Ticket Woes Far Worse In Miami
April 23rd, 2012
It seems the Bucs really are the most beloved and popular NFL team in Florida
Attendance talk in any sport is generally a yawner for Joe, but given how much blackouts affect the Bucs’ fan base, Joe can’t avoid studying what’s going on.
On that front, stunning news came out of the Miami Herald this weekend with a revelation from columnist Dan Le Batard that the Dolphins are working hard to keep their season-ticket base at 30,000.
From 1995 to 2005, Dolphins season-ticket sales were always around 60,000, but one source says the team is presently laboring to be at half that number. Sales are worse at the moment than the 46,131 season tickets the Dolphins sold after a 1-15 season, and that’s with the Dolphins selling a season-ticket package of 10 games in one section for $250 — $25 per game, the cheapest rate in the league.
Wow! Keep in mind Bucs season ticket sales checked in around 40,000 last year and likely got a bump after the Bucs made a big splash in free agency last month.
It’s just hard to imagine how the once-mighty and popular Dolphins have 25 percent fewer season tickets sold than the Bucs. Miami won the tough AFC East in 2008 and have at least stayed competitive. But obviously fans have lost faith in their wacky front office and the challenging economy has made folks far more quick to dump their tickets if they’re feeling dissatisfied.
It’ll be interesting to see whether the Dolphins again gobble up tickets to get their home games televised, of if they go the other direction and let blackouts infest their market to allegedly drive fans to games.
Joe also wonders whether Miami will do something bold and unpredictable in the draft, aka trade up to draft Trent Richardson or Ryan Tannehill, to drive excitement and ticket sales.
April 23rd, 2012 at 9:52 am
…and this is why as a south florida native it was easy to choose the Bucs to root for. I feel for the clubs in miami because they have to cater to the biggest bandwaggoning fanbase in the country. A trade up on Thursday would be a really good idea for the Fins, as I know lifelong fans that have already decided to give up on em for this year.
April 23rd, 2012 at 9:53 am
Interesting point about the Dolphins potentially making a panic move
April 23rd, 2012 at 10:15 am
Hope we can sell out some games this year.
April 23rd, 2012 at 10:16 am
Other teams besides the Dolphins are in huge denial about ticket sales! Just because the team itself or corporations buy up these seats does not mean they are sellouts. Because of the Bucs struggles selling tickets; I’ve watched other teams just to compare and it’s crazy how many stadiums are only 2/3 or even 1/2 full. The Jacksonville & Tennessee games were LESS than half full. It may never effect the NY, Chicago, or DC teams, but the smaller markets are having issues.
April 23rd, 2012 at 10:36 am
Miami is historically fair weathered.
Be nice if they got desperate enough to move ahead of us to grab the QB.
I think fans will get behind the new coach here with some decent play. That schedule scares the heck out of me though. Could be a rocky start.
April 23rd, 2012 at 10:51 am
I don’t think Richardson would drive up ticket sales much…but then again…it is Miami. What they really need is the best QB in the draft, but clearly that is not happening.
Unless the Colts think they can make due with a different QB for a year and agree to a trade with Miami. THAT would be expensive.
Also, I bet the owners do not buy up tickets again. It happened here a year and it took two seasons for the Bucs to start selling season tickets again, but it worked.
For the Bucs, this draft is going to make or break season ticket sales. If they can fix the defense well enough to compete, the offense will sell tickets.
April 23rd, 2012 at 11:14 am
By virtue of firing rahrah alone and regaining some legitimacy in the eyes of the community, that should account for thousands of tickets – including myself thank you.
Adding V Jax and the other 2 helped.
Hacking THC Jax – helped. It help more to cut Talib, K2, and Jane Black.
Now if they could just trade up and draft T Rich – that would ignite a flame of excitment.
Think about it: Offense is exciting to the fan base. If we could put together an offense that puts up 30 points a game – so what if we give up 30 points a game as well for the next 2 years and GMC continues to go statless week after week.
April 23rd, 2012 at 11:59 am
I am quite thankful that Jeff Ireland “Fireland” is NOT our GM.
This guy should’ve been FIRED last year for his remarks to Dez Bryant.
What is Ireland doing down there, 2 years ago he traded two 2nd rounders for WR Brandon Marshall, only to then trade him for two 3rd rounders.
Dolphins can do and deserve better, time to cut this bone head lose.
April 23rd, 2012 at 12:01 pm
If the Bucs can have something about their team classified as “GREAT”, then they will sell more tickets.
Ticket sales weren’t a problem when we had a “GREAT” defense…
We are one “Trent Richardson” away from a “GREAT” Offense.
April 23rd, 2012 at 1:26 pm
Miami is getting exactly what they deserve. It’s a town worried more about their image than success. It may be the worst sports town in America, if you consider it part of America, which is up for debate
April 23rd, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Like some head coach once said, this (NFL) is entertainment. The Bucs ticket sale woes had more to do with the lack of entertainment than the economy. When Chucky was here, he may not have been the best HC in the league, but he entertained and sold tickets. When Morris took over, and Derick Brooks was let go (the last of the Superbowl heavyweights, besides Barber), there was no one left that the fans wanted to see. I’m really hoping Shiano can become a coach worth paying to see, as well as some standout players (Freeman, Blount).
Miami is now in that same boat. Miami needs another Shula/Marino.