D'Backs Crowds

[WizardOfAz]

Just over 24,000 for tonight's win over the Padres.

Don't really remember any smaller crowds.....

 

[Djaughe]

Just over 24,000 for tonight's win over the Padres.

Don't really remember any smaller crowds.....

I'm sure the tampa bay series hasn't helped the enthusiasm much....

 

[WizardOfAz]

From today's AZ Republic:

Colangelo said any changes would not be made to placate a disgruntled fan base, although Wednesday's crowd of 24,275 was the smallest gathering of the season at Bank One Ballpark.


http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/0701dBsider0701.html

 

[WizardOfAz]

22,631 Thursday night.

 

[ajcardfan]

22,631 Thursday night.

With three LONG months left, this is not good. I'm pretty confident that the future payroll projections were based on certain attendance numbers. If attendance stays like this, or gets worse, I'm afraid that there will be even worse slashing of payroll to come.

 

[az240zz]

You have to remember who we were playing. I bet we have over 30k for each of the Minnisota series and as the Dodgers, Giants, Astro's come in they will draw more.


Az240z

 

[ajcardfan]

You have to remember who we were playing. I bet we have over 30k for each of the Minnisota series and as the Dodgers, Giants, Astro's come in they will draw more.


Az240z

Dodgers and Giants will be decent draws thanks to enemy fans. The Twins and Astros will not generate much excitement with us being 20 games or so under .500.

 

[WizardOfAz]

You have to remember who we were playing. I bet we have over 30k for each of the Minnisota series and as the Dodgers, Giants, Astro's come in they will draw more.

You may be right, however, RJ's huge night Tuesday couldn't even muster 35k.

 

[NickelBack]

Dodgers and Giants will be decent draws thanks to enemy fans. The Twins and Astros will not generate much excitement with us being 20 games or so under .500.

Under 28,000 tonight.

 

[dbUNIT16]

Although the numbers are low for us, keep in mind that for any other team that was struggle as heavily as us, those numbers would be outstanding. I think us fans deserve more credit that we get. We were always 2-3 when we were winning, now that we're losing we're lower, but it's not bad for a team with our record.

 

[ajcardfan]

Although the numbers are low for us, keep in mind that for any other team that was struggle as heavily as us, those numbers would be outstanding. I think us fans deserve more credit that we get. We were always 2-3 when we were winning, now that we're losing we're lower, but it's not bad for a team with our record.

I think you are right, I'm just afraid what four months of these numbers will do to the payroll in the future.

 

[minercon]

Colangelo has reaped what he has sown.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

I think you are right, I'm just afraid what four months of these numbers will do to the payroll in the future.

That might not be a major issue though...I'm still trying to figure out what was mentioned awhile back in the following link works:

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/04cactus/0303dbackfinances03.htm

Cash relief for D-Backs

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Tom Tingle/The Arizona Republic
​

D-Backs investors Jerry Colangelo (left) and Dale Jensen describe their plan to boost team talent.

Investor plan aims to keep team competitive

Craig Harris
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 3, 2004 12:00 AM



So much for the Arizona Diamondbacks living on a budget.

The baseball team's key investors on Tuesday said in an interview that they would raise an additional $99 million in equity during the next decade and allow fans to buy personal seat licenses. Both proposals would generate money to retain star players and pursue outside talent.

"We now have the capability to re-sign any player on our roster," said Jerry Colangelo, who becomes the team's chairman and chief executive officer under the new financing pla

Colangelo and the investors, who include three Valley millionaires and a Canadian businessman, said the new money, which could generate $14 million annually, could be used this year if the team needs a player during a pennant chase.

It is the second time in two years that the small investor group has come together to bail out the franchise, which went heavily into debt to become a contender and win the 2001 World Series.



Colangelo said the plan will have no financial effect on average fans. Those corporate accounts and individuals who hold the roughly 5,000 premium season tickets, at a cost of about $50 to $83 a game, will have the option of buying a seat license.

