We lost. It doesn’t matter how or when. We lost again in a big game on national TV. We outplayed the Penguins but somehow they beat us again, fair and square. We lost both games this weekend giving up four goals in six and a half minutes at the end of both games after having the lead or being tied. We can
Ted's Take
Hi Ted,
One more thing, to paraphrase something that you said after the Jagr trade, I some teams’ home attendance floors are another team’s ceilings.
Here’s an idea, quit whining about it and just deal with it already! No more refusing to sell tickets to people from 412 or 724 area codes. No more seeking the opinion of the masses. Just enjoy the revenue streams and move on. What kind of owner are you Ted? Does Mario Lemieux or Ron Burkle cry when Caps fans come to Mellon Arena? NO!!! They appreciate the gate revenue as all SMART owners do. Lemieux and Burkle are even willing to accept money from Flyers fans, and they are the worst fans in all of sports! Look, if you don’t like making money, or can’t stand dealing with opposing fans, sell the darn team. Acting like a little kid jealous that the other kids got better toys at Christmas is ridiculous. Sell the team, or smile, accept the money, and perhaps try to field a better team.
Ted, as a long time Pens season ticket holder, there is a simple solution to what your Caps fans feel is a problem: sell out like we do in Pittsburgh. That limits the opportunities for Pens fans to buy tickets. There will still be people in Black & Gold there. They will either be displaced Pittsburghers or travel down there and get tickets. Please tell your fans to relax. I have been to the Verizon Center for Pens/Caps games; it is a great atmosphere. Don’t do anything disfunctional to mess that up. When the Cowboys come to Pittsburgh, it is amazing how many people show up in Blus & White. Want to trade #8 for someone other than 87 or 71?
From a Pens fan, it’s tough to get tickets to any (ok, except the Pirates, and we even sell those out sometimes) Pittsburgh sporting events that take place in town. Those of us who can’t afford season tix scour ticketmaster for driving-distance away games…even on weeknights. Supervisors here see this as a perfectly legitimate use of sick or vacation time
So we’ll always be around, hopefully with reasonably good behavior. The people who act like idiots there probably get thrown out from games here, too, or they’ve never been to one and don’t know how to act. We like to drink but as a whole aren’t into picking fights- it should be about the game. What about negotiating with the Pens to reserve some weekend Pgh game tickets for your season ticket holders to purchase – it could make this into a fun rivalry and spark some competitive attending…we aren’t going away, so let’s make the best of a “friendly” competition. PS, the image of Pgh as a provincial backwater is a bit outdated…come see us, Burghers will buy anyone a beer!
Pens fan here … I wouldn’t worry too much here, Caps look like a young team in the making (similar to Pens right after they got Mario years ago) … It’s all supply/demand … Keep winning and tickets become in short supply … You Cap fans are in for a treat.
I did attend a few games at the cap center years ago, fans there were quite cordial, reminded me of Pittsburgh folks.
Finally, Huge Kudo’s for having an owner with a blog … This is wonderful
And despite the dramatic decrease in population, a little town of 300,000 sells out every single Penguins game. Weird, no?
Best way to rid yourself of Pens fans. Sell out the arena with caps fans. OR, make Pens fans buy more than one game ticket. This may or may not work, but others have tried it for college football rival games. If you want to come to see the hometown team play Notre Dame game, you have to buy tickets to one or two OTHER games, too.
Or city council could pass a strict anti-scalping law, preventing fans from reselling tickets to anybody from Pittsburgh. Punish them with 90 days in jail.
Ted, don’t be too discouraged these are Pittsburgh fans. There has been a diaspora from Pittsburgh in the last three decades or so and the city has seen a dramatic decrease in population. Unsurprisingly, many of these Pittsburghians (my parents included)have come to live and work in the affluent D.C. area. Pittsburgh people are loyal and totally die hard about their sports.
I remember a few years back Steelers fans outweighed Cowboys fans in Dallas. So, I am not at all surprised that so many Pens fans showed up to see their potential one or four seed Penguins play at an arena that’s a four and a half hour drive away.
Anyway, I love where the Caps are going and I love #8. I guarantee that the Penguins fans won’t go away, but if the Caps were in the top four in the Eastern Conference there would have been a good amount of Caps fans who would’ve attended the game instead of sold their tickets. Good luck and I hope to be watching the Caps in late April this year.
I know Alex is really awesome but he has taken it new height see A. Ovechkin et al ” Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell Mol Physiol 291: L905-L911, 2006 http://ajplung.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/291/5/L905?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=Ovechkin&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resource
type=HWCIT
My boss has season tickets in section 100 a few rows back. He gave me the tickets full knowing that I’m a die hard penguins fan. I work and live in VA however; my entire family is like most people said transplants from the Pittsburgh area. The surrounding Caps fans were rude and crude. I did meet some nice ones in between periods while outside smoking.
