Trying to keep it fair
Keeping arena below max capacity no easy task in hockey-mad Rankin
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
RANKIN INLET
With a year's worth of experience under their belts, the hamlet of Rankin Inlet and its user groups have made significant improvements in being as fair as possible with their ticket sales while, at the same time, keeping the crowd numbers at major events below the arena's maximum capacity.
And, part of the battle is keeping people out who didn't purchase a ticket for the right to attend.
Rankin recreation co-ordinator David Clark said the hamlet used a new scanning-and-ticket system for the Polar Bear Plate juvenile/junior 'C' hockey tournament earlier this month.
He said the system worked quite well, but organizers for the Terence Tootoo Memorial (TTM) Calm Air Cup senior men's tourney have elected to stay with a different coloured wristband for each day of the tourney this week which, he added, worked quite well in the past, too.
"The wristbands have the tournament logo on them, and they're colour co-ordinated for each day of the five-day event," said Clark.
"We learned that selling a maximum of two tickets per person is our best number, because we were allowing people to purchase five this past year and some people were buying them and then reselling, or scalping, them to people in the community who didn't get a ticket, but really wanted to see the games, especially on (playoff) Sunday.
"We also have the lineups inside the hall this year, so people don't get cold waiting in line outside for an hour or more.
"We're learning along the way and we make mistakes, but, at the end of the day, we're doing what we can to make it fair and safe for all the fans, while, at the same time, following the guidelines the hamlet requested."
Clark responded to some of the complaints or concerns raised by people concerning the ticket sales recently.
As for people who are frustrated by standing in line for an hour or more, only to come away empty-handed when the 503 tickets sell out, Clark said there's really not too much he can do about that.
He said they can only sell 503 per day, so, during major events like the Polar Bear Plate and the TTM, there's bound to be people disappointed.
"I really don't understand why some people seem to get upset by fans who bought their tickets lending them to a family member for a game they really want to see.
"There's a lot of families who share the tickets and I have absolutely no problem with that.
"I have a family of five, so after my son and I go to a few games, who's to say my wife and daughter shouldn't be able to go to a few games also while we stay at home for a while.
"So, to be honest, I think it's a good thing for people to be sharing the passes because we have so many hockey fans in this town and that means more of them will, at least, get to see a few games, even though I understand people's frustration with not be able to get in and see the really big games, but, again, we only have 503 tickets and when they're sold, there's nothing else I can do about it."
The hamlet goes above and beyond, using every means possible, to remind people the 503 daily passes go on sale an hour before the first game, especially during major hockey tournaments.
Clark said the games are also being live-streamed over the Internet and into the community hall this year, and well as broadcast over local radio, so no lack of trying on the hamlet's part.
He said everyone works hard to make the games as accessible as possible to everyone.
"We have a lot of volunteers trying to make this work and have the games during the TTM as accessible to everyone this week as we can.
"We have Twitter feeds, Facebook posts and a website with all the game results.
"The tournament organizers themselves are putting a lot of effort into getting information out to the fans as quickly and clearly as possible, but if you want to see the games live, then there's no other way than going and getting in line early enough so that you get a ticket."
Clark said he gets it when fans outside of Rankin fly in for a big tournament, then end up getting extremely frustrated if they don't get a ticket.
He said the reason the tickets are sold daily to begin with, with no weekly passes available, is for the people coming in from out of town.
"Look, let's be honest here, our whole region is hockey mad, especially for big events, and if you're paying to fly in from out of town, then you had better get your butt up and in line like everybody else to get your ticket as early as you can.
"I understand someone being upset when they paid hundreds of dollars to get here and then they can't get a ticket, so that's why our new arena can't come soon enough.
"As for the scalpers, the NHL hasn't been able to figure out how to stop that yet, so, once they have it figured out, they can let me know so I can learn how to do it, too.
"We have a lot of loyal hockey fans and if they want to see a game bad enough, they're going to pay those people who are trying to profit off of local hockey tournaments because, I guess, just like everywhere else in the world, it all comes down to supply and demand."
