“One More Game”
March 29th, 2013
Joe’s been intrigued by Rays owner Stu Sternberg and team president Matt Silverman bouncing around in various interviews lately preaching a “One More Game” theme.
Essentially, the Rays honchos are out there telling media and fans that if each individual person who came a Rays game last year simply attended one more game in 2013, then the team would be in great financial shape and be far from the cellar of Major League baseball attendance. Silverman even said yesterday on 98.7 FM that the Rays would be happy with revenue at Tropicana Field if that were the case, almost implying there would be no urgency for a new stadium if current fans stepped up just one step higher.
This got Joe thinking about the state of the Buccaneers and the heinous blacked out games that are a stain on the entire Tampa Bay community. The sad reality is that fans in other cities, annoying local fans of other NFL teams, and many Bucs fans, find blackouts to be thoroughly humiliating and embarrassing.
What if every Bucs fan not holding a season ticket, and who attended a game last season, attended one more game this year versus? Joe suspects the Rays’ “One More Game” goal applied to the Bucs would end blackouts in a hurry.
Earlier this month, Jaguars owner Shahid Khan opened up for a comprehensive interview with Forbes. It was extremely revealing and Joe recommends the entire piece.
The excerpt below dives into ticket sales and how the Jaguars climbed the ranks of NFL in ticket sales last season despite their awful team. Interestingly, they allowed toddlers in free and let fans bring in water and food — and that led to more food and drink sales.
Moving over to the business side, you obviously think it had a much better year than the football side.
There were three games that we took tarps off. A year ago we were 29th in ticket sales. We finished 20th in ticket sales. The London experience is turning out to be everything and more than I thought. The game is sold out, we got marketing rights in London, which is the first time that’s happened. Just as we speak, we’re hiring a dedicated sales and marketing representative for the Jaguars in London. The ticket revenue for a London team is about 44% higher, so playing that game is better. Wembley is a better stadium and so on. Sponsorship-wise we’ve done well. We have a number of fans who are excited to attend games there.
We’re also off to a record start on season ticket sales in Jacksonville even though we have raised prices and had a 2-14 season. We expect to have record season ticket sales. It’s about engaging the season ticket holders and doing a lot with the gameday experience. We redid the locker rooms last year. We’re spending more money on the weight room. We’re moving forward now with getting the state to upgrade the stadium with a big scoreboard, the biggest in the business. We’re getting state and local support on that, which is very encouraging. So I think business side, it’s almost a mirror image, regrettably of what happened on the football side.
… …
Blackout is not even on the horizon. But typically what teams do is buy tickets, which is allowed under NFL rules [to avoid blackouts]. The #20 position in sales is actual money that we recorded. Another thing which is interesting, we allowed people to bring kids under 34 inches tall in for free. We also allowed water and food in free. You’d be amazed that our per capita sales of food and drink went up.
How is that possible?
Well, it’s very simple. People brought in food, and you attract a certain budget crowd. “I can go to the games, and don’t have to take a babysitter, I can take my son with me.” And then you’re attracting a crowd that says “I’m not going to buy the $5 hotdog, I’m going to buy the $9 beer.” A lot of the business moves sound counter-intuitive but they turned out really well.
Of course, Team Glazer also has slashed prices of many tickets over the past few years, offered discount concessions for select games, among other measures to lure fans. Stadium improvements are on the way, as are new food vendors and more.
Yes, fans across the NFL are increasingly opting to stay home to enjoy football Sundays. But somehow, it seems, the lousy Jaguars, in a tiny Florida market, are making significant strides.
Joe wonders what it would take for Bucs fans to attend “One More Game.”
March 29th, 2013 at 10:35 am
What would it take for bucs fan to attend one more game? REVIS!!!
March 29th, 2013 at 10:47 am
and cue the haters….errrr negative nancys….errrr grumpy old men:
March 29th, 2013 at 10:57 am
You buy me a couple plane tickets n ill take care of the game tickets n whatnot haha. Nfl should do something like a cheaper nfl ticket package and just be able to watch one team. I guess that wouldn’t help with the blackouts tho… Unless it counted towards the blackouts. Then I’d be feelin like I was doin my part haha.
March 29th, 2013 at 10:57 am
well thats my cue!
March 29th, 2013 at 10:57 am
More corporation ticket holders. The company I work for used to pass out tickets to the employees as appreciation gifts. Now, they don’t, and this apparently, has gotten worse.
March 29th, 2013 at 11:21 am
They need demand. With demand, people will view the tickets and the show as a hot commodity.
