My how times have changed!

[Dynasty1970]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbi ... 871&type=3

[Antonio]

I barely watch it on TV anymore at all so I can't imagine paying the rip off prices to see it live.

[BurghThing]

The only way the owners are going to acknowledge that change is needed is when it starts to affect their bottom line. I won't spend a penny on them until Sullivan is gone.

[Victor]

In the original they refer that the Penguins had the biggest decline in attendance.

The other teams mentioned as biggest declines are the Los Angeles Kings: -757 fans/game (4.2 percent decrease), New York Islanders: -477 fans/game (2.9 percent decrease) and Chicago Blackhawks: -254 fans/game (1.4 percent decrease).

Pittsburgh Penguins: -1,187 fans/game (6.6 percent decrease)

The Penguins continue to be one of the biggest fallers at the box office this season, and it’s not hard to understand why.

Sidney Crosby could clinch a 20th season averaging at least a point per game, which would pass Wayne Gretzky (19) for the most in NHL history. Crosby is on an eight-game point streak and is still a reason to watch the Penguins. But, that only goes so far when we’re talking about a spoiled fan base watching another losing season.

The team’s 16,667 average attendance is the lowest since 2006-07, when the team was playing at Mellon Arena. With the old rink’s capacity in mind, that number was close to a sellout. So we’re actually looking at 2003-04 — the pre-Crosby era — to find a building this empty in Pittsburgh.

[Daniel]

In the original they refer that the Penguins had the biggest decline in attendance.

The other teams mentioned as biggest declines are the Los Angeles Kings: -757 fans/game (4.2 percent decrease), New York Islanders: -477 fans/game (2.9 percent decrease) and Chicago Blackhawks: -254 fans/game (1.4 percent decrease).

Pittsburgh Penguins: -1,187 fans/game (6.6 percent decrease)

The Penguins continue to be one of the biggest fallers at the box office this season, and it’s not hard to understand why.

Sidney Crosby could clinch a 20th season averaging at least a point per game, which would pass Wayne Gretzky (19) for the most in NHL history. Crosby is on an eight-game point streak and is still a reason to watch the Penguins. But, that only goes so far when we’re talking about a spoiled fan base watching another losing season.

The team’s 16,667 average attendance is the lowest since 2006-07, when the team was playing at Mellon Arena. With the old rink’s capacity in mind, that number was close to a sellout. So we’re actually looking at 2003-04 — the pre-Crosby era — to find a building this empty in Pittsburgh.

I think for LA the fires probably cut into that a bit but for the Penguins, who wants to watch a stagnant organization that's in denial the window has closed? I bet if they literally brought the coaching staff and roster of WBS to the NHL level the crowds would increase, just for the change.

[Antonio]

The only way the owners are going to acknowledge that change is needed is when it starts to affect their bottom line. I won't spend a penny on them until Sullivan is gone.

This 100%.

[Wyopen]

The only way the owners are going to acknowledge that change is needed is when it starts to affect their bottom line. I won't spend a penny on them until Sullivan is gone.

[pcmforless]

If I happen to be in town I'm definitely going to a game, BUT, I'm not planning a trip to Pittsburgh from Reno, NV to watch this team. I did plan my trips to Pittsburgh around catching games in the past, but don't plan to for a while.

[Puck-Lurker]

It's really simple. People come to be entertained; entertainment comes in many forms. Usually involves things people are excited to see.

Sidney Crosby puts asses in seats, simple. But even he can't do it on his own. There needs to be an identity to the team and an identity to the course its on.

This team is clearly not a playoff team. Won't be next year, even though Dubas seems to want a short turn around. He has kind of indicated he wants to be competing again next year -- or the year after at most. Some of Dubas' moves are directly supporting such a goal. Sorry, Kyle, not happening. Even if he's completely right and that does happen, a lot of fans right now just don't see it that way. So that's not going to cut it.

You could get excited for a team that sells off assets, to bring in picks, prospects, young players. See who's going to be the next fan favourite. We did trade Pettersson to that end, made some minor moves to bring in some later picks, but it's been one middle 1st rounder added, pretty much, in terms of the rule of cool. Novak, Tomasino, Timmins, Kolyachonok, Dewar... which of those should fans be excited about? I'd say none of them.

