Letter to the Warriors Front Office
by disgruntled_season_ticket_holder on Dec 10, 2008 9:56 PM PST
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PrintBelow is a letter I recently wrote to the Warriors front office on the morning of Wednesday, December 10. I have yet to hear from back from them.
Dear Warriors Front Office:
My friend and I are current Warriors season ticket holders and I'm writing to express our frustration this year.
We first became season ticket holders for the 2007 - 2008 season and even though our seats were pricey we enjoyed watching a good brand of basketball, especially after the Warriors made the playoffs the previous season for the first time in 13 years. Even though the Warriors didn't make the postseason last year, we were still happy with the product on the court and the price we paid to see that product.
Unfortunately we feel like we are being ripped off big time this season. We were asked to renew the same seats for an extra thousand dollars but for a significantly worse product. Also, we were required to renew our seats for the 2008 - 2009 season before the previous season had ended. This is unusual since I am current 49ers season ticket holder (and a former Stanford football season ticket holder) and I always was asked to renew my seats no less than two months after the season was over. This way it gives fans an opportunity to reflect on the past season, see if they like the direction the team is heading, and analyze the offseason moves the team has made. In a way we feel like a bunch of suckers since shortly after last season was over Baron Davis left to LA and Monta Ellis injured his ankle.
To make matters worse, clearly we are in a recession and it is very difficult to sell our seats. Last year we had no problem making our money back for a mediocre opponent on a weeknight. Now we can't even sell our tickets for even 1/4 of the price we paid for them when the Warriors play a playoff calibre team on a weekend. Furthermore, almost everything about the experience of going to a Warriors game has got worse. Traffic from the peninsula is a nightmare if you are taking the San Mateo bridge and most concession items increased in price. I know you have no control of the traffic situation but when you consider all of the trouble your fans go through just to get to the game and how much extra they had to pay for tickets for a terrible product, at the very least you can lower the prices of some concession items. FYI, the San Jose Sharks charge $7.75 for 16 oz. of quality beer while you are charging $9.50 for 16 oz. of Bud Light.
At this point, my friend and I will not be renewing our tickets after this season unless we can get the same seats for no more than half the price we are paying right now. I know of several other season ticket holders who feel the same way. Considering how bad the economy is and the direction the team is heading, it's only fair that we are offered the same seats for next season at a significantly lower price. Hopefully you will get your act together and do what is right for your fans and for your business.
Sincerely, Disgruntled Season Ticket Holder
This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!
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I saw the word beer and skipped to there,
I think I got the general jist of what he was trying to say though. But not sure how CC or RR is resposible for traffic or moped related accidents.
Ellis to the rim.
by warriorsscore110 on Dec 10, 2008 3:19 PM PST up reply actions
Man I feel for you man,
too bad RR and CC dont care remotely about the fans. This is a basketball crazed area and they got no NBA competetion here, espicially with the Kings rebuilding.
What is the status of our petitions to fire Robert Rowell and have Chris Cohan commit Hari Kiri, or at least sell the team?
Ellis to the rim.
by warriorsscore110 on Dec 10, 2008 3:17 PM PST reply actions
+1 and has motivated me to write my own letter too...
If enough people start hitting this Front Office which does not know its arse from its elbow, then maybe, just maybe we might get some traction? Or at least the courtesy to acknowledge the letter.
MARKETING DEPARTMENT OF THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS ARE TERRIBLE. THE HEAD OF MARKETING NEEDS TO BE FIRED NOW!
Been bangig this drum for a while and they really just dont seem to give a crap.
It's about heart, It's about fight, It's about being a Warrior!
Here’s the reply you’ll get:
“The Warriors will continue to strive to make our fans experience better and provide a high quality product on and off the court.”
Who knows, they may actually believe it.
They’re in the business of separating you from your money. That’s their job. It seems what the letter is saying is that so far they’ve been successful in that endeavor.
why is he/she terrible… she got u to pay more for a worst product… thats good marketing (even if u dont like it) and i think theyve been doing solid promotions this year so far for those of us who cant afford season tickets but love going to games and try to make as many as possible (read warriors fans under age of 25_)
But they market suck so well!
