Tigers: Attendance down, viewership down. Why?

**mwilbert** · July-04-14, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by Chicago48

I want to add #4.
No "star" players, and too many "Dominicans and South Americans" whose names people can't pronounce and they can't speak English.

Except that is ridiculous. Who can't say "Martinez" or "Sanchez"? Also, in what sense do they not have star players--what are Cabrera and Scherzer and Verlander? And why would that be different from last year or the year before? Maybe other people were sadder to see Prince Fielder go than I was?

I don't know what the problem is, but if I had to guess it is a combination of ticket prices and the bad stretch of games they went through from mid-May to mid-June.

**softailrider** · July-04-14, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by poobert

Like most Americans, except for the one-percenters like Illitch, my wages sure haven't been "dynamic"...that doesn't help...

Games are too expensive unless you're at least upper middle class. Most folks can only afford a couple per season.

I still think Comerica Park sucks. What a dumb looking place with a dumb parking lot in front.

I don't like Comerica Park either. I never liked it from the get-go. Anybody who thinks that stadium is a better place to watch a game then Tiger Stadium was needs to get their head examined.

**coracle** · July-04-14, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by emu steve

There is a lot to what you say. Yes, watch a MLB crowd and a NFL crowd. The MLB crowd is texting, going for concessions, etc. [[everything BUT watching the game). The NFL crowd is thoroughly engaged.

MLB is lucky as it doesn't have to go up against the NFL [[until Sept and then it is pennant races).

IF the two sports' seasons completely overlapped the NFL would pretty much kill MLB.

MLB, other than the World Cup or summer Olympics has the summer to itself...

I worked in England in my early work years and found they called Baseball- Rounders- and it's played by girls. I also watched their Soccer which wasn't quite as booooring because it was over in 1.5 hours instead of 3 hours. I prefer to watch Football any day; National or College.

**courtney** · July-05-14, 12:54 AM

Originally Posted by coracle

Maybe today's generation is wising up, and even after they are bing told how exciting Baseball is they have realized it's so boooooing - especially a no-hitter. Three plus us hours of blah.

Yeah, no.

I used to be a major baseball fan in the 90's. We had season tickets to the Greenville Braves [[the AA team) for many years. When it clearly started becoming a steroid-fest in the early 2000's and the high scoring bonanzas with men that looked more suited for football became more the norm, I was done. There is NOTHING more boring than the "little league games" where the score ends up being something absolutely ridiculous like 15-11.

I'd go to [[and still desire to) go to minor league games, but beyond that, I have had no desire to go to a game at Comerica - even if the Tigers weren't an AL team with their cop-out DH.

[[For the record, while I haven't followed baseball in ages, I still have a huge crush on Javy Lopez. I think I cried when I found out he was married.)

**jackie5275** · July-05-14, 01:44 AM

Originally Posted by emu steve

There is a lot to what you say. Yes, watch a MLB crowd and a NFL crowd. The MLB crowd is texting, going for concessions, etc. [[everything BUT watching the game). The NFL crowd is thoroughly engaged.

MLB is lucky as it doesn't have to go up against the NFL [[until Sept and then it is pennant races).

IF the two sports' seasons completely overlapped the NFL would pretty much kill MLB.

MLB, other than the World Cup or summer Olympics has the summer to itself...

Actually, during the beginning of the MLB season, it overlaps with NBA & NHL playoffs & championships which seem to take almost 2 months for each league to complete.

**Hamtragedy** · July-05-14, 02:02 AM

I thought this was a baseball thread. How 'bout the fact that their bullpen is the worst in the American League. Kinda hard to get geeked up 'bout your baseball team winning the World Series when the odds are your relief pitching is likely to blow a close lead.

**jackie5275** · July-05-14, 02:09 AM

Originally Posted by Hamtragedy

I thought this was a baseball thread. How 'bout the fact that their bullpen is the worst in the American League. Kinda hard to get geeked up 'bout your baseball team winning the World Series when the odds are your relief pitching is likely to blow a close lead.

Coke has improved some this season, although that's not saying much. I thought Nathan & Chamberlin would've done better. What happened to Reed? Is there some truth to those reports from earlier in the year about the sexual assault case that the Tigers may not want to deal with?

**Scottathew** · July-05-14, 07:23 AM

Originally Posted by emu steve

There is a lot to what you say. Yes, watch a MLB crowd and a NFL crowd. The MLB crowd is texting, going for concessions, etc. [[everything BUT watching the game). The NFL crowd is thoroughly engaged.

This is extremely true for me.

The only time I go to a baseball game is when work offers me free tickets, or my dad's work gives him tickets.

When I do go, it's usually just a good 3-4 hours of hanging out and chatting with my dad. We don't even buy food there. We stop somewhere before the game and stuff ourselves so that we don't have to pay the exorbitant prices inside the stadium walls.

