When do we start worrying about attendance?

[The_DH]

It took me a second but I got it.

 

Me too. Kinda funny.

I remember in the WS years when we were getting like 4 million fans that they never showed till the second or third and gone by the eighth. The bandwagon fans are pretty weak.

[Ziggyy108]

The fans came and then Rogers didn't spend. f*** them

[Errorcebia]

If we actually had a proper ballpark more people would go to games. That's just the reality. The dome is not going to sell out unless it is opening day or the Yanks/Sox are in town and we are also in the hunt.

[Nabru]

The fans came and then Rogers didn't spend. f*** them

 

This. I'll watch on TV but they won't get a cent out of me.

[G-Snarls]

[Boxcar]

Rogers will spend if the fans come out, right?

 

It's early but I don't like the numbers. The last 4 games have drawn 13,123, 13,569, 15,778 and 14,866 fans.

 

Last year the lowest attendance all season was 15,684 and it was rare to have fewer than 20,000.

 

Maybe we've had more weekday games and uninteresting opponents in the 7 games so far. I'm very curious to see how the crowds are with the Red Sox coming on the weekend.

 

Smaller crowds will lead to a new GM. I wouldn't worry about it ever

[jays4life19]

Pretty disappointed in attendance this year so far.

 

I'll be at every game this weekend series vs Boston.

[Cooler Heads Prevail]

If we actually had a proper ballpark more people would go to games. That's just the reality. The dome is not going to sell out unless it is opening day or the Yanks/Sox are in town and we are also in the hunt.

 

We sold out this dome pretty much every game from 1990-1993. And prior to that we were at a much worse stadium and attendance was pretty decent 1985-1989, at the 2013 level. So my point is a decent team and fans come out. Saying the dome won't sell out ignores the fact that we haven't been in a playoff hunt much in 20 years ( the one season they made a late charge then fell short ). The building itself is almost irrelevant except perhaps the terrible expensive food they had for many years.

[Fearthedoc]

The attendance problem is an easy fix. Change the Pizza Pizza promotion to 7 BB, and it's like the bullpen guarantees everyone a free dinner after the game.

[Eragon]

The attendance problem is an easy fix. Change the Pizza Pizza promotion to 7 BB, and it's like the bullpen guarantees everyone a free dinner after the game.

 

It's not Pizza Pizza anymore

[G-Snarls]

Bump

 

40k on Saturday and 45k on Sunday

 

Nice

 

And I don't have a source but supposedly the TV ratings have been VERY good so far

[G-Snarls]

It's not Pizza Pizza anymore

 

Joke is still funny though

[saskjayfan]

Joke is still funny though

 

fearthedoc made me giggle...

[JJippidy]

It seems that Toronto fans are as much, or more, sensitive to announcements of payroll and player acquisitions as "winning," at least in terms of posting more or less wins without still really competing for a playoff spot. They didn't react to the 2003 86-win season, but they did when payroll was bumped in 2006, and again in 2013.

 

Hard to make that comparison until a "winning" team takes the field with a chance to win some meaningful games.

 

Slightly better than .500 records vs slightly more exciting off seasons isn't much to compare.

 

No reason to expect the Jays to show a trend in attendance better than what the rest of baseball would expect with .500 or worse teams with meaningless Septembers for 2 decades.

 

As for the original topic, you worry about attendance when the Jays are in first place come July and no one shows up... until then you accept the numbers are about what the team has earned.

[burlingtonbandit]

Jays 19th in attendance/game so far this year.

 

14th in 2013. (big spending, big expectations)

22nd in 2012.

25th in 2011.

27th in 2010. (year following Halladay trade and latest re-tooling; AA's first year)

22nd in 2009. (first year following end of announced payroll bump period; 67 wins; JPR's last year)

18th in 2008. (86 wins)

17th in 2007. (83 wins)

18th in 2006. (87 wins; first year 3 year payroll bump took effect)

23rd in 2005.

24th in 2004. (67 wins)

23rd in 2003. (86 wins; first year after payroll slashed)

25th in 2002. (J.P. Ricciardi's first year)

22nd in 2001. (Gord Ash's last year)

 

It seems that Toronto fans are as much, or more, sensitive to announcements of payroll and player acquisitions as "winning," at least in terms of posting more or less wins without still really competing for a playoff spot. They didn't react to the 2003 86-win season, but they did when payroll was bumped in 2006, and again in 2013.

 

Well the reason there is a correlation with payroll to attendance is that when there are moves that happen in the offseason, people get excited and buy season tickets and flex packs which they will have to use, no matter how good or bad that team is in that given season.

