how to bring the fans back to the pepsi center

[Nuggets_Talk]

the nuggets are on the rise...we all know this. but how come no one else does? sure the broncos will always be #1 but that doesnt mean there isnt room for the nuggets in the denver sports scene.

http://nuggets.proboards.com/thread/17025/nugget-marketing-ticket-prices-social

(if im not allowed to post links, lmk and ill edit it out & copy/paste everything)

I really want to get fans back into the PC and make it a fun/exciting environment again. we are building a team that deserves to be cared about.

thoughts? ideas?

[Logan18]

I think a combination of lowering ticket prices and increasing our wins per season (which is bound to happen in the next few years) will go a long way in selling more tickets. I feel like the last few years a lot of Denver Sports fans have gone all in on the Broncos and kind of forgot about the nuggets for the most part. Kind of hard for casual fans to get excited about a rebuilding team, especially after your football team goes to the super bowl. I see the Broncos getting significantly worse in the next few years though, and with the nuggets young and improving roster it should be easier for more fans to begin following them.


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[Nuggets_Talk]

I think a combination of lowering ticket prices and increasing our wins per season (which is bound to happen in the next few years) will go a long way in selling more tickets. I feel like the last few years a lot of Denver Sports fans have gone all in on the Broncos and kind of forgot about the nuggets for the most part. Kind of hard for casual fans to get excited about a rebuilding team, especially after your football team goes to the super bowl. I see the Broncos getting significantly worse in the next few years though, and with the nuggets young and improving roster it should be easier for more fans to begin following them.


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the broncos could win 4 games, the nuggets 50 and the broncos would still be more popular. im not kidding.

but it doesnt have to be nuggets vs broncos. you can be fans of more than one team and I want bronco fans to be nugget fans.

the question is how do you reach out to the casual fan?

lower ticket prices for sure. putting a good, exciting product on the floor (which obviously needs to lead to wins), and more social networking. (also ive been hoping for a new logo/jerseys/colors for awhile...rebranding would be nice)

have fans excited to goto games, watch the nuggets, talk about them in person, on the radio and online. the PC used to be a fun place to go but we have a couple bad years and it turns really bad. i can name 10+ teams that dont have any where near our success even in the last 5 years but better attendance.


tim and josh - please make some changes.

[The Rebel]

Time. Like it or not the casual fans are still pissed about Karl being fired and the Shaw fiasco. Also they need to spend time educating the local media, the few minutes of coverage of the nav draft was terrible, even on the Kroeke owned Altitude radio.

[RRFB]

Yeah trying to compete with the Broncos is not the right way to look at it. The Nuggets will never win that battle and it doesn't matter how good they are vs. how bad the Broncos are.

I put a lot of the blame on the local media. Radio has gotten much better lately with Altitude950, but there's still too many Denver sports fans listening to The Fan and their coverage of anything non-Broncos is an absolute joke. Kiszla and Paige have been writing some awful articles in the Post too. You know casual fans are reading that garbage, picking up unrealistic expectations, and then ripping the Nuggets to shreds when those expectations inevitably aren't met.

They could do a better job with their marketing and promotions, but I still don't think people will come to the games until they have at least a playoff product. I'm glad I jumped on the pre-lottery season ticket promotion and think I got an amazing deal, so maybe they're making progress there. I also remember reading some meaningless list that said the Nuggets twitter was one of the best NBA social media accounts, but I don't see that making much of a difference.

Lastly, it probably doesn't help that there's 25,000 people moving to Denver every month and most of them already have loyalties to other teams. That's very evident every time the Lakers come to town.

[Nuggets_Talk]

Time. Like it or not the casual fans are still pissed about Karl being fired and the Shaw fiasco. Also they need to spend time educating the local media, the few minutes of coverage of the nav draft was terrible, even on the Kroeke owned Altitude radio.

I get that but that cant be the only reason. how did minnesota, orlando, milwaukee and philadelphia get away with garbage product on the court for much longer than we have had?

we have had a top 10 record in the entire nba over the last decade. we made the playoffs more recently than many teams. we have a lot of young talent. where are the fans?

totally agree with the local media stuff - get on the radio more, more interviews, more social networking (facebook, snap chat, instagram, etc).

give fans a reason to be excited. I get why the national media doesnt know about us - no excuse the local media doesnt.

[Nuggets_Talk]

Yeah trying to compete with the Broncos is not the right way to look at it. The Nuggets will never win that battle and it doesn't matter how good they are vs. how bad the Broncos are.

