Empty Arena

Sir Charles · Post #1 » by **Sir Charles** » Sat Nov 1, 2008 8:14 pm

Why is the Wachovia Center so empty? Is is because people haven't turned their attention to the Sixers yet with the Phillies winning the World Series? Is it because of the economy and people just can't afford to go to the games as much? I know last year we didn't even fill it up for our playoff games beacuse people probably weren't expecting too much and that was disappointing but I thought this year people would be back on board.

Last nights crowd looked pathetic, it was like a game in Atlanta or Miami. I know it was also the day of the parade, but even Jimmy showed up so why couldn't the fans? I don't know, maybe I am making too much of it but I was just wondering what your guys thoughts were.

sec-106 · Post #2 » by **sec-106** » Sat Nov 1, 2008 9:13 pm

I was thinking of getting tix for the opener, and as late as Tues PM, they had sec 101 row 16 and sec 106 row K, available on thru their website.

Post #3 » by **The Guilty Party** » Sat Nov 1, 2008 9:37 pm

Right now... EVERYTHING has taken a backseat to the Phillies winning and it's going to be that way for at least another month. Does anyone really care that the Eagles play in Seattle tomorrow? I mean... there's been next to ZERO discussion about the Birds for the first time in forever.

The Sixers will eventually gain a crowd if they play a lot more like they did last night than they did on opening night. Unfortunately for them... they're just a tiny blip on the Philly Sports' Radar right now.

youngcrev · Post #4 » by **youngcrev** » Sat Nov 1, 2008 10:28 pm

I was there last night. I didn't feel like dealing with the subway after the parade, and saw that tickets were only $10, so I just stuck around. I'm surprised more people didn't do the same.

Cru Thik · Post #5 » by **Cru Thik** » Sat Nov 1, 2008 10:29 pm

It's all about the Phillies the rest of the teams are taking a back seat for a little while at this point. I think the economy could have something to do with it also but I won't put the entire blame on that unless we are seeing the same results a month or two from now. Got to remember some of us have waited our entire lifes to see a championship in this town so the 76ers against the Knicks isn't really on the radar.

bballin76 · Post #6 » by **bballin76** » Sat Nov 1, 2008 10:35 pm

youngcrev wrote:I was there last night. I didn't feel like dealing with the subway after the parade, and saw that tickets were only $10, so I just stuck around. I'm surprised more people didn't do the same.

I wanted to do the same, but didn't want to rely on the trains to get me back home with how erratic they were.

Post #7 » by **The Guilty Party** » Sat Nov 1, 2008 10:45 pm

youngcrev wrote:I was there last night. I didn't feel like dealing with the subway after the parade, and saw that tickets were only $10, so I just stuck around. I'm surprised more people didn't do the same.

I considered sticking around but some of my friends were waaaaaay too loaded to try to do anything that would require some level of social decency so we bounced.

What kind of tickets did you get for $10?? Also... while I did have a Phillies cap on... I was rocking an old school Sixers' shirt yesterday. I wonder if I would have gotten the $10 deal if I would have shown up with only the Sixers' gear on. :-)

Dedicated_76ers_fan · Post #8 » by **Dedicated_76ers_fan** » Sat Nov 1, 2008 10:54 pm

Economy=George W Bush. Blame Bush. It's a relatively easy thing to do. Upset that you haven't had a full tank in years? Blame Bush. Upset that the stocks are going down? Blame Bush. Upset that 9/11 happened. Blame Bush.

Tension · Post #9 » by **Tension** » Sun Nov 2, 2008 1:36 am

It was Halloween..

but yeah, I do agree with you, our crowds are generally always pretty meh. I was at the game 4 of last years playoffs and only like 2.8/4 of the stadium was filled leading 2-1 in the series =/

LongLiveHinkie · Post #10 » by **LongLiveHinkie** » Sun Nov 2, 2008 1:42 am

People don't give a damn about the Sixers right now because of the Phillies. Plus after a long long day at the parade, people just wanted to get home and collapse. It is expected that there is no one there right now. At least we average more than brutal sports towns like Atlanta though.

I thought about going to the Sixers game last night, but I was up for like 45 straight hours and just spend 10 straight hours screaming and partying at the parade. I wanted to get home and pass out.

It'll fill out as the season goes along.

panacea · Post #11 » by **panacea** » Sun Nov 2, 2008 5:02 am

Honestly, to me it boils down to ticket prices. The fact that good seats cost about 125 a piece is absolutely insane. The same tickets cost about 85 bucks 4 years ago.

Also, the team is very very very poorly marketed.