I’m all for some trash talking when its in good fun but using words that start with F and using them in derogatory methods is quite a bit much.
My dad and I did however have an amazing time, we’ve been going to caps games regardless of who they’re playing since I was a small boy, always rooting for the Caps except when the Pens are here. It was great waiting to get into the stadium talking in line to people from the home town. Seeing people that drove a few hours to see the pens. Sitting in a section that close to the ice surrounded by Pens fans. It was great to be able to take my dad to a game.
To all the people who were thinking it good to use those words, I’ll repeat what I said on Sunday; “please show me where the Cup banners are” until then, we’ll keep coming and keep buying the tickets up from the fair weather fans and wearing our black and gold. What an amazing game that was though. The way the crowd was so into every hit, every shot, every score (even the own goal) was just great. The banter back and forth across the row about Malkin and Crosby and Cap’s players was good too. Educated discussion about pro’s and con’s goes a long way… calling someone a crybaby or whatever else just proves that there’s some “sour grapes”.
How I miss the old days of the Patrick Division.
sorry if invading your blog space offends everyone here, too, but we’re going through the same thing here in Pittsburgh w/ regard to tickets. Don’t get me wrong, the majority of fans represent the Pens, but there are so many season ticket holders who bought their tickets specifically to profit off them and will sell them to whomever will pay – regardless of their loyalty. complete bollocks. the proximity of our arenas really does bring more fans from both sides to their opponents arenas (we get a lot of Caps fans here, too). that’s just how it is. most of us don’t go to Philly despite it being only about an hour longer away b/c 1. their arena’s mud (who has an all-you-can-eat section, seriously?) and 2. we don’t want to die (Flyers fans are psychotic). Again, not much you can do about the ticket situation. that’s up to the Caps owners and how they can better track season ticket holders’ actual attendance. it’s difficult, but do-able. hope none of the Pens fans in attendance were jagoffs. cheering for your team is one thing. acting like an asshole in a host arena is another.
What is all the buzz about Sidney Crosby anyway? It’s obvious they call him Sid the Kid for a reason. He’s a cry baby pretty boy-wannabe. What’s his big NHL claim to fame? We all know the BEST ROOKIE beat him out for ROOKIE OF THE YEAR. (NO competition there!) And that same player is killing all of Crosby’s stats. Oh wait – poor Sidney missed games b/c of his injury – well BOOHOO. It wouldn’t matter anyway. So stay haughty Pens fan and keep worshipping that golden calf you call Crosby. Ovechkin is the real savior here. You may choose not to see it that way but AO will have his day of judgement so be very scared.
Ted,
Honestly, look at the big picture here: In a sport that has TV ratings that trail poker for Pete’s sake, you were able to host a wonderful and entertaining hockey game – and even score solid TV ratings. NHL hockey has always been about the fans that come to the games. Don’t wring your hands just because they show up wearing the away team’s sweater.
It’s bad for the sport and just plain ole’ unAmerican.
You have a talented, up-and-coming team. You have a great historic rivalry with the Penguins. Embrace it along with the attention it attracts. Sunday was a great game. I’m not saying that just because I was sitting in section 422 wearing a Penguins jersey. It was simply a great game.
I would think your priority would be getting more and more people in the door – not keeping people away.
I am a Pens fan living in Tampa. Those that said winning the games will make us stay away are 100% correct. For the past 5 years, the Lightning have dominated us. In the 90s and early 2000s I went to every Pens game in Tampa and we usually won. Droves of us turned out each and every game. Then after 5 years of not winning a single game in Tampa, even I finally told myself I didn’t want to go to anymore games in Tampa. It was miserable to go and be dogged out of the arena for 5 years! While I did still go, many of my fellow Pens fans did not and it was noticable. This season we faired much better against Tampa and more people started going to the games here. (I know there is a fairweather comment to follow, but don’t lie and say you don’t feel the same way when in the same situation.)
Anyway, have faith Caps fans. You really have a solid foundation to put together a very good team. They are already good and would be in the playoff race if not for the poor coaching you had at the beginning of the season. And I still have to give credit to the Caps fan that turned me on to hockey in the first place.
GO PENS!
Ted-
I am a lifelong Penguin fan, even though I have always lived in New York. I do not really understand why you feel the need to be sorry. While it may be disheartening for some Capitals fans to see so many opposing fans, it could be worse. There could be no fans at all. Trust me, as a Penguin fan back in the early 2000s, I know how it is to not be able to fill an arena. Perhaps the Capitals don’t have as extensive a fan base as some other teams. But that will change. After a few more years of strong play, and with more successful playoff runs (which are almost guaranteed in the future with AO) the Capitals will begin to built a stronger fan base. This is not to bash current Capital fans, I’m sure you’re very loyal. The Capitals will become a force to be reckoned with in the coming seasons, and more fans will start shelling out the money to see a more consistent team. That’s just how it is. Pretty soon you’ll be hearing the Capital’s fans complaining they can’t get tickets because of too many “bandwagon” fans. (That’s what happened in Pittsburgh.)
