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| What many Sens fans were thinking this year |
A few months ago I wrote a
rant about the Senators season ticket brochure, especially the part about the VIP benefits they were dangling over everyone's head as a major reason to renew in an otherwise horrible season, yet hadn't somehow found the time to you know, get them done in time. Well the benefits are now completed and to be honest, they probably shouldn't have bothered with doing them at all. Doing nothing would have been better than rolling out this garbage. As always, I bring you what you might not otherwise get to see, so as Eugene Melnyk would say, buckle up, it's going to get ugly.
It started out nicely enough, a friendly welcome, an easy to read pdf to view all the options and even a FAQ page if there were any problems we ran into. I was actually thinking to myself, maybe they took the extra time to make sure it was perfect. I was wrong.
Once again, starts off pretty solid, especially when you see you have 60 different options to choose from, I mean that sounds incredible doesn't it? Even I thought that is more than fair, it's generous even. The problem is only some of the 60 options are available to you, depending on where your seats are and how long you've had them, so it's fairly misleading. It's like the fine print that pisses you off at a department store clothing sale, where the whole store is 50% off, you know, except for any of the good stuff.
It's broken into categories (you can see better them if you click on the picture) that show you what caliber of benefits and how many you will receive. Now before anyone accuses me of being bitter or a hater as so often occurs when I write a rant, I do completely understand and agree with the premise that people who pay way more money for better seats and people who have had them for a longer period of time deserve more than someone who has had upper 300's for a year, so let's get that out of the way. There's no way someone who's had clubs seats at 20k per season for a decade should have the same benefits as someone who's been in the third deck at 3k per season for 2 seasons, I think we can all agree on that right? So what I'm saying isn't to condemn them getting a lot more at all, I fully think they deserve anything they get. My bone to pick is more with the crappy leftovers they gave to regular fans and had the nerve to call VIP.
Now with that out of the way, let's move on to the breakdown of the categories and the assignment of benefits. First up is full season club owners of 10+ years, who get 2 platinum, 2 gold, 1 silver and 12 bronze for a total of 17 benefits they can choose from. That seems fair to me as far as allocation goes, they have paid the most money for the most years, of course they should be allowed the most, no argument here. Next up is full season club seat owners, but with only 5-9 years of tenure. They are to receive 2 platinum, 1 gold, 1 silver and 8 bronze for their loyalty. Once again seems fair to me, still get a lot of stuff, but has to be less than the 10+ years group. The last of the premium seaters are the full season club with 1-4 years tenure, which will receive 1 platinum, 1 gold, 1 silver and 6 bronze. Once again seems fair, though if I've had seats for 10+ years and only get one more platinum benefit over someone with one year, I'd be pissed, since the platinum benefits are the only one's that are actually decent (more on that later).
Another issure for me if I'm a club seat owner is the ** next to what benefits I'm entitled to. Look at the small print, it says one will be pre-selected for you and it's a VIP concierge service, whatever that is. What kind of bullshit is that honestly? I'd be furious if I was spending that kind of money and getting jerked around like that. It's ridiculous and insulting, especially when you know the concierge isn't going to be anything worthwhile whatsoever. In fact, don't they already have that by gate 2? So one of your 2 platinum benefits has been picked for you and it's something you already have and don't care about/don't use. If they're lucky it will be a slightly upgraded version of what is already there. What do they need a concierge service for at the game anyways? I need my dry cleaning picked up post haste Geeves. Do the Senators ever think, seriously?
Now on to the 100-200 level season seat owners who aren't club seats. For 10+ years you get 1 platinum, 1 gold, 1 silver and 10 bronze. Best part about this is they don't have the ** next to it which means you are free to pick whatever one you want, unlike the club seats with 1-4 years, who are getting screwed. Well done Sens! Then comes the 100-200 level owners with 5-9 years, which gets you 1 gold, 1 silver and 8 bronze. After that is 100-200 level owners with 1-4 years, which will allow you 1 gold, 1 silver and 6 bronze. Seems fair I suppose.
