What can we do to fill the stands?

[PoolBoy]

haha good post Black Jesus, whats wrong with O Dog though?
anyway, yes people were upset by Gonzo (aka double play or strikeout )leaving, but the reason i think that the DBacks aren't getting the fan attendance they deserve is that the majority of fans dont live IN phoenix. Phoenix is so spread out with the suburbs of Scottsdale, Glendale, Mesa...etc, that trips down to the BOB (NOT CHASE FIELD) are difficult.

 

[Black Jesus]

I think eventually the same problem will happen with the Cardinals... Who wants to go all the way to Glendale? Not me, its SO far from everything. Phoenix downtown area really does suck.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

location is a cheap excuse - i live in goodyear and can make it to the ballpark in 30 minutes - with light rail coming a lot of east valley people could simply park and ride and get there pretty efficiently as well

the area would benefit by having more entertainment options around the park - but this doesn't hurt other cities where the parks are either out of the way or in a part of the city that doesn't have all that much life to it

i think the pure # of games can create a complacency - in football you get 8 real home games and if you want to catch one you start planning it out, getting tickets, setting up a tailgate, etc - with baseball it's much more of a spontaneous thing where you can "always catch it next time"

I could of had tickets for any game this weekend - however i had plans Friday for dinner, improv tickets saturday night and then the seahawks game & bbq on sunday - even though the tickets would be free, i would rather just go some other time than reschedule my existing plans

 

[PoolBoy]

I think eventually the same problem will happen with the Cardinals... Who wants to go all the way to Glendale? Not me, its SO far from everything. Phoenix downtown area really does suck.

location is a VERYYY weak excuse for the Cardinals. There are 8 regular season home games a year. one day a week. plus football is a whole different animal than baseball.

 

[BC867]

My wife and I are going to the game tonight. Got $30 tickets on StubHub on the Infiniti level.

We lucked out. Webb is pitching and he's on his scoreless inning streak.

I read that D'backs attendance is actually up from last season but, as a first place team, it could and should be much higher.

They're starting tonight's game at 5:05, so fans can still have part of their Saturday evening left afterwards.

They're trying.

 

[RedStorm]

make my couch not so comfortable & my TV not so clear.

honestly I dont know how people who have normal jobs and familys goto these games regularly (including the suns, and im a die hard suns fan). theres just not enough time or money to do this (for me at least).

i personally just goto a few games of each every season and am more than happy to relax at home watching the games.

HD TV is screwing the Dbacks.. LOL Why go when it looks so real at home. I dig that.

 

[Black Jesus]

Mark Grace is great to listen to. Is there anyway to find out when Gariagoila or Matt Williams is announcing because Joe is beginning to make absolutely no sense and Matt Williams, although I like him, he is very boring. Then I would go to any game Grace wasn't announcing.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Williams won't be broadcasting for a while as he is managing our AA team since Butler had a stroke.

 

[Nasser22]

Over 33,000 fans in the seats tonight. That's a little better I guess.

 

[Gila Monster]

Time. A lot of people I think lost faith in the franchise after the dismantling of the World Series team, which was an unfortunate necessity. I know everyone loves Jerry Colangelo, however his free spending and the unreasonable contracts that he paid out put this team back. I'd say it was worth the investment, winning the World Series, however the free spending ways also added a false sense of what this franchise is, and gave some the idea that they'd be throwing the money with regularity.

Between the dismantling of the roster, poor trades, and false hope pretexts (the Baby Backs-- a classic case of overachievers who never would have amounted to more than they probably did), then the handling of the Gonzalez situation, many left with a bitter taste in their mouths. As this team further develops (the fact that they're in first place, with the best record in the National League with this team makes me feel outstanding for now, even better for the future) and as they continue to show commitment to keeping the talent in town (signing Byrnes was huge in that sense alone), trust will be rebuilt, and those who left should come back.

 

[clif]

I agree with those who said time. The team just needs to keep winning. As soon as they are consistent winners all that will outweigh the negatives. For the average person, downtown is a mess right now.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Time. It takes the casual fan a long time to come back after a rebuilding period. Loook at the Indians, probably a better team than us in a better ballpark and a comparable attendance.

Personally, I've been to eight games so far this year. It really is a financial thing, every time I go I end up spending around $100 when all is said and done.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

I don't know, but I love Mark Grace calling out people for it, even if I'm one of them...I wish I could go to more than my 1 or 2 home games a year. At least I buy a lot of D-Backs stuff when I can. :-/

Really? I hate that. A lot.

 

[Nasser22]

Yes really. This state isn't as good as it should be when it comes to supporting their teams.

 

[Phxchris1989]

Pretty good attendance last few games.I think so at least.

 

[HooverDam]

I agree w/ all of those who said time. I really thought the 5-1 road trip against SD and LA would help, and it did a bit. Maybe if they do another 5-1 type trip coming up, thatll finally be the tipping point for this season? It works out nicely that they are going to have the Cubs in town and that this was somewhat of a Cubs town before the Dbacks came in, so that series should be packed.

 

[green machine]

I'd say about 20 years, when the team finally has enough fans in the valley who grew up with this team.

 

[AsUdUdE]

maybe if the Dbacks weren't infamous for blowing 5+ run leads it would help people come to the games..

I don't know.... Im sure many people aren't convinced yet... however guarnteed if they make the playoffs EVERY game is sold out....

 

[Rab]

I agree w/ all of those who said time. I really thought the 5-1 road trip against SD and LA would help, and it did a bit. Maybe if they do another 5-1 type trip coming up, thatll finally be the tipping point for this season? It works out nicely that they are going to have the Cubs in town and that this was somewhat of a Cubs town before the Dbacks came in, so that series should be packed.

I thought so too, and then to combine that with Justin Upton was making his debut at home. I think it's just a cycle, and that fans will start coming if the team keeps winning. Hopefully, we can keep this up.

They are a fun team to watch. They do a lot of little things to win games, and it's fun to see these young guys finally starting to come around.

 

[jjdowney]

I'd say about 20 years, when the team finally has enough fans in the valley who grew up with this team.

I agree. There aren't enough people who have grown up here, plus the DBacks are only about a decade old. I think when all of the people who are in their early 20's and teens now are in their 30's ond 40's, there will be a lot more true fans. Hopefully they can keep a winning tradition until then, just to speed things up.