Troubles in Tucson
The outlook isn't so bright in Tucson. The Sidewinders play in Tucson Electric Park, a beautiful stadium and the spring training home of the parent Diamondbacks. Yet the team has lost money for the three years that Jay Zucker has owned the franchise, finishing in the bottom fourth in attendance. The Sidewinders drew just 268,607 last year.
"I didn't get into this business to make money, but I was hoping to break even," said Zucker, who purchased the team from former Phoenix Firebirds owner Martin Stone. "I just keep pushing for a good season, which we still might have. We're up roughly 15 percent over last season, and the second half could be incredible with the (Diamondbacks) rehabs and getting our players back.
"How much longer can I last? I can last the season, and if August is successful and Tucson rallies behind this franchise, we might be OK in the long term. If Tucson doesn't come out and I continue with financial loss, then I'll have to re-evaluate what the strategies are."
Zucker said the Sidewinders are battling the perception that their stadium is too far off the beaten path, with nothing to do around it. He added that early-season attendance is hurt by the presence of three major league spring training teams, which eliminates preseason publicity. And, after a diet of major league baseball for 30 days, it takes fans awhile to rekindle their interest for minor league ball.
As to creating the family entertainment, Zucker and the Sidewinders have turned the grass berms on the right and left field lines into a playground, added a train, created a carpeted stadium club with a big-screen TV and offered child care, complete with nannies.
Tucson is in its 35th season in the league and has captured two championships, in 1991 and 1993 while an affiliate of the Houston Astros. The '91 title set the town on its ear, largely because the Toros lost the first two games of the series and came back to win four straight.
"There wasn't a seat to be had in the stadium the night we won, and the game ended at 10:35,"said Mike Feder, who was the Toros general manager at the time. "All three local TV stations extended their sportscast, and we were live when Joe Mikulik singled in Trenidad Hubbard with the wining run.
"It was one of those deals where if you went around town, 50,000 people were at the game, because they all saw it on TV."
Kenny Lofton led all of pro baseball with 19 triples. Other Tucson alums include Phil Nevin, Craig Biggio, Luis Gonzalez, Darryl Kile, Steve Finley, Ken Caminiti and J.R. Richard.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/0720pcltoday0720.html
The outlook isn't so bright in Tucson. The Sidewinders play in Tucson Electric Park, a beautiful stadium and the spring training home of the parent Diamondbacks. Yet the team has lost money for the three years that Jay Zucker has owned the franchise, finishing in the bottom fourth in attendance. The Sidewinders drew just 268,607 last year.
"I didn't get into this business to make money, but I was hoping to break even," said Zucker, who purchased the team from former Phoenix Firebirds owner Martin Stone. "I just keep pushing for a good season, which we still might have. We're up roughly 15 percent over last season, and the second half could be incredible with the (Diamondbacks) rehabs and getting our players back.
"How much longer can I last? I can last the season, and if August is successful and Tucson rallies behind this franchise, we might be OK in the long term. If Tucson doesn't come out and I continue with financial loss, then I'll have to re-evaluate what the strategies are."
Zucker said the Sidewinders are battling the perception that their stadium is too far off the beaten path, with nothing to do around it. He added that early-season attendance is hurt by the presence of three major league spring training teams, which eliminates preseason publicity. And, after a diet of major league baseball for 30 days, it takes fans awhile to rekindle their interest for minor league ball.
As to creating the family entertainment, Zucker and the Sidewinders have turned the grass berms on the right and left field lines into a playground, added a train, created a carpeted stadium club with a big-screen TV and offered child care, complete with nannies.
Tucson is in its 35th season in the league and has captured two championships, in 1991 and 1993 while an affiliate of the Houston Astros. The '91 title set the town on its ear, largely because the Toros lost the first two games of the series and came back to win four straight.
"There wasn't a seat to be had in the stadium the night we won, and the game ended at 10:35,"said Mike Feder, who was the Toros general manager at the time. "All three local TV stations extended their sportscast, and we were live when Joe Mikulik singled in Trenidad Hubbard with the wining run.
"It was one of those deals where if you went around town, 50,000 people were at the game, because they all saw it on TV."
Kenny Lofton led all of pro baseball with 19 triples. Other Tucson alums include Phil Nevin, Craig Biggio, Luis Gonzalez, Darryl Kile, Steve Finley, Ken Caminiti and J.R. Richard.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/0720pcltoday0720.html
) There intramural hockey team has better attendance.
