Goodell talks to team about no show problems?

You say in jest but it's not totally absurd. I could see them changing the rules to at least give the appearance of a fan base that gives a ****. Back to filling the stadium with dummies. Oh wait I meant manny quinns

 

This just in. James Harrison has been fined for the empty seats at Heinz Field!

 

Nah! If anything he put MORE people in those seats!

 

This is very true, the NFL is actually hurting themselves as you get so many angles, close-ups, in-game, real time stats all in high definition right in your living room that provide the fan with everything they don't get at the actual game. The big difference is the fan experience at the game but poor play will make people think twice about leaving the comfy confines of their home to watch as the team lays an egg because there is a 50% chance at that happening especially playing against a team that puts up big numbers on the score board, the feeling that the team doesn't have much chance will keep people at home.

 

That stuffs all fine when you're making a decision on whether or not to purchase tickets for a game, but we're talking about season ticket holders Who have already paid for their tickets.

 

I sit up in the club seats which required a hefty seat license fee. Therefore, a significant number of these seats are held by businesses. The people who show up in these seats, if they do, are a lot less enthusistic than the people I sat with in peanut heaven at 3 Rivers. I wonder if the seat icenses in general turned away a lot of the average Joe Blow fans and brought in people with cash to spare but not the enthusism? Just a wandering thought?

 

Sat in both TRS and Heinz in the uppers and lowers. Personally I found the game at top more fun .. More distracted but more fun in the end. Sitting in the lowers it was more serious but indeed you can take in more of the game.. Less distracted ..

Clearly I am easily distracted lol.. squirrel

 

There's numerous factors at play for me.

The biggest is obviously the cost. The last time I bought tickets, i paid $250 per ticket for the worst seats in the entire stadium. I don't know if it's gotten any better or not, but combine that with a hotel, food, drinks, dog kennel for my dogs, gas for the 14 hour drive (both ways) and it's a small fortune for me to go see the game.

Also on top of that is the direction of this team and also how unhappy I am with it. I absolutely hate Mike Tomlin. I love the Pittsburgh Steelers, and in my eyes, he has ruined this franchise. We are not a tough, hard hitting team anymore. We a team full of pussies. I want to see hard hitting defence. That doesn't mean we can't also have a good offence, but I want to see the Pittsburgh Steelers be able to lay a physical beating on the other team. We can't do that because we're too soft. When was the last time the Pittsburgh Steelers were soft? Now I will gladly go support a losing team. The losing doesn't bother me, the direction of the team and the fact that nothing is being done about it bothers me a lot! I would still go support the Steelers regardless of how unhappy I am, but when it costs me $1,000 to do so, I'm more hesitant.

I'm also a shift worker, as is my girlfriend and many of my friends. I often have to work weekends and it's not easy to get a day off work.

Combine all those things together, and that's why I don't get to as many games as I'd like. If I lived in Pittsburgh and could afford season tickets, I'd go to every game.

 

I think there should be a penalty system in place, if you don't use your tickets or have someone go in your place or sell them to somebody that will go. For a team that has a waiting list that goes back to 1996, I think there would be many willing and able people to still buy the tickets and actually go. But that will be though to do, because on the whole PSL thing.

I went the the MNF game there were 9,000 now shows, I heard they drew 62-63,000 for the Colts game.

 

I sense your level of frustration but don't get all the hate over Tomlin. I do not see how he has ruined this organization anymore then Cowher did ( he was the beneficiary of siginifcant pro bowl players from Nolls day)

Actually forget I said anything.. Totally tired of reading love and hate rants ..

But to your point about ticket pricing. It has not changed with respect to the gouging that goes on with ticket pricing.. Buddy of mine bought some tickets for the Tampa game in the 500s and paid $200 a piece for nose bleeds. Bad idea to buy tickets in May when they become available via ticketmaster lol. Ended up selling those tickets to a scalper for 80 a piece which essentially is close to face value.

It's becoming increasingly more expensive to attend Steeler games and I don't see it changing anytime soon.. There is hope but only a glimmer .. If the salaries continually rise for these players which statistically they are I do not see it becoming more economically viable

 

I agree with most of this. The thing is though the tickets are sold it's the people showing up that's the problem. To use the fact that the team has struggled for a couple years as an excuse for season-ticket holders to not go to games is ridiculous.

Lastly, dude you need to give the Tomlin thing a rest!

 

SteelerGlenn was saying something similar. The problem is and will always be at the end of the day the Benjamins or Toonies depending on where you are from will matter more and allow for people to get whatever they want at any price. I would love it if the stands were filled with real adoring fans ( jk .. obviously) What grinds my gears and I know others feel the same is how the SB and everything about it screams money. Ticket prices are insane and corporations pretty much dominate that whole venue. I guess we should not be surprised by this .. Its a show, an extravaganza .. More people than not that fill the stadium have zero interest in the game but they can say they have been there. lol

I found it funny that my daughter recently texted me that Taylor Swift is going to be the half time entertainment at the superbowl this year and wondered if the Steelers would be in it.. I believe this is poignant and relevant to my rant lol

 

It has a bit to do with the success but a lot more to do with the cost. I took my family of 5 two years ago and it cost over $1500 to go to the game. We had good seats but if you want to get rid of the empty seats put the power back in the average fan and make it affordable again.

 

This is spot on. I spent 600.00 the last time I took my girls to a Steelers game.

 

I'll give the Tomlin thing a rest when it's not relevant to the topic being discussed. You brought up the fact that not going to games because they are a .500 team the last few years is inexcusable. I wanted it to be known I don't avoid the games because of the losing, but because of why I think we're losing and that I think nothing is being done to fix it. I'm unhappy with the direction of the team, I blame Tomlin, and nothing is being done to fix it, that's a small factor in why I don't go to more games. It isn't because we have been a .500 team.

 

Again, I agree. The record isn't the issue. Its the lack of passion and discipline that has been happing over and over that Im sure has a lot to do with some no shows.

 

This is so true!

 

I am not sure but I would wager during Cowher era there were just as many empty seats. He had abysmal years as well .. So take Tomlin out of the conversation when talking about team wins and losses. I think your hard on for Tomlin is rather amusing .. Giving a rest would actually mean avoid roids and viagara and anything that would cause you to talk about Tomlin and his efficacy.. lol

 

I can only speak for myself, I didn't ever feel this way during the Cowher years, regardless of our wins and losses. It has nothing to do with wins and losses and everything to do with the bigger picture. I don't like the way our team plays these days. We have a tradition of playing hard hitting defence, Tomlin came in and wrecked that. So no, I won't take Tomlin out of the conversation because in my eyes he's everything that's wrong with this team.

 

People do a lot of tailgaiting and try to come in at the last minute. This causes the empty seats in the beginning, naturally. Half time does the same to the beginning of the first quarter.

The ramps are a much better view of the field than the lower level seats. Plus, a nice view of the city.

 

Dude, Steeler fans get together next year when they come to St. Louis?

 

I typically give the eye test the first few weeks to see if their consistent enough to spend my money on them. if their inconsistent, I'm not shelling out money to watch and uninspired team take a beating. Especially when the view is better from my couch.