**Zacha341** · July-05-14, 08:35 AM

I know nothing about baseball but have gone to a few games with friends and fam at the Michigan and the Comerica stadium. Is it the shape or positioning of the 'bullpen' that causes problems?

Originally Posted by Hamtragedy

I thought this was a baseball thread. How 'bout the fact that their bullpen is the worst in the American League. Kinda hard to get geeked up 'bout your baseball team winning the World Series when the odds are your relief pitching is likely to blow a close lead.

**Zacha341** · July-05-14, 08:47 AM

Add 'thieving' to the ticket and tow thing. I'm still hesitant to go downtown for a long length of time for fear of having my car stolen or gone thru. I've had it ram-sacked twice years ago downtown.

Originally Posted by illwill

...I use to have an abundance of street parking or empty lots to choose from. Now the city tickets and tows.

**Zacha341** · July-05-14, 08:50 AM

Depending on where you park your car to get on the rail! --

--

Originally Posted by emu steve

M-1 rail might be your answer?

**poobert** · July-05-14, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by Chicago48

I want to add #4.
No "star" players, and too many "Dominicans and South Americans" whose names people can't pronounce and they can't speak English.

Like Verlander, Scherzer, Jackson, Coke, Smith, Kinsler, Kelly, Porcello....

I stay away from this board for a few months and find you guys up to your old bombastic, racist, silly shenanigans...some things will never change...see ya later...

**rex** · July-05-14, 10:20 AM

charging more for the same product.

**Oddz313** · July-05-14, 11:38 AM

complacency is another reason attendance is down, the red wings have felt this affect as well over the years. People expect this team to be in the playoffs and anything less than a world series is a major let down at this point. The team has been good for a number of years now. They are not the new in thing that they once were. This all combines with the price of going to game and all that you want to do at a game. I also hate that I can't jump on the smart bus and not pay for parking and drink all I want at the game, anymore.

**emu steve** · July-08-14, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by Oddz313

complacency is another reason attendance is down, the red wings have felt this affect as well over the years. People expect this team to be in the playoffs and anything less than a world series is a major let down at this point. The team has been good for a number of years now. They are not the new in thing that they once were. This all combines with the price of going to game and all that you want to do at a game. I also hate that I can't jump on the smart bus and not pay for parking and drink all I want at the game, anymore.

I agree with your points.

Yes, it is easy to be complacent when other teams in the division are CHI, CLE, K.C., and MINN. No marque teams here with a gaudy record [[e.g., Oakland) or name [[e.g., NYY, BoSox, etc.).

The crowd Sunday night was a 'mediocre' 32K.

Interesting to see if tonight's game sells out. The Dodgers will draw.

At the start of this thread, we discussed dynamic pricing and StubHub. I am in town and buying my tixs through StubHub -cheaper than the 'dynamic' pricing.

The Tigs are helping the resellers 'dump' their tixs.

BTW, StubHub has done something very, very smart: The price quoted for a tix is the TOTAL price: no handling fees, no nothing. Buy a $50 tix and the total cost is $50. TicketMaster can't match that.

**Detroitnerd** · July-08-14, 08:44 AM

It's not about baseball anymore. It once was. Anybody who remembers that huge bleachers section at Tiger Stadium knows how true that is. [[Well, there was cheap beer and weed smoke too.)

They took an old-time American institution and turned it into a airport mall. These days, with wages stagnant, it's just not a good value. If you're going to drop a couple hundred dollars with the family, you just get much more value from a host of other things, like renting a cabin for a few nights up North.

And, yes, it is an awful stadium. You're so far back from the action, baking in the sun. And then they set up a jumbo screen and you might as well be watching TV you're so far away from the action. But that goes back to turning it into a mall; they took the American pastime and drained all the quaintness out of it.

Finally, young people have many more choices when it comes to sports. Everything's a goddamn sport today. Skateboarding is a sport. Rally racing is a sport. And this generation isn't exactly attuned to the drama of that moment when a pitcher and a batter square off. They're much more used to nonstop action.

**emu steve** · July-08-14, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

It's not about baseball anymore. It once was. Anybody who remembers that huge bleachers section at Tiger Stadium knows how true that is. [[Well, there was cheap beer and weed smoke too.)

They took an old-time American institution and turned it into a airport mall. These days, with wages stagnant, it's just not a good value. If you're going to drop a couple hundred dollars with the family, you just get much more value from a host of other things, like renting a cabin for a few nights up North.

And, yes, it is an awful stadium. You're so far back from the action, baking in the sun. And then they set up a jumbo screen and you might as well be watching TV you're so far away from the action. But that goes back to turning it into a mall; they took the American pastime and drained all the quaintness out of it.

