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Post by swarm on Jun 3, 2007 12:39:45 GMT -5
It looks like it's going to be scalpers night off in Nashville on June 17th as ticket sales for TNA's Slammiversary pay-per-view have been sluggish to say the least. If you go to Ticketmaster.com, you can still get a third row seat. On the first day tickets went on sale at Nashville's Municipal Auditorium, which was two Saturdays ago and had TNA talent on hand to sign autographs, only 67 people showed up. There were 67 people there because a person who was there noted that nobody ever got behind him while he was waiting in line for his ticket. The reason for the sluggish sales may be due to the high ticket prices. Ringside seats are $125, which might be out of the price range for the Nashville locals who were used to getting in for free when TNA ran weekly pay-per-views there. The crowds at the weekly pay-per-views often appeared to be at a very low level of income and are regarded by some as one of the lowest socio-economic crowds to ever witness pro wrestling events, so that might explain why the ticket sales have been really bad. The Municipal Auditorium holds about 8,500 people, so TNA has their work cut out for them.
Bringing in former NFL player Frank Wycheck to wrestle James Storm in a match looks to be a last ditch effort at boosting sagging ticket sales for Slammiversary. Wycheck hosts a high-rated radio show not to mention that there is a gigantic picture of him hanging from the Titans' stadium, so as you can see, he still is a popular figure in the area. Every local news outlet covered this story last night, including airing footage of his scuffle with Jeff Jarrett at a weekly pay-per-view in 2002.
source..NoDQ.com
Strange.
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Post by LWPD on Jun 3, 2007 16:09:56 GMT -5
The sad truth is that even after having well over a year of a national cable television presence...TNA still can't run even a 'sporadic' house show cycle where fans can be expected to 'pay' to watch in enough numbers that make running a show good for business. That's not to mention their PPV Buys are still abysmal and showing no signs of turning around. There's just no money in this thing...and no magical change in creative direction or new 'big name signings' are going to change the economic realities behind running a full time national promotion. The real question is: How long will Dixie Carter's mega-wealthy husband allow her to keep flushing money away on her pro wres money pit hobby?
LWPD (if left unchecked 'Billionaire Ted' Turner would probably still be fronting his WCW hobby cash and television time had the Time Warner/AOL merger not forced the sale...will anyone in a position of responsibility ever 'have a frank talk' with Dixie?)
Voice of Reason Reporter: "Billionaire Ted...isn't it true that your _rasslin' company_ has lost millions of dollars over the years...thus wasting your stockholders good money!"
Billionaire Ted: "Yeah...but I'm having fun...it's kinda like a play thing...as long as I'm having fun that's all that matters... sure the stockholders care...but I don't...I'm entitled to a 'play thing'!"
-the words of a fictional caricature of Ted Turner...the real Ted Turner eventually lost his ability to keep the money losing WCW afloat once the AOL/Time Warner merger forced red ink ventures from the budget...due to the fact that Panda Energy is a private company...it's unlikely that there will be a similar 'this project doesn't make any fiscal sense' moment of truth coming anytime soon |
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Post by GalactiKing on Jun 3, 2007 17:38:52 GMT -5
It's crazy...eventually however the economic reality will probably strike. It's why I think ROH may be the #2 company in the US for wrestling soon if not already.
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Post by LWPD on Jun 4, 2007 3:48:55 GMT -5
It's crazy...eventually however the economic reality will probably strike. It's why I think ROH may be the #2 company in the US for wrestling soon if not already. ROH and TNA are apples and oranges. The former is operates like a real life business. They are not a competitor in any sense to WWE and have gone out of their way to be respectful and cooperative toward VKM. In turn Vince has reciprocated. I wouldn't be shocked to learn that Vince gives them a supplement similar to how he helped out Heyman and Cornette's old ECW and SMW promotions. I'd honestly be surprised if he wasn't throwing them a bone. I remember friends of mine telling me about ROH back in 2002 and how it was the 'new practical business model' for US Indy pro wres going forward. Since then many have tried...but few have replicated their ROI. Feinstein started the promotion to service the market he used to sell ECW videos to (before they went under). It really helped out that they already had a committed market in place buying recurring shows through RF Video...and to his credit he was frugal and built slowly and steadily. Since taking over Cary Silkin has done well...they even have revenue coming in from TV deals and have run smartly targeted overseas tours. Running low cost taped PPVs will hopefully break-even or maybe even put them in the green a bit...while ideally doubling as an infomercial for an expanded audience that buys into the tape library that's their bread and butter. It doesn't take much. Japanese pro wres garbage promotions have been able to successfully use this model for moderate growth.
LWPD (unlike with the case of TNA...ROH has had realistic ambitions and has followed a business plan that makes sense...the people who run the company 'know their place' in the market and are comfortable with it...they don't 'compete' they co-exist and are very respectful of WWE...it's the polar opposite of the failed TNA money pit philosophy) |
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Post by JamieOD on Jun 4, 2007 6:07:14 GMT -5
Good point, LWPD.
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Post by Knapik on Jun 4, 2007 10:18:29 GMT -5
Great post. LWPD. I honestly think the WWE can gain by the existance and success of Ring of Honor. They've actively been targeting talent and ROH is a great place for guys to learn how to work in the ring and hone their craft for a possible jump to the big show.
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Post by daytondave on Jun 8, 2007 6:36:16 GMT -5
Great post, LWPD... up until the part where you used "Rob Feinstein" and "went under" in the same sentence.... LOL
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Post by LWPD on Jun 9, 2007 6:12:01 GMT -5
Great post, LWPD... up until the part where you used "Rob Feinstein" and "went under" in the same sentence.... LOL |
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Post by Subvert69 on Jun 16, 2007 17:54:02 GMT -5
It would be interesting to find out if the WWE is "throwing ROH a bone". It would make sense in some ways. If you think about the ROH roster over the last five years all of the following have either been picked up from ROH or have gone to ROH when there were not with WWE: Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Eddie Guerrero, Jimmy Yang, Jamie Knoble, CM Punk, Colt Cabana, Brent Albright, Tank Toland, and Claudio Castignoli (who at one time had a developmental deal but I guess it didn't work out).
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