The Penguins have a strong showing at many other arenas, not just in Washington. I’ve been to 5 arenas (Islanders, Rangers, Penguins, Devils, Bruins) and there has always been a lot of Penguin support, even back in the days when we were terrible. I do agree that 25% of the arena being filled with them is surprising, but we have a lot of new fans due to our recent success and our top players.
I have plans to travel to Washington (and Philly) next season to see a Penguin’s game. I’m very excited and hope that I will not be treated with animosity by the Capital’s fans because there are too many Pens’ fans there.
Also, one last note about the season ticket holder’s seats being filled with Penguin fans: I know someone who is an Islander’s season ticket holder and they give me all the tickets to Penguin games they cannot attend, because they know I’m such a big fan. Maybe some of the Capital’s season ticket holders are doing the same thing.
lame. i like the caps, really. just not the cowbell guy.
I have been a season ticket holder for many years now, both at VC and US Air Arena. It upsets me greatly to see Caps fans seemingly outnumber and certainly out-voiced, in our own arena. It brings back memories of the 1998 Cup finals against Detroit – I felt like the visiting team!
This year’s games against former Patrick Division rivals like the Flyers, Devils and Rangers had a good number of those teams fans but they were definitely outnumber by Caps fans. I agree that part of the problem was the weekend date, but much of it was the noise made by many of those apparently very intoxicated, and possibly underage, fans. I sit in the section where the Pens warm up before the game and there was a large group of young, drunk pens fans there who were loud, obnoxious, rude and using vulgar language, as well as pounding on the glass.
I asked the usher if he could calm/quiet them down and ask them to ‘refrain from using foul language’ and stop banging on the glass. He made a half-hearted attempt and never came back down when they resumed.
I’ve been in those seats for 10 years now and am accustomed to the visiting team’s fans taking advantage of VC hospitality to let them come down and watch practice, even if they don’t sit in the section. But I’ve never seen fans behave as those guys did on Sunday (no, not even Rangers fans). I think part of improving the fan experience for us is to ensure that the VC staff does its job to control obnoxious and over-the-top behavior. I for one left Sunday’s game vowing that I really did not want to attend another Caps/Pens game here in DC. This was worse than December ’06 when Buffalo fans started throwing their beers on us when we were trouncing them!
Ted, can anything be done by the VC ushers and security to control behavior and possibly remove fans who act this way? Is there any consideration to doing what many other arenas do and not let fans down to the 100 level to watch practice unless they are sitting in that section?
It’s called eBay, StubHub, your own newspapers classifieds.. any game featuring a big name like the Penguins or Devils will get you a very pretty penny if you’re willing to sell your tickets.
There’s no way to stop it.
I’m a Pens season ticket holder, who while growing up in Harrisburg went to many Pens-Caps games in DC. We here in Pittsburgh like to tease you about the number of Pens fans at your home games, but the truth is, we had the same situation with Toronto fans at home games vs. the Leafs.
This season is the first I can remember that Leafs fans didn’t make up a good percentage of the crowd. The reason? Ticket demand from Pens fans is high enough to cut off the supply to as many Toronto fans. Focus on building demand within your fan base and your fans won’t want to sell their tickets..or the buyers will be other Caps fans.
On other note, I think it’s great that your owner writes this blog and gives you a forum as fans to respond to his comments.
Oh, and Scott? Have YOU ever been to Pittsburgh? I’m going to guess not, at least not in the last 20 years.
Ted–
Another Pens’ fan here. I was not at the game on Sunday, but have traveled to DC to watch the Pens numerous times over the years, including Game 7 of the 1992 playoff series. I think you understand all the reasons that Pens’ fans go to Caps’ games: 1) ticket availability; 2) easy drive; 3) many already in DC area; 4) history and tradition of “taking over” the Cap Centre or Verizon Center.
I just don’t think it is reasonable to expect to “put a stop to it.” Even in Pittsburgh, where all the games are sold out, certain visiting teams ALWAYS have a good showing–specifically Toronto and until recently Detroit. Its just the nature of the business.
As others have said, the atmosphere on Sunday was intense, and much of that had to do with the competing crowds. Great energy. Great game. Focus on the positive.
Hey Ted, It’s good to know you’re as frustrated by this trend as we fans are. It’s hard to walk the halls at the booth after a loss to the pens and hear all their obnoxious fans drowning in smug glee. Does the team know what this game means to the fans? I know they played their hearts out and tell Backs to keep his head up. he’s had a phenominal year and that play isn’t gonna take away from it. But somehow the Pens always find a way to beat us. Last year we had that 4-0 and still couldn’t hold out to win! I know our boys have been and will continue to approach every game like it means something. But Pens/Philly(but especially Pens) means more. It’s bragging rights! Those games mean more than the rest. More than even division games to a lot of us.
