Posted on Sun, Mar. 28, 2004

 

WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS

 

Marlins focus: fans and funding

 

After their fairy-tale season, the Marlins face two hard realities this year: Attendance still might lag, and they're $115 million short of a stadium deal.

 

By BARRY JACKSON

 

bjackson@herald.com

 

They won two World Series in seven years, return a slew of popular players and possess a pitching staff that's the envy of baseball. But off the field, the Marlins' future remains clouded in uncertainty.

 

After missing a self-imposed March 15 deadline, the team now says it must have a stadium-financing agreement in place by May 1 for a proposed $325 million retractable-roof ballpark to open by 2007.

 

The Marlins need another $115 million to close the deal -- the same predicament they have been in since November. Without a new park, the Marlins say they cannot survive in South Florida because of an onerous lease with Wayne Huizenga-owned Pro Player Stadium.

 

And that's not the franchise's only off-field concern. Although season-ticket sales have risen from 4,500 last season to more than 7,000, the Marlins face the likelihood of drawing fewer fans than any World Series champion since, well, the Marlins.

 

The 1997 champion Marlins averaged 29,555 spectators per game, but that number slipped to 22,157 in 1998 after former owner Huizenga dismantled the team.

 

The Marlins say they would be pleased to average at least 20,000 this season after attracting just 16,290 per game last year -- third-worst in baseball, ahead of only Montreal and Tampa Bay. The team raised individual-game ticket prices but kept season-ticket prices the same.

 

''I think we'll definitely play in front of a lot more people than last year, but I don't expect to play in front of 30,000 every night,'' third baseman Mike Lowell said. ``We sold a lot more [season tickets], but that's still not a huge number.''

 

The Marlins have sold more than 45,000 tickets for the April 6 game against Montreal -- the most ever for a Marlins opener, topping the 42,334 for their first game, against the Dodgers in 1993.

 

''We are getting 50 or more season-ticket sales every day,'' club president David Samson said last week. ``Last year, we got three or four.''

 

Another encouraging sign: The Marlins have sold all 128 batter's box seats as season tickets, compared with 40 last year, Samson said. But as a matter of perspective, the Marlins' season-ticket sales trail those of other recent World Series champions.

 

For example, the Anaheim Angels' season-ticket sales rose from 12,800 to 18,000 after winning the 2002 World Series.

 

''You'll have that spike from winning the World Series, but you need to keep a [high level] of play and show a commitment to the future,'' said John Caprino, the Angels' senior vice president of sales and marketing.

 

Said Samson: ``There is no questioning winning the World Series opens doors, but we're careful not to market wins and losses because it's very difficult to win the World Series. We market the affordability and entertainment.''

 

FAN BASE

 

But where have many of the fans gone since the birth of the team in 1993?

 

Many returned for the postseason, when the Marlins averaged 65,101 for eight playoff games. But will even one-quarter of that show up for a Wednesday night against San Diego?

 

''I wish we could have . . . the playoffs every day,'' catcher Mike Redmond said. ``As a player, to see [Pro Player Stadium] fill up with 60,000 -- that was unbelievable. I would come out to watch Juan Pierre, Dontrelle Willis, Brad Penny and Josh Beckett. These guys are special.''

 

The Marlins averaged 38,311 in their first season, then 32,838 in the second. Crowds bottomed out at 10,038 in 2002, Jeffrey Loria's first year as owner.

 

Even though the Marlins' average attendance last season was less than half of their 1993 average, Samson insists, ``The overall interest level in the franchise is the highest it has ever been. I base that on the turnout to events we do, when I or other people are giving speeches.

 

``Sponsorships are way up. We're in the first generation of Marlins fans. We can't be compared to the Cardinals or Cubs.''

 

Scott Becher, president of Sports & Sponsorships, a Miami Beach-based marketing firm, said he's 'a little surprised the Marlins' [season-ticket] number isn't higher, but if they get off to a quick start, they could average between 15,000 and 20,000. It's an incredibly challenging market when it comes to ticket sales.''

 

STADIUM ISSUE

 

On the stadium front, the Miami-Dade County Commission recently authorized county manager George Burgess to continue negotiating with the Marlins, who say they aren't considering sites in Broward or Palm Beach. The Marlins also are seeking a $60 million state sales tax rebate. Senate president Jim King gave the team little hope, saying, ``There's just not enough time to pass the sales tax break.''

 

Miami-Dade County has offered $73 million to supplement the Marlins' $137 million contribution. But the team has been unable to raise the remaining $115 million.

 

City of Miami officials say they are done negotiating after the Marlins refused to accept their offer to build a ballpark next to the Orange Bowl. The county and the team have said they will not increase their contributions to the project. And no private investor has offered to help finance construction costs, Samson said.

