upgrading ticket packages as a way to ameliorate tension

[fishtank]

Do you think Samson and the fornt office should upgrade all season ticket purchasers as a way to mitigate the tension? I know that while I am not pleased with what has transpired, I would like to know that my hard worked money (that for all intents and purposes will not be refunded) is appreciated by organization. There should be a way to upgrade all season ticket holders or maybe wave the parking costs.

 

What do you think?

[PBMarlin]

Anything extra they would do to make their fans happy would be prudent, IMHO. The Marlins are certainly in need of improving their public image.

[vinivedivichi]

That would be a classy move, and would make a lot of sense. They get to keep the revenue they already have, and probably aren't sacrificing much since I don't think there's a lot of demand for season tickets right now. It actually would be a great idea to build goodwill at a very low cost to the front office. Sadly, it probably won't happen.

[rferry]

That would suggest they were wrong in what they did, which I'm not sure they'd want that to be known.

[PBMarlin]

That would suggest they were wrong in what they did, which I'm not sure they'd want that to be known.

 

 

Not really. It would mean they recognize they need to readjust to market conditions and build greater interest in the team in other ways.

[TSwift25]

I think it's something that should be done, but I'm going to side with RFerry on this as saying that it's an admission of guilt, so I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

What would be classy would be sending every season ticket holder a 2006 team signed baseball...something like that.

[vinivedivichi]

That would suggest they were wrong in what they did, which I'm not sure they'd want that to be known.

 

 

 

It could definitely be taken as an admission of guilt, but I think it comes accross more as a notion of professionalism. It would be a subtle "I'm sorry" that I'm sure season ticket holders would appreciate and allow them to look past what has happened. Remember - season ticket holders are some of the most loyal fans the Marlins have. I don't own season tickets, but if I did the thing that would bother me most about the way things went down is the feeling that I would have been "duped." I would be very excited to see the young players, but the principle behind what was done would make me want to fight it. This would be a noble gesture that would allow me to forgive them. I think someone ought to email Samson with the proposal, it makes a lot of sense and doesn't cost the FO much.

[MarlinatPenn]

I'm not getting my hopes up on this organization doing anything "classy" like that.

 

And I don't think the good seats are gonna be too full. You can probably just sit there anyway.

[vinivedivichi]

I'm not getting my hopes up on this organization doing anything "classy" like that.

 

And I don't think the good seats are gonna be too full. You can probably just sit there anyway.

 

 

True, but it's the thought that counts. It would be nice for the front office to do something tangible that shows they appreciate their loyal customers.

[Fishfan79]

I think it's something that should be done, but I'm going to side with RFerry on this as saying that it's an admission of guilt, so I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

What would be classy would be sending every season ticket holder a 2006 team signed baseball...something like that.

 

 

 

rather get a 2005 next to a 2006 in a case saying before and after we crush your hopes

 

 

jk

[The Big Hurt]

If they would just keep the Mermaids up in sec 449 the whole game....dancing... i think that would ameliorate the tension... lol

 

also, this guy must be a smart guy using words like "ameliorate".... he must have just graduated from UM recently....lol.....

 

Congrats Tank!!!!!!!

[Marlins2003]

It certainly isn't the worst idea I've heard.

 

While I think Rferry is generally right that ownership wouldn't want to package this in a way that admits wrongdoing, and it would certainly be wrong to do the kinds of things John Henry did, perhaps some kind of plan could be worked out that would bring value to being a season ticketholder.

[gobucks]

When the heat were bad in the 02 and 03 seasons they were pretty creative. They gave season ticket holders vouchers for additional tickets in the same price range as their season tickets. You could then take the voucher to a ticket window and trade it in for the game you wanted. Obviously the more popular the game was the worse your seats would be, but at the end of the day the team is only giving away an empty non revenue producing seat.

[TSwift25]

When the heat were bad in the 02 and 03 seasons they were pretty creative. They gave season ticket holders vouchers for additional tickets in the same price range as their season tickets. You could then take the voucher to a ticket window and trade it in for the game you wanted. Obviously the more popular the game was the worse your seats would be, but at the end of the day the team is only giving away an empty non revenue producing seat.

