Guesstimate for attendance at Monday's game

[Footballdude]

From what I gather, the Argos knew that both the Ottawa game and next weeks Montreal game was going to be a hard sell. They identified both these games when the schedule was released as tough sells. With about 4 days to go for the Ottawa game, there was talk of providing tickets to the Corp partners to up the attendance into the 18,000 range. However with the Argos growing their season ticket base from 3,000 last year to 7400 this year, the concern was about pissing off your season ticket base. Most of the season ticket holders have bought in the higher price sections too. The fear being, here we are at game 2 at home and we already have too give out 3000 to 4000 tickets. The team is trying to install some integrity with STH and to grow the base. So the thinking was, what would be worse or cause the most damage to the brand. Have 18,000 at the Ottawa game, or have 12,000 sold. The media was still going to be negative on the team, even with 18,000, so the team made the call to back their STH. Also the team really wanted to see where the fan baseline was at, and to get a real picture of where the Argos sit with the ticket buying public. I think it was the right call. The same conversation is taking place for the Monday Montreal game and the team will make the same call. The team is selling more tickets for this game then Ottawa, but I think 15,000 will be the number sold. The Argos are making a big push for the first weekend game and are hoping to get over 22,000 or more.

[ArgoRavi]

From what I gather, the Argos knew that both the Ottawa game and next weeks Montreal game was going to be a hard sell. They identified both these games when the schedule was released as tough sells. With about 4 days to go for the Ottawa game, there was talk of providing tickets to the Corp partners to up the attendance into the 18,000 range. However with the Argos growing their season ticket base from 3,000 last year to 7400 this year, the concern was about pissing off your season ticket base. Most of the season ticket holders have bought in the higher price sections too. The fear being, here we are at game 2 at home and we already have too give out 3000 to 4000 tickets. The team is trying to install some integrity with STH and to grow the base. So the thinking was, what would be worse or cause the most damage to the brand. Have 18,000 at the Ottawa game, or have 12,000 sold. The media was still going to be negative on the team, even with 18,000, so the team made the call to back their STH. Also the team really wanted to see where the fan baseline was at, and to get a real picture of where the Argos sit with the ticket buying public. I think it was the right call. The same conversation is taking place for the Monday Montreal game and the team will make the same call. The team is selling more tickets for this game then Ottawa, but I think 15,000 will be the number sold. The Argos are making a big push for the first weekend game and are hoping to get over 22,000 or more.

Sounds like you might have some inside info. Everything you are saying here does make sense though. Back in 1997 when the Als were still playing at the Big Owe, Larry Smith made the decision not to give out freebies that season after Jim Speros had papered the stadium heavily the year before. The idea was for Alouettes tickets to have value and that eventually paid off expedited by the move to McGill. However, in 1997, the Als often played before fewer than 10k.

[Godfather]

From what I gather, the Argos knew that both the Ottawa game and next weeks Montreal game was going to be a hard sell. They identified both these games when the schedule was released as tough sells. With about 4 days to go for the Ottawa game, there was talk of providing tickets to the Corp partners to up the attendance into the 18,000 range. However with the Argos growing their season ticket base from 3,000 last year to 7400 this year, the concern was about pissing off your season ticket base. Most of the season ticket holders have bought in the higher price sections too. The fear being, here we are at game 2 at home and we already have too give out 3000 to 4000 tickets. The team is trying to install some integrity with STH and to grow the base. So the thinking was, what would be worse or cause the most damage to the brand. Have 18,000 at the Ottawa game, or have 12,000 sold. The media was still going to be negative on the team, even with 18,000, so the team made the call to back their STH. Also the team really wanted to see where the fan baseline was at, and to get a real picture of where the Argos sit with the ticket buying public. I think it was the right call. The same conversation is taking place for the Monday Montreal game and the team will make the same call. The team is selling more tickets for this game then Ottawa, but I think 15,000 will be the number sold. The Argos are making a big push for the first weekend game and are hoping to get over 22,000 or more.

This would be the right call. Never devalue the tickets or piss off the season ticket holders. According to ticketmaster it looks like a lot more sales for Monday's game from when I checked a few days ago. I hope they are not purposely being held back.

[R.J]

This would be the right call. Never devalue the tickets or piss off the season ticket holders. According to ticketmaster it looks like a lot more sales for Monday's game from when I checked a few days ago. I hope they are not purposely being held back.

Upper section of seats in the East upper deck are held back.

[Neely2005]

From what I gather, the Argos knew that both the Ottawa game and next weeks Montreal game was going to be a hard sell. They identified both these games when the schedule was released as tough sells. With about 4 days to go for the Ottawa game, there was talk of providing tickets to the Corp partners to up the attendance into the 18,000 range. However with the Argos growing their season ticket base from 3,000 last year to 7400 this year, the concern was about pissing off your season ticket base. Most of the season ticket holders have bought in the higher price sections too. The fear being, here we are at game 2 at home and we already have too give out 3000 to 4000 tickets. The team is trying to install some integrity with STH and to grow the base. So the thinking was, what would be worse or cause the most damage to the brand. Have 18,000 at the Ottawa game, or have 12,000 sold. The media was still going to be negative on the team, even with 18,000, so the team made the call to back their STH. Also the team really wanted to see where the fan baseline was at, and to get a real picture of where the Argos sit with the ticket buying public. I think it was the right call. The same conversation is taking place for the Monday Montreal game and the team will make the same call. The team is selling more tickets for this game then Ottawa, but I think 15,000 will be the number sold. The Argos are making a big push for the first weekend game and are hoping to get over 22,000 or more.

It makes sense and I don't disagree with their decision.