do we need era adjustments for drawing power?

[JerryvonKramer]

You say that, but if it was so easy, why was MSG dead for so long before Rocca?

 

You've also got increased competition from other forms of entertainment. Broadway is right there. The idea that it's "easy" to draw in New York is a bit overplayed I think.

[elliott]

 

 

Again, as I've mentioned, by the time Hogan was top the WWF was aimed at kids who had to have their parents buy the tickets and drive them to the shows. If they went to say, the first of a three month series at the Spectrum, chances are next month the parent is gonna say " we did that last month, pick something else to do."

Just because something is marketed to kids, it doesn't mean the ticket buying parents can't or won't enjoy it.

 

 

Pee Wee Herman is considered a genius by both of my parents, aunts, uncles, etc. After every episode my mom and our neighbor across the street would walk outside and scream the "word of the day" at each other.

Its great that your mom and neighbor were waking and baking on Saturday mornings but what does that have to do with my point?

 

 

that made it easier when I got older and I was the one waking and baking

 

My point though was that a product aimed at kids can absolutely appeal to adults and make them want to bring the kids to all 3 of the theoretical Spectrum shows. It doesn't have to be one or the other if what you're putting out is good.

[Graham Crackers]

You say that, but if it was so easy, why was MSG dead for so long before Rocca?

 

You've also got increased competition from other forms of entertainment. Broadway is right there. The idea that it's "easy" to draw in New York is a bit overplayed I think.

The 40s, 50s, and 60s saw a number of subway lines connected that made longer commutes with fewer transfers possible. I wonder the extent to which that would have effected attendance.

 

I also wonder if the decline of the Sunnyside Garden in Queens in the 60s had any effect on MSG attendance.

[overbooked]

Hope this isn't too much of a tangent, but how valuable is the concept of a "draw" in this day and age?

 

Analyzing how effective someone is at attracting people to live events only seems worthwhile and meaningful if you consider that to be the main barometer for popularity, and popularity translating into profit. That makes perfect sense pre-PPV, TV as income generator rather than advert for house shows, widespread merchandise etc. But now, if we're looking to ascertain the popularity/profit from a particular worker, we need to take a lot of different things into consideration.

 

And with that in mind, when in the past 30-odd years does drawing a house stop being the main (only?) way to gauge success?

 

And within the above context, is it even possible to make meaningful comparisons between eras?