Anyone know if these are autographed as well? In the live auctions, the players would sign them after you won the auction and personalized it, so I would guess these are signed by the player? The playoff patch is a nice addition...

Nice way to do the auction. Gives everyone a better chance at getting a fair shot. Alot of the live auctions were controlled by a few bidders that would outbid everyone, that was not always the case, but in many cases it was...

Seems most clubs are going with these online auctions now at season's end...

Drew

What I mean by fair shot is mainly availability and affordability. First, most live auctions are held after a game which means 10pm or later. This doesn't go well with fans with children or anyone that doesn't want to stand around until 11pm at night to wait on the bidding to start. Not all are this way, but many are for obvious reasons, not the fault of the team.

Honestly, I could care less about the profitability of the team when it comes to selling game used equipment. This is not done to raise money to pay the bills, it is to allow fans to have a piece of something special to them. Money shouldn't be the driving point of these kind of events, and honestly I don't think they are at all from what I have always been told.

You are correct, that the prices are lower. I think this is a great thing. There are many fans that don't have $500-$1k to drop on a jersey or two in a season, so if the possibility is for that loyal fan that struggles just to pay for their STs is able to have a reasonable shot at a jersey, I personally think it is a GREAT idea. I have sat in auctions where fans got up and left after a few were sold because a few fans were simply outbidding everyone else.

Don't get me started on how money taints pro sports to the point that the fans aren't really the focus anymore. Luckily, the CHL hasn't been that way, but the possibility seems to be coming around if you open your eyes a little.

Drew

All you have to do is look to the new Cowboys stadium to see what you are referring to... I actually heard on the Ticket this morning, Mickey saying that there were thousands of "affordable" tickets in that stadium....of course, the first 2 shows of the day had segments on the ticket prices, lol.

Minor leagues have crept up their prices as well over the years. Grant you it isn't majors prices, but considering that with the Fire you could sit on the glass for $14 plus a ST discount in 98-99 and now most CHL teams are in th $25-30 range on the glass and no ST discount...that is aat least a 100% increase in the last 10 yrs... times have changed to cause some of the price increase, but it is becoming more and more clear that even the CHL is heading in a new direction on costs and pricing, heck the Eagles even have a $50 fee just to get on the ST waiting list now...

Drew