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Post by Olaw d'Elpus on Nov 10, 2010 14:09:05 GMT
I emailed this to Edinburgh News:
Hi, I am a Nottingham Panthers fan who came up to Edinburgh to watch my team play the Edinburgh Capitals.
I was shocked at how few Capitals fans there were at the Ice Stadium – yes, ICE HOCKEY. I'm told that the Panthers fans outnumbered Capitals fans by 2 to 1. Our side was full, yours barely half.
It was a cracking game, and Panthers were at one point winning 5-1 – but it was our fans who gave a HUGE sigh of relief at the final hooter, as Capitals scored another 3, to make it 5-4.
Edinburgh, you have a team that doesn't give up, and provides great entertainment for all the family. Please get behind them, they'll be virtually unstoppable with a crowd roaring them on! A word of warning though – wrap-up, it's ffffffffffffffffffffreeeeeeeezing in there!
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Post by rangers on Nov 10, 2010 14:18:11 GMT
I love how simple it is for teams to get people though the doors. A few leaflets, a couple of radio ads - its that simple. I remember when I lived in Edinburgh the Murrayfield...whatever they were called American Football team had a huge demonstration out on Princes Street for a weekend, thousands and thousands of people saw it. They had loads of publicity in the press. But their attendances didnt improve. But a couple of flyers and I'm sure half of Edinburgh will be there. I think what people are saying rangers is that at least some effort is needed. You walk around Edinburgh and people look at your Panthers shirt / badge with a blank look, they have no idea what it is let alone that Edinburgh has a hockey team itself. It's the same in Manchester, no promotion in the city centre whatsoever. Good marketing works, that's why companies invest huge amounts in it and it's why the big brands who don't always offer the best products stay at the top of the profit charts. I do agree that it's not as easy as a few flyers but they could do so much more in Murrayfield, it's a great place to watch hockey. Of course the smaller clubs could just continue to bleat about being poor relations as i see Mr O'Connor is, yet again, today. Funny how Braehead seem to be managing it isn't it. I was sat in a Thai restaurant on the Friday night on Argyle Street, couple behind me were talking about hockey, how much they enjoyed it and how they'd love to go to Madison Square Garden to see a game. They have people out flyering in the city centre, adverts on the underground, pretty girls in Braehead outfits drumming up support. What it comes down to is some people are running good businesses which they have the business acumen to grow, others just fancy running a hockey club and hide behind the veil of 'oh but we've stuck by this sinking ship for so long, we are the saviours'. Garbage. Sad as it is I agree with Jono's article 100%, to me Edinburgh just feel like a club seeing out their time, I can't see them being here next season. And which parts of Paddy's article are you disagreeing with? You marketing whizzkids on here always said get flyers out there - I believe there is Vipers stuff in McDonalds and Subways across the region. They regularly go to schools, are in the paper every week as much as Panthers are, and have big promotions every month. The PR machine at Vipers is in overdrive. They have also done what you said and spent very little on a team this year. When the early season optimism of a new team, coach, owner etc died down, and the team was pure dross, crowds slumped by 50%. What is everyone's next wonderful idea? And it's funny how at times people on here are willing to say Braehead is NB's success, but on the very odd time when something bad happens, it's league marketed team. Of course, we all know NB is the saviour of hockey. And he made Panthers the team they are. Not the NIC. Without which GM has told me that there would be no Nottingham Panthers. |
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Post by Rob Scott on Nov 10, 2010 14:22:49 GMT
For gods sake Rangers I got half way through your post and could not read anymore.
Moan moan moan, whinge whinge whinge
BORING!
