Canadians in Phoenix

[DannoManno*]

If they are looking for the people who love the NHL and hate all other sports they are going to put themselves out of business fast in Phoenix. Sure these people exist and talk a good game, usually online, but they aren't going to be the bread and butter, especially in a southern market.

This thread isn't really about native Phoenecians ... It's about Snowbirds from Canada, and to a lesser extent, the northern USA.

 

[MarkGio]

I think promotions like this would be a good idea.

The snowbirds might keep the Yotes a float for a while longer, but I think the marketing strategy for hockey in a challenging culture is to market its root service to citizens: entertainment.

They want more children attending hockey games? Ok, so make affordable birthday packages and give a corporate box to kids to eat pizza and cake and watch hockey. Put in a few hockey arcades and air hockey tables. Maybe a digital golf swing game with a tennis ball and hockey stick instead. Make it an event other than boring Yotes hockey, especially considering the attention span of today's youth. Get the kids to like hockey.

Want more young adults attending hockey games? Make it a party opportunity. Sexy bartenders and shooter girls. Again, give a corporate box for private parties. Cover up the ice afterwards and make it a dance floor. I dunno, anything to get people in the door, making the Yotes a part of their entertainment options and then hopefully that will lead to people appreciating the game and following the team on the TV.

Let's face it. The seats aren't filling up. It won't taint the hardcore hockey watcher to see ownership sell out the sport in order to keep the team in Arizona. So find a way to get people at least acknowledging there is a hockey team and it leads to fun times. Turn it into the place to be.

 

[Llama19]

Want more young adults attending hockey games? Make it a party opportunity. Sexy bartenders and shooter girls. Again, give a corporate box for private parties. Cover up the ice afterwards and make it a dance floor. I dunno, anything to get people in the door, making the Yotes a part of their entertainment options and then hopefully that will lead to people appreciating the game and following the team on the TV.

Let's face it. The seats aren't filling up. It won't taint the hardcore hockey watcher to see ownership sell out the sport in order to keep the team in Arizona. So find a way to get people at least acknowledging there is a hockey team and it leads to fun times. Turn it into the place to be.

Now, what would be another 'entertainment' option, not only for families and adults but for Canadian snowbirds, too?

Could the IceArizona organization partner with the Tohono O’odham Nation in getting their West Valley Resort and Casino built?

Anthony LeBlanc could certainly sell snowbirds, and other northerners, to fly down to partake in a resort/casino/hockey package.

Unfortunately, the Mayor of Glendale is against the casino with this latest letter to all Glendale residents.

If Anthony is promoting 'tourism,' why would the Mayor be trying to kill that same tourism?

 

[Killion]

Now, what would be another 'entertainment' option, not only for families and adults but for Canadian snowbirds, too?

Could the IceArizona organization partner with the Tohono O’odham Nation in getting their West Valley Resort and Casino built?

Anthony LeBlanc could certainly sell snowbirds, and other northerners, to fly down to partake in a resort/casino/hockey package.

Unfortunately, the Mayor of Glendale is against the casino with this latest letter to all Glendale residents.

If Anthony is promoting 'tourism,' why would the Mayor be trying to kill that same tourism?

Yes that would certainly add some sizzle to the steak. Perhaps a package deal whereby the Snowbirds could take in a Cactus League Game, a Coyotes Game, a Show & some Gambling, shopping etc in & around Westgate & Glendale...

 

[Dolemite]

Snowbirds have barely started arriving. You have to give it a couple more weeks. The more the season goes on, the more attendance will improve.

Yeah wait til the beginning of next year. The Great Canadian Picnic is a huge draw down here. The majority of the people here come from Alberta (or so it seems) and lesser from BC.

 

[aqib]

Yes that would certainly add some sizzle to the steak. Perhaps a package deal whereby the Snowbirds could take in a Cactus League Game, a Coyotes Game, a Show & some Gambling, shopping etc in & around Westgate & Glendale...

A couple of things. Casinos in general don't want people leaving and spending money at places they don't own. Which is why in Atlantic City and Vegas you see the same company own casinos right next to each other. Also unlike other places where casinos have come in recently (Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland) where they have to pay all kinds of fees and taxes to the local government, a Native American casino wouldn't be paying anything to Glendale. So what the city is probably thinking here is that for every person who decides to make a trip to Glendale because of the casino and take in a game or 2 is probably offset by others driving right by Westgate to go to the casino.

 

[Killion]

^^^Ya, and of course like everything in Glendale, complicated... seems the Tohonos Band did offer to pay Glendale at flat 10% tax on rooms, food services etc however, City told them it wouldnt be enough to cover the costs of infrastructure (sewers, water, street lighting, fire & police etc); a Casino wasnt part of their Master Plan; the site was right near a high school; just on & on. Then the lawsuits started flying. Complete mess. Long & complicated story. Too long & convoluted for this thread. I do however think that something mutually beneficial could be worked out, a boon for the City, Westgate & the franchise.

