Sounders Have Sold About 14,000 Tickets For CONCACAF Champions League Vs. Santos Laguna
by Jeremiah Oshan on Feb 9, 2012 6:21 PM PST
in Sounders: CONCACAF Champions League
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Looks like we have some catching up to do. The Seattle Sounders have sold about 14,000 tickets for the March 7 CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal against Santos Laguna. With a month left before the game, that's a perfectly respectable total, but it's also about 25,000 fewer than Toronto FC has sold for their quarterfinal against the LA Galaxy the same day.
Not to make this into some kind of appendage measuring contest, but there's just no way we can sit idly by and have TFC sell more than twice as many tickets as we have. Sounders fans have taken a good deal of pride in showing up to games rain or shine and packing CenturyLink Field even on relatively short notice, as has been the situation for the U.S. Open Cup finals in each of the past two seasons.
Granted, the Sounders have not really pulled out the big marketing muscle yet, and they very well may do that, but anyone reading this site should take some serious pride in using this game as a chance to evangelize. That doesn't mean you should feel compelled to take your whole office, but bringing along at least one friend that wouldn't otherwise go is a pretty good start.
Let's remember, this is easily one of the five most important games the Sounders have ever played at C-Link. There's no good reason why we shouldn't turn out in numbers that shows we understand that fact.
Tickets can be had for $15 -- or less. I would highly recommend contacting your ticket agent, visiting the box office or, if you must, going through online channels.
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Not to rehash the Ticketmaster debate, but...
I originally paid $25 for my tickets in 108 during the pre-sale (and via Account Manager).
They are now $30 + $6.55 convenience + $0.65 tax on that.
So I understand the tax – it’s sales tax on the fee. Tax on the ticket is baked into the ticket.
Now here’s what rubs me… what convenience is Ticketmaster providing for me that’s worth $6.55? What’s their value-add?
Online purchase, okay… yeah, saves me a drive to the box office. Huge for traveling fans or those that don’t work a few blocks away from CLink like I do. If that’s the case, charge me ONCE, not on EVERY ticket.
The facebook-linked seating map is a great first step to them adding value. See where your friends are sitting (requires them to connect and to pick their seats), buy seats near them.
I guess what I’m wondering is what other value-add services could they provide where people wouldn’t feel annoyed at paying a convenience fee?
totally agree with this
ticketmaster has gotten away with overcharging for convenience fees mainly because they have a monopoly on their specific market. It’s ridiculous.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Feb 9, 2012 6:51 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Would be nice if..
..there was more data around each ticket I was looking at.
Tell me for a sporting event if the people around me stand. Tell me if it’s mostly home/away fans.
Tell me for a concert if the people around me sing along to every song. Tell me if they like to put their lighter up in the air during a good ballad (do people still do that? i feel old asking that question)
people use cell phones now
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart | Follow Dave on Twitter @bedirthan
And record everything, right?
Always annoying when watching a concert/event on tv and there are 30 cellphones in the field of view moving around.
I get distracted easily.
No, during ballads people hold up the phones ona bright screen
to give a lighter like affect
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart | Follow Dave on Twitter @bedirthan
Or better yet...
… use an app that puts up a lighter on the screen.
Kids these days…
Bullpen Banter
Fan: Seattle Mariners, Seattle Sounders FC, Liverpool
Twitter
I just wish that CenturyLink had tickets for sale in other locations like the Mariners.
I love that I can go into the Mariners team store in Bellevue Square or Alderwood Mall, or Westlake and buy tickets just as if I were at the box office. Not only is this more convenient for anyone that isn’t near downtown, but the teamstores maintain much more convenient hours.
I realize the Sounders can’t maintain their own store right now, and either could the Seahawks due to their short season. However, wouldn’t it be amazing to see Seahawks and Sounders tickets on sale at something like the Seattle Team Shops chain? For sale without ticketmaster fees?
Sounders 'til I die
by SounderJunkie on Feb 10, 2012 12:25 PM PST up reply actions
you can get them at Starfire
You may also be able to get them at the team store in downtown.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Feb 10, 2012 3:48 PM PST up reply actions
Don't know why...
