There may be a lot of valid reasons for poor attendance as mentioned in the above posts but he main reasons are and always will be:

 

1) FIRE SALES (that's TWO)

 

2) THREATS OF RELOCATION/CONTRACTION

 

Nothing puts off a fan more than these two reasons.

No team in history has had to put up with what we have had to endure the past 10 years.

I have never heard anything good from the employees at Dolphins Stadium. You can tell that they hate their jobs.

I would say the #1 reason I didn't go more often when I lived in South Florida was the price of parking. Tickets only cost $8, but parking was $10. Sure $10 doesn't seem like a huge deal, especially if it's split a couple ways, but it really jacks up the price if you're alone, or if you're meeting up with someone. You add a couple $8 beers, a $4 bag of peanuts, and the fact I'd end up at Tootsies afterwards, and going to a baseball game becomes too expensive to do more than once a week.

 

 

 

 

 

Hmmmm.

 

Its not the constant threat of rain, the dismantling (not that Im against the dismantling this year), the crappy food choices, the annoying fans of the visiting team, the fact that its a football stadium, the sauna like tempatures.

 

Its the price of parking? :mischief2

 

I know that paying to park sucks but that is an interesting #1 reason not to go to the games.

I think the threat of rain is overrated as an excuse. It's rarely been a reason I haven't gone to a game, and if you've lived in South Florida for any amount of time you know how the rain works. The dismantlings aren't really a factor for me, and I'm enjoying this team 100Xs more than 2004, 2005. The visiting fans? Never even thought of them as a factor - if anything getting an attendance boost because of the opposing team is a draw for me. Crappy food choices? I've never really thought of DS's food as crappy. They have peanuts, pretzels, beer, cracker jacks...what else do you need? Plus their's a hotdog vendor behind home plate that has a much beter dog than you get at the consession stands. The fact it's a football stadium I don't really get as an excuse either - it's not as intimate as a baseball specific park but I've sat all over DS and there really aren't "bad" seats. Do people really think - "I'd go to a game but DS is just way too footbally?" I'm sure the weather is a big factor for a lot of people so I could almost understand that if it wasn't for the fact summers are miserable everywhere.

 

Really none of those excuses really have bothered me, or detered me from games. But what does bother me is the fact a ticket to the game is $8 but after parking, a couple drinks, and a snack I'm down $40. Or that even if I don't buy a thing after the ticket I more than double the cost of admission as soon as I pull into the gate. And if I bring a date I'm out $100+ before the seventh inning strech. As a recent grad I just can't afford all the added costs of going to more than maybe a game a week, and the biggest part of that is throwing an extra $10 spot in Wayne's pocket for what amounts to absoultely nothing. So yes, parking, or I guess less specifically "added expenses of attending a game" are the reason I didn't make more games when I was living down there.

 

 

 

 

There arent bad seats for baseball games at Dolphins Stadium?

 

 

Let me be the first to say

 

:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

Where are their bad seats? I've sat all up and down the baselines and those are fine. I've sat in club level and those were fine. I've sat in power alley, and I wasn't really a fan of them, but you sit there for the chance to catch a dinger, not so much for the view. I've been in the upper deck and it can get far, but there are never so many people that you can't move down to a decent row. I usually sit in the Tank and I prefer the view from there - I feel like you get a nice read on the ball. To be honest the worst seats I've had at DS was the founders club seats. They were just too low and you get no perspective.

 

I'll tell you what are bad seats - I sat in the bleachers at Yankee Stadium and anytime the ball went to right or right center I had to wait for the obnoxious Yankee fans to boo Bernie before I knew if it was a hit or not. I had a similar problem when I was sitting down the right field line at Miller Park in Milwaukee. That's what I consider a bad seat. But what's your complaint? Where are the bad seats in your opinion? There's like 30,000 open ones to chose from every game so it seems like seating should be the least of your problems.

I know that sections 101, 102, & 103 are horrible. People walking up and down the aisles blocking your view and you gotta turn your head to look at home plate. Not cool.

yea but what about when it rains or is hot or the parking doubles to 20$ and the food sucks when the dolphins play and oh yea they have sucked for the past few years....yet 70,000 show......

