The Penguins put their profits ... 
When the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night at the second game presented in the new arena built at a corner of the old Mellon Arena, the game will be played before more than 18,000 fans and ticket sales will amount to $ 0 .... And neither figures to displease team owner Mario Lemieux.
In what appears to be an unprecedented promotional activity, the organization has literally "given" all seat Consol Energy Center, the name attached to the new home of the Penguins. A shortfall of about U.S. $ 1 million.
It is not about to see it in Montreal ... Where
is the catch?
"There is none," said President and CEO of the team, David Morehouse. Part of the reward for putting up this initiative is the feeling of wellbeing it gives us. "
Earlier this year, the Penguins have won first place for its" relations "with fans (fan relationships) in a poll conducted by ESPN Magazine to customers of the 122 professional sports teams (MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL) in North America. His best marks were awarded for good relations with its supporters and accessibility to the players.
The Penguins have not started this promotion because they are struggling to sell tickets! They have played over 160 games sold out and have a waiting list of 3,800 names for the taking season ticket.
This does not undermine this loyalty is the selection of several promising young players in the first round of repechage when the concession is also failing ... and then turn it into a winning team in the Stanley Cup 2009.
To read the rest of this column posted on the site of Ruefrontenac.com, click here .
on ice What remains really in the pockets of the golfer? 
The next time you see the biggest stars of the PGA Tour during a final round on television, do not assume just as professional golfers. Today, these athletes are neither more nor less than small businesses with skilled employees to manage their income and their expenses ....
professional golf has become a very lucrative venture. Over the golfer is successful, his life is more complicated. Talk to Tiger Woods! (That that's another story ...)
An article published in a newspaper of Milwaukee on the sidelines of the Players Championship on the PGA Tour in August, revealed interesting information about the staggering number of people gravitating around the golfers and the percentage of scholarships that are in their pockets after applying all the expenses.
It takes first a very good accountant and a tax master. Imagine if the golfer has pocketed revenues in twenty U.S. states and in three or four countries (Canada, United Kingdom and Australia, for example) ...
"Golfers can work differently athletes together in a team, "says Don Hoffman, an accountant in New York working with professional athletes. They can declare as many self-employed than a small company presidents. "
The average scholarship amassed so far in 2010 reached $ 922,139 (all amounts are in U.S. dollars). The leader in this area is Matt Kuchar with total earnings of 4.75 million.
To read the rest of this column posted on the site Ruefrontenac.com, click here.
NFL - The sale of subscriptions decline 
The sale of subscriptions season declined by 5% in the NFL and lower support widespread 1 to 2% is projected in 2010, which would be the lowest average since 1998.
These data made public by the authorities of the league shows that the economy is not looking good in the U.S. and the fans have more opportunities to watch the games without having to go every Sunday at the stadium.
"lovers face many uncertainties," said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. We must work harder and expend more resources to convince the fans engage in a full season. "
What Goodell forgot to say is that despite the state of the U.S. economy, 18 of the 32 teams increased their ticket prices this year. Only eight teams had done in 2009.
For example, the New York Jets, who play in a new stadium shared with the Giants, have great difficulty selling certain types of tickets. Friday, they still had 1,500 to sell.
It does much better in Tampa Bay, where viewers in this region will not see the first game of the Buccaneers - they face the Cleveland Browns - under a rule which states that all NFL tickets must be sold 72 hours before the confrontation so he can be seen locally.
It should not be the only blackout this season. In 2009, the NFL has had to impose 22 (8.6% of games), the highest total in five years and nine more than last season.
To read the rest of this column posted on the site Ruefrontenac.com, click here.
