NY Islanders: Season Ticket Prices Going....Up?

There has been a lot of buzz going on about 2011-2012 season ticket prices over the past few days. Big rumors circulating Islanders country about the cost going down in order to get butts to fill the Coliseum seats. The new price points came out today and, in my estimation, it's a whole lot of much ado about nothing.

They brought back a lot of the perks that season ticket holders, like myself, used to have but were revoked for the past year (i.e. merchandise discounts, free game upgrades, player meet n' greets, etc.), however when you do the math, my same lowly seats in 313 will wind up costing me more for 2011-2012 than they have for the past two years. $500 more.

The Islanders organization needs to realize that there are some of us out there who don't have a tremendous amount of disposable income, but what little we do have, we use it so that we can sit through every single humiliating loss.... for the love of the team. We don't ask for much, we just show up and pray for a good game.

When I purchase my season tickets, I don't do it to meet the players, or get merchandise, or autographs, or free seat upgrades (I have never even once requested an upgrade even when I did have the opportunity), I just want the tickets and the parking. That's it. There are some games where I am one of a meager 2,000 fans in that building, but I am there. I would like to be there next season too, but it's hard to justify a price increase in this economy, and with a losing team.

My ticket rep hasn't returned a single phone call or email of mine since the beginning of the season, even after a left a voicemail regarding getting group tickets for an elementary school class trip. Seems like the reward for loyalty is a little lacking these days.

One final thought: Being a season ticket holder should be like being a valuable asset to the team, not like buying a used car.

Islanders Season Tickets: Why?

I know, it's been a long time since I have last posted something and a lot has gone on in Islanders country (i.e. Scott Gordon being fired, Chris Botta losing his street cred, etc.), but this isn't what I want to air out. Trust me, if you aren't sick of these two stories already, give it another 24 hours...

My biggest issue with the New York Islanders organization this year is the treatment of their fans, namely season ticket holders like myself. Now, I understand that when the team is doing poorly (like, say, an 11-game losing streak) you need to get seats filled in the arena. I also understand that in order to do so, prices must be lowered. I get it. HOWEVER, it prompts my question of: Why the heck is the general public getting better seats at better prices than I am? When I have committed myself to a full 40-game home season?

The New York Islanders were selling tickets to Wednesday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning for $18 to the general public to sit in the lower bowl (200's) of the arena, $14 if you were a student! I pay more per game to sit in the upper bowl behind the goal. 313 row G to be exact. I couldn't even break even selling these tickets if I wanted to.

I am not looking to bitch and moan about the cost of ticket prices, I know that if I were a Rangers fan, I'd be paying double. And if you wanted to hear bitching, refer back to the Chris Botta story mentioned earlier. It just seems like the real fans who are committing themselves to this team are getting the shaft by the organization now. As a season ticket holder who truly loves this team (despite how they test that love), there is no chance I would even consider renewing my season tickets if this is what they are going to do. If the current trend prevails, I can attend all forty games for half the price I am paying now just by buying tickets at the box office.

On a final note, I just want to express my hope that the Islanders understand that investing in season tickets is not just a "no big deal" thing for a lot of people. Yeah, you get the corporate guys who entertain clients and whatnot, but the people I see 40 times a year are not those guys. They are real fans. People like me. I am a full-time student, a part-time worker who had to struggle to put aside the necessary funds to do the full season. I am not rich. A lot of times, I can barely afford to buy a beer at the game. But I am there. Every game. I only wish the organization could appreciate such things from their fans, and return the favor.

Foiled Again

Despite John Tavares scoring his first NHL goal, the Islanders still fell victim to the power of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Regardless of the loss, the game did show one thing: both the team and their fans are serious this year.

Playing to a sold out Coliseum crowd, the Islanders came out strong for the first two periods with goals by Tavares and Hunter. Unfortunately, the Penguins retaliated to take the lead. Mark Streit tied it up in the third leading the Islanders into overtime and, eventually, a shoot out... where the Islanders fell despite the efforts of Tambellini and Tavares.

More astounding than the excitement of the game was the reaction of the crowd when Tavares scored his first NHL goal. The 16,000 fans at Nassau Coliseum might've reacted the same if the Islanders had won the Stanley Cup that moment. With fulfilled anticipation and ecstasy, Islanders fans celebrated with the tenacity of lottery winners.

If this brand of tenacity and excitement continues amongst both the fans and team, this blogger knows that the season will only get better. A winning team is only half of what makes a sport fun to both attend and play, the other part is having a group of people to get behind the team, to support, to cheer, and, every now and again, erupt into an orgasmic outpour of energy for one single event.

Those single events are sure to be on the horizon as the season unfolds.

(photo courtesy of Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Islanders Preseason Observations

Just a few notes on my preseason observations...