And lastly, the 300 level season holder's and flex plan holders. If you've had them for 10+ years, you get 1 gold, 1 silver and 8 bronze. For 4-9 years you get 1 silver and 6 bronze, and for 1-4 years you will get 1 silver and 4 bronze benefits. These may seem fair to most until you read on and later see what bronze benefits are, you might as well give us a schedule magnet instead. Yes, I'm aware that there's suite holder information as well, but I've decided to ignore it because it affects way less people and it's mostly for corporations who own them.
Here it the first page of the platinum benefits you can choose from if you are eligible (page 2 coming next). My first impression when I first grazed over it? How the hell can 17 of the 18 total platinum benefits be limited? Is this a joke? Especially when only one benefit by my count, is time sensitive, the send you child to Sens summer camp benefit, where the are only 29 spots and a time frame they have to work with. That one being limited I get, but all the others, gimme a break. Why you piss people who spend a ton of money of your product each year is beyond me. Every single option should be available for every person eligible for platinum benefits should they choose so. The fact that they have the nerve to say getting an hour of ice time at SBP, or watching a media scrum, or an hour with a Sens power skating coach is limited is seriously embarrassing. All of those are NOT remotely limited and every single ticket holder should have the opportunity to pick whatever they want, otherwise it is much of a benefit now is it?
So now let's go through each benefit one by one to see how platinum they are. Remember these are for people who routinely spend 20k a year on tickets.
The Sens Workout: You get to work out with the Sens conditioning coach and 19 others. So basically you get a personal work out session, which may appeal to some, but not really the same if the players aren't there right? I don't think it's a stretch by saying no one dreams of meeting the strength coach one day. Also included is lunch, a tee, shorts and a water bottle. Total cost to Sens, maybe $5? I doubt anyone who has the cash to drop 20k on tickets a year is excited about a free tee and a crappy lunch, but the more shocking thing is there's only 5 spots available for this selection. On the plus side, it made me laugh.
Ride the Zamboni: This is where you can have your kid, if they are 7-12 years old only by the way, ride the Zamboni before the game after the warm up. Awesome, if you have kids. No use to you if you don't. Total cost to Sens, nothing. Yep this is a platinum benefit.
Free Suite (Gallery Level): You get a gallery level (400) suite to an October home game only with 12 tickets, food and beverages extra. This kinda thing always makes me laugh. Do they think were suckers? Apparently they do. On the surface it sounds pretty solid right, a free suite for you to bring your friends and family to enjoy a night out. Sounds pretty awesome. But wait, for only October games only? So maybe 5 or 6 dates to pick from and food and beverages extra. Basically this is a clever way to fill 400 level suites that would be empty anyways and earn them some extra money of the food/drinks, because people are more inclined to spend when they go to the game for free. The real benefit is they get to make money off you, don't be fooled.
2011 Sens Summer Camp at Sensplex: This one is fairly solid in my opinion. Kids love to go to these things and there is usually a Sens player or two who drop by and teach. It's also filled with really good instructors and as well as know, hockey camps are not cheap. A great way to get your kid happy with you and with 29 spots available, seems like a totally fair amount to satisfy people. This is probably the best benefit they offer and this is the only one that should have limited availability.
Minor Hockey Team Skate at SBP: You get to bring your kids minor hockey team to skate at SBP, which I'm sure is like a dream come true to many youngsters. This is a solid benefit, except once again it's only good if you happen to have kids.
Power Skating: You get a one hour session with the Sens power skating coach, with them offering 3 diffrent sessions to choose from. I'm sure this may appeal to some weekend warriors or beer league guys, a solid but not spectacular benefit.
Goalies Only: A one hour group lesson from a Sens goaltending coach, probably Rick Wamsley. This is pretty cool too for all the goalies out there. I can't really hate on this one.
Post Game Player Interview: You and a friend get to watch Gord Wilson in Club 101 interview a player post game. Wow Gord Wilson in the flesh? No foolin? This is awesome because if I missed him here I'd only have 200 other times per year to see him at an event.
Post Game Media Scrum: You and a guest get to watch the media interview players after the game. This could interest some, but take it from someone who's seen it before, you know how players are boring on all those interviews you see on TV? Think of that but unedited and 10 times longer with more waiting around. Amazing!
Logo Power: You get your logo displayed on the 200 level screen for 10 home games. This only benefits you if you have your own business, otherwise it would be odd if you had your won logo don't you think.