We Got Suck x13: Previewing Your 2k8-2k9 Golden State Warriors
Lack of class from the top. It’s completely unprofessional how the team has treated their season ticket holders and fanbase. It’s approaching levels of consumer fraud if it’s not already there now. For 2 straight seasons they’ve required their loyal fans to sign up for season tickets well in advance of the end of the current season and beginning of the next season. Both times season ticket holders thought they were getting something that the franchise did not deliver. In the Spring of 2k7 we were lead to believe we were all paying for an upcoming full season of We Believe, but instead the team cut costs by trading Jason Richardson and didn’t pass any of the “savings” to the people who keep this sorry organization in business. In the Spring of 2k8 we thought we were paying for more of BD and Monta, but the team went cheap on Boom and Monta went joy riding on his moped (not the team’s fault). Cohan and Rowell aren’t brightest guys in the business, but what can I say- they’re making us all look like the real fools. I’m telling you- owning an NBA squad in the Bay Area is a gold mine. Imagine how good business would be for these guys if they had a clue. Don’t let any of the brown nosing media folk tell you otherwise or throw out distorted operating loss figures at you. This corporation is making millions marketing suck.
by Atma Brother ONE on Dec 10, 2008 3:54 PM PST reply actions
Dude piece of advise. Complaining about beer prices and complaining about the product
they are putting on the floor are two separate issues. Bringing up beer prices ruined your credibilty. The real issue is the team is playing like shit. If they were say 15-6 you would be happy to pay for an $8.00 beer. A poor man can buy season tix to football. They are cheap. and your only paying for 10 games. Basketball fans are making a truew financial commitment. If you can not afford the buy 80 tickets then do not go ghr season ticket route. Buy a few games off of Stub Hub and then as you say you can pickt hem up for 1/4 of the price. I spend almost $10K on two seats to the warriors and feel my biggest complaint is the product on the floor, the lack of direction and the willingness of management to ruin the best fun product in the NBA in the span of only 1 year. When I do not renew my lower bowl seats next year it will have nothing to do with beer, hot dog, or parking prices, it will be the fact that the ownership did not care about the team as much as I do and have mismanaged our beloved Warriors into the Bay area Clippers.
My biggest gripe as a season ticket holder is that I did not see one dime
of a refund after they recouped the equivalent of 30 games salary from Monta after his injury. If they truly cared about the fans they would have passed some of that savings, pro rata, on to their season ticket holders.
However, their position on it was that they would pass along that savings next year. Too bad I will not be renewing my seats next year.
by 33SwisherSweet on Dec 10, 2008 5:31 PM PST up reply actions
no kidding
"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball
You can always try to sneak a beer in. If you buy cans at the grocery store, you can get caught and have it confiscated 90% of the time and still come out ahead vs. paying Arena prices.
I’m not sure who controls the concessions or sets the prices. The County owns the Arena. Do they control concessions? I’d be shocked if they didn’t get a big cut at the very least.
it's not that hard at all to sneak beers in
trust me
"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball
If you buy cans at the grocery store
Beer in cans? Novel idea
Till I get free
I live my life in the Walmart
Cholesterol chasin me
by Skeptic con Urquell on Dec 11, 2008 9:49 AM PST up reply actions
He did say that it was $9.50 for Bud Light.
Cans don’t clink as much when you try to smuggle them in and don’t run the risk of breaking.
Mad Dog
A few years ago the 2 dudes behind us would sneak in bottles of MD/2020. Talk about repp’n for Oaktown. So Awesome.
"Hold it down for the bay rep'n Oakland" --Keak Da Sneak
wow
that sounds like a headache
"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball
Cans don’t clink as much when you try to smuggle them in and don’t run the risk of breaking.
I’d just never thought of drinking beer from a can?
Till I get free
I live my life in the Walmart
Cholesterol chasin me
by Skeptic con Urquell on Dec 11, 2008 7:51 PM PST up reply actions
Take another look...
Now you can get 21st Ammendment IPA in cans!
by in for life on Dec 14, 2008 11:41 PM PST up reply actions
pour it in a cup? ;)
then pour it out?
Till I get free
I live my life in the Walmart
Cholesterol chasin me
by Skeptic con Urquell on Dec 15, 2008 10:10 AM PST up reply actions
Smear.....
I agree mate…however…there is also a difference between the service you get lower bowl and up in the gods! Club 200 Sucks A$$!
But ot be fair, for me, the experience as a season ticket holder is the whole night. That includes the beverages, food, the game, traveling to and from the game listening to the post game radio. It is why I chose to become a season ticket holder, its the whole game experience not just what goes on, on the court. Also I need to get in contact with soemone in the lower bowl that prefers to leave the game early rather than stay to the end. It staggers me when large volumes of people start leaving the game 5 minutes from the end. Let me know where your seats ae and I will gladly come down from the rafters and keep them safe for you until the end of the game!!