 

[BigZ65]

The snowbirds might keep the Yotes a float for a while longer, but I think the marketing strategy for hockey in a challenging culture is to market its root service to citizens: entertainment.

They want more children attending hockey games? Ok, so make affordable birthday packages and give a corporate box to kids to eat pizza and cake and watch hockey. Put in a few hockey arcades and air hockey tables. Maybe a digital golf swing game with a tennis ball and hockey stick instead. Make it an event other than boring Yotes hockey, especially considering the attention span of today's youth. Get the kids to like hockey.

Want more young adults attending hockey games? Make it a party opportunity. Sexy bartenders and shooter girls. Again, give a corporate box for private parties. Cover up the ice afterwards and make it a dance floor. I dunno, anything to get people in the door, making the Yotes a part of their entertainment options and then hopefully that will lead to people appreciating the game and following the team on the TV.

Let's face it. The seats aren't filling up. It won't taint the hardcore hockey watcher to see ownership sell out the sport in order to keep the team in Arizona. So find a way to get people at least acknowledging there is a hockey team and it leads to fun times. Turn it into the place to be.

Can you generate enough revenue using the minor league baseball ticket selling model to operate a NHL franchise?

 

[TheLegend]

It's your lucky day; the fall NASCAR event at PIR is this weekend - you can probably go out there right now and pick one up...

Yeah.... I know... I live just north of PIR.

Went there last year and came out wishing I had the aluminum recycling contract. I could retire on all those aluminum bottles. Or at least pay the cardiac treatment bills.

 

[TheLegend]

^^^Ya, and of course like everything in Glendale, complicated... seems the Tohonos Band did offer to pay Glendale at flat 10% tax on rooms, food services etc however, City told them it wouldnt be enough to cover the costs of infrastructure (sewers, water, street lighting, fire & police etc); a Casino wasnt part of their Master Plan; the site was right near a high school; just on & on. Then the lawsuits started flying. Complete mess. Long & complicated story. Too long & convoluted for this thread. I do however think that something mutually beneficial could be worked out, a boon for the City, Westgate & the franchise.

When was that?? I don't recall seeing that offer.

However.... Glendale might have a point there since the Tohonos had to scale down their plans because they lost out on about a third of the acreage they could build on. I'm not even sure a hotel is still in the plans there anymore.

EDIT: Just found a page that has stats on the resort. It lists there would be 600 rooms, but that could be part of the original plan AFAIK.

 

[TheLegend]

Now, what would be another 'entertainment' option, not only for families and adults but for Canadian snowbirds, too?

Could the IceArizona organization partner with the Tohono O’odham Nation in getting their West Valley Resort and Casino built?

Anthony LeBlanc could certainly sell snowbirds, and other northerners, to fly down to partake in a resort/casino/hockey package.

Unfortunately, the Mayor of Glendale is against the casino with this latest letter to all Glendale residents.

If Anthony is promoting 'tourism,' why would the Mayor be trying to kill that same tourism?

You think people would prefer to fly into Phoenix to gamble out in Glendale, rather than...... like say..... Las Vegas??

In all fariness though it would be interesting to see what the other two Phoenix area tribes are doing to woo snowbirds in.

 

[kootenayfan]

Yeah wait til the beginning of next year. The Great Canadian Picnic is a huge draw down here. The majority of the people here come from Alberta (or so it seems) and lesser from BC.

My wife and i stopped by the Great Canadian picnic in March 2010, it was on the road up to South Mountain at that time. There was ALOTof Canadians there, and the Coyotes had a booth set up as well..no players present that day but they were scheduled for other days.
They even had an outdoor rink set up (concrete, no ice of course) where teams of tourists were playing each other. Pretty cool.

 

[Killion]

When was that?? I don't recall seeing that offer.

EDIT: Just found a page that has stats on the resort. It lists there would be 600 rooms, but that could be part of the original plan AFAIK.

Ya, my understanding is that they did indeed offer to voluntarily pay a flat 10% tax to the COG when initially approaching the city. We discussed it on numerous occasions on the MegaThread, long time ago TL, like in Grade 4... mebbe you missed those classes, Chicken Pox, havin yer Tonsils out or whatever?... anyhoo, the COG claimed it wouldnt come close to covering the costs of infrastructure & essential services amongst other issues, then went all Medieval on their hynies and took em to court. Id rather doubt after all the acrimony & millions spent in legal fee's on both sides that the Tohono's have much in the way of public charity or munificence/magnanimity left in their hearts. Turned to stone. File eventually winding up in the Oval Office in DC. Doesnt get any more contentious than that.... Ive always taken the position that rather than fight this thing the City should have embraced & supported it. The benefits far outweigh the entirely imaginary social ills the Baptist & Presbyterian naysayers like to espouse, often chapter & verse from the Good Book itself. Why wouldnt you have limited gambling, a hotel, show lounges etc at a place that bills itself as a "Sports & Entertainment Destination"? The cash pouring through a facility like that would go beyond far not only for the city but so too the Coyotes. Like having your own Mint right there in Glendale.