On to page 2 of platinum benefits
NHL Hockey Legends: You get a $100 credit on ONE $150 ticket to have a pre game buffet at the senate club with some NHL legends. Yep, this "benefit" will cost you $50, but more like $200, since you will likely want to go with someone and the Sens only give you the discount on ONE ticket. Yep you read that correctly.
One Hour Of Ice Time at SBP: Just what the title says, you and your friends/family get an hour to skate/play hockey on the ice at SBP. This will interest many I'm sure, as it should. This is a good time. I've done it and highly recommend it. No complaints here.
Birthday Bash: You get to host a birthday party for your kid in a free 400 level suite with free birthday cake and loot bags. Once again food and beverage extra, which means this is the exact same problem as I said previously in this post and once again only benefits you if you have kids.
Meet & Skate: Gets you 2 hours use of meeting rooms at SBP and an hour of ice time for up to 50 people. This is a nice reward for your employees if you happen to own a business, but this is a government town, so might not apply to too many.
The High Five Experience: Children aged 6-14 have the chance to high five the Sens on their way to the ice outside the dressing room. This once again is only for kids, which is eliminating many people, but if you have kids, this is something they'd probably like since they get some interaction with the players. Solid benefit.
Kiosk Marketing: You get space to promote your business n the 100 or 200 level for select home games, which is awesome, unless you're one of the very few people who don't own your own business right?
Free Gallery Suite to Show/Concert: Once again for the THIRD time in this post, the Senators think offering a 400 level suite that will go unused anyways is some grand gesture of rewarding loyalty, even though you will make it worth their while by buying tons of food and drinks that are not included. The best part is the line that says the show/concert is for selected non blockbuster events. I'm not going to lie, I LOL'd a bit when I read that. Congratulations on getting a free crappy suite that included nothing free to a show no one wants to see. It's unbelievable that this type of stuff gets approved by the Sens higher ups.
Next up gold benefits:
Ok I admit that was along post so far, so thanks for sticking with me, I appreciate it. Now we're on to the gold benefits.
Suite Meeting: This allows you to host a meeting in a suite while being able to watch the Sens practice on a non game day. Suite is available from 8am until the end of the practice, so you can get the work out of the way early and are free to enjoy the practice. Sounds decent enough, but once again food and drink is extra and the suite would be empty otherwise anyways.
Meet Me: You are entitled to a room for a full day of meeting hosting at SBP for up to 50 people, but unlike before, no ice time. This also has to be on a non game day, which is probably the only reason anyone would want to be there. Call me crazy but what's the point of having a meeting at SBP anyways if your business isn't hockey related? Once again, food/drink not included, so this is another way for them to make extra cash on you for a room that otherwise would be empty.
Smell the Sweat: This is a behind the scenes type tour, where you're able to go in the Sens dressing room, get a tour of SBP, see a video session, a review of game day entertainment program, plus a photo opp in the dressing room and on the Sens bench, not available on game days. Even though they used to offer basically all of this for free to season ticket holder's when you picked up your tickets, still a solid opportunity to see behind the scenes and take a few flicks.
Impress Me: Watch a game from the Brian Smith press box. This is pretty solid and I can see a lot of people wanting to do this, especially fans of Stuntman Stu. Only problem is it's understandably limited availability.
On the bench: You and your friends are able to take pictures post game of yourself on the Sens bench or in the penalty box. This could make for some nice memories, I can't hate on it. I know this will appeal to many.
Chalk Talk: You and 24 other people get the opportunity to sit in the coaches room at SBP and talk to either head coach Paul MacLean or GM Bryan Murray about their on ice plans. There will be 5 different sessions available. I could see this also being quite popular.
Office Badge Of Honor: You get a framed print for you office to let potential clients that you support the Senators. Shouldn't this be a given already? Advertising on behalf of the Sens isn't a benefit. Actually scratch that, it is a benefit, but for the Sens, not the business.
Golfing With The Prospects: You get a $100 credit to the $250 golf day with Sens prospects on their 9 hole golf day and includes dinner. Yep not the real golf tournament with the players you know, but with the prospects, and not for free, you get $100 off, so still costing you $150 out of your own pocket.