Another thing that could be cool to watch, is a team that's young players on the ice and watching them grow. The future needs to get started now. And that's not what we've been seeing. It's been the Acciari and Nieto show down low. Endlessly cycling through Shea, Graves, Grzelcyk. We've seen Pickering for a bit, because rough as he is, he's been better than most of the D for stretches. A cup of coffee each for RMG, Puustinen, Ponomarev, Koppanen, Poulin.. a little more for Boko (now hurt) and St Ivany (been in WBS forever now).
We haven't had a prospect come up and stay up. Whether that's because the coach won't play them, whether Dubas wants them to play with MacDonald in WBS, whether we really need the veterans instead in some sort of crazy tanking plan, I've no idea. They just aren't here to excite people most of the time.
At this late stage in the game, Koivunen and McGroarty are here, but that doesn't influence a season's worth of ticket sales.

"If a man does not know to what port he is sailing, no wind is favourable." -Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[Pitts]

In the original they refer that the Penguins had the biggest decline in attendance.

The other teams mentioned as biggest declines are the Los Angeles Kings: -757 fans/game (4.2 percent decrease), New York Islanders: -477 fans/game (2.9 percent decrease) and Chicago Blackhawks: -254 fans/game (1.4 percent decrease).

Pittsburgh Penguins: -1,187 fans/game (6.6 percent decrease)

The Penguins continue to be one of the biggest fallers at the box office this season, and it’s not hard to understand why.

Sidney Crosby could clinch a 20th season averaging at least a point per game, which would pass Wayne Gretzky (19) for the most in NHL history. Crosby is on an eight-game point streak and is still a reason to watch the Penguins. But, that only goes so far when we’re talking about a spoiled fan base watching another losing season.

The team’s 16,667 average attendance is the lowest since 2006-07, when the team was playing at Mellon Arena. With the old rink’s capacity in mind, that number was close to a sellout. So we’re actually looking at 2003-04 — the pre-Crosby era — to find a building this empty in Pittsburgh.

With the execption of the Islanders, Pens, Kings and Blackhawks were the winners of the 2010 decade. It follows reason that as those teams age out, their attendance would decline. People like to watch winners. I feel like this isn't really news.

[E-Ramone]

Attendance is really going to take a dive whenever Sid decides to retire.

[pfim]

Most people don't enjoy paying to see their favorite team lose.

[Antonio]

Most people also don't enjoy watching a stagnant, stale, rudderless mess that refuses to accept reality and actually make necessary changes like bringing in a new regime and youthful energy. This team is sloppy, soft, undisciplined and more often than not appears disinterested and everything about it is old and stale and boring and people don't want to spend money on that. I know I don't and I know I'm not the only one. I still spent money on the X generation but I won't on this ****. Sullivan = none of my money.

[pfim]

Most people also don't enjoy watching a stagnant, stale, rudderless mess that refuses to accept reality and actually make necessary changes like bringing in a new regime and youthful energy. This team is sloppy, soft, undisciplined and more often than not appears disinterested and everything about it is old and stale and boring and people don't want to spend money on that. I know I don't and I know I'm not the only one. I still spent money on the X generation but I won't on this ****. Sullivan = none of my money.

I won't lie, having McGroarty and Koivunen in the lineup is probably the most excited I've been in a while.

[Michael74]

Most people also don't enjoy watching a stagnant, stale, rudderless mess that refuses to accept reality and actually make necessary changes like bringing in a new regime and youthful energy. This team is sloppy, soft, undisciplined and more often than not appears disinterested and everything about it is old and stale and boring and people don't want to spend money on that. I know I don't and I know I'm not the only one. I still spent money on the X generation but I won't on this ****. Sullivan = none of my money.

[dark_forces]

Attendance is really going to take a dive whenever Sid decides to retire.

I think a winning team pretty much cures all ills.

[FLPensFan]

Most people also don't enjoy watching a stagnant, stale, rudderless mess that refuses to accept reality and actually make necessary changes like bringing in a new regime and youthful energy. This team is sloppy, soft, undisciplined and more often than not appears disinterested and everything about it is old and stale and boring and people don't want to spend money on that. I know I don't and I know I'm not the only one. I still spent money on the X generation but I won't on this ****. Sullivan = none of my money.

I won't lie, having McGroarty and Koivunen in the lineup is probably the most excited I've been in a while.

Same, which is more reason why I'm ready for the next phase. Sid is a franchise icon and all-time great, but it's time to move to the next phase. That doesn't mean cast him aside, but rather, act quicker to bring in the pieces necessary to get back to becoming a playoff team.

