Playoff atmosphere returns, sellouts do not
The Carolina Hurricanes’ fans have shown up for both home playoff games ready to offer the team whatever energy it needs. Tuesday, the Canes finally fed off that support.
After an early elbow to Tuomo Ruutu’s head by Dainius Zubrus, the Canes threatened to score (but didn’t) on the power play. They spent the rest of the period pounding Zubrus into the boards in retribution before Eric Staal gave the Canes their first 1-0 lead of the series.
There was more than a little pent up frustration released from the stands, and you have to figure Cam Ward was pretty happy in the Carolina net as well at the possibility of having a little margin for error.
Sixty-three seconds later, Scott Walker set up Ryan Bayda for the second time in as many games and suddenly, the fans who had waited three years to see the Canes in the playoffs again were seeing what they expected to see.
There would be some nervous moments in the third period after Carolina squandered a 3-0 lead, but that only made Jussi Jokinen’s goal with 0.2 seconds left all the more dramatic, and the reaction all the more frenzied.
Oddly enough, while the crowd has been in full voice for both home games, it hasn’t been at full capacity.
The Canes didn’t come close enough to a sellout in Game 3 even to claim one, drawing only 17,971, with the all-too-frequent empty seats in Section 107 and a wide expanse of unoccupied black leather in the Champions Club.
There seemed to be more people in the building Tuesday, and they had quite a bit more to cheer about, but it still wasn’t a sellout. In fact, it was the third-lowest playoff attendance in RBC Center history — 17,465.
The last time so few people watched a playoff game was Game 1 of the 2002 first-round series against the Devils, a paltry 15,401. The next 24 playoff games at the arena all drew 18,000 or more, and all but one of those was a sellout.
It seems odd that all the traditions of 2006 seem to be thriving, from the tailgating to the noise-making, but tickets are still going unsold. That may be a reflection of the exorbitant prices the Hurricanes charge for playoff tickets, but that didn’t seem to be a problem in 2006.
Two of the first three home games of the first round were standing-room only that year. It was a different economy, and the Canes had a better regular-season record, but you’d think winning 12 of 13 home games down the stretch would have created similar excitement this season.
Tuesday's win was a good sign for the team on the ice, but the attendance was hardly a good sign for the team off of it.
Luke DeCock
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at 829-8947 or luke.decock@newsobserver.com.
Comments
It's the economy
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 17:18 — LainiencConsidering the effects of the economy, stock market losses, corporate layoffs, credit tightening on businesses, the 'Canes sales seem to be doing remarkably well. If I worked for the Canes' organization it would be interesting to poll folks who did not re-invest in the team for playoffs or next season, to determine what the reasons were and under what conditions they might have been able to participate. It would be a pretty safe bet that reasons are job loss related, or the economic uncertainty of retaining employment through the year. Whatever commitment 'level' folks used to be able to affort, some have been displaced. For sure, the hockey passion is here, but the risk aversion to economic distress and/or sacrifices that have to be made to commit to ticket prices outweigh it. Most likely, the sales in Raleigh are doing better than the tri-state area because the overall economy here is better. Interesting article, Luke. As for me, 'will work for hockey' :-)
Luke, I think in these
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 13:10 — mokimanoLuke, I think in these ecomonic times this is the last type of article you need to be focusing on...if the building had 12,000 there last night i could see reason for concern...I got an article idea for your next one...how about how the N&O keeps getting leaner and leaner, from the cheap newsprint on your fishwrap to the lack of value for the consumers that use to enjoy your product. I purchased tickets for game 3 and 6, I found a bit of extra money in my budget after cancelling my home delivery subscription to the N&O!!!!
As well as NJ
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 11:26 — xantus98I remember watching the first 2 games in NJ on tv, and the sideline seats appeared at best to be only half full. So we're doing better than their fans! I'm sure economic factors have a lot of people in a pinch. I bought a 12-game mini plan, and the people who sat next to me had a 26 game plan. They were not able to get play-off tickets. When he bought his season plan for this year, way back when, his money situation was much different. He told me he probably wouldn't be able to get play-off tix, and he didn't. But it wasn't because he didn't want to. He's a passionate fan just like me, but he's also realistic about his economic environment.
GO CANES!! Let's win it in 6!
I see both sides
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 11:25 — TheReaper49It is noteworthy, and therefore newsworthy, that the game wasn't a complete sellout. However, I think that coming 800 seats short of full capacity is forgivable in these economic times.
I know lots of people who attend intermittenly in the regular season, but go to every post-season game. None of these folks have attended either Sunday or Tuesday's game. They simply cannot afford it.
My own income has been drastically reduced this year, yet my wife and I will still be at every game. However, it is not without sacrificing in other areas. It would be nice to see a story the other side of things. That is "Despite tough economic times, Caniacs turn out in force ... and are rewarded with great entertaining games."
Cant afford them....
