Regular season home opener ticket count

[SammyGreene]

According to Rick Dhaliwal.... over 25,000 sold with a week to go. Lions are hoping for 35,000.

I will be happy for anything over 30,000 it's been a LONG time since we have crested that mark at B.C. Place for a regular season opener.

Last two years:
2005: 27,506 vs. Ottawa
2006: 27,539 vs. Saskatchewan
2007: ???? vs. Edmonton

[sj-roc]

I did some digging... I'm fairly sure there were no 30k+ home openers since the Skalbanian reign of error to start the 1996 season, so I started there and went backward:

June 27, 1996 vs Edm -- 29,425 must be the last time it was so close to 30k -- just before everyone realised what a gong show they were getting into. I don't think it ever got that high again for ANY regular season game (except Lui's finale) until Buono came aboard.

June 30, 1995 vs Bal -- 23,999
July 8, 1994 vs Wpg -- 20,069
July 9, 1993 vs Ssk -- 25,849
July 9, 1992 vs Edm -- 23,917
July 11, 1991 vs Cgy -- 24,722
July 13, 1990 vs Cgy -- 34,233

With regard to the penultimate figure, here's what Gary Kingston wrote in the Vancouver Sun on July 15, 1991:

The Lions drew just 24,722 to B.C. Place on Thursday against the Calgary Stampeders. That was 6,300 below last year's average and the first crowd below 30,000 for a home opener since the club moved into the dome in 1983.

So in the history of BC Place, we've had an 8-year streak of home openers with 30k+, followed by a streak twice as long where we've failed to hit that mark (for the home opener) even once.

[David]

Kudos to Dhaliwal for sharing that. I've had enough with the kvetching in the media (*cough* Barry MacDonald *cough*) about the goofy start time for the season opener and the yahoos at B.C. Place. Let's put the focus this week where it should be....on the GOOD NEWS 1-0 B.C. Lions and the homecoming for our Grey Cup Champs!

DH 8)

[Rammer]

Kudos to Dhaliwal for sharing that. I've had enough with the kvetching in the media (*cough* Barry MacDonald *cough*) about the goofy start time for the season opener and the yahoos at B.C. Place. Let's put the focus this week where it should be....on the GOOD NEWS 1-0 B.C. Lions and the homecoming for our Grey Cup Champs!

DH 8)

I can concur with that!

The now annual players selling ticket packages (2nd) for the home opener at the PNE grounds should help raise some positive angles to promoting this game along with a large crowd.

[sj-roc]

Kudos to Dhaliwal for sharing that. I've had enough with the kvetching in the media (*cough* Barry McDonald *cough*) about the goofy start time for the season opener...

Here here... listening to so many of the TEAM on-air crew go on endlessly about it you'd think they changed the kickoff time the morning of the game, rather than scheduling that way five months ago or so...

Equally offputting was the fact that some of them didn't even understand the reason for it, or even seem inclined to figure it out (because of the tv doubleheader on TSN)...

Speaking of amateur hour, what was with that guy today speculating on whether Messier would go into the HOF "as an Oiler or as a Ranger"? Dude's been watching too much baseball...

[Lion King]

I have to agree that at times the onair talent with the Team can be frustrating to listen to.

There are times where a subject can be dropped and a new one picked up.

The one thing is that they do get good guests that come in on regular segments which is nice. Shulman for baseball, McGuire and Ferraro for hockey. The Lions coverage is good for the most part with the players coming in.

Overall, although there is some bad, there is good as well

[Solar Max]

I think you have to be a pretty dedicated hockey fan to listen to team1040 for any extended length of time.

I'm afraid I can't do that; I'm just not an NHL fan. Even Dan Russell is more varied than 1040 is.

[Ravi]

I did some digging... I'm fairly sure there were no 30k+ home openers since the Skalbanian reign of error to start the 1996 season, so I started there and went backward:

June 27, 1996 vs Edm -- 29,425 must be the last time it was so close to 30k -- just before everyone realised what a gong show they were getting into. I don't think it ever got that high again for ANY regular season game (except Lui's finale) until Buono came aboard.

June 30, 1995 vs Bal -- 23,999
July 8, 1994 vs Wpg -- 20,069
July 9, 1993 vs Ssk -- 25,849
July 9, 1992 vs Edm -- 23,917
July 11, 1991 vs Cgy -- 24,722
July 13, 1990 vs Cgy -- 34,233

With regard to the penultimate figure, here's what Gary Kingston wrote in the Vancouver Sun on July 15, 1991:

The Lions drew just 24,722 to B.C. Place on Thursday against the Calgary Stampeders. That was 6,300 below last year's average and the first crowd below 30,000 for a home opener since the club moved into the dome in 1983.

