Phoenix Coyotes big name staff couldn't improve the attendence, isn't it sad?

Question

Looking back at what the Yotes had done over the years one would think that with a name like Gretzky the arena would always sell out no matter how the team faired. But I was wrong. Having a big name doesn't matter all that much unless when it comes time to get another position within the organization. Even then(stating the obivous) if you don't have what it takes to do the job, it doesn't matter who you are, you'll be out of job by being fired or stepping on down.

I look at who is on the Staff now, Gretzky, Ulf Samuelson, Grant Fuhr, Burke, Thomas Steen(new Coyote Scout) this team is improving and some of the people on our staff never played for the Yotes. At the same time, should it matter more to have people on your organization that can do the job right regardless if they played for that team or not then have people who don't know what they are doing and have them on because they used to play for that team?

It's the players performance that drives up the sales not who works within

Answer 1

Well, Arizona is considered not a hockey state because of it's location. I'm thinking it could be their location in the PHX area. It's 25-40 some minutes from downtown PHX. I think they could get more attendence if they made the arena in downtown PHX, or even in Mesa. But obviously they won't build a new arena any time soon. I realize that the PHX Suns are more popular there than PHX Coyotes. So it could be on nights of a Suns game, there will be less attendence. Plus the Coyotes have not had a good past 2-3 years. They ahve been far from the playoffs. The average person in AZ might know who Wayne Gretzky is but they might not know anything else about hockey, which is sad. The fans have had not much to cheer about the Coyotes since their move to Glendale, because of their performance. It's a fabulous arena without a doubt but people might think there is nothing too much to cheer about. But I think they will be close to their Playoff White-Out next year and therefore the fans/people of AZ might be more interested in going to more games. I remember when the Warriors made the playoffs, before that time there wouldn't be too many fans going to the games and they had weak fan support. But ever since they made the playoffs they have been so popular and attendence and merchandise has increased. Just wait man, the attendence will defienatly increase. They are on excellent track.

The Coyotes should increase the prices but have free, unlimited beer for every game! I'd fly there more often!!

Answer 2

just move them up north where there would be sellouts every night just because gretszky

Answer 3

you bring a very valid point.

but i believe fans fill up the stands to see the players, i'm sure thousands of people are sitting there staring at Gretzky.

i guess it's what you put on the ice not what PUTS them on the ice.

One of these days im going to drive down to Glendale to go see a yotes game, my second all time favourite team.

NOW IF Gretzky, Samuelson, Grant Fuhr, Burke and Thomas Steen were on the ice im sure it would sell out lol!

and as to your gretzky question, if he doesn't make the playoffs next year, 1 of 2 things is going to happen:

a. He hires some very experienced assistant coaches

or

b. He finds a very experience Coach and steps down to assistant coach.

i guess only time will tell, but Wayne is not one to give up, so we will see.

Answer 4

When Wayne Gretzky was playing, he made some public comments that made me wonder how sharp an evaluator of talent he really was. I haven't seen anything in Phoenix to make me change his mind, although I know he put together the Olympic team that won gold for Canada a while ago.

Gretzky obviously believes that it's good to have a hockey staff that has played the game at a high level. Not sure that's always true.

And no one pays to see a coaching staff. They pay to see wins.