No value added by me – a strong point of view in this article about work ethic and turn arounds and patience and hope and a great blue print with wonderful execution.
A tough game tonight for us for sure. I hope to see you at Verizon Center.
As this blog notes The Caps have now won seven straight games at home. We are also 7-3 in our last 10 games as well as an aside.
We have outscored the other teams 21-8 at home during those seven games. We have never NOT led a game during this stretch. Our goaltending has been very good which I am glad to see that patience and belief in a true professional has been rewarded. As our fans chant after big saves, “VOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
We now have tied the Florida Panthers in points at 50 to take the SE Division lead. That means we are ranked 3rd in the East. That could all change – to the good or to the bad – this coming week. The teams are that closely bunched together.
We are missing our #1 center. And our #1 defense man.
The calls into the post game radio show and the comments on most of the blogs are negative. As are the media descriptions of our wins in the papers.
I empathize. I understand I try to keep it in perspective.
We would like to play better.
But after 43 games we are back into first place in the division.
It is a nip and tuck year. The race to the playoffs will be hard and fast and I am positive we will have good runs and some bad runs from here on out. As will most other team as well. We will do our best short handed. I feel like the season has started anew and we go on from here. We try to improve. We try to heal up as well.
We have one more game on Tuesday at home against the Islanders. Then we head on a road trip. Wish us well. See you Tuesday evening. Thank you. Go Caps!
I have received a few emails inquiring about our kosher food offerings at Verizon Center, and fans have asked if we still serve Hebrew National hot dogs. For the record, the Verizon Center exclusively sells Hebrew National hot dogs at our concession stands. These hot dogs have been produced under the kosher supervision of the internationally recognized Triangle K organization prior to distribution to the venue, but they are not prepared in a kosher kitchen at the arena. For fans interested in kosher foods, however, prepackaged kosher items, including sandwiches and other side selections, are available at the concession stand near section 108 on the main concourse. There is additional information available on the Verizon Center website, which lists food and beverage offerings by section. Also, check out our interactive mobile app, which also includes an event schedule, customer service feedback functionality and QR codes. There is plenty to explore for everyone.
Friday – Caps Game. Saturday – Wizards game. Sunday – Caps game. Monday – Wizards game.
Lots of concerts a-coming too to Verizon Center. Van Halen! Black Keys.
Monster Trucks, Disney on Ice. And more.
And lot to do around the Verizon Center.
As they say, “F Street is Fun Street.”
Click here to read all about what is going in our community this long weekend and ways to enjoy the city. Have fun and get out and support your local small businesses.
Thank you. Monumental Report – all in one place and all the info you need to plan a good time.
I have to address this one head on.
I remember a very similar experience as this blog outlines when the Capital’s had their woes during the rebuild. There were many empty seats – and there was little to no demand on the secondary market for resold tickets.
We were steadfast though in our belief that this phenomenon would be short lived – and I remember telling customers and potential customers that “It would never be cheaper or easier than right now to sign up for season tickets”. This was scoffed at by the media and bloggers and commentators on blogs. Understandably so. I bet I can find a half a dozen articles – with photos from the Washington Post – just like this one. We used to note that we awaited the annual “let us make fun of the attendance woes” story in the Washington Post. In fact – one of the stories activated another story in ESPN.com that called for the Capitals to be contracted from the NHL because we were NOT a hockey market.
That seems like a long time ago; doesn’t it?
Brokers bought tickets and couldn’t resell them because there was no demand and they had to compete for sales with us at the box office; or some season tickets holders tried to resell their tickets but without demand; the supply overwhelms the market.
Now the secondary market is much more sophisticated – with many options available; and as this blog shows – some season ticket holder or someone who had bought tickets or were given tickets by a friend; sold their tickets rather than giving them to other friends or to a charity – for 30 cents. Very clever. And to add to the experience – they wrote funny ad copy – and it turns into a negative news story with photos. I understand the process.
This work though devalues the perception of everyone’s ticket – including theirs – it doesn’t mention that some people pay $2500 per ticket per game. Or $ 900 per game. Or that we have sold most of our expensive VIP tickets downstairs.
As I have noted – Verizon Center seats 20,000 people for basketball. We now have sold 8000 season tickets – and with suites and club seats – as noted – we basically fill half the arena on a game by game basis. We must sell 2000 to 3000 group sales tickets per game; and then try to sell walk up tickets. When the team isn’t performing well; or we aren’t playing a popular team – which I refuse to promote as you all know; walk up ticket sales are quite difficult to sell . This is our true reality – we have been very transparent – much more transparent than most online sites about traffic or revenues or growth or the ability to charge a fee or subscription for their work. “Just saying.”
We have lots of work to do to build a great team and to sell the building out.