I like the idea of having these games on the weekday to minimize the caravan factor. I also think you have to do something about the Pens fans congregating on the steps of that museum(or whatever it is) just outside the booth. That is beyond obnoxious and in your face.
But ultimately all the tricks in the world mean nothing if we don’t start winning these games! Win and all this non-sense stops. Or at least you develope a solid rivalry. I know several STHs that gave up their tickets because of the BS they take after the game. It isn’t worth it when you can avoid that and turn a profit on your tickets. I don’t agree with that sentiment, but I know that’s why others did it.
Best of luck turning this around Ted! Thanks for listening to the fans.
Maybe delaying single game sales for the second half of the season would help. If you sell them in September, Pittsburgh fans will buy them. But if you sell them in December and the Caps are doing well, there will be more demand among Caps fans. Just a thought.
I don’t think an apology is necessary. The Caps are clearly a team headed in the right direction. I’m a lifelong Penguins fan despite having been born and raised in Virginia (my parents moved from Pennsylvania before I was born). There are going to be some struggles for the team along the way to be sure, but the Caps are finally an entertaining team on the rise — I’m seriously considering buying an 11-game package for next season, and I have no problem rooting for the Caps in the nine non-Penguins games. I also don’t necessarily think scheduling the games against the Pens on weeknights is the answer; I went to the second Pens-Caps game last season, on a Tuesday night in late March, and the Pens fans still owned the building. Pittsburgh fans always travel well to Washington, regardless of the day of the week. Just look at the annual Nats-Pirates series — you wouldn’t think that the Pirates had so many fans left as the ones who show up to see those games. But for the Caps, keep up the good work going on now, and the fans will come back.
Win games, build the franchise, and the fans will keep their tickets. Using draconian measures to artificially manipulate the attendance, or advocating harrassment of visiting fans are bush-league tactics and should be beneath a class organization.
Pens fan here.
Beating us will not stop us from coming, we’re just good hockey fans.
However, building a better fan base will limit the number of people who are willing to sell tickets to us. Ted, as part owner of Ticketbastard, you are to blame if the fees are truly that high.
Also, Caps fans should hold people accountable who sell their tickets. If the seats in front of you are normally occupied by season tix holding Caps fans, but were occupied by Pens fans yesterday, you should give them crap at the next game.
Good game, your team is on the way up, and I hope that you make the playoffs this year.
“Probably the only thing you can actually do is move the game to a weeknight so they can’t all trot down from steeltown. I mean seriously, would you want to spend your weekend in Pitt? Have you been there?”
Comment by Scott on March 10, 2008 12:55 PM
Yep, been there plenty and it’s a pretty incredible city. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be coming to D.C. just for hockey games, they’d actually want to STAY! It might hurt, but be thankful Pittsburgh’s nice. It makes the trip to see the Caps play up there even better.
As a Caps fan who got a four-pack for Christmas from my mother, I went to the game in my jersey, with my red, white, and blue hat. Our entire half seemed like Penguins fans. I saw a 4 year old berated for cheering for the Caps. I saw a pre-teen girl thrown into a wall by a grown man in a Penguins jersey.
I don’t have a problem with their fans in our stadium – I welcome the business, because God knows we don’t sell out every game. I’ve a problem with the fact that some feel like the rules don’t belong.
A family section could help with that.
That said, it was a great game to be at until the final minute. I felt like it was 50-50 Caps fans. I sat in 426 (And if I get season tickets, like I’d like to, I’d really like them there), and while it was 75-25 Pens to Caps fans, I felt we were louder. They didn’t understand the whoops at all, which made it more fun to whoop.
Nothing’s over, and I’ll be back on Wednesday.
Ted,
After all those responses why still ask why Pens fans in the area why they have not became Caps fans?
Also even raising the prices on premium games such as this did. I wanted to take my family and I end up being able to afford 2 upper level corner seats with my oldest, now how fair is that to the other 2?
Ted, a friend and I at work decided late last week we wanted to go to the game. Unfortunately, all the tix on the secondary market were priced outrageously, so we watched in Hi-Def.
One idea regarding individual ticket sales is to limit those sales to the box office only, say up to 48 hours before face off (and only for certain games). This won’t have any effect on the season tix holders selling their tix, but it will significantly reduce the ability of out of towners to procure tix online well in advance of the game. Also, you can limit the number of tix bought in person to 4 or something like that. Baseball used to do a version of this for opening day in some cities, only allowing for internet sales after the box office has been open for a couple of days.
Hi Ted,
Could someone please give Niklas Backstrom a hug? I feel so badly for him. It’s such a fast game & things like that are bound to happen.