 

 

 

I seem to recall a few years ago that the dolphins had trouble selling out playoff games...

 

There may be a lot of valid reasons for poor attendance as mentioned in the above posts but he main reasons are and always will be:

 

1) FIRE SALES (that's TWO)

 

2) THREATS OF RELOCATION/CONTRACTION

 

Nothing puts off a fan more than these two reasons.

No team in history has had to put up with what we have had to endure the past 10 years.

 

 

I believe this is the reason. Miri mentioned it also. The past few years their attendance was improving and were averaging 22,000 + a game. Its not great but its a vast improvment from 2002.

I love Pro Player. You've got to look on the bright side.

 

1. Plenty of spaces to park.

2. No lines in the bathroom

3. You can stretch out your legs on the seat in front of you

4. Often a great chance to interact with the opposing teams fans

5. We serve liquor!

6. Plenty of places to discreetly smoke pot

7. If you want to heckle, you will be heard

8. Disproportionately high chance to appear on the Jumbotron

9. Slutty Mermaids= good times

10. You might even sweat off a few pounds

do you know that the night the Marlins clinched the wild card, there may have been 15,000 on hand to see it? It was raining, but they were trying to clinch a spot in the f***ing playoffs for the love of God! If people aren't going to show up for that, or any of the other games in the second half of '03 and all of '04, then all the excuses and reasons in the world add up to doo doo.

yea...the facts are there...attendence slightly...only slightly increased in September of 2003...and then in October they had 50K+...its sad. The Yankees had 50K+ Saturday and at least 20K stayed until the game was called...dedication.

Lack of a consistent owner who puts out winning teams

 

3 straight winning years and averages of 16k and change, 22k, and 22k and change roughly. South Floridians don't support winners either.

I love Pro Player. You've got to look on the bright side.

 

1. Plenty of spaces to park.

2. No lines in the bathroom

3. You can stretch out your legs on the seat in front of you

4. Often a great chance to interact with the opposing teams fans

5. We serve liquor!

6. Plenty of places to discreetly smoke pot

7. If you want to heckle, you will be heard

8. Disproportionately high chance to appear on the Jumbotron

9. Slutty Mermaids= good times

10. You might even sweat off a few pounds

 

i dont know about the rest of you, but with all these positives...im packing my clothes right now to head down for a game(i really wish i was and wasnt working)...but i have to say...those are some pretty damn good positive reasons to see a game at DS...beats the f*** out of playing game at the old thunder dome or in tiny little fenway where you are shoulder to should with the fattest f***ing guy in massachusetts who reaks like beer and Swamp ass...seriously...once you get over the history fenway has, you realize how much it sucks...DS is actually pretty nice and it drains quickly too...

Good Lord! I have only been an MB.com member since like June of 2005 and I'll bet I have seen this thread or something identical at least once a week since then. Who gives a sh*t? The fans just stink in South Florida. Quit making excuses for us. It has nothing to do with rain, heat, stadium location. I had season tickets in 2003 and 2004 and do you know that the night the Marlins clinched the wild card, there may have been 15,000 on hand to see it? It was raining, but they were trying to clinch a spot in the f***ing playoffs for the love of God! If people aren't going to show up for that, or any of the other games in the second half of '03 and all of '04, then all the excuses and reasons in the world add up to doo doo. The only solution is to build a domed stadium in everybodies backyard with free parking, concessions, leather seats, AC, complimentary hand-job, two-ply sh*t paper, and free krispey kreme donuts. Then you MIGHT be able to convince your neighbor to show up.

 

 

 

 

 

Post of the year candidate?

 

Your post is very funny and I know where your coming from it terms of the apathy in SoFla but the rain and heat and sh*t food do play a major factor in attendance.

You are 100% correct. The food, heat and rain do play a big factor. Although I do find it kind of strange that they open a brand new renovation project that makes the food and heat factors a little bit better for the beginning of the Dolphins season while they could have easily opened it for the start of the Marlins season.

 

I guess thats what you get when your lease is up.

Lack of a consistent owner who puts out winning teams

 

3 straight winning years and averages of 16k and change, 22k, and 22k and change roughly. South Floridians don't support winners either.