Also slight OT, anyone know why BWright was not even in his suit tonight behind the bench? Did Nellie punch him or something? :)
It's about heart, It's about fight, It's about being a Warrior!
by BritWarriorGSW on Dec 10, 2008 11:36 PM PST up reply actions
Club 200 Sucks A$$!
hell yeah it does! i can’t believe the single game price that i’ve paid several times this year.
wright wasn’t in the lineup b/c he’s demanding to be traded to a competently managed NBA franchise… like charlotte or milwaukee…
the stop calling him "beans" movement
by pervisNeverNervous on Dec 11, 2008 5:32 PM PST up reply actions
It seems
like a lot of people are not getting season tickets next year, which might be some good news for some people. I for one will not be renewing also if they keep this up.
The Time Is Now! Win Warriors Win!
Like I've already said..
Only way to force them to get proactive is to cause them to lose money. Otherwise, as long as they continue to profit and raise their profit margin, the team will continue to suck with the illusion and potential to be good 3 years from now until eternity.
You wouldn’t go to a restaurant and pay top dollar for dogshit, so why would you pay Cohan?
by misterjennings on Dec 10, 2008 10:52 PM PST reply actions
Yeah, the problem is that the Bay Area is so full of hardcore basketball fans that even though the Warriors put out a crap team, ticket sales are still good. The best advice would be for fans not to go to the games to support a bad product, but Warrior fans are accustomed to going if only just to see superstar opponents.
I pray i never have to use a gun again...
...unless i'm at a strip club parking lot...
...and somebody tries to run me over with their car...
...But how often does that happen??
Complain and Complain...
But as I recall in the pre-Davis years that Warriors slashed season ticket prices to well below the standard ticket value of the league. Even last season my season tickets in the lower bowl were $70 face verse $48 for the season ticket price. Hell my old SuperSonics (my the rest in peace) equivalent seats were $85 and they were already coming off a terrible season. As for the Warriors ask for $$$ during the season, the early renewal is a staple of the NBA and has been for decades.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m pissed about the product too, but it’s not like were in blowing up the team. They clear planned on having Monta for this season and he’s hurt and frankly there is nothing that we or they can do about it.
What I’d like to see the Warriors do is reduce the prices back to the 06-07 prices. It seems to me that after the playoff run we got a lot of cooperate fans in the lower bowl having priced our blue collar fans out of the season ticket option. Like the original poster, BritWarriior, and several other have said if they’re going to put forth a lesser product you’d think they’d slash the prices down. I for one plan on renewing next and moving my tickets down ever lower with all the bandwagoners jumping ship.
A Sonics fan without a team.. Though I'm auditioning GS Warriors this season.
just curious-
last year you were a sonics fan who had season tix to the dubs?
the stop calling him "beans" movement
by pervisNeverNervous on Dec 11, 2008 5:34 PM PST up reply actions
I've had ticket for the dubs that pre-date Baron's arrival
What can I say, I’ve been in the Bay Area ever since moving to the 707 for college in 1998.
A Sonics fan without a team.. Though I'm auditioning GS Warriors this season.
The link between ticket price and team quality is low. Teams charge what they can get for tickets based on demand, not based on the product provided. If people don’t buy them, prices go down, usually first as “mini packages” and promotional deals, but inevitably filtering down to the regular cost of a seat and season package in order to get fans in the seats.
Several things influence attendance (e.g. the economy, the weather, other available entertainment options) but the only thing that consistently correlates with ticket sales is winning games. Some segment will continue to buy no matter what. Some segment is more influenced by the price. But mostly, winners draw fans and losers push them away and the ticket prices aren’t a reflection of product, but a reflection of demand and an attempt to maximize revenue. They aren’t some sort of reward system for the product on the court. They’re a market force phenomenon at work. The team will slash prices because of a lesser product if the lesser product drives people away, if sales decline to the point that they need to lure fans back in to buy the overpriced beer by making it more affordable. When teams sell out arenas, they raise prices because they can. This usually occurs because the team is winning, but its the sales directly, not the winning that influence price.
[Note: there seems to be some sort of a lag—it takes a little while for winners to draw back fans and fans hang around—probably because they already bought tickets—after a team starts to decline, but the trends do tend to follow the same pattern]
Thanks... my point exactly...
if the team sucks eventually the price will go down. However, you also make a great point that teams like the Knicks have outrageously high priced seats vs the inept quality product they present, because they have a super high demand for tickets. Like wise for the Celtics (pre-KG).
