On Saturday, many premium club seat holders received their season ticket renewal letter for 2009.
Some of the highlights:
- Nearly no mention of last season's disaster
- Offense will be successful in 2009 with the return of Carson Palmer and "some real work"
- Uses a quote by Bill Cowher to back up this optimism for next season
- Once again, NOT signed by Mike Brown, Katie Blackburn, or Troy Blackburn. Instead, the letter was signed by Jeff Berding (Cincinnati City Councilman and Director of Sales/Public Affairs).
Not surprisingly, Mike Brown missed a golden opportunity to directly correspond with his most important clients...those who buy Premium Club Season Tickets. Why so important? The ticket revenue from premium seating (club seats and luxury suites) is 100% for the Bengals to keep. They do not have to cut the opposing team a check like they do for the regular tickets sold...all premium ticket money stays inside the PBS fortress. That is one of the reasons why it was so crucial that Mike Brown secure a new stadium...the ability to keep all that revenue from club seats and additional suites that Riverfront Stadium could not offer.
Back to my point...the Bengals three-headed brass missed another chance to explain to their club seat holders why they should renew their seats for 2009. Instead, they give us more recycled propaganda and had a city politician sign his name. The Bengals front office hides behind the curtain once again. In this pivotal time, where fans are truly fed up this time and ready to turn their back on this franchise...Mike Brown and company stay silent. Frankly, that says all you need to know about the character of this franchise.
WDR's take?
DO NOT BUY SEASON TICKETS, SINGLE GAME TICKETS, CONCESSIONS OR MERCHANDISE UNTIL A GENERAL MANAGER IS IN PLACE ALONG WITH A REASONABLE SCOUTING DEPARTMENT. PERIOD.
Recently, WDR was told through a team source that "big changes" were coming in order to appease the season ticket base who was likely to jump ship this offseason.
Well guys, you are on the clock. Like the deadline you set for your club seat holders...you have until January 30, 2009 to make some changes. Or else.
Full text of the letter after the jump:
January 6, 2009
Dear Club Patron:
Thank you for your support of the Cincinnati Bengals. We have appreciated your support as a Club Seat holder at Paul Brown Stadium, and we hope your experiences as a premium patron have been positive as well.
While the 2008 football season was not what we were expecting, we are working towards a turnaround in 2009. The team expects to continue the progress on defense where the Bengals finished 12th overall in 2008. With the return of Carson Palmer and some real work, we are confident that the offense can have a successful 2009 season. This past weekend, former Steelers Head Coach Bill Cowher spoke to this optimism in his commentary on NFL Today prior to the Playoff games: "Next season watch out for the Cincinnati Bengals. I am picking them to make it to the playoffs next season."
(Information that explains 2009 ticket pricing and whether or not your contract is up for renewal)
On behalf of the Cincinnati Bengals, we thank you for your support and hope to see you at Paul Brown Stadium for many seasons to come.
Sincerely,
G. Jeffrey Berding
Bill Cower knows he owes his career to the Cincinnati Bengals, LOL!
Posted by: Jon | January 12, 2009 at 07:33 PM
What a sad and pathetic letter. Can we say this team is at rock bottom and has a new shovel and is digging downward. The stale 18 year old wind of a moveless off season is here, and the best Mikey Clown can do is quote Cowher to try to sell tickets. Sad and disturbing. This will never end.
Posted by: Ejm1 | January 12, 2009 at 07:52 PM
Just absolutely pathetic. This letter can best be described as "flaccid." At a time when fans need a real jolt to reenergize them, Mike Brown and his cronies choose to invoke the words of one of the most hated men in Bengals' history: Bill "The Chin" Cowher.
Actually, they probably never looked at this. They jut farmed it out to some low level employee. If this doesn't prove that they just don't get it, I guess the past 18 years should be a clue.
I hate this team...because I love this team. I am a douchebag.
Posted by: Bolshevik Bengal | January 12, 2009 at 09:33 PM
Once again, this makes me want to take a bottle of Jack Daniels and a shotgun out to the middle of a field...
Posted by: GregC78&69 | January 12, 2009 at 10:25 PM
If you're going to utilize Bill Cowher to pimp the improvement we all desire, then at least hire him to make it happen.
Posted by: RC34 | January 12, 2009 at 10:33 PM
You mean January 30, 2009- not 2008. :)
"Big changes"- right. At this point I don't know if anything other than GM, scouts and firing Brat will do anything.
Posted by: Mollie | January 13, 2009 at 08:18 AM
I'm truly considering calling the ticket office once I get my regular season ticket invoices to see if I can haggle with them over the pricing.....just to see what they say ;) maybe I'll even ask to speak to Jeffery lol
Posted by: Delta5243 | January 13, 2009 at 08:24 AM
What the fuck was that pile of dogshit? I just threw up in my mouth.
Posted by: Capt. Steve-O | January 13, 2009 at 08:26 AM
Bolshevik--
the Bengals have no level employees. They cost too much. Mike probably wrote this himself rather than pay someone else to write it. Unless he had Katie do it.
Posted by: KJ | January 14, 2009 at 01:09 PM
%when ghetto people say pose to. My friend told her boss he needed to give her a raise
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