I put a lot of the blame on the local media. Radio has gotten much better lately with Altitude950, but there's still too many Denver sports fans listening to The Fan and their coverage of anything non-Broncos is an absolute joke. Kiszla and Paige have been writing some awful articles in the Post too. You know casual fans are reading that garbage, picking up unrealistic expectations, and then ripping the Nuggets to shreds when those expectations inevitably aren't met.

absolutely hate those two garbage "journalists". trying to get views and reactions at the expense of the nuggets.

They could do a better job with their marketing and promotions, but I still don't think people will come to the games until they have at least a playoff product. I'm glad I jumped on the pre-lottery season ticket promotion and think I got an amazing deal, so maybe they're making progress there. I also remember reading some meaningless list that said the Nuggets twitter was one of the best NBA social media accounts, but I don't see that making much of a difference.

Lastly, it probably doesn't help that there's 25,000 people moving to Denver every month and most of them already have loyalties to other teams. That's very evident every time the Lakers come to town.

I bet many of those people dont have any NBA loyalties. great opportunities to snag some more fans.

if tickets are lowered and people show up, they may turn into fans. let them grow with the team and get attached emotionally. then when we are actually winning the rest of the fans will show up as well.

[Nuggets_Talk]

and I agree dont compete with the broncos - those are the fans we want in the PC rooting for the nuggets. die hard sports fans loyal to denver.

maybe even get some bronco players some court side tickets and have them at the games.

[Powder Blue]

If you think KSE is going to lower ticket prices you're crazy.

What was the draw to go watch the Nuggets last year? I'd say a majority of the time it was the other team. Who are the marketable players? The town has a "been there, done that" attitude with Gallo and Faried. I saw them pitch Mudiay last year....but no one knew who he was, same with Jokic. WE know they're budding talent but is seeing budding talent worth the price of admission when I can watch them lose on altitude at home instead?

No nationally televised games, very little national media coverage in a town where Elway is king. It's a star-driven league. Until you grow one or make a move for one butts won't be in the seats. I might shell out for a 10 game pack this year given last years guys have a year under their belts and we got Murray but as Rebel said it will take time.

[Logan18]

I think a combination of lowering ticket prices and increasing our wins per season (which is bound to happen in the next few years) will go a long way in selling more tickets. I feel like the last few years a lot of Denver Sports fans have gone all in on the Broncos and kind of forgot about the nuggets for the most part. Kind of hard for casual fans to get excited about a rebuilding team, especially after your football team goes to the super bowl. I see the Broncos getting significantly worse in the next few years though, and with the nuggets young and improving roster it should be easier for more fans to begin following them.


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the broncos could win 4 games, the nuggets 50 and the broncos would still be more popular. im not kidding.

but it doesnt have to be nuggets vs broncos. you can be fans of more than one team and I want bronco fans to be nugget fans.

the question is how do you reach out to the casual fan?

lower ticket prices for sure. putting a good, exciting product on the floor (which obviously needs to lead to wins), and more social networking. (also ive been hoping for a new logo/jerseys/colors for awhile...rebranding would be nice)

have fans excited to goto games, watch the nuggets, talk about them in person, on the radio and online. the PC used to be a fun place to go but we have a couple bad years and it turns really bad. i can name 10+ teams that dont have any where near our success even in the last 5 years but better attendance.


tim and josh - please make some changes.

I understand the Broncos are always going to be "the team" in Denver, can't argue that at all. All I was trying to say is that when the Broncos are so dang good like they have been the past few years, most Denver sports fans won't give the Nuggets any kind of attention until early to mid February. Well the last few Nugget's seasons have been over at that point in terms of playoff hope, so it's just hard for casual fans to really get into Nuggets basketball.

Once we start making the playoffs it won't "steal" Broncos fans, but I do think it will give people a legitimate reason to support another Denver sports franchise.

Hopefully ownership does something innovative to get people in the building, this team really deserves more fans!


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[Nuggets_Talk]

If you think KSE is going to lower ticket prices you're crazy.

What was the draw to go watch the Nuggets last year? I'd say a majority of the time it was the other team. Who are the marketable players? The town has a "been there, done that" attitude with Gallo and Faried. I saw them pitch Mudiay last year....but no one knew who he was, same with Jokic. WE know they're budding talent but is seeing budding talent worth the price of admission when I can watch them lose on altitude at home instead?

No nationally televised games, very little national media coverage in a town where Elway is king. It's a star-driven league. Until you grow one or make a move for one butts won't be in the seats. I might shell out for a 10 game pack this year given last years guys have a year under their belts and we got Murray but as Rebel said it will take time.

god that is depressing. why are the nuggets subject to such fickle fans when fans in other cities, who have had far worse teams lately, keep showing up?