 

 

Marlins already do that. Something like that, though, has limited appeal.

 

For a meaningful apology, the upgrade would be most effective followed by, as Marlins2003 said, a real reason to be a season ticket-holder, which the Marlins really don't do.

[Marlin Nation]

I think an actual apology would be nice, also not going on a 3-5 month tour of other cities before exausting every option here would also be nice and something that decent people would do.

[rferry]

I think an actual apology would be nice, also not going on a 3-5 month tour of other cities before exausting every option here would also be nice and something that decent people would do.

 

Uhhh, the reason why they reduced payroll was to ride it out a couple years while they examine all their options, including those in South Florida.

[Strike 3]

That would suggest they were wrong in what they did, which I'm not sure they'd want that to be known.

 

Well, I think that cat's already out of the bag.

 

Then they add insult to injury. I almost fell out of my chair the other night when Samson said to some of the most loyal Marlins fans "you weren't wearing Marlins shirts in 2002." Like that guy who wears the vest and cap completely covered in pins just started collecting those.

[FutureGM]

I would be extremely shocked to see the front office do anything to gain fan support this season. After gutting a playoff-caliber team with no warning, and not offering refunds to season ticket holders expecting a competitive team, they know they would have to do a lot of work to bring back the fans. Plus, in recent interviews with Samson, the man seems convinced that they are leaving. He doesn't believe that a stadium deal can be reached, and after this gutting, he's probably right.

[Marlin Nation]

I think an actual apology would be nice, also not going on a 3-5 month tour of other cities before exausting every option here would also be nice and something that decent people would do.

 

Uhhh, the reason why they reduced payroll was to ride it out a couple years while they examine all their options, including those in South Florida.

 

If they really want to show they are committed to staying in Florida they shouldn't be visiting other cities. There has to be other options here to explore before you go whoring the team around. The FO with thier actions and comments have done alot to fuel the culture of negativity and futility among our fanbase concerning the team's future.

 

It just seems that Loria and co. are wrongfully reciprocating the apathy that South Florida at large has shown to them, on to us the loyal fans. That really makes me very angry.

[FutureGM]

I think an actual apology would be nice, also not going on a 3-5 month tour of other cities before exausting every option here would also be nice and something that decent people would do.

 

Uhhh, the reason why they reduced payroll was to ride it out a couple years while they examine all their options, including those in South Florida.

 

If they really want to show they are committed to staying in Florida they shouldn't be visiting other cities. There has to be other options here to explore before you go whoring the team around. The FO with thier actions and comments have done alot to fuel the culture of negativity and futility among our fanbase concerning the team's future.

 

It just seems that Loria and co. are wrongfully reciprocating the apathy that South Florida at large has shown to them, on to us the loyal fans. That really makes me very angry.

I really think that people on this board are being too hopeful that Loria and Company have good intentions in all of this. I'm not convinced. I mean, they met with the mayor of Las Vegas behind the city's back several months ago, which is not a normal thing to do in the middle of stadium negotiations. Even Samson admitted in an interview the day the team announced plans to explore moving the team, he didn't think the Marlins would still be in South Florida in 2008.

[rferry]

I think an actual apology would be nice, also not going on a 3-5 month tour of other cities before exausting every option here would also be nice and something that decent people would do.

 

Uhhh, the reason why they reduced payroll was to ride it out a couple years while they examine all their options, including those in South Florida.

If they really want to show they are committed to staying in Florida they shouldn't be visiting other cities. There has to be other options here to explore before you go whoring the team around. The FO with thier actions and comments have done alot to fuel the culture of negativity and futility among our fanbase concerning the team's future.

 

It just seems that Loria and co. are wrongfully reciprocating the apathy that South Florida at large has shown to them, on to us the loyal fans. That really makes me very angry.

Those options in Florida don't open up without the credible threat of relocation, which comes only in preliminary talks with other markets.

[Marlins2003]

I've been thinking about this.