Even when Phils-mania calms down, I doubt the Wachovia Center will be filled to capacity.

Post #12 » by **dbodner** » Sun Nov 2, 2008 12:54 pm

I wouldn't judge anything based on the first two games attendance. I had tickets to opening night. Left in the middle of the 3rd quarter, as I also had tickets to Game 5. I contemplated not even going. On days of the first championship in the town in 25 years, and the first parade in the town in 25 years, I didn't expect a packed house.

bedjaw · Post #13 » by **bedjaw** » Sun Nov 2, 2008 1:52 pm

Right now and rightfully so this town ia all about the phillies. They did soemthing everybody has been waiting 25 yrs to happen. Enjoy it to the fullest and check back around christmas and the sixers should be getting some steam.

IversonsMother · Post #14 » by **IversonsMother** » Sun Nov 2, 2008 5:40 pm

The attendence sucked all last year, and even in the playoffs. I really don't think many people in Philly care about the sixers or the NBA for that matter.

Post #15 » by **Sixerscan** » Sun Nov 2, 2008 6:43 pm

Sir Charles wrote:Why is the Wachovia Center so empty? Is is because people haven't turned their attention to the Sixers yet with the Phillies winning the World Series? Is it because of the economy and people just can't afford to go to the games as much? I know last year we didn't even fill it up for our playoff games beacuse people probably weren't expecting too much and that was disappointing but I thought this year people would be back on board.

Last nights crowd looked pathetic, it was like a game in Atlanta or Miami. I know it was also the day of the parade, but even Jimmy showed up so why couldn't the fans? I don't know, maybe I am making too much of it but I was just wondering what your guys thoughts were.

It was Halloween.

Sir Charles · Post #16 » by **Sir Charles** » Sun Nov 2, 2008 7:05 pm

It was Halloween.

Yes, it was Halloween and the Phillies were the focus but I don't know, I honestly think it might have to do with the lack of a superstar, when AI was here we would have crowds regardless. I mean I love this team, there is alot to like, but the casual fans probably don't get too excited over a young team with potential and Elton Brand isn't exactly a big name to the casual fan. I don't know, I think when we start winning, we will see the arena start to fill up, but not as much as when AI was here because people came out just to see him do something incredible and see a future hall of famer. Now, I think we have a more complete team easily, but I just don't see the crowds being as big. I may be wrong but thats just a thought, that we won't see the kind of crowds that we had with Iverson and not just the 2001 and 2002 seasons, but the other years when people still came out.

Post #17 » by **Sixerscan** » Sun Nov 2, 2008 7:20 pm

the Sixers didn't crack top 10 in attendance until Iverson's 4th year here, which was after they had already won a playoff round.

People aren't going to start coming until they are proven to be good.

Either way, as someone who doesn't have season tickets, and I assume a good number of people on here don't as well (although i know a few do) I don't really think complaining about attendance numbers is really worth it.

Don · Post #18 » by **Don** » Mon Nov 3, 2008 1:39 pm

Sixerscan,
I think that given your desire to go, and willingness to attend when able says something. We shouldn't be talking here and never attending unless we're strapped financially. With 5 million people in the metro area, we should be able to fill the 21 thousand+ seats at least when playing the good teams. I can't make it every game, but I definitely go when I can make time. Those of us that love the sport need to try and make it whenever possible, and that gives the team a better chance. We saw how the Phillies consistently found energy in the Series when playing here. The fans were LOUD, and the Rays, as good as they were, couldn't answer the way our team did.

Post #19 » by **The Guilty Party** » Tue Nov 4, 2008 5:29 pm

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/attendanc ... asonType=2

The only team with worse attendance than the Sixers is the Sacramento Kings and that's only because they have yet to play a home game. I imagine Ed Snider will be on the airwaves sooner than later blasting the fans for not supporting the basketball team.

Phillyboy · Post #20 » by **Phillyboy** » Tue Nov 4, 2008 5:44 pm

I think Sixersfan is the closest to correct in analysis. The Sixers have traditionally been the third team in this town. Add the fact that thet've either missed the playoffs completely or got bounced early and the enthusiasm en mass just isn't there.

It's only us hardcores that saw the young team gel last year to the point of giving them credit as a rising franchise. Again to Sixersfan's point, the Phillies have set the bar high as far as sports team expectations and until the Sixers start to establish themselves as a winner they will continue to have attendance problems.

Maybe when Iggle's season is over and the only game in town is Sixers or Flyers they might get an attendance bump due to the sports junkies needing their fix, good team or bad.