JRunn14 said:

rovers_adam said:

If they give us GA behind the net, I'd reconsider. I would suggest that other STHs hold out for a better deal from the negotiations with the caps. They're going to need us a lot more than we need them. I'm sorry it's had to come to this but they're forcing our hands.

A better deal...you are truly delusional...if this club can field a half decent team they won't need you...if they can turn it into a winner? Well let's just hope not everyone in this group thinks like you or the Southsiders will be a supporters group watching home matches on the TV at Doolins...while 27,000 Whitecaps fans cheer on their team however they like. 

You don't see the 5000 fans who go to Canucks games in LA, Anaheim, Phoenix,Calgary or Edmonton demanding a better deal because of their commitment...no special section for them..and if you don't have  ST they allow you the honour of paying to be on a waiting list. 10k for a pair of lower bowl seats...360+ straight sellouts...0 championships.

I know plenty of people who felt the way you seem to in the late 90's...the Canucks were just a soulless entity who hired Keenan...sign Messier and traded their heart and soul Trevor Linden...people were outraged and rightfully so...I know a few who gave up their season tickets saying everything your saying...they aren't taking care of their real fans..raising prices without results....talked to my buddy just last week...he is #2934 on a 7 year waiting list now and his old seat now costs twice as much as it did back then.

You may say that would never happen to the Whitecaps....if you told me the Canucks would be where they are right now 10 years ago I would have laughed in your face. Time and a little success to regrow those roots in the city and trust me...people will come...and then why would the club help you out at all when you didn't support them when they were down?

Wow... and people wonder why GoF and I fancy starting up a supporters-owned club.

JRunn14 said:

rovers_adam said:

If they give us GA behind the net, I'd reconsider. I would suggest that other STHs hold out for a better deal from the negotiations with the caps. They're going to need us a lot more than we need them. I'm sorry it's had to come to this but they're forcing our hands.

I guess that tells you how many mindless sheep are in this town. I gave up on the Orca thing years ago. I have Giants tix and enjoy it immensly at a fraction of the price and a much better entertainment experience. The Canucks don't have the monopoly on hockey, just their version of it...

I have no problem renewing my Caps tickets, I just want to see the sightlines before I commit.

A better deal...you are truly delusional...if this club can field a half decent team they won't need you...if they can turn it into a winner? Well let's just hope not everyone in this group thinks like you or the Southsiders will be a supporters group watching home matches on the TV at Doolins...while 27,000 Whitecaps fans cheer on their team however they like. 

You don't see the 5000 fans who go to Canucks games in LA, Anaheim, Phoenix,Calgary or Edmonton demanding a better deal because of their commitment...no special section for them..and if you don't have  ST they allow you the honour of paying to be on a waiting list. 10k for a pair of lower bowl seats...360+ straight sellouts...0 championships.

I know plenty of people who felt the way you seem to in the late 90's...the Canucks were just a soulless entity who hired Keenan...sign Messier and traded their heart and soul Trevor Linden...people were outraged and rightfully so...I know a few who gave up their season tickets saying everything your saying...they aren't taking care of their real fans..raising prices without results....talked to my buddy just last week...he is #2934 on a 7 year waiting list now and his old seat now costs twice as much as it did back then.

You may say that would never happen to the Whitecaps....if you told me the Canucks would be where they are right now 10 years ago I would have laughed in your face. Time and a little success to regrow those roots in the city and trust me...people will come...and then why would the club help you out at all when you didn't support them when they were down?

I guess that tells you how many mindless sheep are in this town. I gave up on the Orca thing years ago. I have Giants tix and enjoy it immensly at a fraction of the price and a much better entertainment experience. The Canucks don't have the monopoly on hockey, just their version of it...

I have no problem renewing my Caps tickets, I just want to see the sightlines before I commit.

GoF said:

If Barber is saying he has only received two emails and you're really not happy about this then you need to drop the club an email and not just moan on here.

