1994 Strike 25 Yrs Later: Declining MLB Attendance Leads to Shrinking Stadiums

Breitbart ^ | August 20, 2019 | Warner Todd Huston

[GuavaCheesePuff]

As a result, new stadiums are shrinking.

In a piece for USA Today, sports writer Gabe Lacques noted the falling attendance of several MLB teams.

[DIRTYSECRET]

I DO believe the strike was good for one thing. Not one but THREE ball players were chasing the Roger Maris home run record. The strike put a stop to this nonsense. I do believe it was an expansion year meaning 2 new teas staffed with minor leaguers. Matt Williams was one of the HR chasers. Perhaps Griffey was another.

[EQAndyBuzz]

I went to a Yankee game a few months back. Had a blast. I just started watching MLB again after so many years. Gave up the NFL and you couldn’t pay me to watch an NBA game. The NHL is still number one in my book.

[DEPcom]

I have always like going to our local minor baseball team when it was the braves. Once in a blue moon we will make the trip to see the Braves. That trip cost a lot for gas, parking, tickets and food...

We like our local hockey team too, we go to about 8 games every year.. Seven more weeks.

[Ted Grant]

Thanks for the info. I was unaware of that episode! Baseball history is endlessly fascinating to me!

[The Truth Will Make You Free]

Same here.

Living in San Diego we were Tony Gwynn fans. In 1994 he was knocking on .400, the most thrilling stat race I’d known. Ted Williams had last batted .406 in 1941. When the season was cancelled he was .394 in 110 games played. He still had the highest NL BA since 1930.

That early cancelled 1994 season was it for me and baseball.

[dfwgator]

I remember somebody had a sign at a Rangers game.

“Just go on Strike, you can’t throw one, anyway.”

[Ransomed]

I’m fine with baseball flying under the radar and getting smaller. I hope they don’t mess with it too much. I’m fine with autozone or whatever they will call an automated strike zone—as long as it is the zone described in the rules. They haven’t called that in decades.

Freegards

[Paco]

Agreed, yes...and then there’s that

[big'ol_freeper]

I’ve not noticed any MLB teams folding up operations in one city and moving to a new city so I’d say the league is pretty financially secure.

[dfwgator]

I’ve become a Cricket fan, I think it takes much more skill to be a good Cricketer than to be a good baseball player.

A good Cricketer has to bat for an hour and a half without making a mistake, or he puts his team in a hole, because they count on him to score 50-100 runs.

[big'ol_freeper]

Hockey was once my favorite sport. I’ve never been able to regain insterest since the 2004-2005 lockout. The rule changes have made it a sissy sport.

[rdl6989]

Games are getting longer too. I can just check ESPN, I don’t have time for MLB anymore.

[TBP]

Shrinking stadiums lead to higher prices, whcih lead to even lower attendance. they should make the ballparks bigger and lower ticket prices.

They need to build ballparks like old Yankee Stadium, the Polo Grounds, or Tiger Stadium, with fairly short foul lines and deep centerfields. Fair for everyone, and it might help curb the homerun/strikeout/walk game, which is a significant factor in the decline in audience. That and too much dead time.

Some of the blame for this goes to SABR.

[Not A Snowbird]

If they’d be realistic about concession costs, they might get more butts in the seats.

[dfwgator]

Yep, on YouTube they have full-game broadcasts from the 1950s, most games were under 2 hours.

[dfwgator]

“Chicks dig the long ball”

[EQAndyBuzz]

I would start with eliminating contracts over 3 years. There will be more movement, however players will also play better because they want more money. (I call this the sing for your supper rule)

Starters, unless claiming injury have to go a minimum of 5 innings. Also, there is only 1 pitching change during an inning.

Add a short center fielder. There will be 10 position players, but only 9 will bat. No need for a DH. I do agree with a pitch timer. 10 seconds from the time the catcher throws the ball back to the pitcher. If the pitcher exceeds that time, automatic ball.

That should speed up the game with little change. The short center fielder will definitely speed up the game.

[dfwgator]

I would limit the number of pitchers used in one game to three.

So you’d better get as much out of your starter as you can.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

I like baseball. It’s the only sport I really played as a kid, and the only sport I really understand. I haven’t been to a game for a while — it’s just kind of a hassle to get to the parks in Chicago. I like St. Louis, which is where I saw my most recent game, because you can pretty easily drive in there and park and see the game and get out.

I have no problem with the way baseball is. I don’t mind the pace. Baseball reminds me of summer, and in summer I kind of want a more relaxed pace in general. I’ll watch games on TV pretty often as a way to relax. When I do go to a game, I enjoy the atmosphere there. George Carlin in his contrast between baseball and football described a baseball game as being like a picnic.

I have teams I’ll follow, but I’ll often watch a baseball game simply because it is a baseball game. I watched some of the Little League World Series over the weekend. In my town, we have a Midwest Collegiate League team. I have been to a few games — the tickets and beer are cheap — but mostly I’ll watch it on Facebook live. I’ve seen some pretty good games. Our team made it to the championship this year, and came “this close” to winning. It’s not like watching MLB, but these guys aren’t making six, seven, or eight-figure salaries, either.

Baseball is American, as in “baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet.” I haven’t owned a Chevy yet, but maybe I will put that on my bucket list.

[dfwgator]

A man becomes preeminent, he's expected to have enthusiasms. Enthusiasms, enthusiasms... What are mine? What draws my admiration? What is that which gives me joy?

Baseball!

A man stands alone at the plate. This is the time for what? For individual achievement. There he stands alone. But in the field, what? Part of a team.

Teamwork... Looks, throws, catches, hustles. Part of one big team.

Bats himself the live-long day, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and so on. If his team don't field... what is he? You follow me? No one.

Sunny day, the stands are full of fans. What does he have to say? I'm goin' out there for myself. But... I get nowhere unless the team wins.