Why Aren't People going to D'backs games?

[HooverDam]

So I was at the game tonight and the attendance was announced at 24K, and while thats better than the 18K they get sometimes it still seems pretty lousy to me. I live less than a mile from the ballpark, so I often ride my bikes to the game and by the $6 tickets (I really wish the $1 tickets were still available).

But why aren't others coming out? The ticket prices are the lowest on average in the Majors, and the team is in first place! What else is it going to take? Its not like they are competing with the Suns or anyone else right now, whats it going to take to get people's butts out to the games? I hope that the Boston series brings a lot of people out and that the Dbacks can take 2 of 3, and maybe that will start attracting some attention.

One thing I think hurts not only the Dbacks, but all sports in Phoenix is the lack of density of the Valley. You aren't going to make it out to a lot of games when you live in some stupid place like 91st Ave and Jomax or east Gilbert. It takes an especially good team for people to be willing to drive an hour round trip each night, on top of their daily drives to work.

Also on an unrelated note, I was annoyed that the roof was closed tonight, it was such a beautiful day but it was closed due to 'dusty winds'- wtf? I don't think the winds are going to be severe enough to scale the 200ft tall walls of Chase, why not leave the windows closed and open the roof? We aren't going to have many more games w/ 86 degree game time starts, open the damn roof!

 

[Nasser22]

Well, if I had one a these 5 things I'd go to as many as I could:

Friends that are DBack fans
Family that are DBack fans
A job
A car
A driver's license


I just have no one to go with. I'll probably be able to catch a game later this year with my family... but yeah the attendance is pretty bad. I think it will steadily increase as they keep winning some ball games. The playoffs and a good off-season would help change things for the better.

 

[AZZenny]

I have Tues-Fri tickets, so that's when I go -- but living in Cave Creek, it's 45 minutes in low traffic each way. Add that to a long workday and a 3 hour game... and occasionally I even skip the Tuesday games.

 

[Gaddabout]

24K on a Wednesday night is pretty good. That means they'll hit 30 for the weekend series.

 

[HooverDam]

24K on a Wednesday night is pretty good. That means they'll hit 30 for the weekend series.

I kinda feel like it should be 30K for every game, and 35-40K on the weekends, but perhaps thats unrealistic.

 

[Black Jesus]

because the most recognizable player on the team is Randy Johnson and he isnt the same anymore. One of the young guys need to step it up... Drew, Quentin, Young, Jackson, or even Reynolds full time to get the crowd excited.

No offense to Byrnes or Hudson, but neither of them are franchise players, and the Dbacks lack that franchise player... Maybe we should trade Tracy or Jackson and one of our young players like Barden, Nippert, Callaspo, or even Young for a big name corner infielder, and then call up Justin Upton and the fans will get real excited about this team.

Our weakest positions are 1st, Catcher, and 3rd (minus Reynolds...)

 

[Ryanwb]

I read that they get really good TV ratings so maybe people just live to far away (like me). I work nights but I am going to go to some weekend games this season

 

[82CardsGrad]

I read that they get really good TV ratings so maybe people just live to far away (like me). I work nights but I am going to go to some weekend games this season

Yup... I see someone here thinks they should be averagng 30k per game. The reality is that virtually every other team that averages 30k or more has a large base that lives in easy commuting distance to the park. The problem with Chase and downtown PHX as a whole is that come 4:30-5:00pm, people flee the area...
Thankfully, this is all changing as we speak as there are several projects underway and more coming, that will attract and keep people downtown. Condos, retail and restaurants galore... 5 years from now Heritage Square and a swath from just west of Central east to 44th Street, all will look quite different than it does today... thank god!

 

[Mrh182]

Maybe we should trade Tracy or Jackson and one of our young players like Barden, Nippert, Callaspo, or even Young for a big name corner infielder, and then call up Justin Upton and the fans will get real excited about this team.

Carlos Gonzalez is supposed to be up in the bigs before Upton... but we'll see how they progress...

However... Young will not be traded. He's a 5 tool player and the franchise center fielder.

 

[Phill11]

The distance from the stadium is something that may be true...

I know I'll be at three games in the next week (Thur. vs. Giants/Sat. vs. Red Sox/Mon. vs TB).

If the upcoming series against Boston doesn't sell out, then we may have some problems.

But ticket prices are a bit pricey. I mean even for cheap seats. After the fees and all your still paying $15-20 for a cheap seat.

 

[82CardsGrad]

The distance from the stadium is something that may be true...

I know I'll be at three games in the next week (Thur. vs. Giants/Sat. vs. Red Sox/Mon. vs TB).

If the upcoming series against Boston doesn't sell out, then we may have some problems.

But ticket prices are a bit pricey. I mean even for cheap seats. After the fees and all your still paying $15-20 for a cheap seat.

Try going to a game in Boston, NY, Chicago, LA or S.F.!!

 

[Phill11]

Try going to a game in Boston, NY, Chicago, LA or S.F.!!

Yeah but that's the difference. People are willing to pay those prices because those stadiums are sold out nearly every game.

It's not like that here. To fill the sits you have to have lower prices. Eventually you'll build a solid fan base and go from there. Right now with high ticket prices the best chance the DBacks have to fill the seats is a solid record (Which even now doesn't fill them).

