Monday, October 11, 2010

Dear New Jersey Devils -- UPDATED 2:49 PM

Do you ever look out at the crowd and somehow wish more fans had shown up? If you do let Johnny hip you to something that JUST took place. Johnny went online to see which, if any seats were left for today's matinee game vs the Penguins. In searching Ticketmaster online it showed no tickets left and immediately offered to send Johnny over to the 'Ticket Exchange' section. Anyone who doesn't follow sports the ticket exchange section is where you can go to buy higher priced tickets from those who have them because an event is sold out. It makes Ticketmaster more money no doubt and can be handy IF a game is sold out. But what if a game isn't sold out and you get the ticket exchange section anyway.

Like just now.

Johnny didn't think that since opening night wasn't a sellout an afternoon game in October would be a sellout so he tried calling the Devils to find out. He tried and tried and tried. Either the phone would prompt Johnny back over to Ticketmaster OR when trying to get in touch with a real person was met with phones that went unanswered. That's some FINE customer service for someone who wants to see a game. Called the main offices, nothing. Called another office listed on the website. Nothing. Finally Johnny decided to call the Devils team store at the Prudential Center and someone there (who was very kind) checked and said yes, seats were still available.

So, Devils, answer your phones, you don't exactly have customer services number too prominently located on your webpage. We know talking to customers is a real drag and a hassle for you but at least try next time. Ticketmaster, here's another case of tickets not being released to the regular guy who doesn't want to pay huge amounts for an afternoon game that is the third game of the year. Again, how is Ticketmaster even legal?

UPDATE: Johnny just learned the Devils will be playing with only 15 skaters against a team that makes it's living skating in Pittsburgh. Lou Lamoriello, Devils GM really backed the team into a corner injury-wise with the Kovalchuk signing. Not only did the Devils lose draft picks as the NHL got all mad at a franchise for outsmarting the league's crap salary cap but now WITH said salary cap the Devils are up so close to the cap that they simply can't just bring guys up to play for an injured teammate. The new guy's salary counts against the entire Devils total and the injured player still counts as well. UNLESS you waive the player, ie P.L. Letourneau-Leblond who was waived to Albany for the crime of being suspended for a game. Thanks for the cap Gary Bettman.

We'll try to overcome the BAD wi-fi at The Rock and let you know how this one goes.

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