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

[Black Jesus]

for whatever reason my post got deleted... But I said that we lack a franchise player that is recognizable. In order for one of the young guys to become that face they would need to hit over .300 and around 35 HRs and the hype would be on. But right now our most recognizable players are Johnson, Byrnes, and then Hudson in that order. We need either Quentin, Young, Drew, Jackson or even Reynolds to go on a season long run. Or call up Upton and watch him explode in order for the seats in the stadium to get filled...

Either that or trade for a big name corner infielder or catcher because those are by far our weakest positions...

 

[HooverDam]

^I dont think the Dbacks are worried about finding a corner infielder since they have Quentin, Young, Upton and Gonzalez, so they'll probably be set in the outfield.

I agree they are very weak at catcher, but I don't know of any big name catchers out there who are available, or if the Dbacks would want to move too much of their young talent.

 

[AZCB34]

Thinking outside the box a little...I think the Dbacks could pack the place if they created more of a party atmosphere (and it has to go beyond the Diamond Club thing). Phoenix is a very chaotic demographical metro area. There is alot of young (20's) and old (60+'s). The younger group would prefer to waste time and money in Tempe and Scottsdale and the older group don't like the hour long drive during the heaviest traffic times to get to games.

If you sell the game being a party type atmosphere, the younger crowd will come out of their painful desire to be cool and the place would fill up...just look at what the Phoenix Open is all about.

Additionally, this town is about winning and until it really starts to matter (Aug and Sep), the populace will be watching but watching from a distance. I hesitate to throw around the bandwagon reference because in most cases I think that term ignores another fact about the PHX metro area which is the vast majority of people come from elsewhere and have long-seeded alliances to other teams. If the team starts to make noise come Aug and Sep, it will be cool to be at Chase. The Suns were drawing pretty small crowds (by their standards) a few years ago it seemed yet they start winning and the party is back on.

I do not buy for a minute the lack of a recognizable franchise player being the issue. There are basically two types of fans: the die-hards who love Hammock as much as RJ and the rest who only casually follow the team and could care less about the Dbacks having a big name. People didn't show up at the ballpark for Gonzo (who was probably considered a franchise player)...Gonzo was simply a part of the overall story.

EDIT: The Cubs pack Wrigley every night which is the result of several factors: Longtime franchise with huge base of local fans...Early entry into the nationwaide telecasts with cable TV...and the fact they rpomote a lively party atmosphere at the ballpark which makes it a cool thing to be there.

 

[AZZenny]

We really aren't weak at catcher -- Montero needs to play more so he gets seasoning, but he is a top-level developing catcher. Then Snyder, who calls a very good game and does hit with power, would be a better-than-average back-up catcher.

I think you overstate the fan value of a marquis non-pitcher. Even a superstar pitcher here only gets an extra thousand or so fans. Nobody goes to a game just to see a position player, other than maybe a very few rare guys like Vlad or Bonds or A-Rod (and 2 of 3 probably get people to go out of hatred). This team can't afford the kind of salary those type of guys inevitably command.

I think if we continue to win and can do it with plenty of runs, and play with energy, people will return. The product on field was so dismal and sloppy-tedious in the past few years that even hard-core fans like me stopped going to games -- bought my ticket package, but maybe went half the time last year.

Our young guys are starting to gel, and that will make them better on the field and off. (Of course I think a different manager would help a lot). I suspect if the DBacks made their own charity calendar like the old Babybacks one, and got them into the community, they'd have a sudden surge in female fans.

 

[FArting]

I'll be going to tonights game and Sundays game.

 

[Phill11]

So far I've been been to a couple of games.

Home Opener vs Cincy
DBacks vs San Fran (Hudson Bobblehead)
DBacks vs San Fran (Last night)

I've also got tickets for
Saturday vs. Red Sox
Monday vs. Tampa Bay
Sep. 1st vs. Colorado


I usually go to 1-2 games a year... This is a good year for this team though. And they need the support.

 

[Phxchris1989]

I think once the Dbacks make the playoffs this year attendance will come around.

