lets get these arenas and halls filled !!

[rhino222]

i attend a fair amount of live boxing shows, some are well attended, some are sold out and some are only half full.

FA's show the other week (liam cameron et al) was relatively well attendedand with a good atmosphere, but there were spare seats.

Big arena shows (Froch et al) are generally well attended but there are always spare seats.

so .... what can the promoter do to fill in the gaps and therefore improve the atmosphere? ... surely he should be looking at the younger generation (similar to tactics that football club marketing people employ). why not offer under 16's in for a quid or a fiver, getting the young fellas interested in the sport, discounts for the emergency services (NHS - fire - police etc) ... and discounts for the armed forces personnel on production of ID card.

this would fill in the gaps in the arena, increase public interest in the sport ingeneral, increase the income from the selling of programmes, food and drink etc.

all in all we should be pushing the sport we love, and increasing the fan base, generating a new regime of fans, this in turn will increase public demand for boxing on tv etc.

[tonyevs]

I too think it would be a good idea to offer under 16`s or even under 18`s( considering most don`t leave school till 18yrs old now anyways) token priced tickets, with the rule of something like `with a full paying adult etc`.
Maybe discounts for forces personel also ( but imagine the possible trouble if they went to a Khan show), but why do the emergency services qualify? it could be then argued all civil servants should have the same discount ..

Anyway. I think the actual ticket prices and quality of the pairings are the main reason Joe public isn`t interested. £30 cheap seats and most fights will be record padding affairs with little or no excitement .. theres the real problem.

[rhino222]

I know what you are saying but 30 quid is not too bad when you consider how much premiership football is etc.

Small hall shows have no option but to charge30 quid as they dont have TV backing which generally covers the purse costs.

perhaps its the TV shows that need to drop the prices, as the purses are already covered-ish

[ourkid1984]

Have always thought that some of those ideas would be a good idea and have never understood why promotors don't do it.

I can understand not having reduced prices for under 16's to an extent because of the nature of the sport and whether it would be seen as a good thing to encourage kids to go and see a violent sport. There is no reason why there should not be incentive schemes though, for example go to one event get in to another half price.

The promotors look too short term in making money rather than having a better long term business plan. I've always thought of an idea of the bigger promotors putting on wrestling style tours where they take their fighters on tour with them all getting to fight but organising a boxing card for each place they visit, so for expample Warren could take all his fighters out on tour and as they visit a new town or city they have about 6 fights and then the following week go off to a new venue do the same thing but 6 different fights and then so on until reaching a big arena in a big city where his major champions will fight. It won't happen but I like the idea of it as it would spread boxing with names that people have heard of all over the country so more people would have an interest. The best events only really happen up north or in London.

[gasman]

Anecdotally, the UFC have done an excellent marketing campaign in penetrating the 20-35 market in the US. I was in the States during the Christmas period and I noticed that reference to the UFC popped up in a variety of contexts.

For example, visiting Buffalo Wild Wings (a US chain of wing houses - the best actually) I noticed that in addition to advertised football (that's American football) - they had UFC nights at Buffalo Wild Wings. Visiting Walmart - I noticed several lines of clothing for UFC.

On the standard TV channels - I surfed the channels hoping to find some boxing (i.e. classics etc or highlights etc) but could only find MMA. On the magazine stands - many of them didn't have Ring Magazine - but nearly all had one or two MMA-related magazines (at least).

[stujones]

Why do you suggest discount for the emergency services???? I disagree there (and last year I did work for the NHS).

Great fantastic service that they do - but in most of the cases well paid for it. I'm sure if a doctor who is a fight fan does not attend the show, its not cause he cannot afford it. Also where do you draw the line...... is it just the Policemen / Firemen that get the discount or anyone who works for them..... eg... Admin, researchers etc.

I can sense in the Under 16's - I would increase it to Under 21's...... Adults wouldn't want to go if it just like going to the cimena with a pile of 14 year olds.

I've also suggested a greater range of merchandise to be sold. Many small hall promoters record their show for their own (and their fighters) private record. Why don't they sell those, for say a tenner. As they are already paying a Camera man - mass producing these wouldn't cost much. Obviously it wouldn't be of the bill, but it would be previous show..... option to buy these dvd's would only be available on display of a ticket.