Buying the license would provide additional perks, such as food and valet parking, and the owner could sell the license to someone who wants the choice lower-level seats in Bank One Ballpark. Now, when a person gives up those seats, the seats go to a buyer on a waiting list, Colangelo said. The team will announce the license costs later.

In 2002, Valley residents Dale Jensen, Mike Chipman and Ken Kendrick came together with Toronto native J.C. Royer to invest $160 million in the ball club over 10 years in exchange for more ownership. The four will maintain that investment and are committing to buying additional shares.

They also bought Colangelo's general partnership for an undisclosed sum, which gives them controlling interest in the team. Colangelo, however, was made the fifth member of the majority ownership group, which will make the major financial decisions of the team.

The investors say they have no intention of making a profit but just love the game.

The sale of additional shares won unanimous approval this week from the investors who came together in 1995 to bring baseball to Phoenix, although their interest will be diluted. "We don't view this as much of a business deal as we do a stewardship of a community asset," said Jensen, a Paradise Valley resident and the team's largest individual investor.

The three Valley investors, who are ages 54 to 60, all made their fortunes in the software industry. Royer made his money in cable television.

Nearly six months ago, things were so bleak that Colangelo said the team would have to reduce its payroll to around $55 million next season from the current $80 million range.

But all that is out the window if the team is successful in its latest financing plan, Colangelo and the investors said.

"We want to be competitive and put a winning product on the field," said Kendrick, of Paradise Valley. "We are mindful of the spending of other (teams), and we are very competitive people."





Nearly $10 million annually would come from selling 33 shares worth $3 million each, while an additional $4 million or $5 million a year would come from the seat licenses.

Investors would pay $300,000 a year for 10 years for a share. Two shares would be worth about 1 percent of the team. The majority ownership group has pledged to buy at least one share each and would buy more if other investors don't join them. Kendrick said there already are pledges to buy about half of the 33 shares, which could be sold back to the team in the future.

Colangelo said the team would have the ability to buy back shares, because within eight years, the Diamondbacks will have paid off the team's deferred player compensation, which stands at $170 million. For the past few years, the team had many of its major players defer salary to build a winner.

I guess what has always baffled me was why did the Dbacks wait until after the offseason of this development? Instead...at least that would have given them some more leverage to sign Miguel Batista to a long-term contact (who to me was the biggest loss besides Schilling who they inevitably were going to lose).....

 

[ajcardfan]

That might not be a major issue though...I'm still trying to figure out what was mentioned awhile back in the following link works:


I guess what has always baffled me was why did the Dbacks wait until after the offseason of this development? Instead...at least that would have given them some more leverage to sign Miguel Batista to a long-term contact (who to me was the biggest loss besides Schilling who they inevitably were going to lose).....

Basically, it is a house of cards financially. The amount of deferred salary is brutal and the new investment is not nearly enough for the team to continue on the high road regardless of attendance. To me, this story, while welcome, was an overly rosy PR ploy by Colangelo to deflect the negative talk about the teams financial situation. That much debt is a big problem, no matter how you spin it.

 

[NickelBack]

Not even 30,000 for one of RJ's last games as a D'back at BOB.

 

[RLakin]

Basically, it is a house of cards financially. The amount of deferred salary is brutal and the new investment is not nearly enough for the team to continue on the high road regardless of attendance. To me, this story, while welcome, was an overly rosy PR ploy by Colangelo to deflect the negative talk about the teams financial situation. That much debt is a big problem, no matter how you spin it.

Larry Walker called it.

 

[abomb]

Not even 30,000 for one of RJ's last games as a D'back at BOB.

Sitting in the crowd, I dont remember being surrounded by so many fans of the other team.

A-Bomb

 

[NickelBack]

Sitting in the crowd, I dont remember being surrounded by so many fans of the other team.

That's what it sounded like on TV last night.

It sounded like Gagne was getting the most noise from the crowd in the 9th inning.