Posted on 04/16/2018 11:33:44 AM PDT by C19fan
It’s just April. Because this is baseball, that is an entirely reasonable explanation for the problem. And so, too, is the weather, the nasty, Mother Nature-must-be-pissed-at-someone sort of frigid that canceled half a dozen more games Sunday afternoon and is threatening to set records for postponements.
And yet one look at the numbers across Major League Baseball shows a grim landscape. Not in home runs (which are down) or strikeouts (which are up) but attendance. Which isn’t just down – it is down precipitously, enough that one league official expressed concern that this isn’t simply a manifestation of the weather but something deeper and more troublesome for the game.
“I’m worried,” he said. “The tanking scares me.”
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
Yep. I was shocked by the price of the tickets I bought for this season. I have been sitting in the same area for decades; it was never this expensive. And, this is in the upper deck; granted, the lower part of the upper (tier 3) deck; but, still, not on field level and close to the game.
That would have to have some bearing on whether or not they support sports?
I know the snowflake generation doesn't like motorcycles and that's taking a hit lately. Except mopeds and the other girly man scooters.
And snowflakes aren't into guitars and that's taking a hit.
And they're too stupid and lazy to make it through basic training so a ready military is suffering.
Maybe pro sports will cease to have an audience? Nah! Too good to be true.
Attendance at minor league baseball games has not taken a hit over time, indicating high ticket prices and television/online viewing of the majors is more the culprit than lack of fans.
Baseball finances at all levels seems solid, no doubt helped buytaxpayers.
Okay, I was noticing something on my Mariner's schedule for next week. No two games start at the same time.
Sun APR 22 TEX - 12:05; Mon CWS 5:10; Tue CWS 2:10; Wed CWS 11:10; Thu CLE 3:10; Fri CLE 4:10; Sat CLE 1:10; Sun CLE 10:10
?????
“I’ll just announce it to all of you...I’ve given up on pro sports.”
I was waiting on someone to post this. If you enjoyed the free time not watching the NFL, why not keep doing what you were doing during the baseball season?
Yes, my hubby complained about that a lot; plus, young kids at the time who had school the next day. I discovered Sunday afternoon games would fit better, so that is what we do now.
Although yesterday at Safeco Field we were freezing. I ordered a hot chocolate.
Not to mention the instant replay to see if a ball hit the top of the wall or not!
If by Human you mean FUBARed then you are correct.
Ask Armando Galarraga what he thinks of umpires.
When you can see clearly that they are calling balls outside the strike zone strikes and balls inside balls then you start losing interest in the game.
Yes, the weather along the east coast has been crap this spring.... I would expect MLB numbers to be miserable.
I hate inter league play... I also hate a lot of what Baseball has become...
I can remember when they actually played doubleheaders.. 1 ticket 2 games... not anymore... Better buy 2 overpriced tickets if you want to see both games.
Baseball has lost its way IMHO....
However Inter league play is pointless... The DH is the biggest bastardization to the game that ever was, why would I wan’t to see a team that plays under those rules? Why would I want a game against the other league matter toward my teams league championship?
The best in the NL is the best because its only played NL teams, and vice versa... why taint that?
But I live in Pittsburgh, so I have had to deal with over 2 decades of ownership who hasn’t cared about baseball... I would love to see the MLB force the nuttings to sell, or require them to put the profit sharing into the actual team...
Neither of these things will happen... so we’ll continue to see what was once a great franchise be a joke.
Yes, lack of TV is a big thing....
Every game used to be on TV on broadcast TV in local markets... not anymore.... now its on some obscure cable channel usually....
An afternoon game during the summer was a draw for kids during the summer... can remember actually going to the stadium with $10 and getting in and getting a drink... forget that now.
I delivered papers, and could easily afford to hit the games when I was kid.... Now its $20 just to get in... (not counting any fees they want to add to it) add a drink and you are at $30... want some popcorn? or peanuts? Better have $40...
Working a minimum wage job at $7.25 and hour... might see $5 an hour after taxes.. meaning a game is 8 hours a work for a kid today, minimum..... and we are in a “cheap” market....
Baseball has lost its way.....
Miami Sports...Heavy Sigh...
As a former denizen of South Florida for over 40 years, as a Dol-fan who was 10 when they had the perfect season, as one who still has a ‘97 World Series pennant on the wall, I can sum up the problem with Miami sports in two words..
Too hot.
There is nothing like sitting in direct sun, in the afternoon, when the temperature is 90 degrees with 90% humidity.
I hear they have recently added sun shades to Dolphin/Joe Robbie/Who-the-freak-cares Stadium.
I am torn between “it’s about time” and “too bad, too late.”
As for night games, the stadiums are not in the best parts of town. It is uncomfortable to go in the daytime, downright scary to go at night.
That, and the fact that just about everyone in South Florida is from somewhere else, means attendance is just pitiful.
Also,
When was the last time you saw kids play a sand lot or pick up game of baseball????????
The sport is dying...
Our local baseball org built a new facility far out of the way... kids still play organized with parents and refs... and the old fields in the parks that are easily accessible to all, sit empty and are grown over.....
My subdivision would get a game going at least a few times a week during the summer as a kid... We probably had 15 or 20 kids total in the neighborhood so we gathered everyone we could up.. even the kids you didn’t really like all that much just to be able to play.....
Tell me, when’s the last time you saw kids play a sand lot or pick up game of baseball? My oldest is 21, and I don’t think he ever played a pick up game of baseball in his life...
Do kids deliver papers anymore?
I’ve often wondered why so many stadiums, even some of the newer ones, were built in bad neighborhoods?
If you lived in a nice neighborhood, would you want a stadium there?
Nope. But the point was I could afford going to a game without thinking about it when my sole income was a paper route.... Making maybe $20-$30 a week.
Personally I think it’s because they keep screwing with the game and are turning it into something that is no longer baseball.
No more bang-bang plays at the plate.
No more hard slides at second base.
LOOOOOOOONG delays to review umpires’ calls.
(Except balls and strikes, the things that really NEED reviewed)
Inning break clocks, pitch clocks, and limiting visits to the mound.
Minor leagues starting extra innings with a man on second.
I pay to see baseball. Not this mashed-up figment of Rob Manfred’s imagination.
I believe it has to do with getting Federal funds for urban revitalization.
That seems really strange. LOL.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.