 

[DeAnna]

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 go with ya...but you'll have to pay and you'll have to drive.

 

[Nasser22]

I'll go with ya...but you'll have to pay and you'll have to drive.

If you want to risk your life like that I have my permit and once I sell my Xbox I'll have some cash.

 

[slinslin]

Baseball is boring.

 

[HooverDam]

Well they are saying tonights crowd may end up being the largest regular season crowd in Dbacks history, pretty impressive. I really hope the Dbacks can pull out a win, preferably in dramatic form, and get the fans hooked and coming back the rest of the year.

EDIT: Wow, they said the crowd tonight is the all time record for BOB/Chase, surpassing even the World Series' crowds, thats crazy.

 

[Stallion]

EDIT: Wow, they said the crowd tonight is the all time record for BOB/Chase, surpassing even the World Series' crowds, thats crazy.

How is that possible? Have they added seats/standing-room-only sections since then?

 

[TJ]

I think once the Dbacks make the playoffs this year attendance will come around.

I hope so

 

[az240zz]

Perhaps part of the reason is that it isn't a fan freindly environment. If you yell too much or stand up too much they will tell you be quiet or sit down. they don't show any controversal replays and if you want to bring in a tamborine to make some noise you can't.

Add this to the fact the park is devoid of any of the teams history, the color change and the letting go of so called franchise players and you have many reasons why people aren't going.

I am a 5 year season ticket holder and go to 50 to 70 games a year and am considering not renewing next year because of the above factors.

 

[PHXSportsFan4]

I think some of it has to do with the fact that there's 162 games and not many people are going to go to every single game, or even close. The NFL has 8 home games, so every game is sold out. I'm not sure how much truth there is to that, but it's just a theory.

There's only about 6 or 7 teams that I can think of that sell out or come close to selling out nearly every home game (Cubs, Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Giants, Angels, Cardinals.) The D-Backs aren't as popular as those teams so attendance shows it. Outside of the teams I just listed, we are on par with most other teams. When I went to Dallas, the Rangers drew about 30,000ish for the weekend series. Pretty much what we get. I just don't think most people are interested enough and/or have the money and the time to be at every game. I am one that would be at every game if I could, but money is a factor and also the fact that I live 2,000 miles away kinda doesn't help either lol. I do watch most games on tv though. Whenever I do make it to Phoenix, I plan to attend as many games as I possibly can.

In my honest opinion, Phoenix is an up and coming baseball town. You have spring training, AZ fall league, and the Diamondbacks. The franchise is only in its 10th season so it doesn't have an already established fan base like most other teams do. In the next generation or 2, I honestly believe Phoenix could become a great baseball town and maybe someday you will see much better attendance.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I have family coming in from Jersey at the end of August and going to a D'Backs game is one of the main things on the vacation schedule.

I'd go more if I had company and cash.

 

[Nasser22]

I'll probably go to the June 24th game vs. Baltimore in one of the yellow section on the ticket page by right field.

 

[HooverDam]

I think some of it has to do with the fact that there's 162 games and not many people are going to go to every single game, or even close. The NFL has 8 home games, so every game is sold out. I'm not sure how much truth there is to that, but it's just a theory.

There's only about 6 or 7 teams that I can think of that sell out or come close to selling out nearly every home game (Cubs, Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Giants, Angels, Cardinals.) The D-Backs aren't as popular as those teams so attendance shows it. Outside of the teams I just listed, we are on par with most other teams. When I went to Dallas, the Rangers drew about 30,000ish for the weekend series. Pretty much what we get. I just don't think most people are interested enough and/or have the money and the time to be at every game. I am one that would be at every game if I could, but money is a factor and also the fact that I live 2,000 miles away kinda doesn't help either lol. I do watch most games on tv though. Whenever I do make it to Phoenix, I plan to attend as many games as I possibly can.

In my honest opinion, Phoenix is an up and coming baseball town. You have spring training, AZ fall league, and the Diamondbacks. The franchise is only in its 10th season so it doesn't have an already established fan base like most other teams do. In the next generation or 2, I honestly believe Phoenix could become a great baseball town and maybe someday you will see much better attendance.