Ensure sellouts by either buying up the tickets and then donating them to the ticketless tailgaters OR put tarps up. Who cares about awesome looking tarps if it creates a sell out and then gets the game on TV.
March 29th, 2013 at 11:31 am
I would LOVE to attend One More Game on top of the 10 games I attend every year. It would mean a home playoff game. How bout that bucs! Can u give me One More Game this upcoming season?
March 29th, 2013 at 11:33 am
I go to about one game a year, and allowing me to bring in a water bottle and some snacks would be HUGE! I never spend more than $5 on a beer, so I tailgate beforehand and sober up in-game.
I think a party deck that’s standing-room only for a lesser price, like the Jag’s Miller Party Deck, would be a great idea. I’d love something like that, it’s all about cost for people like me.
March 29th, 2013 at 11:33 am
Nice one Mohak. Well played sir!
March 29th, 2013 at 12:17 pm
Well I for one do not attend games anymore because of the heat . . . Sitting in a chair in hot hot hot weather for 4 hours is not fun
March 29th, 2013 at 1:02 pm
@sunny
Ironic considering your name.
March 29th, 2013 at 1:21 pm
I’m going to opening day and the throwback game when the QB killa gets into the ring that puts me at one more than last year. I think if the Bucs would do the food and drinks thing would definitely be a more attractive selling point.
March 29th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
Just so, so, so silly. NEEDS to be a provision for PPV if the game doesn’t sell out.
I have a decent system @ home, & I see zero reason to go to an overpriced experience like a movie theater, just to have my experience possibly ruined by boars in the audience. I like to wait a few weeks, & then I can hit pause, eat my own food, get drunk without worrying about a ride home, all at a fraction of the price. It’s like if you expected me to watch a movie being shot on set as opposed to the final cut, & then charged me $20 to park on the studio lot, & deal with all the traffic of 70,000 people doing the same thing. There’s a pre- & post HDTV reality, & I for one am glad these grubby owners (who again proved their true colours last lockout) are stuck in ancient stadiumland…
March 29th, 2013 at 1:41 pm
There are a lot of things that would help. Sounds like the Jags are being Creative in getting Butts in the seat.
It’s just hard to compete. 72″ high def TV with stereo surround sound, ice Cold beer in the freezer. Snacks close by. Sitting in the recliner, with family and friends
Or, sitting in baking sun, hiking up stairs for every drink, snack or Bathroom Break. Standing in lines for each and every one.
No. Obviously the NFl has not met the demands of Today’s consumer. What they are selling has become overpriced and Antiquated. They will have to prove the live experience, or make the game primarily a Video experience.
Oh, and for my friend Lurker
It would also help if they could manage to put a competitive product on the damn field!! Who is willing to bake for 4 hours, watching opposing teams run up and down the field, for record passing yardage- while our helpless/ talentless lads chase after them-helter skelter!!
Who in their right mind wants to pay to see that?
I don’t know if 47 qualifies as a “grumpy old man”, but my Wife is 28. Don’t I get to subtract the difference from my age? Lol
March 29th, 2013 at 2:01 pm
Capt Tim
No, 47 is just a “grumpy old fart”! Although, a younger wife means you add the difference, which would put you into the “grumpy old man” category.
March 29th, 2013 at 2:56 pm
it’s a business, and these people who own these teams make a LOT of money. I’m sick of hearing that it’s somehow everyone’s civic responsibility to take part in a product they don’t enjoy. Makes abouit as much sense to me as saying everybody needs to go to McDonald’s one more time.
If anything it should be the other way, since these are cruel monopolies that take advantage of the folks and hold communities hostage using public facilities. If Target needs a new store, is the community supposed to pony up funds to build them a new store too?
March 29th, 2013 at 3:07 pm
Nothing better than sitting out on my large deck under the ivy covered pergola, watching the high def flat screen that is mounted outside. I’ve got the grill, the refrigerator, cigars and all the craft beer I want. The stadium experience has gone the way of the typewriter…It’s a rip off, inconvenient and BORING.
March 29th, 2013 at 4:30 pm
do you get to call nursing aides/caretakers “wives” in the home?
lol 😉
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i figured this “Joe wonders what it would take for Bucs fans to attend “One More Game.” would be easy to use negatively…
many good points have been brought up, though
March 29th, 2013 at 4:38 pm
Oar- nooo. You add the difference if she’s older. You subtract the difference if she’s younger! Because she makes you feel so much younger, and gives you so much energy . . .
Nah, you’re right. You add the difference.
March 29th, 2013 at 5:44 pm
Lurker- now that was just hurtful!
*shakes Walker at Lurker indignantly!*
March 30th, 2013 at 9:14 pm
Nice find Joe.