The only way to put pressure on the club is to let them know that something is wrong.

Email them. Then let us know here that you have, Then if he still says that he's only had a couple of emails, then we know what he's all about.

I did email him yesterday, fairly comprehensive, though my issues are not all Southsiders related. He wrote me back at about 10:30 am. I'm not one to put on the board personal communication. Suffice to say though, the response was very defensive. My impression is they don't take any criticism on-board.

I put the real CORE Caps support at about the same level as they used to draw at Swangard, through thick and thin. I think season tickets were in the 1500 range and many would come to a half dozen games or more every year. I don't think the core changes much this year. The gate was usually between 4000 and 5200 on a massive night.That commitment built up over many years is not something the club should piss away.

I think one of the things that has gone wrong is this club is not used to running a transparent organization. The Swangard Caps were covered like varsity sports, kind of a feel good reporting culture and what professional reporting that was done was very much embedded

This is the big leagues and it appears to me that the management culture hasn't been up to the challenge so far. Maybe that's the problem when the natives out in the colonies get a bit pissed off. Last year TFC did a pretty good job of pissing off their loyal supporters to.

Having seen the renewal email, it disgusts me that the club insist on keeping the price tier-ed behind the goal - especially the  Aqua section. Everybody knows that the cheapest seats in any football ground around the world are those directly behind the goal - especially Barber and with his Premier League experience. The Board are completely taking advantage of those who are creating one of the best things about the Whitecaps - namely the atmosphere. Barber, Lenarduzzi and co. should be grateful they have such wonderful support, not taxing it - it makes me want to puke.

My request to other Southsiders - lets try and avoid that Aqua section, and hope the powers abolish this ridiculous pricing. Shame on the greedy bastards.

Bad_Gones said:

I'll give Barber on thing ... he's got balls made of cast iron.  Lucky for him he has BC Place to blame.

This season. Thank you Whitecaps for a fifth consecutive season of price increases.  Just sayin'

Grandstander said:

Bad_Gones said:

I'll give Barber on thing ... he's got balls made of cast iron.  Lucky for him he has BC Place to blame.

This season. Thank you Whitecaps for a fifth consecutive season of price increases.  Just sayin'

How much did you pay for gas this year?  Last year?

Bad_Gones said:

Grandstander said:

Bad_Gones said:

I'll give Barber on thing ... he's got balls made of cast iron.  Lucky for him he has BC Place to blame.

This season. Thank you Whitecaps for a fifth consecutive season of price increases.  Just sayin'

How much did you pay for gas this year?  Last year?

Just sayin'

About the same in the summer.  Nice try Arne, doesn't fly.

bobloblaw17 said:

JRunn14 said:

rovers_adam said:

If they give us GA behind the net, I'd reconsider. I would suggest that other STHs hold out for a better deal from the negotiations with the caps. They're going to need us a lot more than we need them. I'm sorry it's had to come to this but they're forcing our hands.

I guess that tells you how many mindless sheep are in this town. I gave up on the Orca thing years ago. I have Giants tix and enjoy it immensly at a fraction of the price and a much better entertainment experience. The Canucks don't have the monopoly on hockey, just their version of it...

I have no problem renewing my Caps tickets, I just want to see the sightlines before I commit.

A better deal...you are truly delusional...if this club can field a half decent team they won't need you...if they can turn it into a winner? Well let's just hope not everyone in this group thinks like you or the Southsiders will be a supporters group watching home matches on the TV at Doolins...while 27,000 Whitecaps fans cheer on their team however they like. 

You don't see the 5000 fans who go to Canucks games in LA, Anaheim, Phoenix,Calgary or Edmonton demanding a better deal because of their commitment...no special section for them..and if you don't have  ST they allow you the honour of paying to be on a waiting list. 10k for a pair of lower bowl seats...360+ straight sellouts...0 championships.