They didn’t just start selling tickets at the end of last season when we qualified. Would have had more attention then. And lack of date has never hurt playoff ticket sales in any sport.
by jayw913 on Feb 9, 2012 7:32 PM PST via mobile reply actions
I'm honestly not sure more time would have helped
There will have been plenty of time. It’s how they use that time that’s important and so far, they haven’t been doing much with it.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Feb 9, 2012 8:32 PM PST up reply actions
Selling tickets without a date attached
Would require allowing widespread refunds of tickets when people invariably wouldn’t be able to make the date.
Not something that I’ve seen most sports teams able to do, nor Ticketmaster.
Bought my ticket last night...
… and my seat for the home opener. Couldn’t be much more excited to see this match. Far cry better than the CCL matches I went to in 2010.
Bullpen Banter
Fan: Seattle Mariners, Seattle Sounders FC, Liverpool
Twitter
Forsook my two season tickets in Sect 207
in favor of bringing 4 novices to the match lower down in the bowl. Let attendance solve itself. Most of us who go to the CCL matches are there because of the quality of play.
…and a nice byproduct is that you can actually get a seat at the bar beforehand.
As well for me in Sect 105
and I’ll be buying better seats with my non-STH friends when I know the weather won’t be blowing and dumping. Getting soaked through multiple times last year really scared away a bunch of friends.
as far as evangelism
my friends hate the CCL. these are the few matches we can get tickets together for a good price, but the standard of refereeing and the decidedly floppy nature of the opposition causes them to quickly shift their focus from how great the Sounders are to complaining. For the most part, these are people who play and enjoy watching soccer… it’s just hard to convince people that watching Roberto Brown dive his ass across the field is a good time. Now that we’re past that point of the competition, I can’t seem to convince them it will be better.
I always feel bad bringing new people to CCL games...
They’re obviously the easiest to get good group tickets to, but the CCL games play so much into the standard ‘Merican stereotype of soccer with people spending 20 minutes rolling around on their deathbed only to be fully healed as soon as they reach the sideline. I spend the whole game explaining "This isn’t how most games are"
I was going to be at this game...
But the trip my friend and I are making to Seattle got pushed back…so ill be in town for the opener against Toronto, instead. Couldn’t lose either way.
by Jason Riptide on Feb 9, 2012 9:27 PM PST via Android app reply actions
No reason to subject yourself to Ticketmaster fees
I’m a season ticket holder but I declined to purchase my six regular seats for the Santos game. Instead, the day ticket sales were opened to the public, I called my ticket rep and purchased 24 seats in Section 109 for myself, my wife, and 22 of our rec teammates and friends. The seats’ face value is $30 but my ticket rep sold them to me for $25 each. No fees, no taxes, not a penny more. Two weeks later, I called back and purchased 4 more in the row behind us. Tomorrow I’m going to call back again and buy 4 more for a grand total of 30. My point is nobody has to give Ticketmaster a penny for these games and there are still great seats available.
I’ll see more than my share of games this season but to me the CCL games are opportunties to watch a game in a group with whom I wouldn’t normally be able to share the experience. As season ticket holders we’re normally in our regular seats, surrounded by the same people. And it’s an opportunity to see a game from a different section than we normally would.
You might call me a soccer evangelist but honestly all of these people I’m going with are all soccer fans or rec soccer players, although only a couple are season ticket holders. I just can’t think of a better way to kick off the season and show my support for the team. I don’t follow soccer outside of the U.S. very closely but it can’t hurt to see an opponent that has a different style than we normally see in MLS.
First time posting by the way. I’ve been silently following Sounder at Heart for over a season now and I really appreciate the thoughful blogs and comments. I check the blog nearly every day, even in the off-season. Just want to say thanks.
by gMat on Feb 9, 2012 10:27 PM PST reply actions 3 recs
30 tickets, well done sir.
I can’t claim to have ever splashed $1200 on one Sounders game, even including bar tab.
by bmvaughn on Feb 10, 2012 10:34 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Just fronting the purchase to get all the seats together and get the ticket rep price. My friends will all reimburse me for their tickets.
You must be a better friend than I am!
I could just picture 25 people all telling me some variation of, “Dude, why are you so stressed about this money? I’ll get it to you… you used to be cool.”
You do all the work for us, Honey Badger, and we'll just eat whatever you find.