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Post by howeaboutthat on Nov 10, 2010 16:05:07 GMT
I love how simple it is for teams to get people though the doors. A few leaflets, a couple of radio ads - its that simple. Blah, blah, blah..... Perhaps the Caps should just get some bitter ex-coach to open his gob and bleat about how all the woes of his former team are the fault of teams that are run professionally? Doesn't seem to work for the 'Vipaaaas' but you never know, it might work for the Caps. Scottish sports fans seem to love an underdog, if they hear there is a team suffering in their next of the woods because of some nasty English teams they'd probably pour in. |
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Post by pantherinmanc on Nov 10, 2010 16:31:11 GMT
And which parts of Paddy's article are you disagreeing with? You marketing whizzkids on here always said get flyers out there - I believe there is Vipers stuff in McDonalds and Subways across the region. They regularly go to schools, are in the paper every week as much as Panthers are, and have big promotions every month. The PR machine at Vipers is in overdrive. They have also done what you said and spent very little on a team this year. When the early season optimism of a new team, coach, owner etc died down, and the team was pure dross, crowds slumped by 50%. What is everyone's next wonderful idea? And it's funny how at times people on here are willing to say Braehead is NB's success, but on the very odd time when something bad happens, it's league marketed team. Of course, we all know NB is the saviour of hockey. And he made Panthers the team they are. Not the NIC. Without which GM has told me that there would be no Nottingham Panthers. Firstly the bit I disagree with is the boy that cried wolf bit, i.e. all of it, the constant bleating and whinging and moaning. Let me be blunt and perhaps a little harsh. If the Newcastle Vipers do not have the fanbase or interest to survive then they should do what any other business without customers would do and fold. If they are genuinely putting in quality marketing effort and it's reaping no return then there is a simple answer - people don't want the product as it is currently offered. I suspect what is actually happening is they are playing a waiting game whilst the new Gateshead rink comes to fruition, fair play if they are because i do believe that will make a big difference, but please spare us the sympathy hunting articles every few weeks. They may well have spent very little on a new team but that does not explain the lack of effort. I've seen them play twice this year and they've looked garbage on every occasion. Disinterested, half hearted. I can see why Danny Stewart is angry as he's the exact opposite. I suspect the crowds dwindling is less to do with pure results and more the complete lack of a light at the end of the tunnel because the majority of the roster don't seem to give a toss. If 50% of your fanbase require winning hockey in order to attend then you have issues before you've even started, no sports club can build on a base of customers that fickle in nature. That said you've won the home games against Braehead and Hull, games you'd expect/hope to win. It's not like you've gone for straight losses at home since the start of the season. The old NIC saving Panthers stuff. Firstly if you take what GM says as gospel then there's little hope for you. Secondly it's irrelevant because the NIC was built, after much effort, blood, sweat and tears by many people. A lot of people gave up large parts of their lives to make it happen. Sorry if we reap the rewards for that. Saying Panthers wouldn't have existed if they didn't build the NIC is an unknown. Panthers as they existed then, and as GM knew them, may well have folded. But they didn't exist for 20 years, there is nothing to say they wouldn't have carried on either immediately or at some point had LPS remained our only ice venue in Nottingham. What bad things at Braehead are you referring to? I don't say anything other than those at the top are accountable, that's the way business works. Maybe not your direct doing but if it happens on your watch you take the rap, that's the deal. NB is making a success of Braehead because he has the ability to, it's what he's good at. He's shown that with Panthers and Masters Football and is now starting to show it with the Clan. Maybe some people just fancy themselves as hotshot hockey club owners and think that a few glossy flyers in the local Coventry fan hangouts will do the job. Even that 'drive for 5' is misguided in my opinion. Why set yourself a silly target like that? Leave the 5 out of it and stick with 'Rock the Rink' or such like. Adding the 5 just sets you up for a fall, nobody likes businesses that don't hit their targets. |
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Post by heja on Nov 11, 2010 7:09:39 GMT
I think what people are saying rangers is that at least some effort is needed. You walk around Edinburgh and people look at your Panthers shirt / badge with a blank look, they have no idea what it is let alone that Edinburgh has a hockey team itself. It's the same in Manchester, no promotion in the city centre whatsoever. Good marketing works, that's why companies invest huge amounts in it and it's why the big brands who don't always offer the best products stay at the top of the profit charts. I do agree that it's not as easy as a few flyers but they could do so much more in Murrayfield, it's a great place to watch hockey. Of course the smaller clubs could just continue to bleat about being poor relations as i see Mr O'Connor is, yet again, today. Funny how Braehead seem to be managing it isn't it. I was sat in a Thai restaurant on the Friday night on Argyle Street, couple behind me were talking about hockey, how much they enjoyed it and how they'd love to go to Madison Square Garden to see a game. They have people out flyering in the city centre, adverts on the underground, pretty girls in Braehead outfits drumming up support. What it comes down to is some people are running good businesses which they have the business acumen to grow, others just fancy running a hockey club and hide behind the veil of 'oh but we've stuck by this sinking ship for so long, we are the saviours'. Garbage. Sad as it is I agree with Jono's article 100%, to me Edinburgh just feel like a club seeing out their time, I can't see them being here next season. And which parts of Paddy's article are you disagreeing with? You marketing whizzkids on here always said get flyers out there - I believe there is Vipers stuff in McDonalds and Subways across the region. They regularly go to schools, are in the paper every week as much as Panthers are, and have big promotions every month. The PR machine at Vipers is in overdrive. They have also done what you said and spent very little on a team this year. When the early season optimism of a new team, coach, owner etc died down, and the team was pure dross, crowds slumped by 50%. What is everyone's next wonderful idea? And it's funny how at times people on here are willing to say Braehead is NB's success, but on the very odd time when something bad happens, it's league marketed team. Of course, we all know NB is the saviour of hockey. And he made Panthers the team they are. Not the NIC. Without which GM has told me that there would be no Nottingham Panthers. The reason newcastle press releases do not work is because they a word the exact same way as your post which is basically we have no chance we are always the hard done team. You can not use the NIC as an excuse of why we are doing all right and Newcastle struggling, you have the Metro Radio Arena. Think you will probably find Gary Moran was being over dramatic, we probably would not have Neil Black as owner any more but I can be pretty certain that Nottingham Panthers would still exist Newcastle has the same resources as Nottingham do (its not what the rink looks like) Ok Nottingham has a bigger arena but why would that help the Vipers if they can not fill their current arena. As soon as the Newcastle owners stop moaning and start doing something about it its not about winning its about being value for money and being entertaining. If I was Newcastle I would try and be like Cardiff now they are playing at Whitley Bay, which is basically shut up and get on with it. try and make a success of themselves. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2010 8:57:04 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2010 0:44:23 GMT
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Post by Mortified on Nov 19, 2010 17:18:54 GMT
Spot on!! Agree with every word Greg says there. |
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Post by pantherdman on Nov 19, 2010 18:03:57 GMT
Greg Mitchell is like me but less angry. LOL!
