Detroit Red Wings Couldn’t sell-out home opener.

[SantosHalper]

Maybe you guys can ask the league to help them with your attendance problems

Nah, we don't need help. Help is for the expansion teams, the league needs our help to keep this league alive.

 

[JimmyApples]

Nah, we don't need help. Help is for the expansion teams, the league needs our help to keep this league alive.

Hahah, clearly with that great attendance! Bottom of the league there?

 

[SantosHalper]

Hahah, clearly with that great attendance! Bottom of the league there?

Packed enough and LOUD. But i was referring to TV, no Red Wings on TV, no viewers.
https://thenhlzone.com/red-wings-have-returned-to-ratings-prominence/

 

[tarheelhockey]

A team that was very good for 25 years got worse?!?!

Definitely threadworthy.

It’s more about damage to the fanbase. In recent memory, the Wings had arguably the strongest fanbase in America. In distant memory so did Buffalo. It would be nice not to see those narratives dovetail.

 

[JimmyApples]

Well, don’t think we’ll have to worry about the Tigers stealing any fans from the Wings

Na na na na, hey hey hey, goooooodbyeeeeeeee

 

[newfy]

Well, don’t think we’ll have to worry about the Tigers stealing any fans from the Wings

Na na na na, hey hey hey, goooooodbyeeeeeeee

Oh no, a Detroit sports team lost in the second round of the playoffs lol... Maybe the sens will finish within 10 points of playoffs this year so sens fan have something worth watching after january.

Even the Redblacks are pathetic lol

 

[bellringer77]

They were sending out a bunch of emails saying to call off work to go to the game. The first one was sorta funny but they sent it out probably close to everyday the week of and it was sorta cringe.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

It’s more about damage to the fanbase. In recent memory, the Wings had arguably the strongest fanbase in America. In distant memory so did Buffalo. It would be nice not to see those narratives dovetail.

Damage to a fanbase?

When teams win a long time, they become more popular. When they haven't been winning for a long time, they become less popular. This isn't a new phenomenon.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Damage to a fanbase?

When teams win a long time, they become more popular. When they haven't been winning for a long time, they become less popular. This isn't a new phenomenon.

Nobody said it’s a new phenomenon.

People are simply observing the reality of another bad sign for a team which has been slipping in attendance for a little while now. The bigger picture question is whether the front office has put the team in a position to generate some momentum going forward, or if this is going to be more of a Buffalo-like situation.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Nobody said it’s a new phenomenon.

People are simply observing the reality of another bad sign for a team which has been slipping in attendance for a little while now. The bigger picture question is whether the front office has put the team in a position to generate some momentum going forward, or if this is going to be more of a Buffalo-like situation.

Attendance was up last year. But keep making something out of nothing if you want.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Attendance was up last year. But keep making something out of nothing if you want.

It’s been hovering below sellout levels for several years, and thousands of empty seats at the home opener suggests the foundation is starting to drop away. Or maybe not. We’ll find out in subsequent games, and the team’s performance will be a big factor.

Be defensive about it if you like. Winnipeg fans were defensive about empty seats and then their owner came right out and said what they weren’t willing to admit.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

It’s been hovering below sellout levels for several years, and thousands of empty seats at the home opener suggests the foundation is starting to drop away. Or maybe not. We’ll find out in subsequent games, and the team’s performance will be a big factor.

Be defensive about it if you like. Winnipeg fans were defensive about empty seats and then their owner came right out and said what they weren’t willing to admit.

Ahh yes the "defensive" cop out because you got your facts wrong. And you're ignoring the multiple posts that have pointed out the Tigers game the same night. But sure, take one game's attendance versus it being up overall last season.

You used to be such a reasonable poster here. I don't know what's changed but you've picked some weird hills to die on.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Ahh yes the "defensive" cop out because you got your facts wrong.

The numbers are the numbers. Wings attendance has slipped from when they first moved to the new arena, even if you set aside the COVID seasons. That’s just a plain fact, I’m not sure what you think is wrong there.

And you're ignoring the multiple posts that have pointed out the Tigers game the same night.

I’m not ignoring them, it’s just that

1) Other cities have playoff games all the time and it doesn’t become this huge issue for other local teams. Sure the Tigers drew 40K… there are 5 million people in greater Detroit, it shouldn’t be that hard to sell a few thousand seats over their STH baseline for an NHL home opener.

