the attitude that some of the fans have towards the Glazers. Maybe the ticket sales would start rising as a result.
I realize how bad the economy is in Tampa, along with rest of Florida. But I don’t think that’s the only reason that RJS has 20,000+ empty seats every home game. Detroit’s economy is worse thean Tampa’s and I think Joe or someone else mentioned that they sold far more seats than the Bucs. I think the main reason is obviously the events that have taken place at One Buc Place since January 2009 and the way people feel about the team, owners, etc. Even though life as a Bucs fan is good right now, the relationship between the Glazers and the Bucs fans has some repairing that needs to be done. Over the past year and a half, there’s been so much controversy from what radio guys/media have said about them, the Man U crap, their lack of spending, etc. All in all, it hasn’t been pleasant.
And there’s still people out there that might be unsure about how good the team is and how confident they are in it. Despite our 5-3 record, I know there’s a lot of Bucs fans that aren’t impressed with a lot of things.
If you visit the many Bucs message boards across the internet (espn, nfl.com, tbo, etc.) you’ll see people stating why they won’t go to the games. A good chunk of them say stuff like “I’m not gonna spend my hard earned money on an inferior product” or “it’s a waste of money” or “I’m mad at the Glazers”. The empty seats are a result of anger mostly. Think back to 2008. The economy was already in crisis mode and the Bucs were managing to sell out all of their games back then.
November 8th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
The town “buzzin'” means the fans are talking about them. It has nothing to do with sales.
On other things people have mentioned
Those pointing out the tough schedule ahead of us after the next game…consider this. Stiffer competition means the team will have to try harder. It could not happen at a better time.
The first half of the season was fairly easy…a good way for a young team to get started, build confidence and start to come into their own.
But it’s like the lesser colleges…people don’t take the recruits seriously because they don’t face top talented teams. The Bucs are at a point where a tougher schedule is needed…it’s the next step in their growth.
At the end of next week, the Bucs will be 6-3.
That’s good because they might lose a couple against the tougher teams as they struggle to step up against the tougher competition.
But they will come out of it stronger for it…and maybe…just maybe…they the lights will start coming on for certain key players. Then we shall see who is the best in the nfc.
November 8th, 2010 at 11:07 pm
Remember…they only have to win 3-4 more games to make the playoffs.
November 8th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
@Patrick
I think if we get close (meaning around 5000-10,000) seats away from a sell out, they absolutely should do it. Whether or not they will remains to be seen. I don’t live in Tampa so I can’t really say why people are not going, but I think it’s pretty stupid to not go because of either the owners or the coach. I can think of one city off the top of my head that would be more than happy to have a team like the Bucs to support.
November 8th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
In my “circle of hatred” the thought that Rah is a joke and the Glazers aren’t committed continues to resonate.
However, should five keep chucking TD’s to Williams and co. the wounds will heal. Gonna take a little time though.
November 8th, 2010 at 11:53 pm
tampa2 your a dope!!!! GO BUCS, ill be there sunday!!! and so will our real fans who i love!!!
November 9th, 2010 at 1:35 am
I don’t think the Glazers should buy any tickets. They’ve already lowered the ticket prices. It is very affordable. If folks aren’t going to support the team in person, then they don’t get to watch on TV. Pretty simple.
November 9th, 2010 at 1:44 am
Other than the economy lowering ticket sales as well as a poor performance last year, I see two reasons why the Glazers wouldn’t buy up the remaining tickets this year.
1) The team is exciting this year. They are improved and that should bring fans in to buy tickets. If putting a winning team on the field is not enough to sell tickets, why should they buy up the rest? That’s their job is to put a winning product on the field, they’ve done that this year. It’s up to the fans to buy tickets, not the owners.
2) With the CBA situation and a possible lockout next year, there will be no revenue next season if the games aren’t played. Last year, they had a shot to keep people interested, even in a bad team, by buying up tickets and letting people watch. This year, it’s time to save revenue for next year when they’ll still be paying guaranteed portions of contracts while gaining no revenue. If the CBA gets done and there is a season, they’ll just have extra cash to pocket, but they can’t look at it that way. It’s a business move. Save now for the famine to come, and if it never happens, you’re ahead of the game.
November 9th, 2010 at 6:54 am
In the middle of that “circle of hatred”, I bet there is a Jon Gruden Poster. I also bet you are all naked, and touching yourself. We all have heard about your meetings with the “slow squad” ( yuck!). No need to keep reminding us. Anyone that doesn’t see Raheem Morris’s ability at Coaching this team by now, deserves to be in the slow squad!
November 9th, 2010 at 9:04 am
I’ve said it this summer, and I’ll say it again. There is a reason that the media keeps beating up the Tampa Bay Area over attendance at all sports. Especially when lots of other areas are as bad. ” extended unforeseen regional economic recession.” is written in all contracts as a way to end stadium agreements, etc. It’s a methodology to , say, move a team to Los Angelis. Our bad economic problems seen to be unfairly paraded on the networks, both in the NFL and MLB. There is a reason for that.
November 9th, 2010 at 9:14 am
Building through the draft has been 100 times better than trying to piece together a bunch of vet free agents that wouldn’t do anything but make people like Eric happy. Building through the draft has produced a better offense than the “offensive genius” gave us in 7 years. We are on our way folks. The Glazers knew exactly what they were doing because the book was already written by Dungy on how to build a solid young team, and guess what??? Its working. I know I am enjoying it but the people who doubted and bitched and moaned and still continue to do so are gonna miss out on a great young team because they want to hate the Glazers because they didn’t do things the way THEY wanted. Well the Glazers proved they are smarter than all of you haters who just wanted the team to fire the coach, spend money on vet FA, and don’t know how to build a football team.