I dont think anyone has accused Chris Heck of not wanting or trying to sell tickets/increase attendance.
People just question his methods and rightfully have pointed out that his methods are a classic example of a "cart before the horse" tactic. While i don't think his partial ticket plan is the end of the world, it is indiciative of his philosophy.
I agree that no one has accused Heck of not wanting to sell tickets, so at least we agree on something. To play devil's advocate, just because people have pointed it out, doesn't necessarily make them right, no matter how much they repeat it or how vociferously they post it.
Why limit the potential partial plan fans ability to commit or come to a game by not allowing them to choose the 5 or so games they can make or want to make?
I can think of a few reasons with just one of the least of them being that it gives season tickets a selling point. Want games not included in the 5/10 game plan? Go for the season tickets.
This fanbase is already somewhat limited in the first place, why place even more barriers to attending the game than already exists?
I agree the fan base is limited, and I agree it might not be a smart move, but the fact of the matter is that what they were doing previously wasn't "working" as defined by most people either. Sometimes you need to change (and fail) to find out it doesn't work.
Many have already stated quite clearly why they are opposed to his full season ticket pricing plan already.
And they should continue to do so. I may or may not agree with them, but I think its a good thing if those that aren't happy continue to express their frustration to the FO.
He has shown that he is not above mass give aways in order to report sell outs that simply did not actually exist.
Given that attendance is based on tickets sold, if all the seats are sold, by definition it is a sellout. It existed. We might not like that a fair number of those "buyers" don't show up, or how those that do show got their tickets, but it doesn't change that the seats were "taken" by the current measurement. (This is why I think its pointless to measure sales as compared to actually measuring the number of bodies through the turnstile.)
Serious question, how has he increased actual demand for tickets so far in his first full off season? What has he done and what steps has he taken that has led directly to an increase in SALES?
Its not my job to defend the front office for its actions or inaction's selling tickets and that's all your questions are asking for someone to do. Sorry, not biting.
Preliminary reports so far suggest they are below last year's season ticket numbers and projecting lower equivilants with the partials than last year. That to me says all i need to know about his ticket policies.
This may be where we differ. I don't care if they are or are not making their projected ticket sales at this point. If there are less people in the stands for most games and nothing changes again, then I'll worry about it.
Until then, everything is hype, hyperbole and rumor.
I am sure we will see the mass give aways and "partnerships" with secondary sellers again this year.
And until there are 30k user base scrambling for tickets and willing to wait on a waiting list, that's not going to change. If it gets people in the stadium and turns just one of those people into a return fan, I'm fine with that.
If anything he has devalued the season ticket and the demand for them.
Until the season starts, we have no idea what actual impact there has been on the value and demand for the tickets. Everyone's guessing and everyone has their own personal opinion they are carrying. I don't feel my seats have been "devalued" and seeing as I'm still in them, there is clearly a "demand".
Maybe he is hoping this "rumored" awesome marketing campaign will do the trick. Someone better tell him that the season starts in like 30 days.
/rant
This isn't anything different then the last 17 years. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
Your rant is was well written and concise (as you usually are), but very little in it countered my original comment that I don't think the emails to previous buyers "smells of desperation" as some are implying.
My opinion differs from yours and from the original poster. I've just been the foil to his post.