KSE needs to lower tickets, make it up in parking and concessions, and build the fan base.

[Nuggets_Talk]

I think a combination of lowering ticket prices and increasing our wins per season (which is bound to happen in the next few years) will go a long way in selling more tickets. I feel like the last few years a lot of Denver Sports fans have gone all in on the Broncos and kind of forgot about the nuggets for the most part. Kind of hard for casual fans to get excited about a rebuilding team, especially after your football team goes to the super bowl. I see the Broncos getting significantly worse in the next few years though, and with the nuggets young and improving roster it should be easier for more fans to begin following them.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

the broncos could win 4 games, the nuggets 50 and the broncos would still be more popular. im not kidding.

but it doesnt have to be nuggets vs broncos. you can be fans of more than one team and I want bronco fans to be nugget fans.

the question is how do you reach out to the casual fan?

lower ticket prices for sure. putting a good, exciting product on the floor (which obviously needs to lead to wins), and more social networking. (also ive been hoping for a new logo/jerseys/colors for awhile...rebranding would be nice)

have fans excited to goto games, watch the nuggets, talk about them in person, on the radio and online. the PC used to be a fun place to go but we have a couple bad years and it turns really bad. i can name 10+ teams that dont have any where near our success even in the last 5 years but better attendance.


tim and josh - please make some changes.

I understand the Broncos are always going to be "the team" in Denver, can't argue that at all. All I was trying to say is that when the Broncos are so dang good like they have been the past few years, most Denver sports fans won't give the Nuggets any kind of attention until early to mid February. Well the last few Nugget's seasons have been over at that point in terms of playoff hope, so it's just hard for casual fans to really get into Nuggets basketball.

Once we start making the playoffs it won't "steal" Broncos fans, but I do think it will give people a legitimate reason to support another Denver sports franchise.

Hopefully ownership does something innovative to get people in the building, this team really deserves more fans!


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

sucks that we have such fair weather fans.

the nuggets need to at least give people more entertaining reasons to goto games. better promotions, more entertainment right outside the PC, lower prices, and of course better talent. we are definitely working on the latter.

[NuggetsWY]

how did minnesota, orlando, milwaukee and philadelphia get away with garbage product on the court for much longer than we have had?

Every city is different - Minnesota compares the best with Denver, so maybe we should investigate what they did.
Orlando has NO other major sporting franchise - sports money says Magic are top of the heap there.
Milwaukee has no football team. So it's baseball & basketball, it's a little easier sell.
Philadelphia has a LONG history of basketball and some good basketball - they have a multi-generational fan base. Plus Philadelphia has an enormous population base. Again, a different story.

Denver has to find what works in Denver. It's up to the Nuggets to market their team and having a team that wins games is their best tool. Time should bring that.

[Nuggets_Talk]

how did minnesota, orlando, milwaukee and philadelphia get away with garbage product on the court for much longer than we have had?

Every city is different - Minnesota compares the best with Denver, so maybe we should investigate what they did.
Orlando has NO other major sporting franchise - sports money says Magic are top of the heap there.
Milwaukee has no football team. So it's baseball & basketball, it's a little easier sell.
Philadelphia has a LONG history of basketball and some good basketball - they have a multi-generational fan base. Plus Philadelphia has an enormous population base. Again, a different story.

Denver has to find what works in Denver. It's up to the Nuggets to market their team and having a team that wins games is their best tool. Time should bring that.

uh, milwaukee has no football team?? they have probably the most popular one in the entire NFL.

but other than that, I agree with your main point.

it just feels wrong to be last in attendance when we have won so much more than some teams. and weve only been bad for 3 years.

[NuggetsWY]

how did minnesota, orlando, milwaukee and philadelphia get away with garbage product on the court for much longer than we have had?

Every city is different - Minnesota compares the best with Denver, so maybe we should investigate what they did.
Orlando has NO other major sporting franchise - sports money says Magic are top of the heap there.
Milwaukee has no football team. So it's baseball & basketball, it's a little easier sell.
Philadelphia has a LONG history of basketball and some good basketball - they have a multi-generational fan base. Plus Philadelphia has an enormous population base. Again, a different story.

Denver has to find what works in Denver. It's up to the Nuggets to market their team and having a team that wins games is their best tool. Time should bring that.

uh, milwaukee has no football team?? they have probably the most popular one in the entire NFL.

but other than that, I agree with your main point.

it just feels wrong to be last in attendance when we have won so much more than some teams. and weve only been bad for 3 years.

