Around Baseball 2017

[The Cats Ass]

He makes a good point that Cleveland fans have the money to shell out for sporting events. They just pick the wrong sport.

 

He makes a s***** point I think. Football is a whole other beast. The fan experience is just that much better that it's worth the extra cash. A lot of the tickets could also be from other team's fans. When your team only plays 8 home games a season sometimes you gotta go to other cities to see them play.

[burlingtonbandit]

He makes a good point that Cleveland fans have the money to shell out for sporting events. They just pick the wrong sport.

 

How is it wrong to go watch the greatest basketball player and a championship team?

[ChrisS]

I don't buy into the notion of Clevelanders not attending Indians games because they can't afford too. Tickets can be had for $15, even less on stubhub for weekday games. You can get good food for cheap at progressive too. Baseball simply isn't as popular in Cleveland anymore. They had one of the best teams in baseball last year and could barely even half fill that small stadium.

[burlingtonbandit]

I don't buy into the notion of Clevelanders not attending Indians games because they can't afford too. Tickets can be had for $15, even less on stubhub for weekday games. You can get good food for cheap at progressive too. Baseball simply isn't as popular in Cleveland anymore. They had one of the best teams in baseball last year and could barely even half fill that small stadium.

 

Attendance usually doesn't show up until the season after. Even when the Jays did really well in the first half of 2014 fans were no where to be found.

[Grant77]

He makes a s***** point I think. Football is a whole other beast. The fan experience is just that much better that it's worth the extra cash. A lot of the tickets could also be from other team's fans. When your team only plays 8 home games a season sometimes you gotta go to other cities to see them play.

 

To each his own. It still proves the point that Cleveland fans have the disposable income to spend on sports. I can't see the fan experience being any better for the worst team in the league, but I don't like the slow, plodding American version of football.

[Bobthe4th]

Attendance usually doesn't show up until the season after. Even when the Jays did really well in the first half of 2014 fans were no where to be found.

 

Good point. At the beginning of 2016 most media had Cleveland finishing 3rd behind the Royals and Tigers (though Fangraphs' projected wins had them winning their division).

 

The average sports fan in Cleveland prob wouldn't have noticed that the team was good when the focus was on LeBron and the Cavs.

 

Then the last month of the season they'd notice playoffs were possible/likely, they the team reaches the World Series and makes a big statement signing of EE.

[Bobthe4th]

To each his own. It still proves the point that Cleveland fans have the disposable income to spend on sports. I can't see the fan experience being any better for the worst team in the league, but I don't like the slow, plodding American version of football.

 

Even in a recession a major city will have thousands of people who have plenty of disposable income. You're right that the quality of experience would have a bigger effect and that's directly related to the quality of the team.

[Bobthe4th]

He makes a s***** point I think. Football is a whole other beast. The fan experience is just that much better that it's worth the extra cash. A lot of the tickets could also be from other team's fans. When your team only plays 8 home games a season sometimes you gotta go to other cities to see them play.

 

Even if NFL wasn't the most popular sport in America they only play 8 home games instead of 81 so are therefore much more likely to sell out each game.

[The Cats Ass]

To each his own. It still proves the point that Cleveland fans have the disposable income to spend on sports. I can't see the fan experience being any better for the worst team in the league, but I don't like the slow, plodding American version of football.

 

Tailgate party!

[The Cats Ass]

but I don't like the slow, plodding American version of football.

 

[jaysfan2014]

Regardless, with the Cavs a NBA Finals candidate(they just added Kyle Korver recently), the Indians cannot count on fans showing up with most people likely to prefer watching LeBron James next door over Edwin and a bunch of players that are barely recognizable outside of Cleveland.

 

Plus, attendance is poor in the spring due to the cold weather in Cleveland in April and May..

[Captain Adama]

bunch of players that are barely recognizable outside of Cleveland.

bunch of players that are barely recognizable outside of Cleveland.

bunch of players that are barely recognizable outside of Cleveland.

bunch of players that are barely recognizable outside of Cleveland.