[leforge]

Pricing for shows needs to be reduced.

[banjo]

I too think it would be a good idea to offer under 16`s or even under 18`s( considering most don`t leave school till 18yrs old now anyways) token priced tickets, with the rule of something like `with a full paying adult etc`.
Maybe discounts for forces personel also ( but imagine the possible trouble if they went to a Khan show), but why do the emergency services qualify? it could be then argued all civil servants should have the same discount ..

Anyway. I think the actual ticket prices and quality of the pairings are the main reason Joe public isn`t interested. £30 cheap seats and most fights will be record padding affairs with little or no excitement .. theres the real problem.

Nothing personal here but as a former soldier myself, I'd actually be quite offended if I was given a discount for that reason, at the end of the day it's just a job, a dangerous one albeit but it's a choice people make same with any other line of work.

[Londonirish]

On my Debut tickets was £20 i done about 380 on my second they where £25 i done roughly the same but then they went up to £35 that was in the space of 6 months i done about 200 odd... People that has kids just cant afford it.. My sister for instant's has 3 kids in 2001 thery where 9 7 and 5 but they still have to pay full price which i think is a Joke... To Fill Arena's they have to lower Tickets Price's and make from a certain age Free... imo Its as simple as that....

[jonp]

Iv done tickets at 25 and tickets at 30 didnt see a diffrence in the numbers,iv done family tickets didnt get many takers.
Its hard to get people interested iv done free after show partys i think some people have intention of coming and just jump on the nearest excuse eg.oh its on a sunday iv got the kids,oh its on a friday night iv got work,oh its a dinner show im not into them,oh its an open show they are a bit rough.

It hard work and basically people on small shows come to support there mates and aint that bothered about anything else.

What would be more of a help would perhaps a tv channel do a small hall show setup such as Fight Night in the late 80s this would give promoter a bit of extra money to push the bill and boxers would be less likely to pull out if not getting the exact match they want as they want the tv exposure.

Fight Night was great just wish it was going on now would make my job a lot easier if people had actualy seen one of my shows on tv and thought it looked good would also give me impetous to realy push the matches as im impressing the tv audience not jut worrying that boxer As fans are going home happy.

[stujones]

I too think it would be a good idea to offer under 16`s or even under 18`s( considering most don`t leave school till 18yrs old now anyways) token priced tickets, with the rule of something like `with a full paying adult etc`.
Maybe discounts for forces personel also ( but imagine the possible trouble if they went to a Khan show), but why do the emergency services qualify? it could be then argued all civil servants should have the same discount ..

Anyway. I think the actual ticket prices and quality of the pairings are the main reason Joe public isn`t interested. £30 cheap seats and most fights will be record padding affairs with little or no excitement .. theres the real problem.

Nothing personal here but as a former soldier myself, I'd actually be quite offended if I was given a discount for that reason, at the end of the day it's just a job, a dangerous one albeit but it's a choice people make same with any other line of work.

Agree Banjo - I don't know but always under the impression most jobs within the armed forces is quite well paid..... can see why former soldiers could liven the atmoshpere right target audience (age wise) and all...... but could also see it causing some problems when the deamon drink is involved "You're only here cause you've got a freebie" etc.

[rhino222]

if the promoters wont drop the ticket price, then what about getting a bit more for your money... a free programme with each ticket, a free 'caldwell promotions' (just an example) t-shirt.. (free advertising !!). ... a 'first drink free' in the bar 'token' in the programme, ... im sure there culdbe other ideas.

[rhino222]

Why do you suggest discount for the emergency services???? I disagree there (and last year I did work for the NHS).

Great fantastic service that they do - but in most of the cases well paid for it. I'm sure if a doctor who is a fight fan does not attend the show, its not cause he cannot afford it. Also where do you draw the line...... is it just the Policemen / Firemen that get the discount or anyone who works for them..... eg... Admin, researchers etc.

I can sense in the Under 16's - I would increase it to Under 21's...... Adults wouldn't want to go if it just like going to the cimena with a pile of 14 year olds.