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 10:42 — mikedickinsonThis year I cut back on all of my tickets to begin with. I went to 12 games, but bought tickets to only 1 of them. I was given tickets by vendors and went the other 11 times. I have other things to spend my money on now, and my hours at work have been cut from 40 to 35.
How much did playoff tickets for round 1 go up anyway?
duh, maybe it's the economy?
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 10:01 — crazyjoedavolaLuke, perhaps there are fewer people at these games for the same reason there are fewer people working at the N&O? Why not write an article about that, or about why you just started traveling to away games again because it was not in the budget earlier?
you gotta love these high and mighty journalists.
Not sure who's being high
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 13:30 — ldecock (author)Not sure who's being high and mighty here.
I'm trying to figure out why playoff games that sold out so easily three years ago are falling short this season.
Is it the economy? Very possibly, and I'm not criticizing anyone for not buying tickets. Lord knows times are tough. But it seemed like this area had reached the point where playoff hockey was to some degree immune from such financial concerns. Clearly, it is not.
It could also be that missing the playoffs the past two years put a damper on the enthusiasm for hockey among casual fans in the Triangle, which would be a dangerous double-whammy for the Hurricanes in these tough economic times.
Econ 102, the price
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 09:34 — ctillEcon 102, the price elasticity of demand. Yes, the black seats would probably sell at lower prices. But the Canes don't cut prices just to fill the arena. That's not the best way to maximize overall revenue, and presumably the Canes want to hold the line on the value proposition -- anticipating that demand will increase as the Canes go deeper, and also that the economy will improve in 12 months when the Canes don't want to be criticized for jacking up prices relative to deep discounts if they offered them now.
it's the economy stupid
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 09:13 — mdavidhallIf I could be there I would...I was there for ever playoff game in 2006 and all but 2 in 2002...but in this economic climate, there's just no way I can afford it...I'm sure many other Caniacs are in the same boat.
Sorry to let you down Luke.
Thanks to all the Caniacs who are at the games. Even on TV the atmosphere has been electric.
Go Canes!
-m
Way to look for the positives
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 08:17 — Caniac324Yes the games have been a little under the official sellout numbers but the Energy in the building has been great!!
Luke, I am a fortunate FSTH who has been able to keep my job and thus my playoff tickets, rubbing salt in the wounds of so many who have been hurt by the poor economy seems like a poor choice.
Seems to me that fan support has been great, and even though only the home games have been in HD, I am sure that the TV numbers have been good for the coverage so far, I would be curious if they are up from years past?
Are you interviewing for a Canadian press job or what?
GO CANES!!
Empty seats
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 08:16 — WolfdadMany of the Lexus Champions Club seats are held by corporate season ticket holders for client entertainment and networking purposes. In the current economic and political environment, it is "politically incorrect" for corporations to be seen spending "lavishly" on entertainment even if it is necessary to promote their business. The seaon tickets were purchased last year before the economic crash, but playoff tickets are a current purchase, so do the math. Additionally, While the premium to upgrade to the Lexus Club is reasonable for in-season games, the playoff premium becomes just too much.
Don't worry about it - the same people are now sitting in the regular seats and buying their food from the kiosks like the rest of us. My amazement is that there are still third level seats empty! Don't fans realize how special it is to experience a playoff game at home ice?
Last night was the best game I have experienced at RBC for many reasons. After all, how often can you be a witness to history? (Jokinen's 0.2-second-to-go goal will NEVER be topped!)
Do your friends a favor and convince them to go to Sunday's game, even if they have to buy upper end zone seats. And, if you're a STH, you get a discount on playoff tickets, so take advantage.
Right on
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 09:29 — wxray1Yes, the current politics make all corporate spending poisonous. Unfortunately, that's not necessarily good for the economy.
Anyway, the people attending last nite were real people, paying real dollars, taking a risk to spend not knowing if they'll have a job this summer.
That results in real energy because the money paid is theirs. Come join us up in the "cheap seats" in the upper corners or ends. We have a ball up there! Last nite was cRaZY!
Those lovely leather seats
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 07:33 — caniacmomof3Those lovely leather seats in the Lexus Club are $200 a piece...sure would be nice if the front office offered them at a reduced price at game time if only to fill up the place but I guess most of them are season tickets (which is even worse if they're EMPTY!!) They could even mark my wrist band so I would only have a seat on the north end and not partake of the F&B spread.
Yes, it is bothersome
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 07:18 — greensborogeezerYes, it is bothersome that there are not sellouts, nevertheless the crowd support is super. I went to Game 3 Sunday with my son and grandson. Having to travel from GSO with a 7:30 start is not great and I blame the later starts for less attendance, especially for a Sunday game.
Maybe the game this Sunday will have a 3 P M start.
Just how much
Wed, 04/22/2009 - 06:01 — esteban1949do those leather seats cost ? And yes Luke, the Canes did squander a 3-0 lead ...But one has to remember that even in the area you live in as in the triangle the economy is getting to many there as well as it is here in the triade...
Go Canes !!