Will this be Shapiro’s last season with the Blue Jays?

[CrackerJack]

I don’t see Shapiro ever being “fired” by Rogers, but maybe he decides to “move on” (to bigger and better things e.g. future commissioner?) after 10 years in Toronto.  Do you think the decision whether he gets extended or not (or wants an extension) depends on anything the Blue Jays do on or off the field this season?

[Spanky99]

No, Manfred isn't leaving anytime soon, neither is he. Atkins on the other hand, depends.

[Jays24]

Their future is fully dependent on how the Jays do this year.  Shapiro nailed his fate with Atkins once he refused to fire him over the past couple of years.  We all want the Jays to do well so if that means Shatkins stays as a result then I'm fine with it. 

Currently I got them as a fringe Wild Card team if things go right for the most part.  I don't think the season will go well enough for them to remain here though... just my 2 cents.  

[CrackerJack]

So if this — the last year of the contention window, with a top 5 payroll, and a bottom one-third farm — turns out to be another season of meaningless September baseball, and the Rogers Centre is half empty with s***** TV ratings (in the 2nd half), and Vladdy & Bo are on their way out the door … Rogers is going to extend Shapiro?

[Stangstag]

10 minutes ago, CrackerJack said:

So if this — the last year of the contention window, with a top 5 payroll, and a bottom one-third farm — turns out to be another season of meaningless September baseball, and the Rogers Centre is half empty with s***** TV ratings (in the 2nd half), and Vladdy & Bo are on their way out the door … Rogers is going to extend Shapiro?

Maybe the owners like him. Ever thought of that?

While the on-field success has been less than expected, you cannot deny the long-term improvements made to the overall business (the park).

The dome is the best its ever been with the recent renos, the theme/giveaway days are awesome, the new social spaces are great, the new seats are good, the food/menu items, activities for kids/casuals, everything is just so much better than it was under Beeston. Im assuming the new VIP/corporate spaces are sweet too, although I haven’t had the pleasure of being invited to any yet.

[CrackerJack]

30 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

Maybe the owners like him. Ever thought of that?

While the on-field success has been less than expected, you cannot deny the long-term improvements made to the overall business (the park).

The dome is the best its ever been with the recent renos, the theme/giveaway days are awesome, the new social spaces are great, the new seats are good, the food/menu items, activities for kids/casuals, everything is just so much better than it was under Beeston. Im assuming the new VIP/corporate spaces are sweet too, although I haven’t had the pleasure of being invited to any yet.

Yes, I’m sure Ed Rogers likes Mark.  I don’t doubt that.  And it’s great to have a renovated stadium etc. (with the potential of making lots of money) but fans won’t be coming to an improved shiny stadium in droves for cool giveaways/theme days etc. if the on field product is bad (and boring.)  

Check the Ticketmaster website … there are tickets galore available this season … (yeah, not the premium seating because those season ticket members had to pay for a couple of seasons in advance.)  But if fans are skeptical to get tickets today when the Jays have both Vladdy & Bo and a chance to grab a wild card birth, then how rockin’ will the renovated Rogers Centre be (and how will TV ratings be?) during a rebuild? … (a rebuild or long retool after having zero success in the playoffs, and having never competed for a division title in 10 years? … if this season is a failure as well.)

[Spanky99]

41 minutes ago, CrackerJack said:

So if this — the last year of the contention window, with a top 5 payroll, and a bottom one-third farm — turns out to be another season of meaningless September baseball, and the Rogers Centre is half empty with s***** TV ratings (in the 2nd half), and Vladdy & Bo are on their way out the door … Rogers is going to extend Shapiro?

Likely, yes. He hasn't even used his get of jail free card in moving on from Ross Atkins, and the rest about Bo and Vlad is still putting the cart before the horse. If they don't do well, he fires Atkins and hires a new GM. Deals with Bo and Vlad himself, if need be. 

[Spanky99]

22 minutes ago, CrackerJack said:

Yes, I’m sure Ed Rogers likes Mark.  I don’t doubt that.  And it’s great to have a renovated stadium etc. (with the potential of making lots of money) but fans won’t be coming to an improved shiny stadium in droves for cool giveaways/theme days etc. if the on field product is bad (and boring.)  

