Griffins Fans Bus Trips

[sjradio]

I did pay my membership dues for almost 5 seasons, I was an active member of the BC for most of those years. I used to run the website, I put every Bus trip on the website. There was nothing that I wouldn't have done to get a trip going. Not an easy thing to do when you live as far from GR as I do.

I signed up for numerous trips. But of the numerous trips only TWO trips that I ever signed up for... actually took place. One to Milwaukee and one to Chicago those were about a year apart

For the two trips that actually happened, they even picked me up along the way because it's a 90 minute drive to GR. And I live along the way to Chicago and Milwaukee, they stopped down here and picked me up and then dropped me off on the trip back

I can't begin to tell you how many times after signing up for a trip and then getting the check back about two weeks later. Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Hamilton

Don't tell me that I can't criticize those who "DO" when the same thing happens, BC trips simply "DO NOT" happen.

Besides I believe I told you some ways to help. Get stuff on the scoreboard. Have people who roam the concourse carry signup sheets along with the 50/50 tickets. Get announcements read, for instance they have the Griffins upcoming road game report. what about having them add something about the BC trip to one of those upcoming road games.

How many times last season did we see visitings BC's at Van Andel. Chicago and Milwaukee are frequent visitors. Rochester brought a good following a couple of times. I remember the Hershey Bears a few years agao bringing a huge busload and they went to Chicago, Milwaukee, and Grand Rapids all in the same trip. WBS brought a large group for the playoffs about 5 years ago.

It CAN be done. Obviously other BC's can pull it off... Why can't we? There's got to be a reason for it

[jackswild]

5hole said:

grudes, your points are no better than sj's. First, the only reason a road trip with a group of friends vs. the BC is that one of your group can get the room, etc on a discount site like Orbitz, Priceline, etc. If you don't that, your trip is just as expensive. The cost of gas is the cost of gas, as it is with food tickets, etc. So, the price is not at all out of line in my opinion. Second, most of the so-called ads spots cost and quite frankly, I don't believe it's in the best interests of the BC to pay for something like that, at least not until the trips become a regular thing.
As for the Toronto trip, If you paid 99 bucks, then I got the big ol' shaft cause I paid damn near $200 for the bus, hotel and game tickets, so I think you recall is off on that deal. But you know I don't care, cause I had one hell-of-a-time on that bus.
So like I said, I rescind my criticism of Bob the past several years and place the blame directly on the fans of the Griffins, hardcore they are not.

WOW! Will wonders never cease?

I don't too often agree with 5Hole, but in this case I DO - and it's 100% agreement.

It's a damn shame that there aren't enough "true" Griffin fans to be able to put a bus trip together to help support them while they're on the road.

All this gibberish about the price being too high is nonsense - UNLESS you can get a car load to share in the cost of gas, tolls, etc., the other costs are pretty much fixed.

IMNSHO, even the single rate of $197.00 was and is very reasonable for an overnighter to Cleveland.

Come on guys, (ooops, and gals) - quit bellyachin' - "JUST DO IT" as one of my not so favorite brands uses as their motto.

Quit knocking the people that are trying to do something positive - (there's already enough negativism being tossed around) -

Either lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way -

GO GRIFFINS!!!

[crazyforb]

I just looked out the window and a pig flew by... I agree with you Jacks.

In regards to all of the "big screens" that the booster club should advertise on, do you realize Grudes that the arena / Griffins CHARGE people to advertise on these boards. Yes, PEOPLE PAY MONEY to get in front of that audience. I'm thinking that they won't be willing to give the BC free advertisements on them and the boosters can't pay to advertise up there.

Now, let's talk about cost. Tickets in Cleveland range from $10 to $60 a piece. Take an average of that for a ticket and multiply that by two games, that's $60 bucks for tickets (and that's just taking the average price) that leaves $79 for a hotel room and gas to Cleveland. It is 301 miles one-way to Cleveland... my car gets great gas mileage and I estimate that i'd be spending $50 in gas to drive 602 miles. That means i'd have to find a hotel room for $29 in Cleveland to go cheaper. THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.

Same goes for Chicago - $35 in gas, $10 dollars to park (or has it gone up?) and i'm certain I can't buy a ticket in that barn for $5.

Things aren't cheap these days, but the Booster Club isn't making any money on these trips... they shop around, get us group discounts, and PUT LOTS OF TIME AND EFFORT into organizing this not because it's fun, but because they want to support the team. Let's support them.

