March 30, 2010
For the third year in a row, I attended the Philadelphia Flyers Season Ticket Holder Town Hall meeting. This year, to the inconvenience of all the Jewish STH’s, the meeting was on the first night of Passover. So in addition to serving the folks who usually check in on this annual blog, I hope I’ll be able to provide some insight for those whose observance left them out of the loop.
Luukko and Tilger–Operations
My first stop was with Flyers President Peter Luukko and his right hand, Shawn Tilger (Sr. VP of Business Operations). They started out with a conversation about the Flyers having bid to host the NHL Draft. (When I said I hoped it would be when we actually had draft picks, Tilger did say it was a three-year cycle. I’m pretty sure the underlying agreement with us not having draft picks was not intended.)
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hockey, sports, sports business | Tagged: Backlund, Bodrov, Carcillo, Chris Pryor, David Laliberte, Don Luce, Flyers, Holmgren, Jeff Carter, Kalinski, Kevin Marshall, Klotz, Laviolette, Lehtivuori, Luukko, Marc Andre Bourdon, Mike Richards, Nodl, Pat Maroon, Petrov, Ray Emery, Season ticket holders, Tilger | 
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Posted by sportsdiva
April 8, 2009
Last year’s Flyers Season Ticket Holder Town Hall was a revelation. Who knew that a major, big city sports team would, or could, find a way to interact meaningfully at the management level with the fans. But the Flyers have refined their format to fine art. So for the second year in a row, I was able to speak with, question, hear from Flyers brass.
This year again we started with a quick meal in the Lexus Club. Then we moved on to sessions with Peter Luukko and Shawn Tilger, Premium Seating and Parking, Chris Pryor and Don Luce, Paul Holmgren, and John Stevens (who was on the road for the session I attended last year). Read the rest of this entry »
4 Comments | hockey, sports, sports business | Tagged: Antero Niittymaki, Aron Asham, Bobby Ryan, Chris Pryor, Claude Giroux, Danny Briere, Danny Carcillo, Don Luce, Gary Bettman, James van Riemsdyk, Jay Bowmeister, Jeff Carter, Joffrey Lupul, John Stevens, Marty Biron, Mike Knuble, Mike Richards, NHL, Paul Holmgren, Peter Luukko, Philadelphia Flyers, salary cap, Scott Hartnell, Shawn Tilger, Thomas Kaberle | Permalink
Posted by sportsdiva
October 9, 2008
Even when I still had Phillies Season Tickets, the purchase of post-season seats included minor annoyances. I’ll never understand charging season ticket holders a fee for buying their season tickets, or for buying post-season tickets. Incorporate the cost of doing business in the ticket, for heaven’s sake.
But now that I have not even a Six-Pack plan, I had decided that the post-season was out of reach. I’d seen the ticket prices on Stub Hub and knew I couldn’t afford to go.
Today, I was jonesing big time for tickets for tonight’s game between the Phillies and the Dodgers. A post season without me? I couldn’t imagine it. But I went to Stub Hub again, to remind myself that the tickets were beyond me. What did I see but a set of three tickets behind the plate in the Hall of Fame Club at an unbelievably low price. I called the agency, asked them if the seller would consider selling a single (leaving them with a very easy-to-sell pair). They called the seller. He said yes. And I’m going to the Phillies game tonight. Read the rest of this entry »
1 Comment | baseball, sports, sports business | Tagged: baseball, Phillies, post season, ticket agents, tickets | Permalink
Posted by sportsdiva
October 8, 2008
You have got to be kidding me. I wait all summer for the hockey season to start. I spend all this time longing for opening night, with all the hooplah and happiness, and this is what I get?
What genius thought this was a great idea? What brilliant PR person at the Philadelphia Flyers, who usually don’t put a foot wrong, didn’t realize that forcing all of their paying customers to attend what will amount to a pre-election rally for Sarah Palin is not the right thing to do? Since when is politicizing the product (in a largely Democrat city, no less) good for the brand.
Yes, I know Ed Snider is all over the Ayn Rand pseudo-philosophy. But his personal politics are his own business. His business should not be used to be political. And I don’t want to have Sarah Palin shoved down my throat.
On a night when the fans should be welcomed back and charged up to start another run for the cup, the focus will be, not on the Flyers, or their fans, but on a political candidate who’s approval/performance ratings have been falling consistently.
And if I have to hear how sexy she is by wickedly chuckling men (it started immediately) for the next three days, I’ll puke. Please don’t tell me this is a victory for feminism, when the only positive thing people have to say about a woman candidate is how cute she is. Can we have smart, please? There are plenty of women out here who are smart. Lot’s of them are smart AND cute.
1 Comment | hockey, sports, sports business | Tagged: Ed Snider, hockey, Philadelphia Flyers, puck, sarah palin | Permalink
Posted by sportsdiva
August 28, 2008
Leave a Comment » | golf, sports, sports business | Tagged: Bob Ford, David Whitley, Jason Sobel, Jim McCabe, language requirement, LPGA, Padraig Harrington, Sirak | Permalink
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August 2, 2008
The FBI has apparently begun a crackdown on the sports memorabilia business.
I’ll admit that I don’t really understand the collection of autographed memorabilia. It isn’t that I don’t have autographed items, but apart from a lithograph that was produced by and for the Flyers Wives Fight for Lives carnival a number of years ago, a couple of gifts the Flyers sent to me as a season ticket holder, and the irreplaceable (don’t laugh too hard, now) Ricky Botallico autographed baseball sent to Phillies season ticketholders after his All-Star season, I don’t own, nor have I ever coveted, an autographed item that was not autographed in my sight by an athlete or former athlete. Read the rest of this entry »
2 Comments | sports, sports business | Tagged: autographs, Ozzie Smith, Paul Blair, Randall Cunningham, sports, sports memorabilia, Tug McGraw | Permalink
Posted by sportsdiva
October 27, 2002
I’m really tired of guys who are talking about the financial decisions of a team (either pro or con) saying “they’re running it like a business.” Of course they are, lemonhead, it IS a business. but a well-run business knows what its capital is worth. and it is willing to spend for value. and it realizes that you can’t make money without spending money.
The Chicago Blackhawks are run like a business–a very very BAD business. And the Colorado Avalanche are run like a business–a really GOOD business.
Leave a Comment » | hockey, sports business | Tagged: Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, hockey, sports business | Permalink
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