A quick turnaround to success and the post season will bring the fans back.

[Daniel]

Most people also don't enjoy watching a stagnant, stale, rudderless mess that refuses to accept reality and actually make necessary changes like bringing in a new regime and youthful energy. This team is sloppy, soft, undisciplined and more often than not appears disinterested and everything about it is old and stale and boring and people don't want to spend money on that. I know I don't and I know I'm not the only one. I still spent money on the X generation but I won't on this ****. Sullivan = none of my money.

I won't lie, having McGroarty and Koivunen in the lineup is probably the most excited I've been in a while.

Same, which is more reason why I'm ready for the next phase. Sid is a franchise icon and all-time great, but it's time to move to the next phase. That doesn't mean cast him aside, but rather, act quicker to bring in the pieces necessary to get back to becoming a playoff team.

A quick turnaround to success and the post season will bring the fans back.

He's always reminded me of Yzerman with the way he's adapted his game and his leadership. Stevie Y got less ice time his last couple of years as Datsyuk got more ice time. If the Penguins draft a future 1st round guy soon, I can see Sid doing the same thing.

[Gunnerfan]

Not going or watching a game only hurts the franchise. You are either a supporter of the Penguins or a fake weekend fan that gets excited when everything is perfect. As a fan since the late 70s, most of you have no idea what lousy hockey is. Ownership is more than solid. The front office seems to have a contingency plan already in effect.

You can be upset with the results and the progress, but not participating in supporting a team during the rebuild is weak. You're in, or you're out. Got no time for part-time.

[KG]

Not going or watching a game only hurts the franchise. You are either a supporter of the Penguins or a fake weekend fan that gets excited when everything is perfect. As a fan since the late 70s, most of you have no idea what lousy hockey is. Ownership is more than solid. The front office seems to have a contingency plan already in effect.

You can be upset with the results and the progress, but not participating in supporting a team during the rebuild is weak. You're in, or you're out. Got no time for part-time.

100%

[Daniel]

Not going or watching a game only hurts the franchise. You are either a supporter of the Penguins or a fake weekend fan that gets excited when everything is perfect. As a fan since the late 70s, most of you have no idea what lousy hockey is. Ownership is more than solid. The front office seems to have a contingency plan already in effect.

You can be upset with the results and the progress, but not participating in supporting a team during the rebuild is weak. You're in, or you're out. Got no time for part-time.

I don't live in Pittsburgh and haven't paid to watch sports in years. Watching or not watching doesn't affect their bottom line at all, and hasn't for awhile (even through the cup years). I'll keep track on the internet or watch through other means.

[Antonio]

It would be nice if the ignore list blocked out quotes as well from blocked users.

[penscup]

Not going or watching a game only hurts the franchise. You are either a supporter of the Penguins or a fake weekend fan that gets excited when everything is perfect. As a fan since the late 70s, most of you have no idea what lousy hockey is. Ownership is more than solid. The front office seems to have a contingency plan already in effect.

You can be upset with the results and the progress, but not participating in supporting a team during the rebuild is weak. You're in, or you're out. Got no time for part-time.

5 Cups in 35 years is not enough! We need moaarrr!

Probably the same people that incessantly shout Whoooooooo! at the end of games. Cannot stand those people.

I”m not totally supportive of the current ownership with the way they have treated Mario, but spending to the cap every year is a good indication that they want to win as bad as every team in the league, while the previous and current GM have been making a lot of poor decisions.

[Antonio]

Well, if people aren't wanting the team to win it all, what exactly is the point? So X cups in Y years means what exactly? They should just be cool with **** performance for exactly how long? Just checking since apparently that's the metric by which fan attitudes should be judged. There seems to be a real disconnect between the sanctimonious "real fans" and their perception that anyone who doesn't blindly just want to hand over their time and money regardless of any results or performance of the organization isn't a true fan. I guess people are just required to tithe blindly to the corporate ownership to earn the badge of "genuine fan." Jim Jones would have impressed by such mindless, brainless, fanatical and judgmental nonsense.

[Michael74]

The issue is if the fanbase believes in what the team and upper management are doing. Keeping Sullivan this long for many, is a bridge too far. I think the angst is far more aimed at the coach and his rigidity and polarizing nature. Many realize that this abomination of a coach is a dead end for the franchise. And if the team refuses to learn from that, then the masses will speak through their attendance (by not showing up) and wallets (not buying tickets).