We still love him & the Caps!
I’ve only missed 7 home games since the ’88-’89 season & I will always be a Caps fan no matter what!!
One thing I did notice was that the 12:30 pm start time severely cut down on the drunken hooliganism. One thing that should be done for Pittsburgh, New York, Philly, and Buffaslug games is increasing the security and quicker removal of the drunken hooligans from the arena. It is the drunken hooligans more than anything else keeps Caps fans away because who wants to expose their kids to that? This of course makes more tickets available to more drunken hooligans who make the atmosphere even worse.
As for winning; I think back to almost five years ago now when Maryland finally beat F$U in Football. The game took place at Byrd Stadium and had a healthy contingent of Creminole fans in attendance. After Maryland pulled off the upset the general consensus of the Maryland fans who didn’t sell their tickets to Creminole fans to those who did (and ended up missing the game) was “sucks to be you.”
Though, and I know I’m not alone in this, I’ve had and seen more trouble at these games when the Caps win than when they lose. You may not be able to keep them from buying tickets but you sure can throw them out for misbehaving once they show up. The best part is, they’re out on the street and you keep their $$$$$.
Ted: I don’t remember but were there this many Penguins fans at Caps games when they were absolutely dreadful several years ago? I think this is probably more of a recent phenomenon because of Crosby’s addition; seeing that many of them there is annoying to be sure but it is so depressing to go and watch them lose to the Pens every time.
As much as I am disappointed in the Caps for not putting the Pens away in the 3rd period, I am even more ashamed of the Washington fans for selling their lower level tickets to Pittsburgh fans. The real Caps fans sit in the 400 level seats which were chock a block full of red white and blue on Sunday.
It appeared that the Caps ran out of energy late in the 3rd period with Ovie and Green passing up golden opportunities to shoot. Pnce again we made a Pittsburgh goaltender seem better than he really it. Remember Ken Wregget? The last time I saw the Caps beat the Penguins Jim Schoenfeld was the coach, ’94 or ’95 playoffs.
One criticism of the present Caps is that being so heavily laden with European players they overpass the puck and turn it over. Also, we are really being hurt by Chris Clark’s absence in front of the net. Still there is a glimmer of hope left and we now have to sweep the table and get some help.
Ted: unfortunately, this thing feeds upon itself. Caps fans, including some season ticket holders apparently, do not enjoy the Penguins games because of the antagonistic atmosphere, so they sell their tickets. Making it all the more difficult to keep the Penguins fans out. What is more frustrating is that, based on the size of the crowds since January, the place COULD have been sold out with Caps fans. The demand has been there. But the Pittsburgh people apparently snapped up all the tickets, probably when they first went on sale.
Hey Pens fans, lighten up on your comments. We don’t need any lectures from you.
I did not go to one hockey game until last year. Now I am a Caps season ticket holder, and I am proud of it. Hockey is the most fun I have had ever. I don’t care if we lost. I know the players do, but I am so proud of how they played. I love all of the players (Ovie, Olie, Nick, Sasha, Mike, etc.), and they have given me hours of entertainment. Is there anything greater than seeing Laich grin from ear to ear after a goal? I will cheer for a win every game, but there is truly no better thrill than riding the Metro and seeing that red light go on. I think we get too serious and forget that those that love the CAPS are the best family I have since I moved from Iowa. It is because of the CAPS that I will probably stay here for years to come.
Keep thanking the pens fans for coming to the games so we can pay ovie’s salary, sign Green, and others, etc.
What will keep them from coming to our games is to turn around the losing streak and throw a dozen in a row wins in their face at Verizon.
That will keep them at home in front of their tv’s…
Also a pens fan. the caps fans are upset about the turnout of pens fans but it is their fault not owners fault or teams fault. they need to help get people excited about hockey and about the resurgance of the capitals. You probably wont make playoffs this year but who cares you where not building for just this year. I expect to see the caps in post season next year. I know I went to see a good hockey game and that I seen and I cheered and talked to caps fans it was an enjoyable time except for game going on and stupid replays being seen on the video board. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK OF GROWING FORWARD.
As a fan of the Caps, I must agree to some extent with the previous post by ‘Alex’. If our own Caps fans decide to sell their tickets to others (it’s a huge mistake and their loss for not seeing a great game to begin with, regardless of the outcome), and if Caps fans feel it will command a premium to sell the ticket to someone else, it’s their choice. Since when is it a requirement to state which team your allegiance lies with prior to purchasing a ticket, whether it be at the box office or secondhand ticket market? I know it is disheartening and sickening to see and hear so many of the opposition in the Verizon Center. But one could argue that this is a huge success for the revival of the NHL post lock-out, and does also support your theory/stats regarding the ticket sales you posted a while ago (http://ted.aol.com/index.php?ID=1964). I really feel that the team and organization is heading down the right direction, and that as others have suggested, such as ‘Jaymagz’, a winning tradition is being commanded, demanded, and expected from both the fans and the organization. Not to sound too cliche but, “If you build it…they will come” As a possible solution to entice more fans to show up for key match-ups with close market rivals that ‘red/white out’ nights, stadium give aways of red t-shirts etc, as others have mentioned could potentially increase ticket sales for Caps fans.
