When Outer Rim Marketing works

The Buffalo Bills have capitalized on the fan base in Toronto, by playing games in the "Bills Toronto Series" across the border. While roughly 99 miles is not an impossible drive for Toronto-based Bills fans to undertake for game day, the Bills are demonstrating their ability to capitalize on a strong segment of their market by bringing the product to them.

Business First of Buffalo is reporting that Rogers Communication would like to see more of the same.

Of course, critics will say that the ticket prices are absurd. Average game ticket prices in 2008 were over $180 in Toronto, and in 2009, they have been reduced approximately 17%. Still, the Bills have the lowest season ticket average price in the NFL. Fans can gripe and moan about ticket prices, but can you blame the teams for charging what the market will bear?

I like the creativity of the Toronto Series. Could the Chargers do something similar in Los Angeles?

Clever Promotion For Buffalo Bisons?

The venerable triple-A franchise affiliate of the New York Mets opens the 2009 season tomorrow against the Pawtucket Red Sox. With a mid-week 2:30pm home opener, in Buffalo, where tomorrow's game time forecast is 45 degrees, the Bisons are offering 4 free tickets to anyone who has lost a job. That sounds like a fun time!
A stadium full of unemployed people, at 2:30 on a Thursday afternoon, in Buffalo, in April, when it is 45 degrees. Now, I grew up in the suburbs of Buffalo, so no bashing from me. I have great memories, but is this a promotion Bill Veeck would think up?
They averaged 8,257 fans per game last year in a stadium that holds over 18,000.
Buffalo's unemployment rate is at 9%. Is there room here for some great community relations? You bet. With the Final Four, and so much discussion about the impact on the city of Detroit, over a weekend, let's keep an eye on how community based minor league teams really look to dig in and support the fan base that has supported them.
Minor league baseball is the proving ground for creativity, promotions and a fun atmosphere. I will look forward to watching the promotion calendar to see how teams attempt to connect with certain depressed communities, and fans that are financially hurting.

San Francisco Giants Ticket Promotion

Aaron Crowe recently posted his opinion on the new ticket pricing strategy of the San Francisco Giants, which was brought to my attention by one of my astute graduate students. They are instituting variable ticket pricing, where costs will fluctuate based upon the opponent, pitching match up, and other factors that could impact the "perceived value" of the seats.

Only 2000 seats, some of the worst in the stadium, will be impacted by his new policy.

When discussed in an undergraduate sports marketing class, it was not difficult to see the negative impact for the Giants.

Initially, these are lousy seats, and the Giants are perceived to be milking an extra few bucks out of up to 2,000 fans for the chance to get to see Tim Lincecum with binoculars.

What happens when the "marquis" (and higher priced) pitching match up is scrapped minutes before game time due to an injury, or some other reason? What happens when the sunny Sunday afternoon game is now cloudy, and drizzly, but not postponed? This is San Francisco after all.

If you are forced, due to economic reasons, to sit in some of the worst seats in the stadium, shouldn't the Giants capitalize on a fan-friendly promotional opportunity, rather than a measly and blatantly profit-oriented one?

Where is Bill Veeck when you need him?!