Working for a company that owns several professional sports franchises is fantastic, and it's making me appreciate sports I never thought I'd follow.

Mainly hockey.

The Colorado Avalanche are a blast to watch, and luckily, we have a successful history (it's nice to say "we" and actually be a part of it).

My knowledge of the sport, however, is that of a neophyte.

Luckily, hockey fans aren't reserved when talking about their sport. They're very proud of their history, and are willing to discus the past and explain the rules with much gusto.

But will I ever fully understand the sport?

I'm most comfortable with baseball - the history, strategy, rules, etc; but growing up, I played baseball, and followed MLB very closely.

The question becomes: can a person fully understand the ideology of a sport without having played it?

I don't believe so.

Aristotle once said, "One must learn by doing the thing, for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try." So if you haven't tried - or played - you'll never know.

I'll buy that. I may learn hockey, but I can't imagine I'll every fully grasp the sport.

Labels: Colorado Avalanche, Hockey, Sports

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 11:30 PM | Permalink | Comments

Today was the Colorado Avalanche's annual Burgundy & White game played at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

A few of us were given the opportunity to work the event and provide information for our season ticket packages. We were asked by Game Operations if we'd be willing to help toss t-shirts between periods, and we gladly accepted.

I don't understand what people's obsession is with getting free t-shirts at a sporting event, but I learned a different perspective when it's me tossing them.

First of all, it's everyone's birthday. Second, you seem to notice all the kids in the crowd.

I felt bad for telling the younger fans 'no,' but there weren't enough to go around. I did, however, have the opportunity to pass one to a little girl who was unnecessarily sweet. When no one was watching, I passed her a shirt, to which she immediately lit up with delight.

I wish I would have seen her face when she noticed there were two tickets wrapped in the shirt for the fifth row (near the glass) to an Avalanche preseason game.

Labels: Career, Colorado Avalanche, Hockey, Sports

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 8:42 PM | Permalink | Comments

This week, we got a lesson in basic economics -- the theory of supply and demand.

If I had to guess, I'd say the Colorado Rockies draw an average of 20,000 people to Coors Field on a given night. Ticket prices are very reasonable, specifically for a team that is routinely under .500.

Because the Yankees are in town for interleague play, we've seen a price increase of roughly 75%. As I drove past the stadium this evening, the house was near full capacity and on their feet for the 7th inning stretch.

Again, supply and demand.

Of course there are a significant number of Yankees fans in Denver (or any city for that matter), but it's obvious people are willing to pay the price.

While the casual sports fan complains that ticket prices are too high, it's a belief that is shared amongst all of professional sports. MLB, NFL, NBA, & NHL are all accused of isolating the casual fan in favor of the wealthy or corporate buyers, but I find that I disagree.

Don't I always disagree? I actually believe that tickets are under priced.

Scalpers and resale websites like StubHub are proof that if management wanted to charge more, they could. I bought scalped tickets to Opening Day in 2006 and paid significantly more than face value. I would have paid more.

Yankees vs. Red Sox can cost several thousand dollars. The waiting list for Green Bay Packers season tickets is approximately 35 years. The Colorado Avalanche have sold out 97% of their home games.

It's obvious people are willing to pay more.

Maybe the extra cash will allow the Rockies to get an extra bat for the stretch run after the All-Star break.

Labels: Baseball, Basketball, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rockies, Football, Hockey, Sports

Posted by M. Derrick Davis at 12:06 AM | Permalink | Comments