I've also suggested a greater range of merchandise to be sold. Many small hall promoters record their show for their own (and their fighters) private record. Why don't they sell those, for say a tenner. As they are already paying a Camera man - mass producing these wouldn't cost much. Obviously it wouldn't be of the bill, but it would be previous show..... option to buy these dvd's would only be available on display of a ticket.

i was just using them as examples stu, thats all.

[stujones]

Hi Rhino, no problems. Still wondering why you used them as an example...... and no..... I'm not thinking - "Rhino works for the NHS, he's after cheap tickets" - cause I know its not like that and I know it will probably never happen anyway.... I'm just wondering why emergency services and not say... .building trade?

[rhino222]

Hi Rhino, no problems. Still wondering why you used them as an example...... and no..... I'm not thinking - "Rhino works for the NHS, he's after cheap tickets" - cause I know its not like that and I know it will probably never happen anyway.... I'm just wondering why emergency services and not say... .building trade?

not sure why i suggested it, but going on the basis that the NHS has its own 'discounts' websiteetc. also many clubsetchave 999 nights dont they.it was just an idea.

look, you will be surprised.....

http://www.nhscashback.co.uk/google.asp ... 4woddnUmdg

[chinny]

Just a thought though folks - do you remember the abuse Hayemaker got on here when they started doing 2 4 1 tickets for Haye-Barrett?

It can create expectations I guess. Some good ideas on this thread though.

[rhino222]

Just a thought though folks - do you remember the abuse Hayemaker got on here when they started doing 2 4 1 tickets for Haye-Barrett?

It can create expectations I guess. Some good ideas on this thread though.

that is because hayemaker only did that at the 11th hour, leaving lots of 'early bookers' out of pocket!

[tonyevs]

I too think it would be a good idea to offer under 16`s or even under 18`s( considering most don`t leave school till 18yrs old now anyways) token priced tickets, with the rule of something like `with a full paying adult etc`.
Maybe discounts for forces personel also ( but imagine the possible trouble if they went to a Khan show), but why do the emergency services qualify? it could be then argued all civil servants should have the same discount ..

Anyway. I think the actual ticket prices and quality of the pairings are the main reason Joe public isn`t interested. £30 cheap seats and most fights will be record padding affairs with little or no excitement .. theres the real problem.

Nothing personal here but as a former soldier myself, I'd actually be quite offended if I was given a discount for that reason, at the end of the day it's just a job, a dangerous one albeit but it's a choice people make same with any other line of work.

Agree Banjo - I don't know but always under the impression most jobs within the armed forces is quite well paid..... can see why former soldiers could liven the atmoshpere right target audience (age wise) and all...... but could also see it causing some problems when the deamon drink is involved "You're only here cause you've got a freebie" etc.

Your average squaddie on the front line won`t be on a great wage. There were times when it could have been argued they did very little anyway. Stood guarding bases or running around fields playing war games .. but for the last few years that has sadly changed. The bullets aren`t all going in one direction anymore ... hence why you have more ex-squaddies ..

[whicker]

I know what you are saying but 30 quid is not too bad when you consider how much premiership football is etc.

Yes, but Premiership football is an acknowledged rip off- one of the tragedies of modern sport being that local people often can't afford to watch their local team.

[whicker]

People that has kids just cant afford it

Exactly.

It's a real shame, too, that children- who may be boxers themselves- don't often get the chance to watch professional shows because of the price.

[whicker]

It hard work and basically people on small shows come to support there mates and aint that bothered about anything else.

Yeah- i think thats pretty much the current state of things with lots of live shows.

A lot of live entertainment is struggling at the moment- threatre for example is heavily reliant on funding- many shows wouldn't make money without "help."

They say at the theatre the best way to sell out a show is have members of the public in it- because their friends and family come along to watch!! thats true.

EG stick on a panto, get a big chorus of local kids- can guarantee mums, dads, uncles antys etc will all come and watch!!!

The only other way they make money at the theate is by having someone in it who is from TV. Also, it's rare to see local bands doing their own shows now , most stuff is like "A tribute to" the Eagles or Queen or whoever.


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


That said, as a fan of the sport, I'd like to see good, well matched shows. But there is no point being unrealistic. A few dedicated fans of the sport, spread across the country, won't make these shows profitable. :(