Dear Mr Leonsis… I have been a caps fan since the beginning of the team and I think the fact that DC is a melting pot and hockey is not a big sport in general hurts attendance. There are hockey fans from all over the country in DC but they do not necessarily call themselves Caps fans. Their team is the one of their origin. Credit the Penguins for being a hockey dynasty and retaining their fan base, even if displaced from Pittsburgh. The Caps are on the rise and will garner more support from hockey fans in general. I truly believe you are only seeing the beginning of what is going to be a great future for the team. I was there yesterday with my family and although it was an awful ending, it was a fantastic game. Keep up the good work!
Dear Ted, great post and it ain’t over till it’s over. I thought the kids played great this weekend and part of the learning process is some sickening defeats like we just witnessed. Most of them won’t remember the Pens heartbreaking moments that Jagr and Mario inflicted on us in the past and perhaps this will help build some inner strength, perhaps in time for this years playoffs. Just an idea but why don’t you have an area on the Caps site for those people who want to sell or swap their tickets. Apart from trying to make some money some probably legitimately couldn’t make the game. I would rather them sell their tickets to other Caps fans than the opposition. Keep it open to Caps members to try and keep it in the Caps fanbase. Anyway we are still in the hunt, win both our head to head games against the Canes and beat the teams below us in the standings and we have a chance. I reckon we can allow two losses out of twelve games from now till the end, take your pick which games those losses are, my guess is OTL to the Bruins and a loss to Nashville and we’re in. As the saying goes
it aint over until the fat lady sings even if she is a Pens fan!
You shouldn’t be apologizing, I feel your pain too, but we both know its not your fault.
Crappy weekend eh?
Ted on the serious side, about 15 years ago I went on a bus trip to a Flyers game (need I say more) after getting our collective a55es kicked and nearly having the tour bus turned over by about 100 drunken fans. I have yet to return, just a thought “caps fans”.
Theres nothing more painful I think to see a game like yesterday, where you come out strong, dominate the whole game, then lose it late due to an error. It is especially painful when that error happens to be that one of your own players put the puck in your own net. It happens though, its part of the game. I’ve played sports all my life, and have been in the same spot. Its a fluke, and you can’t blame a single player for it, its the teams fault. We had our chances earlier, it should never have come down to our own player putting it in our net. We should have been the ones laughing at that mistake, not Sidney Crosby. It hurt to see our own guys get laughed at on National TV in our own arena. But that is the nature of the game, its happened to me before. I am interested to see how the guys will rally from this, because that is what is most important right now.
Also, is there something that can be done to make sure these nationally televised games are neutral? I am particularly annoyed at the fact that the whole broadcast felt like I was watching the Sidney Crosby show. Sure, there were a few comments about the Caps, and Ovechkin, but most were related to Crosby in some way.
Maybe you could try some program like they do in England, and other European countries, for away fans at soccer games. They designate a certain number of tickets for away fans, and those fans have to sit in a designated section of the stadium. This is also to prevent rioting. You could just designate the sections behind the net that the away team shoots on twice to be the “away” section and only for them. It allows them all to sit together, because they probably don’t want to sit with Caps fans. Otherwise, you could just invite schools or organizations on those days. I’m sure if you had some more advanced scheme similar to student rush nights. You could just sell those tickets to students at that price before the day of the game. Like a pre-sale, that you withhold the sale of tickets until they get them or something. Basically anything to make irresistible for fans not to pack those games.
Dear Mr Leonsis…. I am a Pens fan who was at the game. I bought seats in sec 422. It was 95% Pens fans. It is not your fault that the inferior caps fans do not come out to see their improving and talented team play. Pens fans were much louder and showed more spirit. You are a terrific owner and I think it is wonderful that you interact with fans like this. If caps fans decide to sell their tickets its their fault and not yours. Keep your head up things will get better and please feel free to e-mail me. Have a great day
I know I’m a broken record, but in my humble opinion, we need to keep winning – year over year and establish a tradition here.
Think about the Pens last twenty years vs. the Caps.
Pittsburgh – Mario, Trottier, Jagr, Francis, Stevens, Recchi, Coffey, Barasso and more. 3 Stanley Cups. And after battling for survival, they land Crosby, and have started to build around him.
Capitals: Other than Olie, Dale Hunter, Mike Gartner, and Rod Langway, I can’t name specific Caps players, nor a specific Caps accomplishment prior to 1998 when they went to the Cup Finals and got swept by Detroit. Actually, I take that back – I remember Dale Hunter hitting Pierre Turgeon after he scored in OT, and the Islanders ended the play-off’s for the Caps.