 

The team continues to explore sites, and privately owned land near Pro Player Stadium has piqued the Marlins' interest, according to a county official. But site selection will be moot if the funding gap isn't closed.

 

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Dennis Moss said he's ''not sure'' the money can be raised to complete the financing. ''We're putting $73 million on the table, and nobody else is doing that,'' he said. ``We're making a good-faith effort. Hopefully, we can get it built in this community.''

 

What happens if there's no new ballpark? Samson won't say, but he emphasizes that Loria will not sell the team. So would Loria try to move the team to another city?

 

''It's not something we've discussed,'' Samson said.

 

It would be nice if we could get to 10,000 Season Ticket holders but I dont think it will happen. :confused

 

Do mini plans count as season ticket? Because on Monday me and 3 friends are buying 20 Saturday game packages.

 

 

Article

80 games = 1 season tix package.

 

so four 20 game packages = 1 season tix holder to MLB.

The Herald does not seem to understand that South Florida is a walk up town. The Marlins had 4500 season ticket holders last year and averaged about 16,000. This year they will end up with about 8000 (this is about 648,000 tickets ). I have mentioned before that I called 1-877-marlins and they told me that on the saturdays which include the 20 games packs, the guaranteed attendance was 24,000, and this is without any walk up whatsoever (this was about 3 weeks ago, I assume more packages have been sold). If we are in contention, these games will easily reach 35-40,000 with the walk ups. I truly believe that if the Marlins stay in the hunt with the Phillies Cubs, Astros and the Braves, we should be able to crack 2,000,000 this year.

80 games = 1 season tix package.

 

so four 20 game packages = 1 season tix holder to MLB.

 

Oh ok

 

thanks

nice thing is all the expensive box seats have sold out. we still have a week to go, sales should pick up to another 1,000.

 

45,000 for opening day is great. the goal is to beat last year's attendance of 1.3 million

Its 45,000 as of right now. So if you figure that they should maybe sell 1,000 more within the next week, and then with a walk up crowd of around 5,000-10,000 will determine if we hit 50,000 or maybe 60,000. It would be nice if they reached 60,000, but we will see. Even 50,000+ is excellent.

I hope there are still good seats left for the Saturday game packages in the upper deck.

Anyone know if there is still good ticket's left for friday april 9th?

Anyone know if there is still good ticket's left for friday april 9th?

Just go to ticketmaster.com and search there.

there are still good seats available for the april 9th game...most definitely..

 

as for the sat. upper deck...you are looking at rows 11 and up.

I hope there are still good seats left for the Saturday game packages in the upper deck.

If there isn't, there is a 20 game sunday plan which should have good seats available.

there are still good seats available for the april 9th game...most definitely..

 

as for the sat. upper deck...you are looking at rows 11 and up.

Do you know what sections are available?

check your pm dagreatone....

 

the difference between the Saturday and sunday package is that the saturday one includes opening day, while the sunday package includes 04/07.....hence why the saturday packages are the hot sellers.

the goal is to beat last year's attendance of 1.3 million

that'd be really sad if a world champion team can't beat their last year's attendance of 1.3 million

there's no reason we shouldn't...especially if we get a 200k plus crowd attendance the first week of the season...

I think the goal is cracking 2,000,000

Defintely would be nice if we can crack that 2 million goal. Lets hope the fans show up this year and all the bandwagoners that attended the playoffs show up.

Agreed ^^

this is off the subject. I might get some tickets for the Cubs vs. Marlins in September. I'm gonna wear the WS Marlins cap, and perhaps the NLCS shirt or the WS shirt. :hat

With the big first week crowds, the abundance of packages sold, and a good start to the season that will keep us in contention cracking the 2,000,000 mark will not be hard. There is no way a team can move away when you draw 2,000,000. The front office has to remember the large average of crowds which the marlins drew in the 90's when there was a team that gave fans optimism.

Watch out for those Cub games, the Cub fans take all the good seats and you will be stuck in upper bowl.

Watch out for those Cub games, the Cub fans take all the good seats and you will be stuck in upper bowl.

Upper deck is cool with me. They still have decent seats left for the 3 games. I'm gonna make alot of enemies when I go since I'm a Sox fan and a Marlins fan. I should customized a jersey. Marlins #1 Bartman

I wonder how many people are expected/going to go to opening week. Conservative estimates are 55,000 for opening day, 40,000 to the april 10th game. Thats around 95,000 for two games. That leaves 105,000 for 4 games (if you want 200,000 opening week). Are the marlins going to get 25,000 average for the next four games?

I wonder how many people are expected/going to go to opening week. Conservative estimates are 55,000 for opening day, 40,000 to the april 10th game. Thats around 95,000 for two games. That leaves 105,000 for 4 games (if you want 200,000 opening week). Are the marlins going to get 25,000 average for the next four games?

yes

I strongly believe we'll have 65k opening day....look at what's left to sell and you'll see why.