I know plenty of people who felt the way you seem to in the late 90's...the Canucks were just a soulless entity who hired Keenan...sign Messier and traded their heart and soul Trevor Linden...people were outraged and rightfully so...I know a few who gave up their season tickets saying everything your saying...they aren't taking care of their real fans..raising prices without results....talked to my buddy just last week...he is #2934 on a 7 year waiting list now and his old seat now costs twice as much as it did back then.

You may say that would never happen to the Whitecaps....if you told me the Canucks would be where they are right now 10 years ago I would have laughed in your face. Time and a little success to regrow those roots in the city and trust me...people will come...and then why would the club help you out at all when you didn't support them when they were down?

I guess that tells you how many mindless sheep are in this town. I gave up on the Orca thing years ago. I have Giants tix and enjoy it immensly at a fraction of the price and a much better entertainment experience. The Canucks don't have the monopoly on hockey, just their version of it...

I have no problem renewing my Caps tickets, I just want to see the sightlines before I commit.

Dude, your flock is just smaller.

Grandstander said:

Scunthorpe said:

The amount isn't much but the reason is complete bullshit.  Season ticket holders for this season were sold seats in BC Place.  Instead most of the season has been played at Empire.  Now the move to BC Place is the reason for an increase.  Barber is a snakeoil salesman. 

I'm sure people would be bitching the Caps out if they were charged BC Place facility fees for the current season.  So where could they have made you happy.  Charging you this year or next?

We are paying the $50 BC Place facility fee.  It is included in your season ticket this season. 

piltdownman said:

Grandstander said:

Scunthorpe said:

The amount isn't much but the reason is complete bullshit.  Season ticket holders for this season were sold seats in BC Place.  Instead most of the season has been played at Empire.  Now the move to BC Place is the reason for an increase.  Barber is a snakeoil salesman. 

I'm sure people would be bitching the Caps out if they were charged BC Place facility fees for the current season.  So where could they have made you happy.  Charging you this year or next?

We are paying the $50 BC Place facility fee.  It is included in your season ticket this season. 

That's what I get for not getting a proper invoice.

Just sayin`= just putting it out there... to me.

I'm pretty sure I read that they said it wouldn't be a balanced schedule next season with the introduction of Montreal. I don't know why, and knowing MLS they'll probably change their minds between now and Feb

^ THAT IS HILARIOUS!!! I can picture him in the hills tending a flock of sheep in a sweater and gumboots!

NobbyC said:

Having seen the renewal email, it disgusts me that the club insist on keeping the price tier-ed behind the goal - especially the  Aqua section. Everybody knows that the cheapest seats in any football ground around the world are those directly behind the goal - especially Barber and with his Premier League experience. The Board are completely taking advantage of those who are creating one of the best things about the Whitecaps - namely the atmosphere. Barber, Lenarduzzi and co. should be grateful they have such wonderful support, not taxing it - it makes me want to puke.

My request to other Southsiders - lets try and avoid that Aqua section, and hope the powers abolish this ridiculous pricing. Shame on the greedy bastards.

The behind the net seats are often free. SFU gets free seats there many games and youth clubs. They know that was a mistake the question is how to fix it. Twice I've received free seats in the Aqua seats from my local pub. Throw in the groupon game and I'd venture to guess all but a few games have seen many freebies behind the net. The problem is it takes a big person to say oops, sorry maybe we made a mistake - I don't see that happening with this FO. Very unfortunately because there is far too much negativity around this club right now from all walks of life not just the few SSers. The hardcore people - the 1500 or so from Swangard and those who send in a deposit on day one should be their focus on turning the attitude of the city around. Their Facebook page is brutal with the u suck crowd. It's very frustrating when you change your tune without explanation - the whole we are an expansion team BS after telling us we weren't and the tweak this tweak that BS is too much. Someone in the FO just needs to man up and say - wow, we really got our asses handed to us and have lots too learn, we are going to take a bit of time to lick our wounds and figure shit out. As an aside- for those who are new this year this is something TT would have said which is in part why he was so admired.

just renewed.  only 30% deposit required.  also, early renewal not only gets you entered in the draw, but puts you at the top of the queue if I want to move seats or upgrade.  Something to consider if you may want to move your seats.

stilty said:

just renewed.  only 30% deposit required.  also, early renewal not only gets you entered in the draw, but puts you at the top of the queue if I want to move seats or upgrade.  Something to consider if you may want to move your seats.

