"Everyone knows there are no true baseball fans in DC. That's a fiction." The Washington media collectively guffawed for three years as they read this quote from Orioles owner Peter Angelos. After all, Washington now has a baseball team. As of this season, Washington also has a new home for that team. The mere existence of these two entities would indicate that the guffaws were justified.
As we hit the all-star break, the guffaws have turned to head scratching. Everything is backwards. What was once thought to be a publicly funded project to benefit a rich owner, and to create some lower paying jobs (better than none) has now turned into a windfall for the public, leaving the rich owner to litigate for his benefits. The DC government is so far ahead of schedule on its bond repayment, that it is thinking of taking the savings and dumping it into a soccer stadium for DC United. Ted Lerner, the Nationals owner, is suing the District's sports commission for an incomplete stadium.
Certainly that's why fans have stayed away in droves. The offices were not ready. There's an old baseball axiom, "Come to see the diamond. Stay to look at our offices." It's just below "can of corn" in the book of baseball cliches. To borrow from the Jesse Ventura playbook, Ted Lerner didn't get rich by being stupid. Somebody in that organization needs to ask, "Where have Baltimore, Cleveland, Denver, Milwaukee, and Seattle succeeded where we failed? And furthermore, how has the municipality come out on top when the trickle down theory suggests they should get a portion of what we're getting, which isn't much?"
Those defending the Nationals will point out the TY vs LY sales figures that retailers use. Stores can't keep selling more and more. It's seasonal. It stands to reason that comparing sales from 12/26/07 to 12/24/07 is a bad idea. On the other hand, comparing 12/26/07 to 12/26/06 is reasonable. With this mindset, the Nationals have increased their attendance from 24,200 to 29,700. That's an 18% increase. Ticket prices, though, have also increased. The Washington Business Journal noted that, "The Nationals said that the average season ticket price for a nonpremium seat is $30. About one-third of the non-premium seats are $20 or less." The 2007 average ticket price was $21 (Forbes). That's a thirty percent increase. This could explain how DC is making its money. The team needs butts in seats. Butts in seats buy concessions, merchandise, and may even try their hand at some of the arcade action in "The Strike Zone." All of that "stuff" is predicated upon getting people in the door.
What the Nationals should focus on is a different metric, same store sales versus new store sales. When the Orioles opened Oriole Park at Camden Yards, attendance rose 28%. In addition, it rose at a higher rate from a higher base-line. The 1991 Orioles drew 31,500 fans to the 2007 Nationals' gate of 24,200. The Milwaukee Brewers went from 19,400 to 34,700 when they opened Miller Park. That's an increase of 44%. When comparing the Nationals new store sales to other clubs, the Nationals fall short.
So instead of creating excuses like "Angelos is holding us back" or "We went so long without baseball" perhaps the Nationals need to make a noticable change in their plan. After all, the MASN network deal pays the Nationals when their investment was zero. I'd love to be held back too. Also, being without baseball for so long should make it a novelty. There should be a buzz about the team. Any lack of buzz is the fault of Ted Lerner, Stan Kasten, and Jim Bowden. It's clear that this team felt it could charge more and invest less because of this new ballpark. Until this team becomes more accesible to the real baseball fans in DC, this experiment is doomed.
btgroup
It becomes a sorry state of affairs when a franchise isn't being supported even when there are good times happening. The same can be saidof the two franchises here within the state of Florida. The Marlins and Rays have been extremely competitive this year. But with the Rays now going into somewhatof a tailspin. I'm watching to see if their support will still show that uptick or just regress back to where it once was. A marginal following of 15,000 people if that.
And inspite of it all both franchises are on the lookout to persuadathe resepective municipalities where they reside to cough up part of the money to build them state of the art facilities. Something that I for one wouldn't be too enamored to do at this juncture.
See my post on this subject regard the state of the game within Florida. I'll provide a direct link to the piece in question. Just click on the link provided to view the piece in its entirety.
I think that MLB was so desperate to get out of Montreal, that they didn't exactly know what they getting into in DC. When my Pirates opened PNC Park in 2001, they were God awful on the field, losing 100 games, but they set an attendence record. I don't know why the Nationals fans are staying away from a pretty nice looking ball park, other then there is some serious fan apathy.
buckles - You have to understand the chemistry of the metropolitan area. DC proper is smaller than Baltimore. The metro area of DC is larger than Baltimore's, so a downtown ballpark actually doesn't make a lot of sense. There are two Maryland counties on the DC border. Montgomery County is affluent, but being on the MD side, you have a mix of O's and Nats fans. Prince Georges County is less affluent than Montgomery County, and they have to deal with the Redskins games in their area.
On the Virginia side, Alexandria and Arlington are affluent areas. Fairfax and Loudoun Counties are booming, but it's a chore to get to DC. In and of itself, DC is a transient town whose population changes every 4 to 8 years. So to answer your question, the fans are in the Virginia burbs, watching the game at a bar.
PF
And what makes you think that the MLB hierarchy would've been enlightened enough to come to that sort of a decision ? They can barely think for themselves sitting down much less standing. We all know that the sport is being ran by an ignorant bunch of buffoons to begin with. Common sense isn't a prerequisite when it comes to the business side of the sport in the first place.
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btgroup1
What support there is for baseball in the greater DC area is minimal at best. And it'd help if either franchise had a worthwhile onfield product to begin with. As that'd more than likely would draw some semblance of a crowd to begin with.
justan' aka tophatal ..........
Last edited by justanotherfan on July 14th at 11:13 AM.
Well JAKAT, the on-field product does leave much to be desired. That said, using the Pirates and Brewers as guideposts, fans have been willing to forgive for a year or two when a new yard sprouts. It isn't happening right now in DC. They'll toot their horns about this year vs last year, or the rising team value. But ultimately, people do business with people. If the Lerners can't attract people, then there's no chance at grabbing hold of the ancillary revenue that comes with it.
Also, The two baseball teams combine for 56,000 fans per game. Given a better product, that figure could go to 76,000-80,000. I think the fanbase and the dollars exist. There needs to be a reason to make the exchange. The DC brass felt that the park would be enough. It hasn't. If this team makes an increase to its payroll, and the people still don't come, Portland and Vegas will be scratching their heads.
btgrroup1
For all of the alleged business acumen that these owners have. I for the life of me just don't get it ? Is it that they feel that the business model they use in their professional lives won't translate to the field of sports ? It's all about maximizing one's assets is it not and decreasing your liabilities ?
In the case of sports and the business of sports in general they do things the opposite way around. And then look to the Federal Government in terms of write offs and relief. Just a summation on my part mind you. As I've seen it done so often by a plethora of owners over the years. And nowehere is this practive more common spread than in baseball.
Attendance is hovering just below 30,000 a game, with about the worst record in baseball. That in itself shows they they indeed will come and fill it up once the Nats become a more competetive team. Parking isn't near as bad as it was supposed to be, metro is close, the park is beautiful. Time will show that this is indeed a good place for baseball. Though the Redskins own this town, there is room for the national pasttime in the nations capital.
I must ask, do you see the desire to make that happen? I don't mean giving the idea lip service. I'm talking about doing the things it takes to be a winner.
I do indeed see it coming. They are building through the minor leagues. The total combined win loss record of all of there minor league teams ranks third in the major leagues. Last year, they signed all of there first 20 picks, only one of 2 teams to accomplish that. They are committed to building through the farm system., not by over paying free agents. Though I do believe they will sprinkle a few dollars that way to finish off the building process when the time comes.