So in the history of BC Place, we've had an 8-year streak of home openers with 30k+, followed by a streak twice as long where we've failed to hit that mark (for the home opener) even once.

I am really surprised by the 1991 figure. IIRC, did the Lions not end up averaging around 42k for that amazing Doug Flutie season that included six OT games?

[kenny]

While it is still better than the alternatives, Team1040 is excruciatingly bad from morning, noon and night. The morning show is so drab and boring it ain't funny. The station's entire on-air crew is incompetant, ill-informed and amateurish, (with exception of the Canucks crew they inherited from NW). But they probably work for cheap, which at least makes their owner smile.

I would take bad sports radio over no sports radio. I would rank team hosts as follows pratt, taylor ball then tool the rest are a few notches below

[SammyGreene]

I did some digging... I'm fairly sure there were no 30k+ home openers since the Skalbanian reign of error to start the 1996 season, so I started there and went backward:

June 27, 1996 vs Edm -- 29,425 must be the last time it was so close to 30k -- just before everyone realised what a gong show they were getting into. I don't think it ever got that high again for ANY regular season game (except Lui's finale) until Buono came aboard.

June 30, 1995 vs Bal -- 23,999
July 8, 1994 vs Wpg -- 20,069
July 9, 1993 vs Ssk -- 25,849
July 9, 1992 vs Edm -- 23,917
July 11, 1991 vs Cgy -- 24,722
July 13, 1990 vs Cgy -- 34,233

With regard to the penultimate figure, here's what Gary Kingston wrote in the Vancouver Sun on July 15, 1991:

The Lions drew just 24,722 to B.C. Place on Thursday against the Calgary Stampeders. That was 6,300 below last year's average and the first crowd below 30,000 for a home opener since the club moved into the dome in 1983.

So in the history of BC Place, we've had an 8-year streak of home openers with 30k+, followed by a streak twice as long where we've failed to hit that mark (for the home opener) even once.

I am really surprised by the 1991 figure. IIRC, did the Lions not end up averaging around 42k for that amazing Doug Flutie season that included six OT games?

Yes... Flutie Fever kind of took off with the Argos/Rocket appearance and the great game that unfolded.

Good digging sj-roc... the 1990 game was the debuts of Flutie and Gastineau.

Hard to believe the Baltimore/BC Grey Cup rematch in 1995 couldn't even generate 24,000 after a near sellout took in the November game. No wonder Comrie bailed at the end of the season.

Seventeen long years since a plus 30,000 crowd for the opener. It would be nice to see that drought end.

[David]

On the BCTV sports broadcast he said they were expecting 40,000 for the home opener. That seems a little optimistic, but there seems to be more interest in the Lions this year...

Glen Suitor was on Sportstalk with Dan Russell last week and said the Argos were expecting 40,000 for their home opener.....and just over 29,000 showed. (still, considering where the Argos were just a few short years ago and this is still an impressive number. Let's not lose sight of the fact that Mr. Timecount Violation himself turned Lions fans away in droves).

I actually think this strategy of baiting the public with news of a potentially big crowd for the home opener a sound one for this market. Unequivocally, Vancouver an "event town." People here are motivated by hype. So if you get the word out that 40,000 is expected, then the ticket buying public will respond in kind - even if the projection has been somewhat inflated.

I would hope to see a lot of media advertising starting this Monday.

DH 8)

[Canuck_4_Life]

Speaking of Monday, is anyone going out to watch practise?

[Rammer]

On the BCTV sports broadcast he said they were expecting 40,000 for the home opener. That seems a little optimistic, but there seems to be more interest in the Lions this year...

Glen Suitor was on Sportstalk with Dan Russell last week and said the Argos were expecting 40,000 for their home opener.....and just over 29,000 showed. (still, considering where the Argos were just a few short years ago and this is still an impressive number. Let's not lose sight of the fact that Mr. Timecount Violation himself turned Lions fans away in droves).

I actually think this strategy of baiting the public with news of a potentially big crowd for the home opener a sound one for this market. Unequivocally, Vancouver an "event town." People here are motivated by hype. So if you get the word out that 40,000 is expected, then the ticket buying public will respond in kind - even if the projection has been somewhat inflated.

I would hope to see a lot of media advertising starting this Monday.

DH 8)

40K is a good amount to suggest as well, as that figure still allows alot good of seating available to the general public and not a 50K mark that puts them at the roof or endzone. Could be a fun time this season if we can generate over 30K for the last place team from 06 to start things off. 8)