I grew up in Wisconsin. I bleed Green & Gold. I visited practice sessions when Vince Lombardi was the coach. I will continue to say that Milwaukee has no local football team. Green Bay does not count for a major impact on Milwaukee's sports dollars. Sure, there are fans going north, but tickets are hard to come by and the fans going to Green Bay come from all over the state. Chicago is nearby, but the rivalry leaves much of Milwaukee with a bad taste for da Bears. Most of the sports money in Milwaukee is spent on baseball & basketball. Both teams are in the same boat. The Braves leaving Milwaukee left a very bad taste for baseball with many fans. When the Brewers came back, the fans were ready (even with one owner in there that was rather hated). The Bucks had a GREAT start after drafting Lew Alcindor and trading for Oscar Robertson to add those two to Lucius Allen & Bobby Dandridge. The fans have hungered for a great team ever since and the fans show up - but mostly only when the team is winning at least somewhat.

[Nuggets_Talk]

Every city is different - Minnesota compares the best with Denver, so maybe we should investigate what they did.
Orlando has NO other major sporting franchise - sports money says Magic are top of the heap there.
Milwaukee has no football team. So it's baseball & basketball, it's a little easier sell.
Philadelphia has a LONG history of basketball and some good basketball - they have a multi-generational fan base. Plus Philadelphia has an enormous population base. Again, a different story.

Denver has to find what works in Denver. It's up to the Nuggets to market their team and having a team that wins games is their best tool. Time should bring that.

uh, milwaukee has no football team?? they have probably the most popular one in the entire NFL.

but other than that, I agree with your main point.

it just feels wrong to be last in attendance when we have won so much more than some teams. and weve only been bad for 3 years.

I grew up in Wisconsin. I bleed Green & Gold. I visited practice sessions when Vince Lombardi was the coach. I will continue to say that Milwaukee has no local football team. Green Bay does not count for a major impact on Milwaukee's sports dollars. Sure, there are fans going north, but tickets are hard to come by and the fans going to Green Bay come from all over the state. Chicago is nearby, but the rivalry leaves much of Milwaukee with a bad taste for da Bears. Most of the sports money in Milwaukee is spent on baseball & basketball. Both teams are in the same boat. The Braves leaving Milwaukee left a very bad taste for baseball with many fans. When the Brewers came back, the fans were ready (even with one owner in there that was rather hated). The Bucks had a GREAT start after drafting Lew Alcindor and trading for Oscar Robertson to add those two to Lucius Allen & Bobby Dandridge. The fans have hungered for a great team ever since and the fans show up - but mostly only when the team is winning at least somewhat.

I stand corrected. I assumed milwaukee was completely enamored with the packers.

[NuggetsWY]

I stand corrected. I assumed milwaukee was completely enamored with the packers.

Make no mistake, they love the Packers in every corner of Wisconsin, including Milwaukee. It's just the dollars spent on the Packers there are limited in terms of attendance. It's a couple hours drive without Packer game traffic. Most tickets are season tickets that have been owned for many years, even decades. For the average fan, Packer games are out of reach. They do buy the jerseys and such though. The Bucks selling that stuff have stiff competition. I think their marketing people are doing a great job there.

[The Rebel]

Time. Like it or not the casual fans are still pissed about Karl being fired and the Shaw fiasco. Also they need to spend time educating the local media, the few minutes of coverage of the nav draft was terrible, even on the Kroeke owned Altitude radio.

I get that but that cant be the only reason. how did minnesota, orlando, milwaukee and philadelphia get away with garbage product on the court for much longer than we have had?

we have had a top 10 record in the entire nba over the last decade. we made the playoffs more recently than many teams. we have a lot of young talent. where are the fans?

totally agree with the local media stuff - get on the radio more, more interviews, more social networking (facebook, snap chat, instagram, etc).

give fans a reason to be excited. I get why the national media doesnt know about us - no excuse the local media doesnt.

I agree there is no reason that the local media knows nothing about the team, but when people on the radio have a hard time pronouncing Jokic and Nurkic's names I have a hard time believing they know anything about the team. Even on Altitude radio Tom Nalen was one of the guys hosting during the draft, a guy who knows nothing about basketball, and spent half the time I listened talking about nicknames for the new guys.

As for marketing, their marketing is fine, but when the national media ignores the team, and the local media either ignores or trashes the team than why do you think marketing is going to make a difference?

[RRFB]

we have had a top 10 record in the entire nba over the last decade. we made the playoffs more recently than many teams. we have a lot of young talent. where are the fans?