[sjradio]

The Booster's bought a full page ad in the Graffiti. So they do have the money....

[whispers]

Well put crazyforb!!

Sjradio-- I find it funny how fast you throw the BC under the bus ( No pun intended )
Especially when you say yourself that they made a special stop to pick you up.

Sjradio wrote: For the two trips that actually happened, they even picked me up along the way because it's a 90 minute drive to GR. And I live along the way to Chicago and Milwaukee, they stopped down here and picked me up and then dropped me off on the trip back

That's a pretty nice thing to do... Think about this..... If you do nothing to help--- Please do not critize those who do... Because the next time those who do might just honk and wave!!!

Oh and I am pretty sure the BC did not pay for that spot in the Griffiti --

[grudesfan4]

I'm pretty sure anyone who advertises in the Graffiti has to pay money, they can't just advertise in there for free, I mean, it's how they make their money and how they're able to give us the magazine for free, especially when we used to have to pay for them. I could be wrong on this however, but I would imagine that you'd have to pay to advertise in there.

[crazyforb]

grudesfan4 said:

I'm pretty sure anyone who advertises in the Graffiti has to pay money, they can't just advertise in there for free, I mean, it's how they make their money and how they're able to give us the magazine for free, especially when we used to have to pay for them. I could be wrong on this however, but I would imagine that you'd have to pay to advertise in there.

But not for the big boards? Your arguments confuse me.

[triple]

grudesfan4 said:

itsallboutme said:

I couldn't agree with you more, whispers.

Those of you who think you can do a better job of organzing and advertising a road trip should contact Kathy and Jan and offer your assistance.

While you're at it, why don't you do something about the fluxuating cost of gas/diesel as I'm sure this has a lot to do with cost of these trips.

By the way, I'd love to know how much you think a road trip (bus ride and a ticket to the game) to Chicago, Milwaukee or Cleveland should cost per person.

SJRADIO...........seems like you are all talk and no action! You hide behind these fan boards...........step up to the BC table, pay your membership dues and get involved. Think you can do better ............prove it! Join the BC, attend meetings, join committees and run for an office.

If you were a MEMBER of the BC (I am), you would recieve the road trip information in the monthly newsletter. You would also know they have a website that contains this information plus a lot more.

Have you even looked at a Griffiti or are you off stuffing your face and drinking? If you had, you would have noticed that the BC has a full page ad about who they are and what they do. This ad ran all of last season and is once again in the Griffiti this season.

[glow=red,2,300]Do you pay attention to the annoucements made inside the Arena during a game or are you one of those people off stuffing your face and drinking? If you had, you would have heard about planned road trips and where to get the information.[/glow]

Do you listen to Kaser's radio broadcast or have you stepped away from your radio to stuff your face and drink? If you had been listening, you would hear Bob talk about the BC and road trips.

I guess since the BC isn't PERSONALLY contacting YOU (a non-BC member at that) with the information, than they must be doing a terrible job.

As Whispers said.............."If you do nothing to help... do not critize those who do!"

Before anyone jumps down my throat for criticizing the BC and yes, I am going to criticize them, I am going to explain myself.

Up until last year, I was a member of the BC. Now, the main thing I am going to criticize is the road trips. First of all, I agree, they are not advertised well enough.

We have a three big screens in the arena - one at the end of the ice and one at each of the Comcast Cyber Cafe areas at the end of the arena, not to mention a whole slew of TVs at each of the food booths throughout the arena. Those are used to advertise other things, so why not advertise Road Trips on those? It would work well for when fans are out getting food or drinks before the game or during intermission if the road trips were advertised on the TVs.

Secondly, a little piece of paper at the BC table, in my opinion, is not good enough. Especially printed on dark red paper as I saw the other night - perhaps if it was printed on white paper it would be easier to read for one (dark colors with black writing are hard on the eyes).

[glow=red,2,300]Third of all, we have a PA system that is used to advertise different things throughout the game. There were a couple times last season that road trips were announced over the PA system. That might also work to get more fan interest. [/glow]

I also agree with SJradio - the road trips are just way too expensive for the average person to pay for and be able to go on. 139.00 to go to Cleveland for an overnighter in my opinion is a bit much, considering when we all went to Toronto a couple years ago we got the entire trip for 99 dollars. Perhaps if the prices were lowered a bit and as SJradio said, we got more on the trips for the price, then more people would be interested. But people just cannot afford to pay that much per person to go on a bus trip - in all honesty, Crazy is right, it would be cheaper to get a group of friends together and drive than to pay those prices.