Score Advertising: Once again, you get a credit, this time a $1500 credit towards a $2000 ad in the Score magazine that they hand out to everyone at the games. Your ad will be 1/4 page in one issue that will be handed out for 10 games. So once again, a 1/4 page is small and just another way they're suckering you into giving them more money.
Gold benefits continued -
Autographed Replica Jersey: You get $175 credit towards a $300 autographed replica jersey of the player of your choice, only 250 available. Really? Only 250 available? What a joke! There should be as many available as people want. Throughout the year there's ample time to have the players sign, especially when they're not even giving it to you for free, but still charging you $125.
Have An Ice Time: An hour of ice time at the Sensplex. This is decent since many people like to play hockey or have employees/friends come skating, but Sensplex doesn't quite measure up to SBP does it. Still a decent benefit.
Women's Hockey 101: You and 119 other women get to mingle and learn the ins and outs of hockey with a guest speaker, along with wine and cheese tasting. On the surface again this sounds decent, only problem is you only get ONE ticket, most women would probably like to go with a girlfriend, and I would assume that most season ticket holder's are men, and the one's that are women would already know hockey if they have season tickets. It seems to me it's more of a send the wife/girlfriend away for a night so she gets hockey more when she comes to the game with you from now on. Which, call me crazy is maybe a bit insulting?
Sparty Party: Spartacant comes to your event/work/party to do whatever Spartacat does. Not for me, but some may enjoy this, especially for younger kids.
Exclusive Season Seat Owner Merchandise: You get one of the very limited exclusive gym bags valued at $100. At least they aren't charging you for once.
Leather Portfolio: You get one of the "exclusive" Sens leather portfolios, valued at $60. This could be of some use to people I suppose but I'm going to say they're probably like the cheap one's they've been selling in the Sens Store.
Sin Bin Warm Up: You get to watch the warm up from the penalty box. This would be pretty fun and appealing to many I'm sure and is a pretty solid benefit, only problem is once again there's limited availability.
Sens Store Credit: You get a $50 credit to the Sens Store so you can buy some new swag to support your team. Not a bad benefit at all, but $50 seems a bit cheap to me for what someone has spent on the team in order to get this.
Food/Drink Credit: Same as above but this time the $50 is for food and drink at SBP. Considering the profit margin on food/drink, this will cost them 10 cents. Once again it should be $100 at least.
Autographed Player Photo: Receive an 8 x 10 photo of a Sens player. Specific requests subject to availability and this whole benefit is limited availability. Really Sens? Dropping the ball YET AGAIN! This is the Sens we're talking about here, not the Red Sox or Lakers. No one outside of Ottawa cares about the Senators, I mean let's just be honest. First of, a season ticket holder at this level should be able to get a picture of any player he wants autographed or what's the point? Oh gee thanks for the Brian Lee autograph, I'll hang it next to my Joe Corvo autograph photo. Second of all, any season ticket holder who chooses this benefit should be allowed to get an autograph photo. To say it's limited is disrespectful.
Silver time -
Nameplate On Your Seats: Allows you to put a nameplate on the arm of your seats to "show your pride". Not appealing to me per say, but to some I could see them liking this, especially if they have a business. Otherwise it seems a bit odd to me to just put your name.
$25 To Sens Store: I thought $50 was cheap so $25 doesn't excite me.
$25 for Food/Drink at SBP: See above.
Sparty Kids Club Membership: Wow they're getting desperate huh.
Practice Makes Perfect: You and up to 50 of your friends can watch a Sens practice. This would be fun for many people I'm sure and is definitely a decent benefit compared to a Sparty membership.
Go Sens Go: You get a fan kit, which includes a scarf, player tee, foam finger and a face painting kit. My question is how many 16 year olds are season ticket holder's?
Business Guest Speaker Series: You get a $50 credit towards a $100 ticket to have a pre game guest speaker along with a free buffet with 3 dates to choose from. This can be fun, but it should be free. Another way to sucker you into paying more money.
Employee Rewards: Show your employees how much they mean to you. You supply the ticket and Sens supply an e-card from Sens player, a laminated print with 3 Senators jerseys and 1 with your employees name, a souvenir digital photo and recognition of the video scoreboard. Surprisingly what the Sens are offering is pretty solid, if you know, you didn't have to buy tickets to the game first.