 

Taking a block of say 200 seats behind the dugouts, say rows 10-20, and offering them weeknights to weekend season ticketholders at 50% off.

 

Extra meet and greet autograph dates for season ticketholders.

 

Expanding dinner on the diamond to five or six times during the season.

 

Maybe BBQs with the players and fans after a few games.

 

There's lots of easy stuff the organization could do.

[Marlin Nation]

I think an actual apology would be nice, also not going on a 3-5 month tour of other cities before exausting every option here would also be nice and something that decent people would do.

 

Uhhh, the reason why they reduced payroll was to ride it out a couple years while they examine all their options, including those in South Florida.

If they really want to show they are committed to staying in Florida they shouldn't be visiting other cities. There has to be other options here to explore before you go whoring the team around. The FO with thier actions and comments have done alot to fuel the culture of negativity and futility among our fanbase concerning the team's future.

 

It just seems that Loria and co. are wrongfully reciprocating the apathy that South Florida at large has shown to them, on to us the loyal fans. That really makes me very angry.

Those options in Florida don't open up without the credible threat of relocation, which comes only in preliminary talks with other markets.

 

This isn't lost on me, I actually thought going to LV was a pretty good move, but a 3-5 month "fact-finding" tour I think is taking this strategy too far. I don't think it is going to create that much leverage for them, all it's done is alienate alot of people here in South Florida.

[Hollyberry]

I've been thinking about this.

 

Taking a block of say 200 seats behind the dugouts, say rows 10-20, and offering them weeknights to weekend season ticketholders at 50% off.

 

Extra meet and greet autograph dates for season ticketholders.

 

Expanding dinner on the diamond to five or six times during the season.

 

Maybe BBQs with the players and fans after a few games.

 

There's lots of easy stuff the organization could do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

:thumbup Great Idea

 

 

 

Also Maybe..

 

-$1 Soda/Hotdogs on certain days

 

- Half price tickets on certain days.

 

-Season ticket holders get a certain # of free tickets.

 

-$1 water (Day games)

 

-When the Marlins win a home game- You can get a free ticket for another Marlins game.

 

- Raffles- Miguel, Hermida, Dontrelle etc: Signed items and raffle them off at the end of every inning. How hard is it to get them to sign a baseball before every game?

 

 

 

Anymore Ideas?

[TSwift25]

I've been thinking about this.

 

Taking a block of say 200 seats behind the dugouts, say rows 10-20, and offering them weeknights to weekend season ticketholders at 50% off.

 

Extra meet and greet autograph dates for season ticketholders.

 

Expanding dinner on the diamond to five or six times during the season.

 

Maybe BBQs with the players and fans after a few games.

 

There's lots of easy stuff the organization could do.

 

 

Yeah, but then the non-weekend season ticket holder wouldn't receive as much of a "we're sorry."

 

Those are great ideas, though.

 

I think (and forgive me if I'm misrepresenting what you position) that the best, possibly only, thing to do for 2006 among season ticketholders is to generate a feeling of connection between the fans and the team. To do that, you need to make the team exciting and the players accessable.

 

Maybe extending 50% off passes to certain spring training games with two meet and greets in the spring would be a good way to start.

 

I see what the New York Rangers did at the start of the season to keep season ticketholders happy and proud during the rebuilding phase (I've got a mini-plan, FWIW). There were open training camp invitations, expanded autograph sessions, autographed gifts sent, and Glen Sather (their G.M.) personally called everyone who had paid for '06 season tickets to thank them and talk a little about the plan for rebuilding. Stuff like that goes a long way to keeping everyone happy and creating a level of connectedness among the young team and its fans.

 

I'll be honest, as a fan, you don't have to do much to make me fall in love with a scrappy young team. The 2000-2002 Marlins teams were probably the ones I "fell in love with" the most. A part of you always has a spot for the championship teams, but those young ones are what make baseball fun.

 

So, to wrap it up, I think all that needs to be done is increasing accessability to players, and therefore creating a greater feeling of connectedness among fans. Probably too much effort for the incredibly inept Marlins marketing department to figure out, but its nice to think that maybe it could be done...