NHL Panthers co-Owner Doug Cifu acknowledged the team this season is "going to lose money," but said it will not approach the daily loss of $100,000 the team accrued last season. Speaking on TSN Radio 1290 Winnipeg over the weekend, Cifu said the team has "done a number of things" to improve its financial standing. Cifu: "We did a lot of streamlining on the non-hockey side. ... Previously, all the cleaning and housekeeping and security and ushers and landscaping and pest control -- believe it or not, all those services had been outsourced. We brought those in-house and literally are saving millions and millions of dollars in doing that." He also noted while the team "reduced ticket prices" this season, the club has "stopped a lot of comp tickets and a lot of heavy discounting of season-ticket prices." Cifu: "Our net intake ... of ticketing revenue hasn’t suffered. It’s actually gotten better this season although our attendance numbers are down." The Panthers have made the playoffs just once since '00, and Cifu noted the team has looked at the Blackhawks' situation from around a decade ago "as a model" of how to improve. He said the Blackhawks at that time "went through the same things that Florida is going through right now." Cifu: "They had inflated attendance numbers historically because tickets had become complementary or heavily discounted” (“The Illegal Curve Hockey Show,” TSN Radio 1290 Winnipeg, 11/1).
CUSTOMER LOYALTY: The Panthers have launched a points-based fan loyalty rewards program -- My Panthers Rewards -- that will offer unique benefits, merchandise and experiences for season-ticket holders. Program members can earn points in a variety of ways, including attending games and member events, purchasing food and drinks at BB&T Center, and engaging with the team through social media. Benefits of the program include access to several behind-the-scenes experiences, such as an opportunity to ride the Zamboni between periods, a chance to sit in the penalty box during team warm-ups, and post-game player access (
Panthers).