We now have Ovechkin, Backstrom, Green, Semin to build around, but it’s going to take time.
You can dream up any marketing promotion in the world and it’s not going to put a lot more Caps Fans in the seats.
We need a winning tradition, we need a history of success. We need a compelling event to get more Caps fans for life.
Until then, it’s business as usual.
Ted:
Pens fan here who lives in Annapolis.
In spite of the tough ending to Sundays game it was still a great day for hockey in the Nations Capital. Would you rather have had a 2-1 snoozfest with thousands of empty seats against the Panthers or the Thrashers? I don’t think NBC would have been in town for that.
The fact that Pens fans filled up those empty seats and a few more made for a great environment. It was almost like a High School game with 20,000 fans. Never a quiet moment. Any time a goal was scored or a thunderous check was thrown passionate screams followed. It was a one-goal game and had it been the Caps who scored last the enviroment would have made it all the more sweeter for the Caps fans in attendence.
You guys are clearly a franchise headed in the right direction and if you don’t make the playoffs this year it is only because the early season hole was just to big to climb out of.
The problem that you must address is not your hockey club but rather the league. If a fan was attending their first game yesterday they were fantastically entertained by both teams. But for every game like this there are countless ones against trapping, action-stiffling teams that have all but ruined the NHL.
Until that changes, hockey folks will be harping about the same problems that we have been discussing for the past 10 years.
First thing I could come up with would be to try and make sure to schedule the Pens games on weekdays. I know they are big gate draws, but even if the games were on a Friday evening, it might cut things down a bit – at least with the fans coming in from Pittsburgh.
(not sure if it was intentional, but we played them both times during the week so we couldn’t trek up there even if we wanted to)
I know that I personally am considering buying the the two seats in front, in back, and on either side of my season tickets for next years’ games that way I’ll know for sure that Caps fans will be occupying them.
another idea, though I’m not sure how it would work (or if it is allowed), but maybe you could price the games as “premium games” and do a “Caps Fan Rush” whereas if you are sporting Caps gear you can buy the ticket at regular price – or less.
First stanley cup = More caps in seats.
PA/NY fans have filled our arena since the eighties because MD/DC/VA is a place of opportunity. They move here because it is a great place to live.
It is all part of the growing process. Look at Laich out there on the power play, look how far he has come!
Look how the team plays to win, no more of this we have injuries so we will try our best, thats progress!
Give credit to Carolina, alot of people thought they would fizzle and they did not.
Next game, go for two points, thats it. Go CAPS!
Side note: Finally someone posted Dale’s OT goal against Philly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rg2EiSBZ6Y
Dear Ted,
I think the rivals pack has been pretty good, definitely helping build a Caps crowd against the other teams in that slate (NYR, Philly, etc) compared to last year. But with Pens fans it’s an issue of supply and demand, and their demand is inelastic. I’ve often considered buying extra tickets to Caps v Pens games for resale to the highest bidder – it’s easy money. That said, one way to diminish demand from Pens fans is to schedule the games on weeknights. A Thursday (or even Friday) night game should still sell out, especially with a Student Rush, but the timing will deter travel by out-of-town Pens fans, party buses, etc.
Joe makes a good point about the cost. The NHL is an expensive product and when a rivals plan could be bought for $198 for the pair and then the Pens game sold for $200 for the pair that makes the other 5 games very affordable.
I filled my sth seat in 420 yesterday and sat with 4 pack holders all of whom were rooting for Pittsburgh (and at least in my row, were just good hockey fans, my neighbor having come down thursday with his family to take in DC and see the game.)
12.50 fees are outrageous. The ownership group owns 44% of the Ticketmaster franchise. As you increase the price you cut out more and more of the marketplace for folks who want to go more then once.
I will say though, I thought that although there were lots of Pens fans, they did not have the same level of prime seats as they had in years before.
Simply put, don’t sell any Pens tix except attatched to another game. Period. Make those Pitt people pay…I know I paid a pretty penny when I went to the Igloo to see the Caps.
Ted,
I tried to buy tickets for this game last month but they were already sold out.
I really hope that we can beat the Penguins at home because I’m tired of feeling like I took a road trip to Pittsburgh during these games.
Ted,
Two things.First your team needs that pep talk more than us.Secondly i would love to go to games in the past i was a ticket season holder even had a license plate that said CAPSFAN1.But i have a hard time paying 12.50 service charge for a 50 dollar ticket.
Does anyone have a REAL COUNT of the Pens fans ? So many people like to exaggerate. From TV it appeared 25%. Was it more legitimately ? I have been to many Caps-Pens games since the mide 90s and other than one time it was always 10% – 25% max but a lot of people would say “oh it must have been half Pens fans”. Anything over 10% is a problem but still we should not exaggerate.
