The easiest way to say it is the Devils have really never been interested in matching relative demand to ticket supply. They have traditionally just squeezed the turnip as much as they can at the expense of filling every seat. That's just the business model that they use. Fans don't like it and/or understand it sometimes but it is what it is (and why we are always trying to get around face value prices).
Ding, ding, ding ding...this guy gets it. I've been stating this for years.
Yes, and this is where most sports teams are, as sadly this is how they make the most money. Pricing for the lowest common denominator does not work.
SHORT VERSION: It doesn't HAVE to be an either / or scenario. I'm not saying you intentionally lose zillions on tickets, I'm saying that you shouldn't "squeeze the turnip" with a death grip, which is precisely how the Devils have operated since at least the mid-1990s.
LONG VERSION: It doesn't HAVE to be an either / or scenario. You can bring the ticket prices down and make money up on both volume and ancillary sales (i.e. more people equal more stuff sold at games). Yes, I realize the Devils dont make a ton on merchandise & food & bevy, but they make some money nonetheless, and would obviously make money on additional tickets sold.
Nonetheless.......and this is the part I've argued since the day I've joined here.... is that you cannot financially model what you literally dont know. Meaning, that by pricing fans out of the building you dont know how many new "Devils fans" you would have created had you priced the building for higher attendance. This is the missing piece that I believe the Devils both fail to understand and have failed at for many years. New fans = revenue growth for years to come. More attractive pricing gets more kids and families into the building and grows the base. The problem is, you cant model that in Microsoft Excel so they fail to "see" it. My 2¢.
Elias Retirement Night
Now there's a specific game I'm looking forward to purchasing!
Though I'd consider the home opener too just to see Nico's first game.