I’d love for NBA ticket prices to drop down prices for the 09-10 just like the NFL preemptively announced about it’s 2k9 playoff tickets prices being lower when the economy tanked. NFL lowers playoff ticket prices in response to economic conditions
That said, I doubt it would happen.
A Sonics fan without a team.. Though I'm auditioning GS Warriors this season.
We dont have the highest ticket prices... but we did have the highest % ticket price increase
Highest % change in average ticket price for 2008: Golden State Warriors, +25.3%
Most expensive hot dog: Golden State Warriors, $5.75
its funny how you would increase ticket prices by 25% after breaking up your winning team
Dude?!
Its the Warriors. Season ticket holders for the Golden State Warriors are a rare breed, of course only if you fall into the category of a season ticket holder pre 2006.
it will be the fact that the ownership did not care about the team as much as I do and have mismanaged our beloved Warriors into the Bay area Clippers.
The Warriors and Clippers are the same. They are both horrible organizations that never ever make the Playoffs. If you look at the past 25 years, the Warriors and Clippers are two of if not the two worst teams in the NBA . All Warrior season ticket holders should get a free pass to heaven because of their patience, faith and hope.
My Dad has been a season ticket holder for 8+ years. He knows they suck ass, but enjoys paying thousands of dollars to watch his team. My point is that this is old news. Every year they stink and ticket, beer, parking, hotdog and peanut prices go up while the Warriors are among the lesser teams in the NBA. It seems every year we all stay at home in April and watch teams like Indiana and Toronto playing in the playoffs.
My take on this is that a lot of people who bought season tickets after the ‘06-’07 season had expectations and as we have seen for many years, the Warriors don’t live up to their expectations. Hop on and enjoy the ride to nowhere. I’ve been self mutilating myself watching this team since 1985. They’re my team and one day they will be good, but I don’t have a lot of sympathy for people who spend a lot of money on a product that for decades has been bad-really bad. Besides, its just basketball. Money could probably be spent better somewhere else than having the dubs leech it from you. That’s why watching from home on your HDTV, beer and pizza at your side is cheap and fun. You can also kick your dog when SJax dribbles to the middle of the lane a turns it over; you can’t do that at the game.
by gabezgsw on Dec 11, 2008 8:57 AM PST reply actions 6 recs
best post
"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball
+1
I’ve been a Warriors season ticket holder for 6 years now…call me a “sucka” if you want, but at least I’m not jumping on any bandwagon. The Warriors organization is no Lakers or Boston or even Mavs organization. Our owner is cheap and the President doesn’t seem to want quality players that could possibly make the team better!
With all that said, as long as I can “afford” to pay for my season tickets, I’m going to continue to be one. Imagine all the other season ticket holders since the 1970’s or 80’s! I think tickets back then cost like $10 for Sideline Club seats and now they’re like almost $200 each. Think how they feel! You don’t seem them complaining about the “product” on some blog! They’re true Warriors fans through thick and thin! That’s what I want to be…a TRUE Warriors fan, not someone that just complains!
Lastly, in regards to disgruntled_season_ticket_holder’s post! I’m not sure if he’s complaining about money or what his money is producing! Dood has 49ers season tickets and Warriors season tickets! I wish I was ballin like him! If it were about the money he wouldn’t have additional season tickets and complain about them. I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt that he wants “our” money to produce something better, which I completely agree w/! It’s not going to happen though by complaining about beer prices! Do what I do, get wasted at the Bart parking lot, take a piss before the start of the game, then you’ll be good and you won’t have to buy anymore liquor or get up to take a whiz during the game!
Nuff said!
by scottiepimppen on Dec 12, 2008 8:23 AM PST up reply actions
I’m not saying I agree with everything disgruntled_season_ticket_holder said, but this is just unfair:
You don’t seem them complaining about the "product" on some blog! They’re true Warriors fans through thick and thin! That’s what I want to be…a TRUE Warriors fan, not someone that just complains!
There’s no correct way for someone to be a fan. I think everyone who blindly supports suck without critiquing it is a big reason why this team continually sucks yet rakes in tons of dollars. As a season ticket holder disgruntled_season_ticket_holder has every right to express whatever opinion he has about the product he’s paying for.
by Atma Brother ONE on Dec 12, 2008 9:44 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
then you’ll be good and you won’t have to buy anymore liquor or get up to take a whiz during the game!
you are young aren’t you?