2) To the italicized phrase above, that’s the real question here. If the STH baseline is dropping, which would explain the shortfall when a competing event occurs, that is concerning for the health of the franchise. It used to be that there were empty seats in Detroit and the fans would justifiably point out that the seats were actually sold, it’s just that the fans weren’t interested in watching bad hockey. Now the seats actually aren’t being sold. Again, this points back to the front office needing to get their shit together before it actually gets ugly.

You used to be such a reasonable poster here. I don't know what's changed but you've picked some weird hills to die on.

I stopped being a reasonable person and died on a weird hill when I pointed out the reality of empty seats at the Wings game. Ok.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

The numbers are the numbers. Wings attendance has slipped from when they first moved to the new arena, even if you set aside the COVID seasons. That’s just a plain fact, I’m not sure what you think is wrong there.




I’m not ignoring them, it’s just that

1) Other cities have playoff games all the time and it doesn’t become this huge issue for other local teams. Sure the Tigers drew 40K… there are 5 million people in greater Detroit, it shouldn’t be that hard to sell a few thousand seats over their STH baseline for an NHL home opener.

2) To the italicized phrase above, that’s the real question here. If the STH baseline is dropping, which would explain the shortfall when a competing event occurs, that is concerning for the health of the franchise. It used to be that there were empty seats in Detroit and the fans would justifiably point out that the seats were actually sold, it’s just that the fans weren’t interested in watching bad hockey. Now the seats actually aren’t being sold. Again, this points back to the front office needing to get their shit together before it actually gets ugly.



I stopped being a reasonable person and died on a weird hill when I pointed out the reality of empty seats at the Wings game. Ok.

You're crafting a narrative based on one game and attendance being down over the group of years the Wings have been terrible, then completely ignore that attendance increased last season.

Maybe it's not reasonable so much as I don't remember your posts having weird agendas in opposition to reality.

Enjoy your false narrative.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

A team with almost 18k fans on opening night deserves a thread? Welcome to find something productive to do with your life.

 

[tarheelhockey]

You're crafting a narrative based on one game and attendance being down over the group of years the Wings have been terrible, then completely ignore that attendance increased last season.

2014 - 22150
2015 - 20027
2016 - 20027 <- last playoff season
2017 - 20027
2018 - 19515 <- move to new arena, last sellout season
2019 - 19121
2020 - 18717 (up to the COVID stoppage)
[ignore COVID impacted numbers]
2023 - 18819
2024 - 18980
2025 - 17916 (based only on the home opener)

Sure attendance was “up” last year, but still holding in that same depressed range of having several hundred empty seats a night.

It’s legitimate to observe when an O6 franchise in a 5M person market goes years below sellout level. People are naturally going to ask questions when that same franchise falls way short of a sellout for their own opener. And no, a baseball playoff game does not explain it all away.

Maybe it's not reasonable so much as I don't remember your posts having weird agendas in opposition to reality.

Enjoy your false narrative.

Why in the world would I have an agenda about Detroit Red Wings attendance?

Instead of speculating about me having inexplicable agendas, maybe ask yourself why you feel the need to make a personal attack on me if I observe that Red Wings attendance has trended down. What about this topic hits you that hard in your emotions that it needs to become a personal matter?

 

[Marlowe Syn]

Take away the "Hockeytown USA" designation and give it to someone else!

Yeah back to Warroad, MN , whom they stole it from in the first place.

This not selling out is much ado about nothing. It may have raised an eyebrow, if there wasn't a baseball playoff game happening.

Why are there so many Toronto fans chiming in here, Oh we'd sell out. Yeah we get it, y'all have nothing but hockey up there. Whereas there is a little more competition down here for a person's sports dollar. Hockey is maybe a top5 sport in the States. Get off your high horse other fans, because the We'd sell out' flex is weak

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

2014 - 22150
2015 - 20027
2016 - 20027 <- last playoff season
2017 - 20027
2018 - 19515 <- move to new arena, last sellout season
2019 - 19121
2020 - 18717 (up to the COVID stoppage)
[ignore COVID impacted numbers]
2023 - 18819
2024 - 18980
2025 - 17916 (based only on the home opener)

Sure attendance was “up” last year, but still holding in that same depressed range of having several hundred empty seats a night.