Well Sutton said during yesterdays broadcast I believe it was that 16 teams are AVERAGING 30K a game. So that means on weekend series' they are higher than that. Its disappointing to me that the Dbacks aren't one of those teams, they have the lowest (on average) prices in baseball, they are certainly 'in the hunt,' they are currently the only sporting game in town (sorry Rattlers/Mercury), and they are tons of fun (if sometimes extremely frustrating) to watch.

I think it has a lot to do with the game day experience (or lack there of). The annoying mascot that makes no sense, the "Rally Backs" that feel so out of place in baseball, the stupid in game Emcee's who are always stepping on each other, the lack of replays on the big board, the ban on noise makers, no hot dogs being sold in the stands, etc. etc.

 

[Phxchris1989]

I'll probably go to the June 24th game vs. Baltimore in one of the yellow section on the ticket page by right field.

Might be at that game too. Though I'll probably just do Fridays front row.

 

[PHXSportsFan4]

Well Sutton said during yesterdays broadcast I believe it was that 16 teams are AVERAGING 30K a game. So that means on weekend series' they are higher than that. Its disappointing to me that the Dbacks aren't one of those teams, they have the lowest (on average) prices in baseball, they are certainly 'in the hunt,' they are currently the only sporting game in town (sorry Rattlers/Mercury), and they are tons of fun (if sometimes extremely frustrating) to watch.

I think it has a lot to do with the game day experience (or lack there of). The annoying mascot that makes no sense, the "Rally Backs" that feel so out of place in baseball, the stupid in game Emcee's who are always stepping on each other, the lack of replays on the big board, the ban on noise makers, no hot dogs being sold in the stands, etc. etc.

Hmm, you're right. I just checked the attendance numbers on espn.com and there are indeed 16 teams averaging 30,000 or more per home game. NYY-LAD-NYM-STL-LAA-CHC-SF-BOS-PHI-HOU-DET-SD-MIL-CHW-TEX-ATL. Seattle is not far behind with 29,244. Arizona is 20th with 26,233. Maybe I was being a little too optimistic. That is pretty low for a team that is doing pretty well. I've kinda gotten hooked to the Rangers a little since I went there and they are absolutely terrible and are 15th in attendance.

Maybe it is the ballpark and ballpark experience, who knows.

 

[Heucrazy]

Every single game I've gone to at Chase over the last three season's they have lost. Pisses me off to no end.

Now when I went and saw them at Petco they won.

 

[devilalum]

People aren't going to the games because the Dbacks are still pretenders.

As of today the Dbacks are 28th in OBP, 27 in BA and 26 in runs scored.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats...2&type=reg&sort=onBasePct&split=0&season=2007

The only thing keeping them going is their 6th ranked veteran pitching staff.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

People aren't going to the games because the Dbacks are still pretenders.

As of today the Dbacks are 28th in OBP, 27 in BA and 26 in runs scored.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats...2&type=reg&sort=onBasePct&split=0&season=2007

The only thing keeping them going is their 6th ranked veteran pitching staff.

Yes, I'm sure that the attendance is what it is because people are looking up on base percentage stats...

 

[Phill11]

Yes, I'm sure that the attendance is what it is because people are looking up on base percentage stats...

As stated earlier I really do agree with the location of the ballpark. It's just awful. Took me 1 hour to get out of the parking garage.

I'll be at 6+ games this season. So far it seems the only time people actually show up to the games are when they are against GOOD teams. Makes sense. You don't want to see the Devil Rays (I do! And am going Monday), or the Orioles. You want to see the Red Sox, Cubs, Giants...

It's not because the teams playing bad. We could win 20 straight games and I guarantee you ticket sales wouldn't rocket up because of it. This team has to establish themselves here as a franchise. Sure we have one World Series, but it's going to take many years to convert all of the Red Sox, Cubs and other baseball fans, into Diamondbacks fans...

 

[devilalum]

Yes, I'm sure that the attendance is what it is because people are looking up on base percentage stats...

The point is that they're boring.