Buckner did not have the latest figures when contacted for comment yesterday, but the Otago Daily Times understands sales have been slow.
Earlier in the week, about 1500 seats were accounted for - 230 of those were taken by Dunedin season ticket-holders, and another 200 by season ticket-holders from Southland.
Walk-up crowds have typically been between 300 or 400. But the Edgar Centre has a capacity of 2800, and an expected crowd of about 1800 would be disappointing for the franchise.
Tickets went up from $25 to $33 this season, but Buckner felt poor sales in Dunedin were down to a host of factors.
''Resistance in Invercargill hasn't been that great but, of course, in Dunedin we don't have a new stadium and we don't have the same buy-in [from the community] or exposure,'' Buckner said.
''We have noticed it [slow sales] but, that said, there has been a little bit of a strategy involved in this.
''In the pricing for 2013, an ambiguity arose whereby the members were being charged just slightly more than a casual [customer]. So what we've now done is given our membership their tickets at only $30 and they get a package of entitlements.''
Buckner also pointed out it was Otago anniversary weekend, the Highlanders played last night and the Steel has had a tough start to the season with three consecutive losses.
It is expensive to see the Steel play compared with the Otago Nuggets or Highlanders, for example. An adult ticket to see the Nuggets last season cost just $12, although it is understood it will rise this year.
There are a variety of options for Highlander games. The cheapest tickets are just $12.50 with the most expensive seats priced at $37.50.
''Take a kid to football'' tickets are $22 and admit one adult and one child.
However, Buckner felt the prices were justified when delivery costs were considered and fans took into account netball was the premier women's sport.
