Sabres have a 94% Season Ticket Renewal Rate

That means I can get money!

Well the Sabres release their season ticket sales so far, and from last year, they have a 94% reup. Which is pretty good for how people feel about the team. But they love hockey and they know how inexpensive NHL hockey is here. Plus you can sell tickets and make a little cash on the side. The rates are pretty good and the Sabres Direct program, is pretty nice. 9 payments interest free. Who are they GM? But people complain that stuff is too expensive, but when compared to other markets. We have quite the bargain. Yes I know the team sucks to watch at times. But its still fun as hell to go to a hockey game. But honestly the Sabres need ticket sales to stay in business. So with the automatic money coming in, they know what they can do in the offseason. It helps the cap won't go up much, if at all. But I doubt they will try to gouge Leaf fans again, since it didn't work.

Of course this will show the media that Sabre fans still care, and they won't have to do much. But I'd like to think they know better and know they have to change the mindset on the team. Even Dan Paille knows this team needs leadership. It isn't on the team. They are dying to be led by someone. Unfortuntly no one on the team is taking the horns, like Darcy thought they would.

Darcy I trust you, do your magic in the offseason.

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Well in the good news department. The Sabres signed Tyler Myers.

Chara Jr. Is signed for 3 years, and has a good chance to make the roster next year. He has had a monster year, and stuck in camp for a while. No doubt Lindy Ruff likes this kid. And the fact they signed him after being named MVP of the WHL playoffs. Is a good sign. How many times have we signed the Sabres having trouble signing draft picks. These days they get the deals done. And no doubt the moment Myers is done in the Memorial cup playoffs, he's coming to Buffalo to train.

They want him to make the roster. He can't do anything in Junior and he's too young for the Minors. (Which is a stupid rule) But they have a bunch of young guys to put in Portland next year. Their blue line is gonna look nice in 2 years.

Tyler Myers is a monster and he is only 19. Get ready Sabre fans.

Selling out

Well even more good news appeared today for those secondary market ticket sellers. That the only game left for individual ticket buyers will be the December 28 closer against the Patriots. Obviously now turning into a hot Christmas gift. That means with highest season ticket sales in 15 years, and only one game left to buy, that the Toronto game has in effect helped Bills home sales. Not only do they get a large cash cow in the Toronto package. They sell out the season before it even starts. I can't remember when that happened. Probably in the Super Bowl years.

So for all the whiners that they should have had the Dolphins game at home, for one of the low selling ones, well what about now? The season is practically is sold out. So I guess it doesn't matter anyway. And I'm sorry the Dolphins rivalry ain't what it used to be. With Brian Cox and Dan Marino. The 49ers game is a week after the Grey Cup, so maybe they needed the extra week to promote the game. Plus getting the Rogers Centre ready for the game. I'm sure it takes several weeks and the Argos may make a championship run.

With this news, the line for the final game when individuals come out should be long, well long with ticket brokers. That game won't last very long. I'm sure there is only 2000 or so left. So this whole Toronto deal, has created a shortage, and in a way drove up demand, with lower package prices. Its already a genius business decision. Of course it may pave the way for a move to Toronto, but thats in the long term. I care about the short term. And the short term tells me, the stadium will be rocking, and I can see it on tv every week next year.

OTA's and Ticket sales

Well its almost the end of OTA's as 1 Bills drive, probably the reason the weather is so crappy. Football players come to town and it gets cold. Its the only reason I can think of for the recent cold snap. Really you can't take much from the OTA's, people try to build them up and try to get any insight from guys running around in shorts and helmets. Oooo Trent is looking good. Well the defense is really not trying to stop them. If they were really important they would be mandatory and JP Losman and Jason Peters missing it would be a big deal.