 

 

You all negate the youth of the team. Compare them to the other newer teams and then from there deduct the sh*tty situations our stadium has. You cant compare the marlins to the yankees, it isnt dedication, its tradition. 26 championships and 80+ years of existence. Our attendance was increasing which shows south florida DOES support a winner, and they wouldve continued supporting the team if it guarantees that it will never leave south florida, they at least try to field a competitive team as often as possible and they build a roofed stadium. Thats the bottom line. The south florida fans suck thing is stupid and its a cop out. Forget that we've won 2 world series, because 1998 negated that 1st one completely. So the 2nd one was starting to bring the fan base back until, fire sale 2006 and the san antonio/vegas nonsense. Thats why theres no fans, if the team markets this correctly we can have as good a fanbase as any of the other markets our size

Lack of a consistent owner who puts out winning teams

 

3 straight winning years and averages of 16k and change, 22k, and 22k and change roughly. South Floridians don't support winners either.

 

 

You all negate the youth of the team. Compare them to the other newer teams and then from there deduct the sh*tty situations our stadium has. You cant compare the marlins to the yankees, it isnt dedication, its tradition. 26 championships and 80+ years of existence. Our attendance was increasing which shows south florida DOES support a winner, and they wouldve continued supporting the team if it guarantees that it will never leave south florida, they at least try to field a competitive team as often as possible and they build a roofed stadium. Thats the bottom line. The south florida fans suck thing is stupid and its a cop out. Forget that we've won 2 world series, because 1998 negated that 1st one completely. So the 2nd one was starting to bring the fan base back until, fire sale 2006 and the san antonio/vegas nonsense. Thats why theres no fans, if the team markets this correctly we can have as good a fanbase as any of the other markets our size

not that those points havent been said a million times here...but damn...i completely agree...the marketing of the marlins is pathetic...maybe when i go to the winter meetings i can have a sit down with beinfest and get a job to work on that :whistle

Dolphin Stadium is a crappy place to watch a baseball game the viewing angles are all wrong...It always rains or is threatening to rain before nite games day games are just brutal due to the heat and humidity

Good Lord! I have only been an MB.com member since like June of 2005 and I'll bet I have seen this thread or something identical at least once a week since then. Who gives a sh*t? The fans just stink in South Florida. Quit making excuses for us. It has nothing to do with rain, heat, stadium location. I had season tickets in 2003 and 2004 and do you know that the night the Marlins clinched the wild card, there may have been 15,000 on hand to see it? It was raining, but they were trying to clinch a spot in the f***ing playoffs for the love of God! If people aren't going to show up for that, or any of the other games in the second half of '03 and all of '04, then all the excuses and reasons in the world add up to doo doo. The only solution is to build a domed stadium in everybodies backyard with free parking, concessions, leather seats, AC, complimentary hand-job, two-ply sh*t paper, and free krispey kreme donuts. Then you MIGHT be able to convince your neighbor to show up.

 

 

 

 

 

Post of the year candidate?

 

Your post is very funny and I know where your coming from it terms of the apathy in SoFla but the rain and heat and sh*t food do play a major factor in attendance.

 

All of that doesn't seem to matter when the Dolphins are playing in September and October. And I'm only referencing Sunday games since we have to compare apples to apples. :whistle

Interesting to see the reasons of everyone here. The reasons I see are the reaons that each of you have for not going to a game rather than a general reason for 15k+ people at least.

 

The fact that you are here in a marlins message board makes you an above average fan and whatever are our reasons it doesn't take into account below average fans which are around 60-70% of attendance.

 

So, if we really want real reasons we need casual fans opinions too.

 

Why casual fans don't go to more games a year? Simple, money. For most of us above average fans money could be an issue but is probably less significant that for casual fans. Many of us here will rather spend 20 bucks at the ballpark than going out to eat or do something else but that's not the case for casual fans.

 

And add the fact that 80% of south florida residents are hispanic who mainly come here for a better life and are "surviving" and you get a negative mix.

 

Do you think a family will go to a ballgame and spend 50-100 when they're so tight up they can barely pay their bills? There are MANY in that situation here in south florida. Take that into account and ask hispanic people why they don't go to marlins games even though they like baseball and you will get some interesting answers/reasons.