It’s legitimate to observe when an O6 franchise in a 5M person market goes years below sellout level. People are naturally going to ask questions when that same franchise falls way short of a sellout for their own opener. And no, a baseball playoff game does not explain it all away.

Why in the world would I have an agenda about Detroit Red Wings attendance?

Instead of speculating about me having inexplicable agendas, maybe ask yourself why you feel the need to make a personal attack on me if I observe that Red Wings attendance has trended down. What about this topic hits you that hard in your emotions that it needs to become a personal matter?

I honestly have no idea why you feel the need to create this narrative but you seem to have some weird fixation on Detroit's attendance and the "damage to the fan base." It's odd. Often people make a statement that's incorrect but then just keep doubling down rather than admit they don't know what they're talking about. Maybe it's that?

And you've called me defensive and now emotional in response to my pointing out your narrative isn't reflective of what's happening, so maybe have some self awareness.

As I said, the team has been bad. Attendance has been down. Shocking. But the team is getting better an attendance is up. Also shocking.

I know, BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT ONE GAME?!?!?

I think I speak for Wings fans everywhere when I say we appreciate all the concern and dedication you've shown about the potential damage to the fanbase.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

I honestly have no idea why you feel the need to create this narrative but you seem to have some weird fixation on Detroit's attendance and the "damage to the fan base." It's odd. Often people make a statement that's incorrect but then just keep doubling down rather than admit they don't know what they're talking about. Maybe it's that?

And you've called me defensive and now emotional in response to my pointing out your narrative isn't reflective of what's happening, so maybe have some self awareness.

As I said, the team has been bad. Attendance has been down. Shocking. But the team is getting better an attendance is up. Also shocking.

I know, BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT ONE GAME?!?!?

I think I speak for Wings fans everywhere when I say we appreciate all the concern and dedication you've shown about the potential damage to the fanbase.

As a non-Wings fan, this thread reads someone's mom might be getting a call.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I honestly have no idea why you feel the need to create this narrative but you seem to have some weird fixation on Detroit's attendance and the "damage to the fan base." It's odd. Often people make a statement that's incorrect but then just keep doubling down rather than admit they don't know what they're talking about. Maybe it's that?

Again, we’ve had this same conversation in recent years about Buffalo, Winnipeg, Ottawa. Welcome to the club, it’s not comfortable for the home fans but it’s also not “odd”, it’s the content of a hockey sub forum. There’s no reason to make it personal or accuse people of acting on agendas just to talk about it.

And you've called me defensive and now emotional in response to my pointing out your narrative isn't reflective of what's happening, so maybe have some self awareness.

I said that because you make the topic about me on a personal level. The obvious explanation is that you’re getting your emotions up. But if you’d like to offer some other reason that your go-to was to attack me, I’m all ears as to what that reason could be.

As I said, the team has been bad. Attendance has been down. Shocking. But the team is getting better an attendance is up. Also shocking.

Yes, everyone gets that. It’s not a new dynamic, as you said earlier. The issue is that we have a parallel thread on how the Wings front office has botched this rebuild, and at what point the plug might need to be pulled for a second rebuild. If it comes to that, it’ll only exacerbate the current situation.

Lots of teams have gone through this. It sucked. It was discussed extensively on the main board. Sorry it has to be you this time, but it isn’t personal.

 

[ozzie]

If they become the dead things again or fans start wearing paper bags on their heads, I'll be concerned.

I also remind myself I've seen them win 4 cups in my life time, New York 1, Chicago 3, Montreal 1, Boston 1. I'm still waiting for the leafs to make it a clean original 6 sweep or at least lose in the finals.,

I do admire that they fight and don't tank for better draft picks, but at the same time sitting on the fence isn't great. I think it's cost them some time in their rebuild by going for the 8th spot.

 

[Pavels Dog]

The issue is that we have a parallel thread on how the Wings front office has botched this rebuild, and at what point the plug might need to be pulled for a second rebuild. If it comes to that, it’ll only exacerbate the current situation.

A stupid thread is a stupid thread. It doesn't become less stupid because another, even more stupid, thread is made.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Who cares? The baseball team in the city was playing a do or die game a couple of hours before, I assume people made more plans around that game today than the Red Wings.