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Cogen Contends The Team Is Using Technology
To Sell Tickets Better Than In The Past |
Predators CEO Jeff Cogen “has seen attendance rise and the on-ice product adjust and adapt to injuries to stay in the playoff hunt in the Western Conference,” according to Josh Cooper of the Nashville TENNESSEAN. Cogen recently discussed topics “ranging from attendance to economic viability to the annual Forbes NHL team valuations.” The following are excerpts from the Q&A.
Q: Why has the gate gone up this season?
Cogen: I'd like to tell you it's great leadership, marketing and sales, and I think to some degree, that would be true. I would certainly get the blame if it was the other way. But we've had a very favorable schedule. … The team is playing great, so we always sell more tickets when the team is winning … I think as though we've had some degree of success in creating a sales culture. We've instituted a program where every department tries to sell tickets, and we have teams. So A, the schedule; B, the team; C, creation of a sales culture. We've emphasized data creation and capture, and I think as though we're utilizing technology a little better than we have in years past.
Q: Your ownership group recently held meetings with the NHL in New York. What was the point of those meetings?
Cogen: The commissioner just kind of wanted to meet with us. All the teams are doing it. We were not singled out. I'm not going to get into the specifics of the discussion, but I'll characterize it as, "Tell me how you're doing" face-to-face.
Q: According to Forbes' annual team valuations, Nashville's dropped 5 percent. It's unclear how accurate these are, but why would you say this happened?
Cogen: The league dropped, so it was kind of a falling tide if you will, so I wasn't surprised. And I agree with your statement, you don't know how accurate they are. It's like a house appraisal. It's a sheet of paper; it means absolutely nothing. The team is worth what you can sell it for. And the team is not being sold, so I would argue it's irrelevant (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 12/26).
