Posted on 07/31/2010 5:22:24 AM PDT by Born Conservative
Attendance soared to 590,000 when the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees started playing at PNC Field in Moosic in 2007– a count that hadn’t been achieved since 1992, according to minor league statistics.
But the numbers have been steadily declining since then, with last year’s attendance dipping to 363,000. It’s a record low in recent years because attendance hasn’t dropped below 381,000 in the preceding 19 years, the statistics show.
The numbers don’t show an improvement this season, which is more than halfway through.
PNC Field currently ranks second to last in attendance among the 13 other Triple-A venues in the International League, followed only by Charlotte, S.C.
Lehigh Valley’s Coca-Cola Park, which opened in 2008 for the IronPigs, has drawn the highest attendance this season to date: 466,888. The Allentown area ballpark averages 9,154 people per game.
Compare that to PNC Field, which has attracted 243,086 so far this season. The average per game: 4,501.
Randy Mobley, president of the Ohio-based International League, said attendance is generally impacted by the following factors: ticket pricing, weather, the major league affiliated with a team, a team’s success on the field, the ballpark and its fan amenities and competition within a market for limited consumer spending on entertainment.
Overall, attendance has been steadily increasing in the International League, from 4.3 million in 1997 to 7 million last year, statistics show.
“Most of our clubs are holding their own in challenging times, staying flat or going a little bit up or down,” Mobley said. “We’re in pretty good shape overall with attendance.”
Mobley said he believes the condition of the PNC Field and stadium is “playing a significant role” in the venue’s declining attendance.
“There’s no question about it, but to what degree of a role it plays, that’s where you get into debate or discussion,” he said.
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell has offered to release up to $20 million in state funds for repairs at the Lackawanna County stadium to keep the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in the area, though it’s unclear whether a required local match will be produced.
Locales with new facilities “find a tremendous spike in attendance,” Mobley said.
He points to Huntington Park, home of the Columbus Clippers. The ballpark, which has won a national ballpark design award, cost $42 million to construct, with most of the money coming from the private sector. Huntington Bank spent $12 million for the naming rights.
Attendance jumped from 537,889 in 2008 to 666,797 when the new park opened in 2009.
Mobley said the condition of the PNC Field complex puts it among the bottom two ballparks in the league in his opinion.
“It’s one of the two parks we’d say needs attention, though I know there will be debate over whether it should be a major renovation or new ballpark,” he said.
Luzerne County minority Commissioner Stephen A. Urban believes people are too quick to blame attendance on the facility.
“People go to a game to watch the team and see the players and enjoy the thrill of being there – not to look for flaws in the stadium,” Urban said. “It’s a wonderful stadium. I was there two weeks ago. You have a beautiful view of the team. It’s like you’re right on top of them.”
Urban said he believes more promotions and fan giveaways are also needed to attract visitors, along with appearances by major league players to promote the local team.
The McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, has consistently ranked among the top in attendance among the International League venues, drawing about 666,800 last year. The stadium, built in 1946 and renovated in 1999, hosts the Pawtucket Red Sox.
“Our big plus is our proximity to Boston and all the support the Red Sox get. This has always been a great baseball area,” said Pawtucket Red Sox public relations director Bill Wanless.
The affordable ticket prices, ranging from $5 to $11, also boost attendance he said. In comparison, tickets to see the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees are typically $10 to $14, according to the team’s website.
The Pawtucket minor league team has fireworks and baseball-related promotions at some games – bobble head, bat, jersey and cap nights, for example, he said. Wanless said he believes these giveaways enhance the experience for fans but don’t determine whether or not people will attend.
“On nights that we don’t have something, they still come,” he said.
Kristen Rose, president of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, could not immediately be reached for an interview on the attendance. She indicated on a message that Friday’s game at PNC Field, which features fireworks, had sold out by Wednesday.
“It’s our third sell-out of the season,” Rose said in the message.
Ping
Dunder Mifflin’s numbers are down as well. Scranton is hurting!
ping
Bush’s fault.
There is no historic information for the stadium on the Yankees AAA website. Seems that poor management is playing a role in fan apathy.
The owner of recently closed Brannigan’s Restaurant referred to Scranton area as “...a disaster economically.”
I also noted 2 other restaurants closed and a long established trucking company.
The demise of mining, railroads, and steel mills/foundries pretty much killed the Scranton/W-Barre area. And my reading indicates that going up I-81 to Binghamton area leads to more economic decay...
Democrats ruined the area. High taxes and no young people thanks to the Casey and Biden types.
Scranton now is trying to make due with hospitals and colleges as their main industries.
I do like the area and it is sad there are just not enough jobs.
One last thing, great Italian restaurants if you know where to go.
You are right things are getting worse up there but where in this state is that not the case?
Has anything changed much since 1951 when my family had to leave the area or go hungry. They probably have better welfare now.
And for the 40 years that Dems ran Congress, nothing got down. The areas only saving grace was Joe McDade. A Republican Congressman! A “mini-Murtha” if you would, in terms of bringing home the pork. Yet, area still declined, and still is. Now turning to Casinos...
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is a pretty depressed area. They’ve thrown a lot of money at that sports complex over the years as well as Montage (a ski area). Nothing seems to work. Maybe it’s the fact that the area de-industrialized like over 20 years ago?
They had to cancel several games last year (or move them) due to poor drainage. The stadium probably needs major work. If it had been done correctly in the first place, maybe this wouldn’t be an issue.
LOTS of great Italian restaurants. Another way to get great food (Italian and Eastern European) is to go to a church “picnic”. You can also get great food at the Pittston Tomator Festival or the Italian Festival in Scranton over Labor Day weekend.
The long-standing corruption and the death of the coal industry at the end of the 1950’s have ruined the area. (the latter a result of the coal mine owners’ greed; the Knox Mine Disaster put the final nail in the coffin of coal mining)
Quick story. When my Grandfather got off the boat and boarded a free train, because the gvt just wanted to get the immigrants out of NY, he was told to get off at Pittsburgh.
He accidentally got off at Pittston. He told me he had to work in the damn coal mines for three months to get enough money to get to Pittsburgh.
But on the train he met this girl who would be his wife. He ended up being a foreman for the steel mill and had nine kids, all college graduates.
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