Finally, young people have many more choices when it comes to sports. Everything's a goddamn sport today. Skateboarding is a sport. Rally racing is a sport. And this generation isn't exactly attuned to the drama of that moment when a pitcher and a batter square off. They're much more used to nonstop action.

My favorite non-stop action is soccer. 45 minutes running clock. No two minute breaks ala FB, baseball, etc. no commercials.

**drjeff** · July-08-14, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

It's not about baseball anymore. It once was. Anybody who remembers that huge bleachers section at Tiger Stadium knows how true that is. [[Well, there was cheap beer and weed smoke too.)

They took an old-time American institution and turned it into a airport mall. These days, with wages stagnant, it's just not a good value. If you're going to drop a couple hundred dollars with the family, you just get much more value from a host of other things, like renting a cabin for a few nights up North.

And, yes, it is an awful stadium. You're so far back from the action, baking in the sun. And then they set up a jumbo screen and you might as well be watching TV you're so far away from the action. But that goes back to turning it into a mall; they took the American pastime and drained all the quaintness out of it.

Finally, young people have many more choices when it comes to sports. Everything's a goddamn sport today. Skateboarding is a sport. Rally racing is a sport. And this generation isn't exactly attuned to the drama of that moment when a pitcher and a batter square off. They're much more used to nonstop action.

If you think they bleachers at Tiger Stadium were a great place to watch the game then you're clearly not a baseball fan. Talk about far from the action. And then you complain about all the seats at Comerica Park being far from the action. Which is not even close to the truth.

The upper deck on the infield in Tiger Stadium was the best place to watch a game anywhere. The bleachers, quite frankly, sucked, other than being really cheap.

**Honky Tonk** · July-08-14, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by Detroitnerd

It's not about baseball anymore. It once was. Anybody who remembers that huge bleachers section at Tiger Stadium knows how true that is. [[Well, there was cheap beer and weed smoke too.)

They took an old-time American institution and turned it into a airport mall. These days, with wages stagnant, it's just not a good value. If you're going to drop a couple hundred dollars with the family, you just get much more value from a host of other things, like renting a cabin for a few nights up North.

And, yes, it is an awful stadium. You're so far back from the action, baking in the sun. And then they set up a jumbo screen and you might as well be watching TV you're so far away from the action. But that goes back to turning it into a mall; they took the American pastime and drained all the quaintness out of it.

Finally, young people have many more choices when it comes to sports. Everything's a goddamn sport today. Skateboarding is a sport. Rally racing is a sport. And this generation isn't exactly attuned to the drama of that moment when a pitcher and a batter square off. They're much more used to nonstop action.

If you go to Commerica Park a couple of times, you'll spend a couple of hundred dollars. The average joe will invest that in a widescreen phat panel, get to watch all the games on TV, drink better and cheaper priced beer, and eat grilled, not water logged, hot dogs.

**Hermod** · July-08-14, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by drjeff

The bleachers, quite frankly, sucked, other than being really cheap.

Yah, but they wuz only 75 centavos.

**Honky Tonk** · July-08-14, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by Hermod

Yah, but they wuz only 75 centavos.

75 centavos, and with a little creativity, some smuggled drink and smoke, and the makings of a fun, affordable, evening. Sure beats thinking "Damn, $200, how am I going to pay my water bill?"

**Novine** · July-08-14, 03:12 PM

University of Michigan has been having similar problems.

**Honky Tonk** · July-08-14, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by Novine

University of Michigan has been having similar problems.

They can't pay their water bill either?

**Detroitnerd** · July-08-14, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by drjeff

If you think they bleachers at Tiger Stadium were a great place to watch the game then you're clearly not a baseball fan. Talk about far from the action. And then you complain about all the seats at Comerica Park being far from the action. Which is not even close to the truth.

The upper deck on the infield in Tiger Stadium was the best place to watch a game anywhere. The bleachers, quite frankly, sucked, other than being really cheap.

Ah, but they were SO cheap! That was the point. You could get a crappy bleachers ticket and that meant you were there for the GAME, not the fucking Ferris wheel or goddamn restaurant or overpriced bullshit that abounds at You-Paid-For-It Park.

You can complain about that section, about the "bleacher creatures" that inhabited it, about a billion shitty things about sitting in the bleachers, but I'll tell you one thing: You could go there without dropping $100 a head, drink beer, eat OK, smoke, and watch the game. And I think that gets to the heart of why "attendance is down." Like it's a freakin' mystery ...

**Smirnoff** · July-08-14, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

If you go to Commerica Park a couple of times, you'll spend a couple of hundred dollars. The average joe will invest that in a widescreen phat panel, get to watch all the games on TV, drink better and cheaper priced beer, and eat grilled, not water logged, hot dogs.

You mean you don't like those "water weenies" ???