You think people would prefer to fly into Phoenix to gamble out in Glendale, rather than...... like say..... Las Vegas??

In all fariness though it would be interesting to see what the other two Phoenix area tribes are doing to woo snowbirds in.

Some would, ya. If you had a package that included a Cactus League & Coyotes Game ('s); maybe Golf as well, nice little getaway. Vegas is an entirely different animal. Your not competing with them. Additionally for Snowbirds, if there was more to do at Westgate & in and around Glendale, the trip out from Scottsdale or points further east not quite so taxing. Most of these Casino's as run by Indian Bands in Canada & the US are excellent facilities with hotel, spas', 18 hole golf courses & driving ranges, 4&5 Star Restaurants, ShowLounges booking current & oldies acts that appeal to Baby Boomers & the 25-40yr old markets....

and what are the other Bands doing in marketing themselves to Snowbirds? No idea. Cant recall ever seeing anything in BC nor in Alberta but that doesnt mean they arent engaged in some way. Interestingly, the Gila River Band did a deal with the Coyotes just recently in establishing the Gila River Casino Club in conjunction with Bud Light. Premium seating etc. Perks & benefits. Rather a clever move by the Gila River Band who's Casino & Resort facility is over in Chandler (and I see theyve got Pat Benatar, Andrew Dice Clay, Big Bad VooDoo Daddy etc etc booked) in displacing the Tohonos early. Shrewd.

Arizona as you know is quite unique as it relates to the whole Native American Treaty System, Reservations, Land Claims etc (as is New Mexico though nowhere nearly as sophisticated as the tribes in Arizona). These Bands do not mess around. Huge lobbying goes on with local muni's in Arizona, the Bands "donating" or "sponsoring" municipal activities & requirements, gifting huge sums of money, fire trucks, ambulances, you name it. They buy influence with politicians. These smaller municipalities scattered throughout the Valley in some cases beholden to the Tribes. Just the business of politics, the way things operate..... but back on topic, with the Gila River Band Casino Club in jobing.com arena now, yes, Id expect to see them more actively engaging Snowbirds in attendance at the games, using tickets as premiums for guests at their resort, packaging seating in all inclusives and whatnot. And if Im the Tohonos, none too happy about it.

 

[aqib]

I get emails from the Blue Jays whenever they are in Cleveland saying "come see your Blue Jays in Cleveland." Can't the Coyotes have opposing teams message the fans who live in AZ? They have to do something because they are down 1500 fans from last year and are now behind the Islanders for last place.

 

[CC96]

I get emails from the Blue Jays whenever they are in Cleveland saying "come see your Blue Jays in Cleveland." Can't the Coyotes have opposing teams message the fans who live in AZ? They have to do something because they are down 1500 fans from last year and are now behind the Islanders for last place.

Attendance is actually up roughly 20% as of last night, compared to the same date in the last full season in 2011-2012. More people always show up after New Years', once football season is over and the team is making a push for the playoffs.

 

[aqib]

Attendance is actually up roughly 20% as of last night, compared to the same date in the last full season in 2011-2012. More people always show up after New Years', once football season is over and the team is making a push for the playoffs.

http://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph.php?tmi=7450

http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance

There is always a story "you've got the economy the the credit bubble, the Supreme Court. I mean look at Haiti!"

 

[CC96]

http://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph.php?tmi=7450

http://espn.go.com/nhl/attendance

There is always a story "you've got the economy the the credit bubble, the Supreme Court. I mean look at Haiti!"

I think you missed my point. Average attendance at the end of the season will be higher than 12,400, because every year for the last 4 years, attendance is much lower in the fall, then takes off after the new year.

 

[aqib]

I think you missed my point. Average attendance at the end of the season will be higher than 12,400, because every year for the last 4 years, attendance is much lower in the fall, then takes off after the new year.

So if attendance goes up to 15K in the second half of the season you'll average 13,700 which is still towards the bottom.

 

[Dirty Old Man]

They have to do something because they are down 1500 fans from last year and are now behind the Islanders for last place.

{Mod}... And how did this become an attendance watch thread <cough>?

 

[Killion]

And how did this become an attendance watch thread <cough>?

Its not, nor will it be permitted to become so however, as an adjunct or sidebar to issues of marketing its interesting (despite aqibs earlier minor error in assuming attendance was down when in fact its up) and a healthy sign. Its very early days here, attendance not an issue as IceArizona & the franchise have yet to fully engage & execute. Attendance will become an issue if say by 2015/16 or so it bottoms out however even then, if Global-Spectrum's able to fill the calendar with events & concerts, the building becoming profitable, far from anykind of a panic situation really. I for one am hoping for the best. Can be done, no reason why not.

 

[Killion]

... and with that, thus endeth another chapter in the resurrection of the Phoenix Coyotes.... for now.... when more solid news hits thats thread worthy... rest assured... we'll be back.