I used to be a season ticket holder.

 

Reasons I am no longer:

-Management doesnt care about season ticket holders

-Firesale

-Samson

-Sunday games are waayyyy too hot.

I think the real answer will come once (if) we get a new stadium. If we are or arent drawing we'll know if we have bad fans, if it was the roof, fire sale, etc...

I would say the #1 reason I didn't go more often when I lived in South Florida was the price of parking. Tickets only cost $8, but parking was $10. Sure $10 doesn't seem like a huge deal, especially if it's split a couple ways, but it really jacks up the price if you're alone, or if you're meeting up with someone. You add a couple $8 beers, a $4 bag of peanuts, and the fact I'd end up at Tootsies afterwards, and going to a baseball game becomes too expensive to do more than once a week.

 

 

Give me a break. Parking's at least that much all over the majors. It was $10 in Philly for a weekday game and $13 last year at Shea on July 4 weekend (when Willis pitched that three hitter;)). Both of these parks aren't in the center of town like PNC Park and Fenway, but they have mass transit to the park, which brings in a fair number of fans.

 

I think it's mostly the weather. Then again, that doesn't explain why the D-Rays don't draw.

Well, all those reasons are valid, My school had the privilege of being visited by David Samson, and looking at this issue at a managerial stand point, its a really bad place to be in. Consider that the only advertising money that the marlins get from the stadium is on the outfield wall and 2 or 3 other spots selected to be "Baseball Only" advertisements. Also, the Marlins can't negotiate with Miami Dolphins sponsors, the concession sales are split 50/50, and the parking fee does not even go to the club. The only thing they keep 100% is ticket sales. From a managerial standpoint this is a pretty bad place to be in. Money wise, the club lost around 45 million last year according to Samson. The fire-sale this year occured because of this and despite lowering the payroll significantly, the Marlins organization is projected to actually break even this season. This all came from David Samson and I don't know how accurate this information is as it was just a school presentation he did for us.

I would say the #1 reason I didn't go more often when I lived in South Florida was the price of parking. Tickets only cost $8, but parking was $10. Sure $10 doesn't seem like a huge deal, especially if it's split a couple ways, but it really jacks up the price if you're alone, or if you're meeting up with someone. You add a couple $8 beers, a $4 bag of peanuts, and the fact I'd end up at Tootsies afterwards, and going to a baseball game becomes too expensive to do more than once a week.

 

 

Give me a break. Parking's at least that much all over the majors. It was $10 in Philly for a weekday game and $13 last year at Shea on July 4 weekend (when Willis pitched that three hitter;)). Both of these parks aren't in the center of town like PNC Park and Fenway, but they have mass transit to the park, which brings in a fair number of fans.

 

I think it's mostly the weather. Then again, that doesn't explain why the D-Rays don't draw.

You might have noticed that I said it was the main reason that I didn't go to more games. I really don't know or care why other people don't go, but there's obviously seems to be a lot of reasons, so I assume different people have different issues. Being scared I might get hit with a sprinkle was never one of them for me.

Good Lord! I have only been an MB.com member since like June of 2005 and I'll bet I have seen this thread or something identical at least once a week since then. Who gives a sh*t? The fans just stink in South Florida. Quit making excuses for us. It has nothing to do with rain, heat, stadium location. I had season tickets in 2003 and 2004 and do you know that the night the Marlins clinched the wild card, there may have been 15,000 on hand to see it? It was raining, but they were trying to clinch a spot in the f***ing playoffs for the love of God! If people aren't going to show up for that, or any of the other games in the second half of '03 and all of '04, then all the excuses and reasons in the world add up to doo doo. The only solution is to build a domed stadium in everybodies backyard with free parking, concessions, leather seats, AC, complimentary hand-job, two-ply sh*t paper, and free krispey kreme donuts. Then you MIGHT be able to convince your neighbor to show up.

 

 

 

 

 

Post of the year candidate?

 

Your post is very funny and I know where your coming from it terms of the apathy in SoFla but the rain and heat and sh*t food do play a major factor in attendance.