 

[82CardsGrad]

Yeah but that's the difference. People are willing to pay those prices because those stadiums are sold out nearly every game.

It's not like that here. To fill the sits you have to have lower prices. Eventually you'll build a solid fan base and go from there. Right now with high ticket prices the best chance the DBacks have to fill the seats is a solid record (Which even now doesn't fill them).

I disagree... I really don't think the issue is pricing at all... It's simple:

1.) Not enough people who live in close proximity. This is a HUGE issue!

2.) Poor product. We aren't the Cubbies. Here, we don't like losing. You lose - we don't come...

In short, create more opportunities for people to STAY in the area after work (like actually live close by), and put out a quality product, and attendance will be there... In baseball, if you average 30,000 to 35,000 per game, you're doing very well. We should do that when downtown becomes more built out, light-rail, etc..., and we actually are winning more than losing...

 

[HooverDam]

The distance from the stadium is something that may be true...

I know I'll be at three games in the next week (Thur. vs. Giants/Sat. vs. Red Sox/Mon. vs TB).

If the upcoming series against Boston doesn't sell out, then we may have some problems.

But ticket prices are a bit pricey. I mean even for cheap seats. After the fees and all your still paying $15-20 for a cheap seat.

I paid $6 for my ticket tonight and tickets on average are the cheapest in the MLB, so I don't think thats a really valid complaint. Think of it this way, most people can go see the Dbacks, a first place team, with two Cy Young winners, a World Series MVP, and a gold glover, for less than they can go see the Royals for.

In short, create more opportunities for people to STAY in the area after work (like actually live close by), and put out a quality product, and attendance will be there... In baseball, if you average 30,000 to 35,000 per game, you're doing very well. We should do that when downtown becomes more built out, light-rail, etc..., and we actually are winning more than losing...

When Summit at Copper Square, 44 Monroe and the new Sheraton hotel are completed, Ill be interested to see how that affects attendance. Thats 1,000 hotel rooms and a few hundred condos. Plus there is Cityscape coming soon, ASU downtown, the Jackson St entertainment district, the Bioscience campus, a few small infill residential projects, etc. So I hope that increases density and people's desire to stay downtown after games.

 

[FArting]

Are there still tickets left for Friday's game against Boston? I'm planning on going to that game. I'm going to the game on Sunday.

 

[nathan]

Carlos Gonzalez is supposed to be up in the bigs before Upton... but we'll see how they progress...

However... Young will not be traded. He's a 5 tool player and the franchise center fielder.

Upton is outperforming Carlos Gonzalez in AA by a wide margin. He'll be in the big leagues at some point next season. I haven't seen Upton in CF so I don't know if he has good instincts, but he has superior tools to Young. He threw 94 mph in high school. If I had to guess right now, I'd say he ends up in CF and Young ends up in LF.

 

[phillycard]

You guys are pretty damn good which makes the no-shows all the more surprising. Gotta get behind a team like you guys have.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I'll be at tonights game.

I am just got a big baseball fan.

 

[abomb]

I dont go to many D-backs games for two reasons. My love for the game has decreased significantly over the past five years due to Bud Selig's blantantly allowing the players to cheat and ruin the record book. The guy is the worst commissioner in major sports (Betman doesnt count).

Football. After being my sports love for a good 15 years, the NFL has taken over as my absolute favorite sport (and one of my favorite things). I cant really describe how much I love the NFL and the Cardinals.

I just dont care about baseball much anymore, but I am going to the game Saturday.

 

[Gee!]

Thankfully, this is all changing as we speak as there are several projects underway and more coming

Ive been hearing this for 15 years.. lol

 

[Gee!]

I dont go to many D-backs games for two reasons. My love for the game has decreased significantly over the past five years due to Bud Selig's blantantly allowing the players to cheat and ruin the record book. The guy is the worst commissioner in major sports (Betman doesnt count).

I have never heard anyone say this before until you...

 

[CardNots]

Personally, I prefer watching the HD broadcast. Last time I was in the RF stands and couldn't even make out Randy on the mound. Amazing how small he appeared. On HD he is more fierce.

 

[zett]

I haven't been to any games yet because the 1000 mile travel thing seems to get in the way. and the price for airline tickets would kill me! although I hope to get out there some time soon and catch a game or two!

 

[Gaddabout]

I haven't been to any games yet because the 1000 mile travel thing seems to get in the way. and the price for airline tickets would kill me! although I hope to get out there some time soon and catch a game or two!

If you move 1,000 miles away from Phoenix, the trick is to move some place where the summers aren't so similar.

I don't blame you for not driving. That's one of the more brutal 13-hour drives on the planet. I've done it from Colusa County three times. I'm not fearful of the holocaust now because I'm intimately familiar with the nothing landscape between the grapevine and Sac along I-5, and the desolation between Palm Springs and Phoenix.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Personally, I prefer watching the HD broadcast. Last time I was in the RF stands and couldn't even make out Randy on the mound. Amazing how small he appeared. On HD he is more fierce.

The HD feed is nice. I watch many more home games, than away games because of the HD feed.