Our season ticket sales are up over 70 percent year over year. I bet most newspapers would be envious of that kind of growth.
Last night the Capitals played the Penguins; upper bowl seats that sold for 30 cents for the Wizards game as noted here – resold for the Caps game last night for about $100 plus. Average profit for a resold ticket last night was about $50 and you also had your fees paid for too; a good investment and a good return. Why? – the team has played well – we sell out all games – we have created a back log of requests for season ticket holders; and resellers aren’t negative – they understand that they must build value in the tickets and game experience if they want to make a profit. People want to come to the games. We have created a virtuous cycle that benefits everyone. In fact – resellers advertise for Caps games on this blog at times – so they actually support the Washington Post. They pay money to resell our tickets ; what an odd practice, but it is how free markets work.
We must create the same dynamics for the Wizards. I understand that and I am committed to do it.
We must rebuild the team. Show upside and promise. Start to win; renew our season ticket holder base – sell more season tickets – and sell out the Arena. Then – the secondary market will blossom. There will be demand and people will homestead and set up shop reselling tickets; and these articles will be a thing of the past.
Today though – the number one complaint we have at the Capital’s is that people cannot buy season tickets; they have to get on a waiting list; and that resale tickets are marked up and make ticket purchase too expensive for casual fans.
There is yin and yang in life. It is up to us to make for a better dynamic across the board – perform well; and make this issue go away. Self-interest is the best motivation to get resellers to value tickets – if they can make money – they will be nice. Winning cures all.
I get it. I do not think I am being delusional; I believe we will get the team to a point where we are successful – in spite of last night’s performance in Chicago – and we will sell out the building as I have faith in our community – they will support us big time when we deserve it .It will take time – just like it did in the NHL for us. But I know we can make it work – I have seen the movie before. Thank you for listening.
Please note a change in time as per NBC Sports; 12:30PM start time is now official. See this release for details. Thanks.
As you can see - it is being redesigned.
We are still working the kinks out. Please bear with me and us as we stand it up and get it all working well.
And it is becoming a part of a Monumental Sports and Entertainment local network; that includes several microsites including Monumental Report; all toll – we think our local network can serve as a proxy for a next generation local sports and entertainment network; that serves fans – and residents/neighbors and advertisers well. It will have scale – reach lots of people; generate lots of commerce and lots of impressions for advertisers.
Stay tuned for more information about this development. Thank you.
The good. The bad. And the really bad.
We played quite well in the first half – we played as a team and we built a 20 point lead,at one point. We moved the ball; we played big – we played tough team defense. We rebounded well. We showed speed and hustle and unselfishness. We hit our shots – we made the game look easy.
And then our youth and inexperience showed – we missed free throws when it mattered – we made some very untimely turn overs; and we lost to the NJ Nets at home in our season opener.
There were a lot of things to be happy about – we played a full rotation and several of the young players – like a Chris Singleton; looked relaxed and confident on the court.
We need to learn how to win and close a game out. I believe that shall come with time. And more experience.
Thank you for attending the season opener. The crowd was into the game and I am appreciative of your support.
Here is a link to Wizards Extreme – a blog about the team; check it out and thank you.
You asked for it – you got it!
Click here for the news. This is terrific to see and to hear. Go Caps!
I was concerned that I would have nothing to do – I was terrified of leaving the company that employed me for almost 14 years.
In that 5 years since I retired from AOL I have:
Acquired the Washington Wizards and Verizon Center; and spent more time with the Washington Capitals and Washington Mystics;
Made 3 films; “Nanking”;” Kicking It”; and ” A Fighting Chance”; I am working on a 4th film now too;
Founded SnagFilms; and acquired indieWIRE;
Helped to start Revolution Money- served as its chairman; sold the company to American Express; now I serve on board of directors of American Express;
Authored a book – “The Business of Happiness”;
Invested in and became Chairman of Clearspring Technologies; still serve on their board;
Invested in and serve on board and as Vice Chairman of Groupon; the company went public last month; it has a $14 billion market cap;
Made 15 angel investments in some great start ups; all told; these startups and the companies that we sold have a combined value approaching a billion dollars;
Became a partner in Revolution Growth Fund 2 – a $ 450 million ” speed up capital” fund ; focused on East Coast startups; partnered with Steve Case and Donn Davis on this NEW fund;
Bought a house – sold 2 houses;
Worked with more than 400 charities via my Family Foundation; and Monumental Sports and Entertainment Foundations and SnagFilms;
Serve on the board of directors of Georgetown University.
It has been a nonstop hectic 5 years – some of the best and most productive and enjoyable years of my career and life.
Retirement from a corporate career is nothing to be afraid of. Onward. Thank you.