To see how a real franchise conducts business, read this story from the IndyStar about the Colts and how they make an effort to always reach out to their fanbase (by visiting smaller Indiana towns and such). I will revisit and likely link to this article over and over again but for now let me just point out one passage that highlights a recent point I made. Namely: Mike Brown sucks as a businessman.
We are in the midst of the nastiest recession since the Great Depression, but you wouldn't know it if you owned the Colts:
That's precisely why, despite the fact the Colts are sold out for the 2009 season and have a waiting list of about 15,000 for season tickets, they still make an effort with summer community outreach programs such as the Fan Fest and Make It Personal tours.
Emphasis mine. As we know, the Bengals have gone from saying there's a waiting list, to offering 4 game packs, to offering 2 game packs. Their luxury suite and club seat sales may also be in trouble but that info remains harder to secure. Point is: Mike Brown struggles to sell an incredibly popular product on which he holds a monopoly.
I'm actually in awe of his incompetence.
Read the whole article and ask yourself why the Bengals under Carson Palmer couldn't have enjoyed the same popularity and prosperity that the Colts have during Peyton Manning's reign.
Well said, Bieneiemy,
Question is, will the Brown family associate their ticket sales problem with the fact they suck and are going nowhere or blame it on the recession?
Posted by: rich | July 09, 2009 at 05:06 PM