Echoing gMat
I did the same thing with the summer CCL. I live 3 hours drive away. Planned it out to take kids from a couple youth teams during last summer. Great value. The kids got to see the game up close because I went through my ticket rep. Generally a great experience. Did it in 2010 with some of the CCL games too. Just have to think of it this way. There will be a seats available to people who are not going to get season tickets (in my case teens). Sit with a group and enjoy a competitive game. It is crazy not to take the effort to introduce new people to the Sounders that way. Officiating was bad but I did amp up the intensity of the fans and the kids were amazed at how the fans supported the team.
by dundasfc on Feb 9, 2012 11:03 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
I've always wanted an all-inclusive season
ticket package. They have the card-numbers, just let people sign up and automatically charge & mail tickets as games come. They’d get another 5K for this match, easy.
You mean like this:
Link fail... Grrrrrrr
You do all the work for us, Honey Badger, and we'll just eat whatever you find.
Thank you for helping me figure out why...
I have little interest in going to see the CCL games. I haven’t realized until now why I prefer to watch in person some starters and some reserves play at Starfire in the Open Cup matches, and not a more significant home CCL game. And thanks to connorb3’s comments…Eureka!
I recall now that while watching some CCL matches streaming and on cable, I become extremely frustrated with the flopping, hacking, and refereeing associated with Central and South American games. I don’t stomp around afterword swearing to never buy a CCL ticket, or post such comments on blogs (my first here too gMat), I just haven’t bought a CCL ticket due to lack of interest. I assume now, a lack of interest in a match played in that manner. Side note: Toronto is playing another MLS team.
I am a season ticket holder since 2009, and there may be ten thousand Sounders fans with my same experience and mindset. If so, I hope that they too will come to discover what might be influencing their lack of attendance. With awareness we’ll fight through it, step up, and support the home team!
I can understand why people don't love CCL
But hopefully those people also understand that this is a huge game in a very significant tournament.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Feb 10, 2012 7:44 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I like the games okay myself...
…but I always feel bad bringing potential new fans. The central american teams play into the typical stereotype of huge, flamboyant dives followed by 5 minutes on the turf, with the immediate full recovery upon touching the sideline. I spend the whole game assuring people that ‘most games aren’t like this’.
If I was told before the
Seahawks Steelers superbowl that the officiating would be horrible and then offered tickets for dirt cheap… I would have still bought tickets. And as disappointed as I would be, I bet I would never regret going to that game.
by lysander on Feb 10, 2012 8:05 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Since I doubt this game will sell out
my plan has been to avoid ticketmaster fees by buying on game day. I wonder if many others are following this route.
"The fans are excited. And the stadium, well, it ignites with explosion."
I'm glad I work within walking distance of CLink.
No TicketBastard fees paid if you get ’em at the box office!
by The King of Norway on Feb 10, 2012 8:11 AM PST reply actions
Everyone should be amped up for CCL!
This is the only route to playing the big-time clubs in a tournament. MLS will never have respect until the Sounders beat a european club in the WCC.
I work with a lot euros and mexicans. It’s great the Santos is on a weeknight, I’m getting all my restaurant & bar industry peeps together to go. We can actually walk up and get good seats at good price. I’m going to convert some new rave greeners! We have to win though, to make that happen.
Club World Cup Champions 2012
Great
I think it is a great that Toronto is selling that much. This is the best value in all of sports. A top three team in MLS versus the top team in FMF.
Mexico vs US in soccer is the greatest rivalry in sports right now.
$15 ? are you kidding me ?
Man, I can hardly wait.
by Charles J on Feb 10, 2012 11:27 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
I think it was Sherman Alexie who made this point about the Sonics:
(paraphrasing): Ray Allen is one of the best, if not the best, in the entire world at doing this one particular thing. He’s doing it in Seattle. You have the opportunity to go watch that, so why don’t you?
(And don’t forget, we’re a top two team!)
This is my big line of thinking on these CCL games… yeah, I know, money issues and all, but the tickets for this one are dirt cheap. If I could watch it without a $1200, 5000-plus miles each way set of flights, I would be there myself. Hopefully all of you who have the opportunity to go actually go, and I know I’m not the only one who gets excited at seeing all the people setting up blocks of tickets with their friends on this one.
You do all the work for us, Honey Badger, and we'll just eat whatever you find.
I'll
be there. My dad’s work gotten group tickets and they are allowing guests.
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