 

Wow!

[jaysfan2014]

Wow!

 

Uh, this is actually true--remember last year's All-Star Game? Outside of Lindor, the average fan will not recognize anyone from Cleveland--as they do not get the coverage teams like the Yankees and Red Sox(and even the Blue Jays) do.

 

The only way Cleveland players will get recognized is if the team WINS..

[TheHurl]

Uh, this is actually true--remember last year's All-Star Game? Outside of Lindor, the average fan will not recognize anyone from Cleveland

 

so Kluber.

[Bobthe4th]

so Kluber.

 

Also Miller.

 

People like Kipnis, Brantley, Allen you'd expect baseball fans to know too as a minimum.

 

It's actually an interesting contrast to a personality based sport like the NBA, baseball players just aren't as well known in general.

[jaysblue]

I don't buy into the notion of Clevelanders not attending Indians games because they can't afford too. Tickets can be had for $15, even less on stubhub for weekday games. You can get good food for cheap at progressive too. Baseball simply isn't as popular in Cleveland anymore. They had one of the best teams in baseball last year and could barely even half fill that small stadium.

 

You also have to factor in that Cleveland isn't like Toronto which is surrounded by other cities like Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughn, Oshawa, Barrie, Burlington and Hamilton etc. that have a decent size population on top of the population already in Toronto & the suburbs. Also, Toronto is more of a business city, so you'll have a lot of foreigners/people here on business and that have money. Same with tourists who visit Canada, Toronto is a main spot since its the biggest city and with Niagara Falls close by. Tourists who visit the U.S. from overseas tend to visit NYC, Washington DC, Florida, California, Las Vegas etc. They have no incentive to visit Cleveland lol.

 

With 81 home games, it's tough to sell out every game in Cleveland especially when the weather is usually s*** in April/early May. Even in Toronto, it's not like April/May games are all sold out except maybe on weekends, and still its easy to get a ticket. Tickets are cheap in Cleveland, though still $15 USD per game, plus food/beers would add up if the average joe goes to 3-4 games per week. And beer prices aren't that cheap in Cleveland at the ballpark, especially when doing the USD/CAD conversion. Also, have to factor in that that walk-up crowds in Toronto are significantly larger than in Cleveland. Cleveland's downtown is pretty much a ghost town, and it's not like many people live in condos in the downtown Cleveland area as they do in Toronto.

 

So like you said, I don't think it has to do with the notion that Clevelanders can't afford to attend games. While I'm sure money does play a small factor, there are other numerous factors at play.

[wamco]

I couldn't imagine leaving my big screen tv to go and pay to watch the browns play in the cold.

[TheHurl]

You also have to factor in that Cleveland isn't like Toronto which is surrounded by other cities like Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughn, Oshawa, Barrie, Burlington and Hamilton etc. that have a decent size population on top of the population already in Toronto & the suburbs. Also, Toronto is more of a business city, so you'll have a lot of foreigners/people here on business and that have money. Same with tourists who visit Canada, Toronto is a main spot since its the biggest city and with Niagara Falls close by. Tourists who visit the U.S. from overseas tend to visit NYC, Washington DC, Florida, California, Las Vegas etc. They have no incentive to visit Cleveland lol.

 

With 81 home games, it's tough to sell out every game in Cleveland especially when the weather is usually s*** in April/early May. Even in Toronto, it's not like April/May games are all sold out except maybe on weekends, and still its easy to get a ticket. Tickets are cheap in Cleveland, though still $15 USD per game, plus food/beers would add up if the average joe goes to 3-4 games per week. And beer prices aren't that cheap in Cleveland at the ballpark, especially when doing the USD/CAD conversion. Also, have to factor in that that walk-up crowds in Toronto are significantly larger than in Cleveland. Cleveland's downtown is pretty much a ghost town, and it's not like many people live in condos in the downtown Cleveland area as they do in Toronto.

 

So like you said, I don't think it has to do with the notion that Clevelanders can't afford to attend games. While I'm sure money does play a small factor, there are other numerous factors at play.