Thanks for sharing with us your frustration about the Penguins fan situation. As Caps fans we of course were upset by it and we are glad to see you are too. The only suggestion I can think of is to be very proactive early on about games that you expect have the potential to attract a lot of enemy fans and run big promotions to the local fan base. Ultimately, the key , of course, is to have some consistent playoff success so that the local fan base grows.
When we start beating the Pens regularly and they don’t enjoy the trip anymore, then they will stop coming.
Until then, they enjoy beating us too much and they will keep coming. Especially since they know how much it bothers us.
Probably the only thing you can actually do is move the game to a weeknight so they can’t all trot down from steeltown. I mean seriously, would you want to spend your weekend in Pitt? Have you been there?
Perhaps deny them opportunity. There were a fair number of buses that made the trek — something easier to do with a weekend game. Scheduling might be in the league’s hands (and a Washington-Pittsburgh game has its charms for a weekend national TV game), but if it’s a weeknight when these games are scheduled, and Pens fans from out of town don’t have the opportunity to do the bus caravan thing, we might see a larger percentage of Caps fans at VC. Not much one can do about the transplant thing, I fear (except win, and shut them up)…that’s a problem unique to DC it seems — folks who come to live here from other places who still have their hometown loyalties.
I know for a fact that at least one person bought one of the rival packs that contained the Pittsburgh games only so they could get the autographed puck. They then sold the Penguins tickets in the rival packs to Penguin fans in order to pay for the other games.
There will always be fans for other teams in the building, but what might be do-able is to not put the tickets to games where likely rivals will show up (Philly, Pittsburgh, NY Rangers etc.) on individual sale except for the day of the game at the box office. If they want the tickets, they can can buy plans.
Additionally, if there’s a rivals plan, make the seats non-transferrable. Have customers who buy them show ID to get in…
I feel so bad for Nick Backstrom too… he played very well in the game, and to have that happen. I remember what happened when Steve Smith banked one into Edmonton’s net in 1986 in Game 7 against Calgary that cost them the series and interrupted the Oilers dynasty. The first year they won the Cup after that, Wayne Gretzky made sure that Steve Smith was the first player to hoist the Cup after he did. The Oilers won it at home, and you could hear the crowd’s roar go up when he lifted it.
Hopefully Bruce will use this as a learning experience for the players and they’ll build on it.
There are 12 games left in the season, of the 12 there is only one team that is probably better than the Caps (Calgary on Wed.). Carolina and Nashville (and maybe Chicago) are on a par with the Caps. The remaining opponents are not as good (yes Boston is not as good as the Caps!). There is no reason to believe that the Caps can’t go 10-2 over the 12 games…and that would be enough to likely get them in the playoffs.
Ted, the answer is really less complicated than you think. We just need to start beating the penguins.
I was at the game along with friends and family (we have the weekend plan), and I thought the Caps fans that attended did their job by drowning out the Pittsburgh fans at all times except when the Penguins scored.
The simple fact is these Pittsburgh fans come to the game because they almost always leave happy. Make them leave angry/depressed/borderline psychotic like we have had to do so many times and they won’t come back. I admire what you continue to try to do as an owner to get support for our team at home, but at the end of the day, the results on the ice will trump all else.
Being 1-10 against the Pens in the last couple years is practically an invitation for their fans to come out. Turn that stat around and I bet you’d see a heck of a lot less of their fans and a lot more of ours.
Ted,
how about raising ticket prices for those games, but giving money back to those fans who come in Capitals jerseys.
Stay the course Teddy. If you win, they will come! See you at the phone booth on Friday!
I was disheartened when I saw all of the Penguins fans yesterday. I really had high hopes for CAPS fans to come out in droves to support the team. It was a big game, it was on national tv and it was in our house!
Imagine my surprise when I walked out of the Parking Garage and saw the Penguins Color EVERYWHERE. Not only that but YELLOW TOWELS.
There really is not much you can do about the tickets. You price the packages competitively and people still don’t come out. The Family packs were sold out pretty quick so you can imagine what happened…Smart Penguin fans or smart Group organizers or even disloyal CAPS Fans scooped them up at dirt cheap prices to resell them or put together other packages.
These tickets were worth a pretty penny to those that wanted them and they were wanted and paid for. Heck, 4 season ticket holder seats in front of me were taken by Pens Fans.
So, what can you do? Well, not a lot. Maybe next time we have a National TV game, even if it’s announced late, put together a promotion night/day to get the RED out. National TV and there is a lot of Penguins colors on the screen, not a good thing. Heck, some people were wearing the old Black Caps Sweaters so they would blend in. Give us Red Shirts, foam fingers, Red Towels, SOMETHING to we can stand out over the opposing team colors.
Oh and good officiating might help