At the end of August, at a preseason owners video meeting the NFL called out 5 teams, among them the Bengals for bad ticket sales. Each team at an average of 15,000 tickets available per home game. Also named were the WFT, Jets, Jacksonville, and Detroit

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2021/10/25/Upfront/NFL-tickets.aspx

Quote:There was no explicit chastisement, but there didn’t have to be. To some league veterans, the slide spoke volumes — it was interpreted as Commissioner Roger Goodell calling out certain owners in front of their peers for business underperformance. While owners have challenged each other semi-publicly in the past, this was unprecedented.

Quote:That’s just it. The slide, sources said, came as Goodell grows more frustrated with NFL teams that are not optimizing the unprecedented strength and stability of the league — or taking advantage of the systems the NFL has built to help them if they cannot.

“I know Roger’s getting more and more frustrated with teams that don’t invest,” another longtime team executive said.

Quote:Goodell is looking for other places to optimize revenue, one source said, and it’s clear to him not all owners are truly doing all they can, despite a league emphasis in recent years on helping teams become more professional through the creation of the Club Business Development program.

“There’s more of a feeling that during the pandemic, some teams really invested and worked hard at keeping the business moving forward and keeping fans engaged, and other people turtled,” that source said, describing his perception of Goodell’s mindset. “I think there’s more of a feeling that shouldn’t be allowed, and that we have an obligation to each other to work hard at this.”

This wrinkle does not carry a small-market versus big-market dynamic. In fact, insiders say Park Avenue’s main issue is with large-market teams failing to optimize their position, because the delta between reality and potential is so vast compared to the small markets

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The positive is that we know from watching Elizabeth Blackburn is that her department has been working on improving fan engagement since she started in her job. We also know that winning cures a lot of what ails them. The Bengals are the only one of the 5 teams with a 2021 winning record and are the only one of the 5 teams to have shown attendance improvement. In 2019 they averaged 47719 ranking 31. So far in 2021, they are averaging 61,306 ranking 26th (also have the 26th ranked capacity with 65,515). Looking ahead
Browns game is sold out with essentially the only tickets available on the resale market. The Steelers, Ravens, and Chiefs should get there but there is still work to be done. There are a lot of tickets still available for the 49ers and Chargers.

You build it and they will come.

The more they win, the more tickets they will sell. Conference games should not have an issue this year.

Why does all praise immediately go to Elizabeth Blackburn? You guys really like to fetishize her, turning her into something much greater than in reality. It’s uncomfortable

(10-28-2021, 11:12 AM)Frank Booth Wrote: Why does all praise immediately go to Elizabeth Blackburn? You guys really like to fetishize her, turning  her into something much greater than in reality. It’s uncomfortable

Well in this case, maybe because her title is Director of Strategy and Engagement.  And for once the Bengals are actually attempting to engage with their customers.  Her department can't provide a winning team but she is doing her best to yank her department at least into the 21st century.  And if you don't like the fact that some of us appreciate her efforts, then you need to deal with your uncomfortable feelings all by yourself. It is called respect, not a fetish.  By all appearances she is doing her job well, why shouldn't she get credit for that

(10-28-2021, 11:12 AM)Frank Booth Wrote: Why does all praise immediately go to Elizabeth Blackburn? You guys really like to fetishize her, turning  her into something much greater than in reality. It’s uncomfortable

That's a weird take.  This team has been so behind the times for years with any kind of fan engagement, or acknowledgement of the history of the team.  Elizabeth stepped in and has really upped their game and there have been so many changes.  The uniforms (which I know takes more than one offseason), the ROH, increased social media presence, etc.  I know it's popular to hate on her because she's part of the family.  And I know some people view what she's doing as just window dressing.  But the fact remains that if you want to engage fans and make people want to show up to games, you need to put on a better show.  

The days of Midwest football being sitting in bleachers on concrete in the cold are over.  Anyone can watch at home on a giant TV, pausing for bathroom breaks or replaying on their own, have their own (cheaper/better) food/drinks and it's climate-controlled.  For a younger generation especially that's used to being in front of a screen and in control of their experience, the way to get them to the stadium is by making them feel more a part of something special.  It's not just about winning.  It's about experience.  

Love her or hate her, that's your call.  But she's done a lot for the org and her energy is off the charts.  I think she's been a breath of fresh air this team has needed for a long time.

(10-28-2021, 11:12 AM)Frank Booth Wrote: Why does all praise immediately go to Elizabeth Blackburn? You guys really like to fetishize her, turning her into something much greater than in reality. It’s uncomfortable

And you would credit who? It’s no question the fan engagement and experience has been off the charts compared to the past. So who would you give credit to?

I thought the Bengals were doing very well ticket-wise at home so far this year. Haven't all of our home games been sell-outs YTD?

(10-28-2021, 12:12 PM)Big Boss Wrote: I thought the Bengals were doing very well ticket-wise at home so far this year.  Haven't all of our home games been sell-outs YTD?

This was before the year started.

I'm actually happy to hear that Roger did that, it's good to shine some light on those teams. All those names are usually considered afterthoughts at this point. Glad he called them out.

(10-28-2021, 12:12 PM)Big Boss Wrote: I thought the Bengals were doing very well ticket-wise at home so far this year.  Haven't all of our home games been sell-outs YTD?

They are averaging 61,300 which is about 15,000 more than they averaged in 2019.  The stadium is around 65,000.  Minnesota was not a sellout. They have been doing well with in-season ticket sales 

Winning will fill the seats if you look at the records of all teams mentioned for the last few years you see a pattern lol

(10-28-2021, 11:50 AM)Rubekahn29 Wrote: And you would credit who? It’s no question the fan engagement and experience has been off the charts compared to the past. So who would you give credit to?

the whole front office? To put it on just one person is silly. It's damn near hero worship

(10-28-2021, 11:12 AM)Frank Booth Wrote: Why does all praise immediately go to Elizabeth Blackburn? You guys really like to fetishize her, turning  her into something much greater than in reality. It’s uncomfortable

At this point, I'm willing to fetishize with her than Mike Brown. 

You mean a team who is tied for the second-longest playoff appearance drought and one of the worst back-to-back season stretches in franchise history had trouble with stadium attendance?

Shocker!

(10-28-2021, 11:04 AM)QueenCity Wrote: You build it and they will come.

Winning or a new stadium funded by tax payers with an insensitive for future lowered property taxes?

So you’re telling me the worst teams in the NFL sell the least amount of tickets?

(10-28-2021, 12:50 PM)Frank Booth Wrote: the whole front office? To put it on just one person is silly. It's damn near hero worship

Good grief my man. Please have a xanax, shot of whiskey or a good rub and tug. You are extremely grumpy all the time. Maybe move to the wilderness away from all people. I give you credit, I couldn'tdnt live that angry negative life.