The first NHL season starts next week, and while the league is gearing up for the biggest game of the season, the Seattle Seahawks have been making a concerted effort to be in the public eye.
The team has been traveling the country and visiting fans in the stadiums where they play and is showing the world the kind of energy and passion that made the Seattle Supersonics one of the most recognizable teams in the NBA last season.
But even with a record-breaking number of fans in attendance, the Seahawks still struggle with a lack of fans.
And this season, it’s looking like the fans will be even harder to find.
According to data provided by the Seattle-based firm Aon Corp., the Seattle Sounders are the most oversold team in the league.
While the team has already sold out almost 20,000 seats for the first game of its season, this year they will need to sell more than 10,000 more for the next game against the Philadelphia Union.
And with the Seahawks having sold out all of their home games, they’re still hoping to sell out all 21 of their away games.
“The Sounders are sold out for every home game, but they’re going to be selling out every home stadium for the final three home games,” says Jason Miller, an agent with Miller+Kruse who specializes in NFL-related sales and marketing.
The Seahawks, like most other teams, are hoping to attract a younger crowd with an aggressive marketing campaign and a brand that is popular in Seattle.
The team’s “Seattle Style” merchandise is an obvious hit with fans, and the team is already looking to expand their presence in other parts of the world, including Mexico.
The club is also hoping to expand its presence in the Pacific Northwest by offering an outdoor game in Seattle, but Miller says the team may not be able to sell enough seats for that.
Seattle has been the best seller of all 30 teams in terms of average ticket prices, but its sales are still far below the league average.
“Seattle is one of those markets where we really don’t have a good understanding of what we can do to drive sales,” Miller says.
“And as a result, it takes time to build a team’s brand, to build relationships with fans.
So, that’s where the Seahawks need to focus their marketing efforts.”
We have to find ways to get people to want to come to Seattle, and that starts with building a team.
“But with the team’s sales down so dramatically, it may be time for Seattle to start looking to the fans.
Miller points out that the Seahawks’ team-friendly policies and ticket prices are among the highest in the NFL.
But the team also has a reputation for playing games at capacity, and fans are more willing to buy tickets for a home game if the team can hold more than 15,000.”
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We know we can make that happen, and we’re looking to do that.”