Ahead of people who requested a move months ago?

JohnnieMonster said:

+1 Slamo.

And btw, STHers paid the $50 BC Place facility fee this year too. A modest increase of 3% is more than fair given the cost of inflation.

I agree, the price increase is acceptable.

I'd only suggest that the original pricing was too high -- didn't I read somewhere that our average ticket price are the most expensive in the league, or something? Or was that just for the supporters sections & cheap seats. Either way, for an expansion club that has a terrible on-field record, you'd think their primary goal would be to put butts in seats in hopes of building a solid fan base, not making a profit for the first couple years...

But I suppose it's all what the market will bear, and for Vancouver, my $30 a game tickets are pretty cheap

Lefty said:

GoF said:

If Barber is saying he has only received two emails and you're really not happy about this then you need to drop the club an email and not just moan on here.

The only way to put pressure on the club is to let them know that something is wrong.

Email them. Then let us know here that you have, Then if he still says that he's only had a couple of emails, then we know what he's all about.

I did email him yesterday, fairly comprehensive, though my issues are not all Southsiders related. He wrote me back at about 10:30 am. I'm not one to put on the board personal communication. Suffice to say though, the response was very defensive. My impression is they don't take any criticism on-board.

Email from Barber that is defensive....no shock there.

Blue_and_White_Army said:

stilty said:

Blue_and_White_Army said:

stilty said:

just renewed.  only 30% deposit required.  also, early renewal not only gets you entered in the draw, but puts you at the top of the queue if I want to move seats or upgrade.  Something to consider if you may want to move your seats.

Ahead of people who requested a move months ago?

No, top of the queue after November 1, when the seats that are not renewed become available.

I thought I read that August 18 is the first day to renew, and August 23 is the first day that unclaimed seats are opened to the general public for sale.

Wouldn't that mean that your "queue" comes after new customers?  I would have expected that a current customers renewing their ticket would get preference over a new customer.

Or am I thoroughly confused?

Believe me, I was confused as well, and that is why I called them this AM.  Only the remaining season tickets that have not sold this season will be available on August 23  probably 500 or so.  So, what I meant by being high on the queue, is for the option to move to better seats, if any available, after November 1st, when the seats that are not renewed become available.

Lord_Bob said:

Given what they charged out of the gate, it would have been good optics for the front office to suck up their proposed 3% increase and keep prices the same.

That said, we're enduring a smaller increase than Toronto or Seattle did in their second seasons (but less than Philadelphia, who increased prices but also added a game so the per-game price remained steady). I'm not really going to shit bricks over the substance of the new prices; just the optics.

The Seattle situation is a bit more complex - initial STHs had their price frozen for three years. There may have been some adjustment for additional games.  However, new accounts faced a substantial rise.
That's the gist of it, at least, I might be off on the exact details.

I'm not that clever.

scott09 said:

I'm not really going to shit bricks over the substance of the new prices; just the optics.



Was that intended as a play on Optic Place?

if he was being clever it would have been OPTIK

That's the joy of puns! You can play with words and have more than one meaning, and spelling doesn't even need to be correct. "I was told there would be no math"

I feel it should be possible to buy single-game tickets in the Southside: we want new members, after all, and how many of us got into the Southsider spirit by buying season tickets right off the bat? I know I didn't.

Of course, those tickets should be sold with the explicit understanding that you're in a supporters' section, expect to stand, expect profanity, etc.