Barzal unhappy with Fan Support/Attendance at UBS Arena

[Byron Bitz]

I didn’t hear him say anything

 

[Rodgerwilco]

My initial response was to say this is an out of touch statement… “people can hardly afford groceries right now, and this is Barzal’s complaint?”

But then I looked at ticket prices at UBS Arena. $11 against Colorado? $12 against Vegas? $15 against Dallas, and $14 against Winnipeg.

This app I’m using doesn’t do service fees either so these are the final prices. Incredibly affordable ticket prices. Eat before you go to the game and don’t load up on overpriced beer and you can take a family of 4 for under $100.

 

[Mr Kot]

View attachment 964801

My initial response was to say this is an out of touch statement… “people can hardly afford groceries right now, and this is Barzal’s complaint?”

But then I looked at ticket prices at UBS Arena. $11 against Colorado? $12 against Vegas? $15 against Dallas, and $14 against Winnipeg.

This app I’m using doesn’t do service fees either so these are the final prices. Incredibly affordable ticket prices. Eat before you go to the game and don’t load up on overpriced beer and you can take a family of 4 for under $100.

Yeah it's just entertainment value. Isle not providing a lot of excitement right now.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Buffalo isn't taking anyone's fans. It's about 6.5 hours by car from Buffalo to the Islanders neck of the woods. There are 7 other teams closer than that (including the Rangers and Devils). Hell, it's closer to drive from the UBS to Capital One arena in DC.

But I'm asking who would Upstate NY support (to the extent anyone) if they didn't have a team (essentially NBA/MLB)?

View attachment 964801

My initial response was to say this is an out of touch statement… “people can hardly afford groceries right now, and this is Barzal’s complaint?”

But then I looked at ticket prices at UBS Arena. $11 against Colorado? $12 against Vegas? $15 against Dallas, and $14 against Winnipeg.

This app I’m using doesn’t do service fees either so these are the final prices. Incredibly affordable ticket prices. Eat before you go to the game and don’t load up on overpriced beer and you can take a family of 4 for under $100.

Prices are low BECAUSE nobody is going. That's just how supply and demand works. When nobody is going, any STH re-selling is going to have to list them very low.

 

[Rebels57]

Fire Lou and stop trying to compete with that frankenstein of a roster. They need either a full rebuild or a very heavy retool.

 

[BB88]

They are the most boring team in the league without a bright looking future

Do something about it

 

[Number8]

I'm no Barzal fan so would love to pile on and talk about how his job is only there because fans pay to watch. But...... did someone hear him say this and then go looking for the clip?

I ask because my lip reading skills show that as mumble, mumble, mumble.

Again not defending him, but he could have been talking about a nasty case of hemorrhoid's for all I know.

 

[Green]

As an Islander fan I knew the attendance would start plummeting to equal the dark years of Nassau/Barclays etc. Islanders have a small fan base and the UBS arena is such an unbelievable pain in the ass to get to, I honestly think it could get worse than the crappy years of Nassau/Barclays when the team is playing bad considering how much of a pain in the ass it is to get to, this new arena should have been built where Nassau was.

 

[ItWasJustified]

Perhaps if he been such an underwhelming player ever since his sophomore season, fans would pay to watch him play like they do with Jack Hughes.

 

[Danarqhy]

Make Patrick Roy Coach/GM/Owner just for shits and giggles, watch the chaos that ensues, fans will come.

It sure as shit isn't boring Matt Barzal who is putting butts in seats.

 

[JianYang]

Is he saying it's a joke because he's blaming the fans or is he saying that as a way to vent on how the season is going?

 

[57special]

As an Islander fan I knew the attendance would start plummeting to equal the dark years of Nassau/Barclays etc. Islanders have a small fan base and the UBS arena is such an unbelievable pain in the ass to get to, I honestly think it could get worse than the crappy years of Nassau/Barclays when the team is playing bad considering how much of a pain in the ass it is to get to, this new arena should have been built where Nassau was.

What is the problem with the present location? Bad roads/parking, or is it too congested because of proximity to the city v. Nassau?

 

[Bouboumaster]

Maybe don't suck?

I mean, the team is médiocre AF, and he's only one man

What is he suppose to Do, exactly?

 

[Captain Controversy]

Would be a good fit in Vancouver

 

[hirawl]

Barzal is a puck hog of worst kind. Wants it and holds on to it and does not know what to do with it. Who wants to see that?

 

[SatanicToedrag]

Would be a good fit in Vancouver

The people watching Islanders games?

 

[Z-Diddy]

Commit to a tank. Eiserman was finally a decent high risk offensive pick (wasn't expecting Lou to approve), love Matty, have his jersey, but he was one of the early injuries that resulted in stumbling out of the blocks, not sure why he thought to sprock off on what was already a pretty lack luster product, that suddenly fans weren't super hyped to come out and watch... weird take/blame game

 

[Bakayoko Ono]

Off with His Head!

 

[sabremike]

If the every single team in the league sold out every game the Isles would be 3rd bottom in attendance ahead of only NJ and Winnipeg as UBS Arena has the 3rd smallest capacity.

 

[TheGreenTBer]

Tough for the Islanders. Not only are they 2nd in their own city, but a third team is located in Newark that could otherwise help attract a fanbase. Not sure how it goes in other sports, but upstate New York having a team in Buffalo could also take a few otherwise fans.

Basically they're in a huge city but functionally a small market team. It's a weird situation.

Buffalo is closer to Columbus than it is to Long Island and shares very little culturally with NYC and the surrounding area.

EDIT: To address the other question in regards to hockey fans in upstate NY that are not Sabres fans, the bulk are Rangers fans. I was born and raised in Central NY and I don't think I knew a single Islanders fan growing up, they are LI's team and there is a significant cultural divide between Upstate NY and Long Island.

 

[Bender Duster]

NHL tickets today are too expensive for me to criticize fans for not showing up to watch a bad/mediocre team.

Like people have bills to pay and going to a game with your family is likely going to cost around like $200.

$200?? Maybe for a family of two in the nosebleeds.

 

[Bender Duster]

View attachment 964801

My initial response was to say this is an out of touch statement… “people can hardly afford groceries right now, and this is Barzal’s complaint?”

But then I looked at ticket prices at UBS Arena. $11 against Colorado? $12 against Vegas? $15 against Dallas, and $14 against Winnipeg.

This app I’m using doesn’t do service fees either so these are the final prices. Incredibly affordable ticket prices. Eat before you go to the game and don’t load up on overpriced beer and you can take a family of 4 for under $100.

Those prices are wild! I don't think you can see a Junior A in most Manitoba towns for $12!

 

[elmaco]

I'd say it's a blessing in disguise, get to see all those other good teams for 10 bucks, nice.

 

[Kevin27NYI]

He should have played like he has the last 10 games all year and more people would be there

 

[Rodgerwilco]

Yeah it's just entertainment value. Isle not providing a lot of excitement right now.

Prices are low BECAUSE nobody is going. That's just how supply and demand works. When nobody is going, any STH re-selling is going to have to list them very low.

Thats all well and good, and I understand supply and command (TPB reference, don’t come at me).

But honestly at those ticket prices in New York City the arena should be close to capacity. If you can’t sell out a nice new arena for $11 a ticket then maybe it’s time for relocation.