[BluejayEd]

Hard to make that comparison until a "winning" team takes the field with a chance to win some meaningful games.

 

Slightly better than .500 records vs slightly more exciting off seasons isn't much to compare.

 

No reason to expect the Jays to show a trend in attendance better than what the rest of baseball would expect with .500 or worse teams with meaningless Septembers for 2 decades.

 

As for the original topic, you worry about attendance when the Jays are in first place come July and no one shows up... until then you accept the numbers are about what the team has earned.

 

So much this

[G-Snarls]

31,000 today

 

Averaging 23,500

 

If they stay hot, it WILL go up

[G-Snarls]

To people living in Missisauga - the radio folks have been talking a lot about what a pain it is getting in to the city due to construction on the Gardiner Expressway. Is it bad enough going in in the evening that it would stop people from buying tickets to games??

[G-Snarls]

CBC story on the topic:

 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/amid-blue-jays-hot-streak-team-sees-up-and-down-attendance-1.2657261

 

Current homestand attendance:

 

May 23: 21,007

 

May 24: 29,372

 

May 25: 45,277

 

May 26: 15,616

 

May 27: 15,993

 

Source: bluejays.com

[eastcoastjaysfan]

I promise I'll start going more in like a week. At least two games a week.

 

I promise.

[Chappy]

To people living in Missisauga - the radio folks have been talking a lot about what a pain it is getting in to the city due to construction on the Gardiner Expressway. Is it bad enough going in in the evening that it would stop people from buying tickets to games??

 

I am coming in from Brampton and it does suck. No way I'm even attempting to do a weeknight game unless I have the day off and can get into the city before rush hour.

[Stangstag]

To people living in Missisauga - the radio folks have been talking a lot about what a pain it is getting in to the city due to construction on the Gardiner Expressway. Is it bad enough going in in the evening that it would stop people from buying tickets to games??

 

Yes it is terrible. I refuse to drive on the Gardiner until the construction is over (2 years). For the last few games, I have been taking the go bus from cooksville station down to union station and it takes an hour+. At least I can sleep when I take the bus.

 

Bottom line: driving into Toronto is a f***ing mess right now.

[Captain Adama]

To people living in Missisauga - the radio folks have been talking a lot about what a pain it is getting in to the city due to construction on the Gardiner Expressway. Is it bad enough going in in the evening that it would stop people from buying tickets to games??

 

It's a pain in the ass to get into the city regardless which direction you're coming from.

[Chappy]

CBC story on the topic:

 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/amid-blue-jays-hot-streak-team-sees-up-and-down-attendance-1.2657261

 

Current homestand attendance:

 

May 23: 21,007

 

May 24: 29,372

 

May 25: 45,277

 

May 26: 15,616

 

May 27: 15,993

 

Source: bluejays.com

 

What are the TV ratings compared to previous seasons?

[G-Snarls]

What are the TV ratings compared to previous seasons?

 

Have heard (on Jeff Blair show I think) that even weekday games are getting 800,000 viewers per game

[Molitor]

To people living in Missisauga - the radio folks have been talking a lot about what a pain it is getting in to the city due to construction on the Gardiner Expressway. Is it bad enough going in in the evening that it would stop people from buying tickets to games??

 

I'm coming from Mississauga and it definitely affects whether I want to go to a game or not. My work is near one of the western subway stops so my best bet is to take that in after work. But I loathe the subway nearly as much as driving downtown so pick your poison.

[Chappy]

Have heard (on Jeff Blair show I think) that even weekday games are getting 800,000 viewers per game

 

Yeah I heard that too. Almost had a game close to 900k this week I think. Just curious what the numbers are compared to last season and the few before that as well.

[GD]

Can't wait until exams are done. I'm gonna go to at least 4-5 games over the summer. Hopefully.

[The_DH]

Rogers will spend if the fans come out, right?

 

It's early but I don't like the numbers. The last 4 games have drawn 13,123, 13,569, 15,778 and 14,866 fans.

 

Last year the lowest attendance all season was 15,684 and it was rare to have fewer than 20,000.

 

Maybe we've had more weekday games and uninteresting opponents in the 7 games so far. I'm very curious to see how the crowds are with the Red Sox coming on the weekend.

Never worry about it. We can't control it.

[G-Snarls]

Never worry about it. We can't control it.

 

Can't control the performance of the players either.

 

But I want them to make the playoffs. And I want attendance to rise.