I was looking at the ad for the trips the other day and I happened to think that the regulations set were a bit strict and also a bit rude.

But that is only one person's opinion.

obviously grudes you must be one of the fans who are off stuffing your face and drinking, because if you werent you would have heard the announcements. and obviously you dont read the entire thread or you would have read what itsallabout me said in the post about announcing over the PA. I heard it several times. I would love to make a roadtrip but with 3 kids in hockey their schedule comes first and so far it hasnt worked out for us, maybe one of these days.

[sjradio]

As somebody who works in advertising, you have to advertise where it will be most effective, the BC can't advertise in both, I will concede that fact.

When you advertise in print, it depends on
1. Somebody picking up the Graffiti.

2. Actually taking the time to look at the entire thing.

3. Finding the ad.

4. The Graffiti is updated about every month or so. Meaning that if somebody has already read it. It will be unlikely somebody will read it again. Thus defeating the whole point of advertising in the Graffiti.

5. When you advertise on a medium like the message board above Center Ice, and combine that with an annoucment over the PA, you've got a visual and an audible message that reinforces the message.

6. You can close the Graffiti, you can't shut off your sense of hearing, you're going to hear it if you're in the seats at the time of the announcment, you also have a good chance to be looking up at the scoreboard at the same time. That's why radio and TV advertising is so successfull.

[crazyforb]

sjradio said:

As somebody who works in advertising, you have to advertise where it will be most effective, the BC can't advertise in both, I will concede that fact.

When you advertise in print, it depends on
1. Somebody picking up the Graffiti.

2. Actually taking the time to look at the entire thing.

3. Finding the ad.

4. The Graffiti is updated about every month or so. Meaning that if somebody has already read it. It will be unlikely somebody will read it again. Thus defeating the whole point of advertising in the Graffiti.

5. When you advertise on a medium like the message board above Center Ice, and combine that with an annoucment over the PA, you've got a visual and an audible message that reinforces the message.

6. You can close the Graffiti, you can't shut off your sense of hearing, you're going to hear it if you're in the seats at the time of the announcment, you also have a good chance to be looking up at the scoreboard at the same time. That's why radio and TV advertising is so successfull.

As someone who works in advertising i'm sure you will also concede that you must also advertise within your budget and many people do not have that. I do believe that to support the BC, the Griffins do give them certain "freebees," this includes a page on their website, Kaser promoting the trips, and a page in the Griffiti. I DON'T think their kindness extends onto the boards. I could be wrong.

[ruffus23]

Honestly, I find I am not supporting the BC we had 2 members that sat up about 3 or so rows behind us who did nothing but yell down insults to fans watching the game. After I talked to them, and others they continued to do so until finally someone went to the front office and made a complaint. I even emailed the BC asking for help in the situation finding no help there. I can't see why those who defining who 'real, loyal' fans are can act the way they do. This isn't all of them but they know who.

[crazyforb]

ruffus23 said:

Honestly, I find I am not supporting the BC we had 2 members that sat up about 3 or so rows behind us who did nothing but yell down insults to fans watching the game. After I talked to them, and others they continued to do so until finally someone went to the front office and made a complaint. I even emailed the BC asking for help in the situation finding no help there. I can't see why those who defining who 'real, loyal' fans are can act the way they do. This isn't all of them but they know who.

It's unfortunate that you had that experience, however, I assure you that those two people do not represent the group as a whole. I would not let their actions effect how you think, feel, act towards the BC.

[5hole]

"6. You can close the Graffiti, you can't shut off your sense of hearing, you're going to hear it if you're in the seats at the time of the announcment, you also have a good chance to be looking up at the scoreboard at the same time. That's why radio and TV advertising is so successfull."

EXCUSE ME, I guarantee I look right at you, listen to everything to have to say for 10 minutes and not hear a single solitary f***ing word. Don't tell me you can't shut of you sense of hearing....my kids have been doing it since they were 3 years old. And that's why I'm constantly changing channels, too many ads.

[whispers]

SO... Who wants to Go??? I myself think this will be a blast!