Rochester Americans / Cincinnati Cyclones Season Thread

[Reddawg]

Attendance always gets better as the season goes along, so you can’t compare last years final number to now. The crowds in February and March will be much better. But they just don’t do anything. They rarely have any sort of decent promotion. They never have a decent giveaway. They pretty much only advertise on social media. They’re getting by on their name alone and the fact that they’ve been around so long.

Considering the Sabres own the team, how little they’ve done off the ice since buying the team has been disappointing. The outdoor game was fun. That’s about it. They put no money or resources into the team. The Red Wings are all over town all summer long. The Amerks should have way more resources, but I’m sure are limited by Buffalo. I’d like to see more giveaways. A season long bobble head or T-shirt series. I’d like to see them try and bring the all star game back to town. Maybe another outdoor game. It just seems like they go about putting as little effort into marketing the team as possible.

Probably has a lot to do with our billionaire owners who couldn’t care less about a couple million dollar deficit to keep running the team. The teams who work hard at promoting are the ones who actually need the ticket revenue to stay in business, and the Pegulas aren’t in the hockey business, especially at the minor league level.

I’m sure you’re right that the numbers will come up, but it’s disheartening to see so many empty seats. Then again, I’m obviously part of the problem since I don’t really want to attend the games either. I’m happy watching on tv and mixing my own drinks at home.

 

[Tsyolin]

How has Asplund looked so far?

Solid, he doesn't put up a lot of points but he's getting more minutes as the season goes on. Last I saw he was playing with Olofsson and O'Regan which is a dangerous scoring line. I also remember him being on the 1st 3vs3 unit.

He'll be a solid bottom 6 guy, ideally 3rd line center. I don't expect him to see any ice time in the NHL this season and quite frankly that's okay.

 

[Dingo44]

Attendance always gets better as the season goes along, so you can’t compare last years final number to now. The crowds in February and March will be much better. But they just don’t do anything. They rarely have any sort of decent promotion. They never have a decent giveaway. They pretty much only advertise on social media. They’re getting by on their name alone and the fact that they’ve been around so long.

Considering the Sabres own the team, how little they’ve done off the ice since buying the team has been disappointing. The outdoor game was fun. That’s about it. They put no money or resources into the team. The Red Wings are all over town all summer long. The Amerks should have way more resources, but I’m sure are limited by Buffalo. I’d like to see more giveaways. A season long bobble head or T-shirt series. I’d like to see them try and bring the all star game back to town. Maybe another outdoor game. It just seems like they go about putting as little effort into marketing the team as possible.

Aren't the Pegulas putting in millions of their own money into the team including a new scoreboard?

5 things we know about the Blue Cross Arena improvements

 

[Howie Hodge]

Rochester Blue Cross Arena, 10/26.

Pilut is a quick decision maker and a crisp passer. Olofsson looked the part. Nylander needs to get more involved. Asplund looked fairly good. Redmond is excellent at The AHL level...

Blah - blah - blah. As expected.

Scoring

1st
10:40	ROC	Zach Redmond (5) ASST: Victor Olofsson (10), Lawrence Pilut (9) (PP)
2nd
3:40	ROC	Kevin Porter (2) ASST: Wayne Simpson (2), Lawrence Pilut(10)
3rd
8:45	ROC	Danny O'Regan (5) ASST: William Borgen (2), Lawrence Pilut(11)
12:48	ROC	Alexander Nylander (4) ASST: None

[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[sabrefan27]

Aren't the Pegulas putting in millions of their own money into the team including a new scoreboard?

5 things we know about the Blue Cross Arena improvements

I’m talking marketing and promoting the team to sell tickets. Non existent presence around town for years.

 

[Tsyolin]

He's not wrong. The Amerks get by lately off word of mouth alone. Rochester is a pretty decent hockey town so fans will always come, and I expect it to get better when it gets closer to the end of the season.

 

[sabrefan27]

I’m talking marketing and promoting the team to sell tickets. Non existent presence around town for years.

And for those in Rochester, compare to the onslaught of advertising for the Red Wings in the summer. You always know when they’re in town. They have promotion and marketing down to a science. The Amerks need to hire their people.

 

[Jim Bob]

And for those in Rochester, compare to the onslaught of advertising for the Red Wings in the summer. You always know when they’re in town. They have promotion and marketing down to a science. The Amerks need to hire their people.

The Red Wings marketing and sales staff is effective in large part because it is huge because they generate so much revenue thanks to 2x the number of home dates compared to what the Amerks have.

Add in the sweetheart lease at FF and the Twins covering almost all of the player and coaching payroll and it really is just a sales and marketing company.

 

[pled]

pilut is destroying this league why don't they throw beaulieu or nelson away for him

 

[ZZamboni]

pilut is destroying this league why don't they throw beaulieu or nelson away for him

Will there be injuries on the Sabres? Yes.
Will Pilut get called up then? Yes.
Has he helped the Amerks be one of the best teams in the AHL? Yes.
Can he help the Amerks continue to win? Yes.
Do the Sabres NEED him to be up full time for the rest of the season? Hell no.

I want to see Pilut up with the Sabres too. But I also want to see him help the Amerks all or most of the season.