 

And bringing up Cleveland previous attendance (other people not you), one has to remember that the Jake was new and a destination on it's own (in my mind the best of the parks built in that era...mind you I haven't been to Chase or Coors but I like the Jake better than Camden and whatever the f*** the White Sox field is called). They sold that place out for 7 years. Plus they have cut 8,000 seats from the Jake since then. Last year's success wouldn't necessarily affect tickets last year as they were so comfortably out front down the stretch. I'd expect a modest jump this season. Certainly not top 10 though.

Edited January 9, 2017 by TheHurl

[jaysfan2014]

And bringing up Cleveland previous attendance (other people not you), one has to remember that the Jake was new and a destination on it's own (in my mind the best of the parks built in that era...mind you I haven't been to Chase or Coors but I like the Jake better than Camden and whatever the f*** the White Sox field is called). They sold that place out for 7 years. Plus they have cut 8,000 seats from the Jake since then. Last year's success wouldn't necessarily affect tickets last year as they were so comfortably out front down the stretch. I'd expect a modest jump this season. Certainly not top 10 though.

 

Even 2M might be a stretch--they'd have to average 25,000/game, which Cleveland has not done since 2008.. and unlike then, the economy in that city was absolutely hammered by the mortgage crisis after 2008, and fans haven't returned. A return back to the glory days of the 90s is highly unlikely, unless they win a World Series.. they'll likely never draw the 3.5M they once did (of course, with reduced capacity, they max out at about 2.85M.

[jays_fever]

I couldn't imagine leaving my big screen tv to go and pay to watch the browns play in the cold.

 

I did once. New years day when the Steelers were in town. Never again will I participate in a outdoor sporting event during the winter time

[Brownie19]

I did once. New years day when the Steelers were in town. Never again will I participate in a outdoor sporting event during the winter time

 

Personally I've never understood why so many fans complain about dome stadiums.

[Bobthe4th]

I did once. New years day when the Steelers were in town. Never again will I participate in a outdoor sporting event during the winter time

 

The coldest I've ever been was watching 4th division football (soccer) in the snow. I couldn't feel my feet by the end of the match.

 

Good times.

[labadee]

The coldest I've ever been was watching 4th division football (soccer) in the snow. I couldn't feel my feet by the end of the match.

 

Good times.

"4th division"

Me: WHY... *looks at location*.... nevermind.

[Bobthe4th]

"4th division"

Me: WHY... *looks at location*.... nevermind.

 

Haha, the team I support now plays in the 6th division (we went out of business and had to start from the bottom but have been promoted a few times since then).

[TheHurl]

Young Beedah is back...his rap game has improved. I don't like his chances of making millions pitching, and I doubt his actress wife is going to get him there so rap is the best bet.

 

[jerb]

 

Ken Rosenthal Verified account

‏@Ken_Rosenthal

Sources: #Rays close to deal with free-agent outfielder Colby Rasmus. Possibility first reported by @JonHeyman.

[jaysfan2014]

 

Ken Rosenthal Verified account

‏@Ken_Rosenthal

Sources: #Rays close to deal with free-agent outfielder Colby Rasmus. Possibility first reported by @JonHeyman.

 

Colby must've really fallen off if he's playing for Tampa.. likely on a low salary. A sub .300 OBP and a near 30% strikeout rate isn't going to get him much. He's also replacing LoMo at DH..

[jerb]

 

Joel Sherman Verified account

‏@Joelsherman1

Can confirm @JonHeyman @Ken_Rosenthal Rasmus in agreement with #Rays. Hear will get base in $5M range with bonuses that can get to $7M-ish

[Spanky__99]

 

Joel Sherman Verified account

‏@Joelsherman1

Can confirm @JonHeyman @Ken_Rosenthal Rasmus in agreement with #Rays. Hear will get base in $5M range with bonuses that can get to $7M-ish

 

That's cheap.

[burlingtonbandit]

Maybe that gets the OF market moving a bit. If the Jays could get Moss for around that I'd sign him this week.