Jason Peters is angling for a new deal, and seeing what Left Tackles are getting and him being elect to the Pro Bowl it probably can't hurt lengthening the deal, to cover that dangerous no cap year that might be approaching. You certainly don't want any stars being available at that point, because they are good as gone. Talk to him over the next few months and we'll here the 5 for 25 million jokes over that time, and I bet a deal can be struck, making a important man, a happy man.

The other big news coming out of 1 Bills drive this week was the positive ticket sales. The Bills have passed the 50,000 season ticket mark for the first time since 1993. Its a good statement by Bills fans, that the team is still relevant, even with the recent surge in sales for the Sabres, the Bills are still a popular option. Sure the package is cheaper this year with the Toronto Games. Maybe people are figuring out this ticket resale business. Or people are really excited by the Bills and want to go to the games. I don't mind sitting at home watching, thanking those who bought tickets so I could see the game. I like going to the games, but the bore me a little. The commercial breaks really suck the energy out of the game.

With the low prices, the Bills have created a real home field advantage. The people that really love the bills can go to the games and enjoy themselves without taking out a second mortgage. Hell a Paycheck can pay for a season ticket. The rest of the NFL is in a race to make the most money and gouge the fan just to see a game. (Though the Bills are using Toronto to do that) Hell go somewhere else to charge exorbitant rates? Fine with me. Just give me the option to hit up a few games here in Orchard Park. Imagine if they had only 4 home games? Those tickets would fly off the shelves. They could also charge higher prices, along with the high Toronto prices would start making some real money to be a real player in the league.

Wait, this Russ Brandon really knows what he is doing. As a Bills fan, that should get you excited.

Tickets, Toronto and the Bills

Coming this Fall, less football then usual.

Well yesterday was an interesting developing day in Buffalo Bills tickets. With the news of almost 50,000 in season ticket sales for the Bills and the prices for the Toronto games coming out, people are once again seeing the writing on the wall and trying to decipher what the bottom line is.

Some see the high ticket sales, as people using them as a business effort.

And a lot of people see the Toronto move as a precursor to a permanent move up North.

But this is my blog and I'll call em as I see em. Well the reason for higher ticket sales probably is several reasons, more hope about the team, its fun again to go to a Bills game, you can sell them to others and make some money, or its less expensive and its cheap fun for the fall. Whatever, the bottom line is, they are up and near the end of the glory days of the Super Bowl years. Which means more likely then not, I'll be able to watch the games from home, which is nice. I appreciate all the people that buy tickets for those that kinda want to go, but don't want to deal with all the hassle of getting there and sitting on a uncomfortable metal bench and being bored most of the time. Its why people drink so much. Try not drinking at all when you go to a Bills game. Its tough. Thats why if Bills fans go up to Toronto, I highly doubt they'd have a good time. The other fans are mostly suits who will sit there and watch, no tailgates, too expensive to really get drunk at the game. It will be football with its soul taken out, and thats the fan support.

Which all leads to the Toronto issue, do the bills need more corporate money? Sure who doesn't? But does it mean they are eventually moving up there? I don't know, if the TO thing doesn't fly, then really they are stuck back here in Orchard Park. They have their own escape plan. But the key is a new stadium. Who builds it first, gets the team in my eyes. The Rogers centre, is definitely not good enough. Ralph Wilson Stadium, is a relic at NFL standards. Especially compared to the thing they are building in Dallas, which I hope falls apart. If they leaders here can put together a plan, to build a new stadium near downtown, that is convention center, hotel, year round use facility, the quicker the better. Put it near the casino and have a special tailgate zone by the water. Imagine tailgating near the lake in September?

I honestly don't see a move in 10 years. I think the legal ramifications are endless on both sides. The CFL will not let this happen without action. The NY politicians won't let the Bills go without some major financial penalties. I'm talking 100 million at least. Ted Rogers isn't a young man, and this might be a fight to see who can outlast who. And if the Canadian dollar plummets. You can forget Toronto.

This is a cash grab by the Bills, Toronto trying to position itself as a viable NFL market, and fans are caught in the middle per usual.