 

[pled]

Will there be injuries on the Sabres? Yes.
Will Pilut get called up then? Yes.
Has he helped the Amerks be one of the best teams in the AHL? Yes.
Can he help the Amerks continue to win? Yes.
Do the Sabres NEED him to be up full time for the rest of the season? Hell no.

I want to see Pilut up with the Sabres too. But I also want to see him help the Amerks all or most of the season.

I mean I know him playing 5 min per game in buffalo probably doesnt help him but beaulieu suck

 

[Dex]

pilut is destroying this league why don't they throw beaulieu or nelson away for him

This is not the NFL. You just don't cut guys. you have to account for their contract in the NHL. There also is a roster size limit in the NHL so to bring up Pilut in a non injury situation, you have to rid yourself of someone.

You'd have to expose Beaulieu and Nelson to waivers to get them down to Rochester. Beaulieu has been playing better that Nelson and Scandella this season, IMO. Exposing him to waivers and losing him for nothing is poor asset management, IMO. Same for Nelson, who has not been terrible.

As mentioned above, the best and probably only way to move Pilut up to Buffalo is to cover for an injury or replace someone who has been traded. The trade market is pretty slow right now, so Pilut will have to wait.

 

[pled]

You'd have to expose Beaulieu and Nelson to waivers to get them down to Rochester. Beaulieu has been playing better that Nelson and Scandella this season, IMO. Exposing him to waivers and losing him for nothing is poor asset management, IMO. Same for Nelson, who has not been terrible.

that's a really optimistic view on Beaulieu and Nelson. Losing Beaulieu on waiver would honestly be a monetary gain I think. they can also try to shop him for a cond pick or something.
the only reason I see him for staying down is money or they really want to give him time to adjust to the American ice.
Waiting for bogo to get hurt again is also realistic too I guess.
And it's true that Rochester probably don't want to see him go if there's no urgency.

 

[Gabrielor]

Another win by them. And none of the swedish mafia had a point.

 

[Reddawg]

Another win by them. And none of the swedish mafia had a point.

Great comeback win I’m so excited for the future of the Sabres system. If the NHL/AHL clubs are this good right now, how good will they be with three first round picks next year and Samuelsson, Davidsson, Pekar, Lukkonnen, and Laaksonnen on their way still? The future is so bright.

 

[DJN21]

Attendance always gets better as the season goes along, so you can’t compare last years final number to now. The crowds in February and March will be much better. But they just don’t do anything. They rarely have any sort of decent promotion. They never have a decent giveaway. They pretty much only advertise on social media. They’re getting by on their name alone and the fact that they’ve been around so long.

Considering the Sabres own the team, how little they’ve done off the ice since buying the team has been disappointing. The outdoor game was fun. That’s about it. They put no money or resources into the team. The Red Wings are all over town all summer long. The Amerks should have way more resources, but I’m sure are limited by Buffalo. I’d like to see more giveaways. A season long bobble head or T-shirt series. I’d like to see them try and bring the all star game back to town. Maybe another outdoor game. It just seems like they go about putting as little effort into marketing the team as possible.

Can't agree more. Day of tickets average just under 30 bucks a pop for bad seats.

Rochester is a funny market, when they are all in and the team is doing well the community responds but the marketing in the interim is basically non existent. This time of year all local marketing via tv or radio goes to local hayrides, markets, concerts etc. Even a local venue like Del Lago casino monopolized local airwaves. The city and team or organization for that matter do nothing to drum up business.

The concessions get moderately upgraded here and there but actual upgrades are few and far between.

Don't get me wrong I love the 30 or so games I attend a year at home but needless to say I'm a creature of habit and they cater to that we'll lol. Nothing ever really changes or gets better

 

[Howie Hodge]

I’m talking marketing and promoting the team to sell tickets. Non existent presence around town for years.

Agreed.

When I used to attend games in the late 90's, the Arena was pretty full.

A few years back, fewer fans, but not the sparse crowds I've seen the last couple seasons....

Hope they can turn it around.

 

[Reddawg]

Agreed.

When I used to attend games in the late 90's, the Arena was pretty full.

A few years back, fewer fans, but not the sparse crowds I've seen the last couple seasons....

Hope they can turn it around.

During the Florida years we used to draw so badly they closed off part of the upper bowl for advertising. I think we’re actually getting less attendance now than then.

 

[missingmika]

During the Florida years we used to draw so badly they closed off part of the upper bowl for advertising. I think we’re actually getting less attendance now than then.

Is that a Rochester trend or AHL trend, or both?

 

[dang111]

Had a question about Redmond. I know he's an older vet and mostly a career AHLer but he's been absolutely on fire. Is there a chance he could see time in Buffalo?

 

[sabrefan27]

Had a question about Redmond. I know he's an older vet and mostly a career AHLer but he's been absolutely on fire. Is there a chance he could see time in Buffalo?

He’s on a two year AHL contract. Very unlikely unless they’re in an emergency situation.

 

[Reddawg]

He’s on a two year AHL contract. Very unlikely unless they’re in an emergency situation.

Hugely unlikely. The team would have to sign him to an NHL contract in order for him to move up, AHL deals aren't transferable.

 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[Revelate]

Oglevie back too

 

[EXTRAS]

Other than not scoring much, how has Asplund played?