Walk This Way: You get a free one panel advertising in the interiror walkway to SBP, a retail value of $2000 they say, which I call BS on since half the tunnel is empty and spots can't be filled, but probably decent if you happen to have your own business. Only problem is you must have for the production costs which ranges from $750-$1500 they say. Gee thanks for the $1000+ bill guys, amazing benefit. Also subject to sponsor restrictions, otherwise I might have put up a giant Sens Town ad haha.
Walk That Way: Same as above but a 4 panel exterior ad, which they value at $7500 haha. Once again you pay the costs so once again thanks for the big bill. Also I've been to SBP roughly 500 times or more and I never read the ads there, so doubt it's very effective.
Silver continued -
Season Seat Luncheon: You get to attend a lunch that typically features Bryan Murray, one Sens player, Jason York and sometimes a mystery guess. It's a lunch where you get to ask questions after some very forgettable food. This benefit includes one ticket and has limited availability. That's awesome and all but they used to offer you two tickets before for years for free, now they go down to one. Who wants to attend a lunch by themselves?
Senators Scarf: Want a scarf that we can't sell in the first place? Then this is for you, as you receive a free Sens scarf. Yawn.
Senators Bracelet: Receive a limited edition Senators bracelet with a $60 retail value. Perhaps this appeals to the Jersey Shore crowd. Not sure how many men want to wear a bracelet. They also don't specify at all what it looks like or if it's for a man or a woman. Be on the safe side and pass on this one.
Senators Cuff Links: Receive a limited edition pair of Sens cuff links, retail value of $70. This one might be cool except you don't get to see what they look like and at a retail value of $70, seems they will look pretty cheap. Too bad because I have a feeling this would have been of great interest to a lot of seat holder's otherwise. Even with all that said, still a viable option compared to other choices.
Autographed Senators Puck: get a puck autographed by a Sens player, but no specific requests are available, which means time for them to clean the closet of Ryan Shannon, Filip Kuba, and all the other players you don't want pucks. Another job well done by the Sens brass.
Reel Good Time: Get a pair of tickets to a movie premiere to a private screening between July 2011 and June 2012. I kid you not, this is a Silver benefit. It only gets worse in bronze.
Picture This: You and your family get your picture taken at a game, receiving a printed copy and digital copy. They don't say in the dressing room or on the bench, so I would assume it's just a picture somewhere random in SBP, which anyone with a digital camera can pull off in 5 seconds now.
Season Seat Owner of the Game Prize Giveaway: This is where they give you the "benefit" of donating a prize (min of $500) for a giveaway. Gee thanks guys, one of my benefits is giving stuff away, awesome! Of course they give you a 2 second shoutout for it but still.
Bronze benefits -
Honestly I was going to go through all of these 1 by 1 again, but just click on them to enlarge, since it's pretty obvious how bad these are. They all either have nothing to do with the Sens whatsoever, or offer you a credit which you have to pay more to get anything. My favorite insult is the 300 level pair of tickets to Sens Skills. Really 300 level? Considering the amount of time and more importantly money season ticket holder's put into the team, you couldn't have given them a 100 level pair of tickets to a skill competition?
The bronze benefits are literally something I'd expect at an Ottawa 67's game, but not out of a professional multi million dollar organization. How was this possibly approved at so many levels? They seriously thought we'd be impressed by this? It's insulting.
The Senators have a lot to learn about customer service and more importantly marketing if they this will impress anyone shelling out a minimum of $2500 a year. How Jeff Kyle had kept his job as head of marketing after the Sens being so poor at it for so long is literally mind blowing, but I'll save that for another rant.
At the end of the day, I'm not even surprised. The Senators are like that girl who you know is bad news and always says she'll change, only to revert back to their old ways a few days later. I keep expecting them to nail it and am somehow always disappointed when they don't. Who knows, maybe it's my fault for expecting competency and professionalism from them.
I just wish they'd step it up and I'm not the only one. I want us to be a model organization, something other teams aspire to be. How they can continuously drop the ball time and time again with very little changeover at the key top positions is beyond me. The status quo in the Sens front office seems to be mediocrity and until that changes, we should expect the same old embarrassing ideas.
Thoughts?
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