Spot on, but at some point if a player isn't performing on the ice, he should be warned and if it continues sacked and that is down to the coach.
if a player is in a bar, who cares? if a player isn't performing on the ice because of it, sack him, end of. no more excusses.
Frankly, I don't care if a player is having a drunken gang bang in the market square, five minutes before face off, as long as he shows up and gives 100%.
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Post by richard1969 on Nov 19, 2010 18:25:58 GMT
Greg Mitchell is like me but less angry. LOL! Frankly, I don't care if a player is having a drunken gang bang in the market square, five minutes before face off, as long as he shows up and gives 100%. I disagree slightly - give 100%, win the match THEN do whatever you want !  If you lose dont even think about going out and enjoying yourself that night - it is disrespectful And a real winner in any sport should not be capable of enjoying a night after a defeat - I dont buy the drowning your sorrows bit When I used to lose a football match my weekend was miserable They win enough matches to be able to go out and have fun plenty of times a season |
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Post by richard1969 on Nov 19, 2010 18:31:20 GMT
Re Greg Mitchells column
If the complaint is the players wanted to go to bed and hence didnt spend much time with the fans in the Hotel I fully agree with you - thats not what they are there to do
(My only nervousness is they didnt want to spend much time with the fans because they wanted a night out clubbing)
No idea obviously but wouldnt be the first time a group of professional sportsmen have gone out on the pXss or broken a curfew
The players definitely did the right thing ASSUMING they were all taking the going to bed option
So well done to the players !
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2010 15:24:52 GMT
TCW Live Hockey Sunday will be providing updates from Vipers v Panthers and the latest scores from all the other Elite League games on the link below from 5.15pm TCW Live Hockey Sunday 21st November |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2010 12:17:56 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2010 19:03:48 GMT
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Shaggy
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Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
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Post by Shaggy on Nov 30, 2010 19:18:52 GMT
Oooh... I get a mention! ;D  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2010 19:19:47 GMT
Jay Courtney Interviewed former Nottingham Panthers forward Sean McAslan exclusively for The Cat's Whiskers on the below link. Sean McAslan InterviewComments welcome |
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Post by pantherdman on Dec 1, 2010 19:44:46 GMT
Panthers Legend, nice interview!
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Pies
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Post by Pies on Dec 1, 2010 19:55:15 GMT
Sean was a classy player and seems like a classy fella too. Wouldnt mind him coming back here one day in a coaching capacity. Either way Sean good luck (not that he'll read this!)
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Post by grumpyminer on Dec 1, 2010 22:24:14 GMT
Sean was a classy player and seems like a classy fella too. Wouldnt mind him coming back here one day in a coaching capacity. Either way Sean good luck (not that he'll read this!) ...Or just for a visit to say hi. Great interview Jay, well done. |
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Post by panthers4ever on Dec 2, 2010 6:35:40 GMT
Great guy and a great player all the best Sean
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Post by sanjosefan on Dec 2, 2010 12:41:25 GMT
Cheers for the positive feedback.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2010 14:06:31 GMT
Swamp Donkeys?  ? |
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Post by gcmandrake on Dec 2, 2010 14:15:17 GMT
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Yotes
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Post by Yotes on Dec 2, 2010 14:50:36 GMT
Can't believe he retired at 30, seems very young. Anyway, top player, nice interview again Jay.
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