Monday night's preseason faceoff against the Vancouver Canucks in lovely Terrace (aka "Hockeyville"), British Columbia could have been the funniest thing I've seen on television in a long while. First of all, they looked as if they were playing at Cantiague Park. Secondly, the television camera was so close to the ice that you couldn't see an actual play if you tried. It looked like there were 50 players on the ice at all times. And finally, due to the Islanders lack of NHL-calibre players on the ice, Josh Bailey appeared to have the talent of Bobby Orr out there!

However, Wednesday's showing in Edmonton seemed to be considerably more professional and considerably less laughable. There was a lot of hype about it being the first time John Tavares put on his NHL boots. No, he did not score 20 goals in one period; no, he doesn't skate at 100 MPH; no, he's not Superman... or the second coming or Gordie Howe. However, he played hard, created chances and admitted that he'd have to play even harder to compete at this level. I think good things are on the horizon for this team... so long as the fans aren't expecting the impossible.

As for last night's debauchery. All I can say is this: the injury's are starting already.... and if Morency gets suspended for messing with Phaneuf, that's crap. Since when are you not allowed to retaliate when a teammate gets hit?

Thugging It: The Changing Environment of the Pro Athlete

It has become increasingly apparent that the perosona professional athlete has changed in recent years. Once heroes, our athletes have become gangsters, criminals and, in essence, thugs.

Between Michael Vick returning to the NFL after being brought up on charges for engaging in dog fights, Ray Lewis being indicted for murder and aggravated assault, Sean Avery coming out with the "sloppy seconds" remark in reference to his ex-girlfriend, Patrick Kane assaulting a cab driver over a mere twenty cents and the rampant performance-enhancing drug use in the MLB, our idols have become criminals. Granted, when a person, athlete or not, is thrust under the magnifying glass of fame, every flaw does become visible to the naked eye, but the desire to cause trouble shouldn't be so hard to quell.

There has to be a higher standard to hold these athletes to. These are heroes to our children, there must be some repercussion for bad behavior. Instead these athletes get a meager slap on the wrist and a new multi-million dollar contract. What are we teaching the next generation about dreams and aspirations? Kids who want to become baseball players will assume that performance enhancing drugs are the only way to get to the pro league, becoming a football player gives them free reign to do whatever they want to whomever they want, and the fighting of hockey is permissable not only on the ice, but off as well.

Who decided this was okay?

Death of a Hockey Blog

It appears that the New York Islanders have yanked their sponsorship of Chris Botta's long-time hockey blog, IslandersPointBlank.com. After a lengthy diatribe about how it wasn't feasible to start an independant hockey blog at this point in his career, Botta bid farewell...for the most part.

Maybe I am not the best person to give an opinion on this situation, as a lackluster blogger who can barely nip at the heels of any real news, but for all the people who have been begging to pay a subscription for Islanders Point Blank or corporate sponsorship just to keep it up and running, I have one thing to say to you: IT'S A BLOG!

Granted, it would be awesome for any blogger to be able to sit at their computer and spout their ideas and opinions for hours a day and get paid for it as a full-time job. Who wouldn't love that? But the people who follow these blogs like cults scare me a little bit. Honestly, I think the New York Islanders team moving to Kansas City might have been easier to swallow for some of these people than the news that they couldn't read the musings of Chris Botta every day.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the blog. I think it's insightful, honest and true to the team. However, I don't sit in front my computer hitting the "refresh" button waiting for the next post like some Islanders fans (you know who you are, don't deny it). If this one blog dies, there will still be dozens of others.

I'll probably catch a lot of flack for this post, because I know there are a lot of people out there who feel differently, but I'm okay with that. My advice to all of you who are freaking out over this: go out, have a beer, and get a life that doesn't involve sitting in front of a computer screen.

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Oh, and yeah, rally for the Lighthouse too!

The Day of 3's

Maybe I am the only one who noticed the coincidence that today the Islanders signed John Tavares to a 3-year contract, the NHL 2009-2010 season got released today at 3:00 EST and the Islanders season opener is happening on October 3rd. There are many people out there that say that 3 is a lucky number, by all accounts, I hope they're right.

No one is surprised when I say that I am excited for this coming season, however I tread with a little trepidation when I see that the Islanders haven't re-signed ANY free agents in the off season. The only moves the Islanders have dared to venture were the signing of rookie John Tavares and the signing of Yann Danis by the New Jersey Devils (what a lateral move, Devs!).

In the words of a friend of mine, the Islanders will be a solid 9th place team this season. Honestly, I won't settle for less. I feel that for once this team is going in the right direction and I feel that it can only go upward from here. Experts say that the Islanders are now where Chicago was a few years ago, and Chicago did make it to the division finals. That says a lot!

Needless to say, you may call me a sucker for buying in for the full season in a team that has proven failure so many times in the past, I am still a true believer and I am still excited for this coming season.