MLB attendance projected to be down 17- 20%

[Upton]

Peter Gammons writes in his blog:

Major League Baseball has warned club business people that attendance is expected to be down 17-20 percent in 2009, and it could be worse, especially with franchises like the Padres, Blue Jays, Tigers, Indians, Astros, Rockies and others that could be seriously impacted by the recession.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3963638&name=gammons_peter

[charlie and algernon]

1. wow, if attendence went down any further for Marlins' games

the stadium would literally be empty

[rockymountaindem]

2. The Rockies don't have anything to complain about

They put a crappy team of no-names out there all the time. There's hardly ever anybody to bond with, even if they're not very good, because of the insanely high turnover. Just about every year since 1995 it's been a revolving door (save Helton). We've got a decent core of young players left over from the 2007 miracle run, but they'll probably be shuffled out eventually so we can bring up new rookies from the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Then we'll be back to square one again.

Denver/Colorado fans are great and very supportive of our teams, but the Rockies' management is just a bunch of blockheads from A to Z.

[cboy4]

3. The Giants are getting antsy.

Dear Giants: I'm busy making sure one of our former players is adequately defended in the court of public opinion.



Dear Jacob,

I am writing to you with concern regarding your Charter Seat Licenses at AT&T Park and your Season Tickets for 2009. As a Giants Charter Seatholder, you belong to a special group of Season Ticketholders whose ownership of the best locations in our ballpark is very important. Your Charter Seats provide you lifetime rights to your seats which remain intact as long as you renew your Season Tickets.

Your Season Tickets are still on reservation and, with Opening Day fast approaching, we would be more than happy to work with you to make sure that you have the opportunity to once again enjoy Giants baseball this coming season. If you would like to make payment today, you will still be offered your tickets on the commemorative ticket stock. Simply click on the link below:


Click here to renew your Season Tickets


We want you to know that the Giants organization greatly appreciates your tremendous support of the club in the past. We know that AT&T Park has been a special place for you to enjoy time with family, friends and clients, and we want to do everything that we can to make that a possibility for you again this year.

It is our desire to understand your specific situation and to discuss with you all of the available options regarding your ticket renewal. Given your past commitment, we will do our very best to work with you to ensure you remain with us!

In the meantime, it is our obligation to communicate the specifics of your agreement with the Giants and reference the deadlines in place, so please watch for a letter from our legal department detailing the fact that you are in danger of defaulting on your Charter Seat License agreement.

At the same time, I hope that we can be in touch in short order to begin discussions of your renewal concerns and the available options that would allow you to remain a Season Ticketholder, keep your Charter Seat Licenses, and meet the obligations of the agreement. AT&T Park and Giants baseball would not be the same without you and all of the loyal Charter Seatholders that make our baseball home the very best in the country.

You can contact me directly by replying to this email or by calling me at the number below. Please let me know how I can be of assistance in resolving this matter.


Regards,


Cindy Hernandez

[NJmaverick]

4. I think baseball is going to be particularly hard hit by this recession

not only is attendance going to be down, but teams are going to be hard pressed to find sponsors and companies will to buy up the box seats and luxuary suites.

[Captain Hilts]

7. Sustaining the long season will take ingenuity. nt

[Onceuponalife]

5. prediction

The Dodgers will still draw 45,000 to 50,000 for every home game.

[cboy4]

6. Wow....it's amazing the second largest city in America

can accomplish that. :eyes:

[MrPerson]

8. They need a quiet place to smoke their pot.

[MrPerson]

9. I predicted this a month ago and got flamed and

link pleased to death.

[Upton]

10. No you didn't

your prediction of a lower attendance this upcoming MLB season was based on the players use of performance enhancing drugs, not because of the economy.

[MrPerson]

11. No. I said they were already going to have a bad year.

And that steroids would make it worse.