The Western Hockey League’s Everett Silvertips play in an unassuming barn at the corner of Hewitt and Oakes avenues in a city located some 28 miles north of Seattle.
Walking up to the Comcast Arena at Everett, it’s hard to believe the place seats 10,000 for games. The arena seems hidden in plain sight in the city’s center.
Inside, it’s a different story. It is a loud, intense arena with passionate and highly knowledgeable fans.
On New Year’s Eve I finally caught my first Canadian junior game. The ‘Tips lost 5-2 to the Moose Jaw Warriors.
I was struck by the number of Silvertips jerseys. Normally games are a hodgepodge of jerseys from leagues and cities across the world. To be sure, there was the occasional Russian and Swedish national team jersey and I was one of two guys rocking a Boston Bruins jersey. Still, most everyone sported ‘Tips gear, and I think this is reflective of the city’s love for the team. My lone issue with the locals was the idiot who berated an usher for not policing people who were looking for their seats.
The game was enjoyable and fast-paced. Both teams play good systems (great forechecking, cycling, and some half-wall work). I also saw Dylan McIlrath, a 2010 first round pick of the Rangers, get into a doozy of a fight with an unfortunate Silvertip.
The Blackberry is good for many things ... but not taking photos.
I was tempted, but I did not seek a press pass for the game. I was also tempted but opted against a press pass for yesterday’s PSU Icers game.
In both cases, I didn’t want the burden. My experiences last month in Everett and yesterday in State College have me thinking about the role of us bloggers.
As anyone can tell, this blog is not often updated and it always takes a backseat to my academic work. I try but I can’t break much news here. The blog is an avenue for my musings and the occasional e-mail interview with sources who are kind enough to respond.
So … should I seek those press passes?
The upside: I can cop free tickets. I can also bring my professional camera to shoot photos without problem.
From the organization’s perspective, I get it. My request for a press pass lets them know a blogger is in their midst.
For those who post frequently, I see the reasoning. Paid or unpaid, blogging is a bit of a job and the access from a pass can be exceptionally helpful.
For me, not so much.
I have had passes at Icers games this season and I didn’t like it.
Those damn lanyards hang bulky around my neck. Real or not, I feel like I have to be “on”: I shouldn’t wear a jersey, I should make my way down to the locker room for interviews, I can’t let my mind wander and I can’t really chat with my fellow fans. Focus self, focus.
It takes away from the experience.
Then again, a blog post by me is publicity for the team (hey, don’t forget to learn more about the Silvertips by clicking here).
Upon further review … I’ll pursue the access when I start writing more, plain and simple.
Really depends on your level of interest in the team and how much time you can really commit to maintaining and updating a blog. I know for mine with WBS, I attend all the home games, a few away games and those I can’t make I watch on my computer. All games I “live tweet” and try to provide as much insight as I possibly can to whomever reads my blog and follows on Twitter. All while working a full time job.
If a team was able to give “fan bloggers” limited press credentials, then see how they do in their limited capacity, the full-time press credential could work. The question I often ask myself is, how much would the content of my blog suffer if I was given press creds trying to do and say the right things amongst those who are the true trained professionals?
Teams may not issue credentials to fan bloggers because you’d then have all the real hack bloggers coming out of the wood work tripping over themselves ruining it for the ones who take this more seriously. Who knows?
Excellent points, and I have to hand it to you … Your blogging and Tweeting (like Bob at http://www.pppshow.net) is really interesting and your coverage of the Pens up there is solid. You make a good case for a regular pass because of the quality, worth to the team, and frequency.
You take a team, say in the Federal Hockey League, and I’m sure they would love even an infrequent blogger. At the minor league hockey level, we’re talking about tickets that are what, $30? That’s not a lot.
I wonder about the ramifications for the NHL, MLB, big time college sports. I’m sure they get many requests.
Bob just raised a great point on Twitter: what do you use the pass for? For me, I’m looking more at atmosphere when I go to games and business issues when I write from home. No need for player access.
In this period of unprecedented social media growth, don’t the organizations get the best of both worlds by having you pay for a ticket and write a blog that promotes (for better or for worse) the team? So they have to be thinking, why would they give you or people like you credentials, right?
Todd S., you are right. And as I say … every ticket counts at this level. Not every team has the same policy, and not every blogger is as prolific as the two guys I referenced in another comment. They need passes because they produce regularly. There is a gray area here.
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