December 22, 200421 yr Well, the O's are worried about having to compete with the Nationals for attendance. I still say Baltimore gets higher attendance from a better record, and Yankee/Red Sox fans.
December 23, 200421 yr The real question is which team will draw the best fees from broadcasters and potential luxury suite owners.
December 23, 200421 yr Nationals will this year...it will even out eventually Although I can say as someone who went to a bunch of O's games last year I probably will only go to one maybe 2 this year since there will be a team half the distance so I know the O's are losing a pretty big following from people in my area who just like to see baseball and that kind of thing.
December 23, 200421 yr The real question is which team will draw the best fees from broadcasters and potential luxury suite owners. 641000[/snapback] Even it out. CBS is going to be the big giant on this block. Expect the O's to re-sign with WJZ 13 (CBS owned TV station in Baltimore) and I expect WJFK-FM (CBS Radio in Washington...home to the Redskins) to fully go after the Nats. Clear Channel along with WBAL already have interests in the O's....they will fight (I don't think as hard though) for the Nats..... Either way, a bidding war to the deadline (Jan. 7th I am being told is MLB's hard deadline and one the Marlins will have their WQAM deal finalized by I am being told) is good for EVERY team in baseball. The O's and Nats will even out. They are equals.
December 23, 200421 yr I'll be very surprised if the Nats draw fewer than 3.5 million. The DBacks drew 3.6 their first season, and the Marlins drew 3.1 million - and neither of those teams had the built-in audience of the DC metro area. I'm thinking the Nats may even push 3.8 million this season. The O's have done really well in the new park, but their team is awefull and their fans are pretty peeved at ownership. I'll be very surprised if they bring in the 2.6 million they've been averaging over the last 2 years. Considering how many "fans" will be abandoning ship in support of the new team, I think the O's can count their blessings if they hit 2.5 million.
December 23, 200421 yr The Nats will draw more fans for the first couple months, but after that the novelty will go away and the O's will draw more for years to come.
December 24, 200421 yr The Nats will draw more fans for the first couple months, but after that the novelty will go away and the O's will draw more for years to come. 641511[/snapback] Don't kid yourself. Look at the Redskins... They have been a top draw for the NFL since their inception. They have been averaging over 81,000 fans per game for the last 5 seasons. Only the NY Giants have faired better during that period.
December 24, 200421 yr I think the two will see a substantial increase (250%) over what just the Orioles drew last year. But you'd be surprised how empty DC gets in the summer when congress is out of session. The two teams's attendance figures will be very close and should end up helping each team. No question in my mind, DC rakes it in when it comes to other ballpark revenue in 2008 and onward. More law firms, large businesses and lobbyists to buy luxury suites. Larger wealthier suburban area to demand good broadcast contracts.
September 28, 200521 yr With a couple of games left, here's the attendence totals: Nationals - 2,628,845 (12th) Orioles - 2,557,444 (14th) The interesting thing to see was that despite averaging 32,000 fans per game - the O's averaged almost 48,000 in their homestands against the Bosox and Yanks! [Credit Chewie for linking attendance to these two teams]. I'm still dissapointed with a DC team drawing fewer than 3 million fans - especially given their hot start. I also wonder how the Nats hot beginning and total collapse will affect their attendance figures for next year. Will they remember the beginning and have hope? Or will they have a shorter memory and despair?
September 28, 200521 yr An interesting thing I read in the Post this past summer was that the Nats lead the league by far in no-shows(Tickets sold, but the people don't go to the game). At the time(August some time) it was around 25% which is damn high. Obviously that is business buying tickets and giving to people but the people just never come, but thats gotta a little worrisome for attendance next year. I thought the Nats were going to do much better than they did. I guess it doesn't help RFK is a sh*thole. Guess they just have to build a fan base and whatnot.
September 28, 200521 yr Author I don't blame O's fans for not having higher attendance. The current front office is one of the worst in baseball. It'll take a regime change to restore Baltimore as one of the best cities for baseball.
September 29, 200521 yr RNK | TEAM | TOTAL 01 | NY Yankees | 4,090,440 02 | LA Dodgers | 3,558,627 03 | LA Angels | 3,404,686 04 | St. Louis | 3,395,093 05 | Chicago Cubs | 3,100,262 06 | San Francisco | 3,063,116 07 | San Diego | 2,719,797 08 | Boston | 2,708,621 09 | NY Mets | 2,689,124 10 | Philadelphia | 2,665,301 11 | Houston | 2,641,327 12 | Washington | 2,628,845 13 | Seattle | 2,608,241 14 | Baltimore | 2,587,983 15 | Atlanta | 2,521,534 16 | Texas | 2,400,564 17 | Chicago Sox | 2,342,834 18 | Milwaukee | 2,197,850 19 | Oakland | 2,087,341 20 | Arizona | 2,059,331 21 | Detroit | 2,011,011 22 | Minnesota | 1,951,798 23 | Cincinnati | 1,943,157 24 | Toronto | 1,926,297 25 | Colorado | 1,915,586 26 | Cleveland | 1,865,217 27 | Florida | 1,769,535 28 | Pittsburgh | 1,756,054 29 | Kansas City | 1,371,181 30 | Tampa Bay | 1,090,903 I'm surprised to see Cleveland and Florida so low. It's pretty sad when the Mets outdraw both Florida teams combined! Shame on you, Florida sports fans! :nono
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.