Till I get free
I live my life in the Walmart
Cholesterol chasin me
by Skeptic con Urquell on Dec 12, 2008 10:22 AM PST up reply actions
THANKS
At 33 I like to think I am still young! I guess it’s just my personal preference to not have to get up during the game or halftime when there’s a ton of people to get more food and/or liquor.
by scottiepimppen on Dec 12, 2008 11:18 AM PST up reply actions
self mutilating myself watching this team since 1985. They’re my team -
silver medal award winning line if “He knows they suck ass” has already been awarded the gold!
let this be a lesson to you
never, ever buy season tickets for the Warriors.
you never know what’s going to happen in the offseason. we might have our best player refuse to play for us and demand a trade, we might draft guys like adonal foyle instead of a HS phenom after already passing on 2 HS players who became stars, we might throw huge money at role players, we might trade away our 2nd best player, we might not offer our best player an extension, we might have a player get in a moped accident.
and always take BART if you can, it’s just cheaper and you can talk to a lot of other W fans on the way back. (especially if you have to pay a bridge toll).
by the evil monkey on Dec 13, 2008 12:10 AM PST reply actions
hmmm
or you can be smart and go half like i did… get the earlier part of the season so if they tank, you made your money back! =]
thats what I did.. atleast i broke even. haha
GSW is spending plenty
just not very wisely, so until they make some more roster moves we’re kinda stuck in “suck ass” territory
Bucks game was a great time out tho! Great couple hours with a friend, couple beers later forgot how much the couple beers were, and hell, we even won.
would expect some roster moves before they bilk you again, er I mean ask for you to re-up for season tix …
I have yet to hear from back from them.
Do you really think that they’ll respond to you?
I sent a couple letters for em to bring in Manute Bol some time as a guest, but nada. lol.
Hasheem "The Dream" Thabeet or Brandon Jennings. A Warrior in 09.
With the 6th Pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, the SF Giants pick Donovan Tate.
Andre Smith in Silver & Black in 2009.
????
what does marketing and a good basketball team have in common? NOTHING!!!! Any fan watching basketball for the marketing is pissing up the wrong tree.
We Need New Ownership
Cohan and his cronies need to go!!!! Ever since he bought the franchise the Warriors have been a dismal underachieving team. What the hell happened as we turned things around during the 2006-2007 season, we should of kept building on that. Its clear that we need a point guard that can run things, and Monta isn’t the answer. We have a wealth of SG’s and hopefully Mullin/Rowell can pull of a trade for an established one. We’ll see….
we just need more access to the cheerleaders
Forget Steinmetz at halftime, lets watch the cheerleaders and talk to them about themselves. At the games they should greet fans as they arrive and dance their way up into the stands every now and then.
I also say we hire a few male cheerleaders for those that prefer men. They dont nede to be lame dancers, but I am sure there is something they can do to flex their muscles and look good without makign teh NBA look bad.
Increase the entertainment value and take our minds off the score since we know this season is a bust.
by warriorsvictim on Dec 18, 2008 11:14 AM PST reply actions
we just need more access to the cheerleaders
yeah, home visits.
Till I get free
I live my life in the Walmart
Cholesterol chasin me
by Skeptic con Urquell on Dec 18, 2008 11:25 AM PST reply actions
yeah, home visits.
can you say “restraining order”?
I pray i never have to use a gun again...
...unless i'm at a strip club parking lot...
...and somebody tries to run me over with their car...
...But how often does that happen??
Agreed
Those are bad practices, it sounds like the team really strongarmed season ticket holders to make early decisions and then lost probably the main fan draw in Baron. That is kind of messed up. Not only that, but raising prices in the midst of that? That is just straight up wrong. At least they kept the same high flying fast paced entertaining basketball on the court right? A triple negative, no.
You can vote on all these things they did by not purchasing season tickets next year. Bad practices always come back to bite a business, even if the Warriors sales benifited in the short run they will absolutly suffer for those practices in the long run.
That’s what bad businesses don’t understand, how to run a business long term. Don’t run your business like a crack addict Warriors, just trying to get your next hit with no thoughts of future negative ramifications. Get yourself clean, and create a healthy foundation for good will and solid sales.
To do that, you will need to lower prices. If you are not going to lower prices, you can save you breaths. That is absolutely necessary because of the recession and the apparent teams recession. And don’t be skimpy with the slashes, you need to make a strong statement. Because if you don’t make a strong statement like that, the fans will.
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