Check the Ticketmaster website … there are tickets galore available this season … (yeah, not the premium seating because those season ticket members had to pay for a couple of seasons in advance.)  But if fans are skeptical to get tickets today when the Jays have both Vladdy & Bo and a chance to grab a wild card birth, then how rockin’ will the renovated Rogers Centre be (and how will TV ratings be?) during a rebuild? … (a rebuild or long retool after having zero success in the playoffs, and having never competed for a division title in 10 years? … if this season is a failure as well.)

That's a lot of *if's*

The Rogers Centre hasn't been explored enough, I doubt they have ticket sale worries for some time, to be honest. It's a good night out in Toronto. 

Plus there's a s*** tonne of money coming off the books after this season and next. 

[Stangstag]

15 minutes ago, CrackerJack said:

Yes, I’m sure Ed Rogers likes Mark.  I don’t doubt that.  And it’s great to have a renovated stadium etc. (with the potential of making lots of money) but fans won’t be coming to an improved shiny stadium in droves for cool giveaways/theme days etc. if the on field product is bad (and boring.)  

Check the Ticketmaster website … there are tickets galore available this season … (yeah, not the premium seating because those season ticket members had to pay for a couple of seasons in advance.)  But if fans are skeptical to get tickets today when the Jays have both Vladdy & Bo and a chance to grab a wild card birth, then how rockin’ will the renovated Rogers Centre be (and how will TV ratings be?) during a rebuild? … (a rebuild or long retool after having zero success in the playoffs, and having never competed for a division title in 10 years? … if this season is a failure as well.)

Demand for the Jays doesn’t usually settle in anyways until June/July when Hockey is done and the teens/college students are off for the summer.

Obviously a year after missing the playoffs people wont be as excited for the start of the following season.

I AM very interested to see how attendance looks during bad/down years though. I suspect it will be down from 2021-2023 numbers, but higher than the lean years were pre-Bo/Vlad

[CrackerJack]

6 minutes ago, Spanky99 said:

That's a lot of *if's*

The Rogers Centre hasn't been explored enough, I doubt they have ticket sale worries for some time, to be honest. It's a good night out in Toronto. 

 

It can be an expensive night out, with jacked up prices for everything (other than loonie dogs.)

I’ve had good season tickets for a long time. And my own experience is that my family, friends, co-workers etc. were hounding me all the time for tickets from 2013-2016 in the crappy old dome.  Different story last year (with the Jays sometimes getting like 3-5 baserunners a game haha) and so far this Spring . . . the buzz is gone.

[Spanky99]

26 minutes ago, CrackerJack said:

It can be an expensive night out, with jacked up prices for everything (other than loonie dogs.)

I’ve had good season tickets for a long time. And my own experience is that my family, friends, co-workers etc. were hounding me all the time for tickets from 2013-2016 in the crappy old dome.  Different story last year (with the Jays sometimes getting like 3-5 baserunners a game haha) and so far this Spring . . . the buzz is gone.

That's your take, I tell you this all the time.(regards to your view)

When I was in my early 20's with friends and close to the dome, stepping into entertainment and beers was a go, I'd think it'd still be the same, with an even way better atmosphere. Full go.

You're missing all the people that haven't been down there yet, and missing the casual aspect of all that, it seems? It's going to be a thing.

And most of them will go home not knowing who won, lol.

 

[BB17]

3 hours ago, CrackerJack said:

It can be an expensive night out, with jacked up prices for everything (other than loonie dogs.)

I’ve had good season tickets for a long time. And my own experience is that my family, friends, co-workers etc. were hounding me all the time for tickets from 2013-2016 in the crappy old dome.  Different story last year (with the Jays sometimes getting like 3-5 baserunners a game haha) and so far this Spring . . . the buzz is gone.

I think that has more to do with people and more specifically the younger generation just not wanting to go out to sporting events as much. People will still go the big games (home opener, weekend games, playoffs) but a Wednesday in April or May? People just don’t care as much/don’t find it worth the money/hassle of dealing with Toronto traffic.

Also the demographics of downtown has changed a ton in 10 years. Way more foreign people now, who probably don’t watch/care about baseball.

That said the Jays did a good job of attracting corporates for their expensive seats. With companies being able to write off the tickets as an entertainment expense, lots of companies will buy the tickets for that. Having those 300-500 dugout tickets sold at an average of $250 a ticket is a lot more important than 5K extra fans in the 500 level.