 

 

Um, post of the year? More like why would you rip the fans and then say you were a season tix holder in 2003 and 2004. We are in 2006. Did you quit because after not getting in the playoffs in 2004 you then found that you meet all the criteria of the fans you are ripping. Your whole 2 years of being a season tix holder shows real commitment. Sorry, look in the mirror.

 

Nope, my job transfered me. Yet I have DirecTV and the MLB pack and have not missed a game on TV or XM radio. So blow me.

I would say the #1 reason I didn't go more often when I lived in South Florida was the price of parking. Tickets only cost $8, but parking was $10. Sure $10 doesn't seem like a huge deal, especially if it's split a couple ways, but it really jacks up the price if you're alone, or if you're meeting up with someone. You add a couple $8 beers, a $4 bag of peanuts, and the fact I'd end up at Tootsies afterwards, and going to a baseball game becomes too expensive to do more than once a week.

 

 

Give me a break. Parking's at least that much all over the majors. It was $10 in Philly for a weekday game and $13 last year at Shea on July 4 weekend (when Willis pitched that three hitter;)). Both of these parks aren't in the center of town like PNC Park and Fenway, but they have mass transit to the park, which brings in a fair number of fans.

 

I think it's mostly the weather. Then again, that doesn't explain why the D-Rays don't draw.

 

The D-Rays don't draw because they are the D-Rays, a joke of a franchise. I really don't care much about seeing AL ball, and I'm not a fan because I'm a Marlins fan and have been since they got here. MLB putting a team in the Tampa Bay area was too late, a lot of people thought the Marlins should go there and were turned off when MLB gave the team to Miami and Huizenga. Although I do have to say, after seeing the Marlins in Tropicana, the difference between seeing the game at a baseball only stadium and DS is incredible.

A lot of people have different reasons for not going but I think the major reason people don't go is the fire sales. Both fire sales chopped off attendance by about half and it takes years to recover form that. I doubt we'll average 23k ('05 average) in the next 3 years.. 23k is not good but at least the attendance was in an upward trend. I also think Samson as the business side face of the franchise hurts. That guy is detested by fans. Fire him and make Beinfest also the President. What a difference between those two.

How about the sweltering heat during Sat/Sun day games?

 

Just brutal...

 

the sunday games at 1:05 just suck. my dad refuses to take me to those. we have lower deck season tickets and its pretty hot there, the upper deck has got to be even worse. i think the main reason people don't come to the park is because it's to hot, humid, muggy, rainy (or threat of) etc. to the casual fan i don't think the ability of the ballplayers matter that much . a lot of the people i know that go to a game every now and then go just to spend time w/ their family. they couldn't name on player that played in the game. they probably wouldn't even know who the opposing team was. (i know this from experience btw). to fans that are into baseball more, sure, they care about the ability of the fish..my dad and i have been season ticket holders since 1993. my dad doesn't even want to go to most of the games A. because of the weather b. he gets frustrated watching another firesale. if we get a new stadium, and make the atmosphere of the stadium more enjoyable and comfortable there's not reason why we couldn't have 30,000-35,000+ every night.

do you know that the night the Marlins clinched the wild card, there may have been 15,000 on hand to see it? It was raining, but they were trying to clinch a spot in the f***ing playoffs for the love of God! If people aren't going to show up for that, or any of the other games in the second half of '03 and all of '04, then all the excuses and reasons in the world add up to doo doo.

yea...the facts are there...attendence slightly...only slightly increased in September of 2003...and then in October they had 50K+...its sad. The Yankees had 50K+ Saturday and at least 20K stayed until the game was called...dedication.

 

Yea, I love being compared to the New York market and the Yankees. Steinbrenner=Loria- LOL. I have been around a lot longer than you, probably, and no one seems to remember the dog days of the franchise drawing 15-20000, just like Wrigley in the early 80's averaging 9,000. Or the white sox last year averaging less than THE MARLINS in 97, but the Marlins fans are still ripped to this day about the 97 attendance. Good comparison, tell you what, get rid of all the players on the yankees, bring up 20 rookies and tell the fans to wait a few years to win-then compare the market of 10 million people to S. Florida.