I've been thinking for a while that maybe that 10 year run of making the playoffs with Melo actually hurt the fanbase in the long run. The combination of making the playoffs all those years in a row while almost never making it out of the first round spoiled the casual Nuggets fan. By 2010, simply making the playoffs wasn't enough to get people in the building cause no one thought they'd win.

I specifically remember being in attendance at some of those playoffs games and seeing plenty of empty seats. I also remember when they gave out free t-shirts at home playoff games and the fans refused to wear them so they never did it again. Then the fans used that as a reason to dislike the Kroenke's and stop going to games altogether. My point is that Nuggets fans have been lacking for some time. It definitely wasn't this bad, but it didn't just come out of nowhere once they started losing. I had season tickets through most of the Melo era and the atmosphere in the Pepsi Center was never great outside of the big games.

[The Rebel]

If you think KSE is going to lower ticket prices you're crazy.

What was the draw to go watch the Nuggets last year? I'd say a majority of the time it was the other team. Who are the marketable players? The town has a "been there, done that" attitude with Gallo and Faried. I saw them pitch Mudiay last year....but no one knew who he was, same with Jokic. WE know they're budding talent but is seeing budding talent worth the price of admission when I can watch them lose on altitude at home instead?

No nationally televised games, very little national media coverage in a town where Elway is king. It's a star-driven league. Until you grow one or make a move for one butts won't be in the seats. I might shell out for a 10 game pack this year given last years guys have a year under their belts and we got Murray but as Rebel said it will take time.

god that is depressing. why are the nuggets subject to such fickle fans when fans in other cities, who have had far worse teams lately, keep showing up?

KSE needs to lower tickets, make it up in parking and concessions, and build the fan base.

Like Powder Blue I don't see any way that the Nuggets lower the ticket prices.

As for such a fickle fan base, have you looked at the Nuggets history? They have a long history of making moves based on money that goes back 25 years now, they do not have a finals run even let alone a championship to hang their hats on, every time the team starts to look good they trade picks to dump players and start getting cheap while whining about not being in a big enough market. They are competing not only with the AVs, Mammoth, and Broncos for dollars but also the many other activities that Denver and the surrounding area offer, and they get so little local coverage (mostly by people who don't know crap about the team) that there are still many people that do not realize that karl is not the coach. The ones that do realize Karl and Ujiri are gone bitch about the fact that the team has been a 30 win team the last 3 years with Josh Kroenke in charge and think he and his toys are a waste of time as he has done nothing to help the team. Now add to that the Kroenke's prefer that all their executives and of course themselves stay out of the media as much as possible and you have nothing to combat that perception.

The people with the money to support the team are usually my generation, the Nuggets basically lost most of my generation in the years between Karl and Moe, kids I grew up with followed the Bulls, the Lakers, the Celtics, or some other team that they had a connection too. Spending more on social media and crap is not going to bring 35-50 year olds back to the games, it is going to take time and effort to bring those people to the games. They are tired of hearing how NBA players dont want to play here, they are tired of hearing about not having the cap room to do anything, they are tired of hearing about injuries, and they are tired of the Nuggets not showing them they care about the fans anymore than the money they bring. In many ways the Nuggets are looked at similar to the way the Rockies are looked at, but the Rockies have a huge advantage in Coors Field on a nice day and that they were actually pretty decent as we were coming up.

The truth is my fandom has been wavering the last couple of years. Even when people laughed at me for following the Nuggets when I was 14 I held firm, but lately it has gotten hard. I have seen more rebuilding years than good years since 1990, I have seen countless rookies come through that we were supposed to love only to see them bust or push their way out 1st chance they get, I have seen injuries or stupid moves done by the front offices that killed rebuilds and forced a restart, and I have seen too many moves over the last few years that scream cash savings over winning (while people blame Denver and Lala for Melo forcing his way out, I believe one of the biggest factors was the constant excuses on why they did not want to add salary or had to cut salary and I find confirmation in the fact when they finally went into the tax to sign Harrington after Melo had requested a trade while they were trying to change his mind).

Last year was the 1st year in a long time that I did not go to one game, even though I was offered free tickets several times. I love some of the young guys and think many are oozing with potential, but it is hard to buy into this team again knowing that the Nuggets have been pushing to trade for a psuedo star to sell tickets, it is hard to buy in knowing that if Connelly does to good of a job he will be gone in a couple of years and the team will be changed over again, it is hard knowing that if all this young talent develops many will be gone as the Nuggets will not pay to keep them all, and knowing that ultimately if the Nuggets can find a way to get close the money factor will likely stop them in their tracks and we will have to go back to hoping we get lucky that 1 time like we did with Melo and Billups.