Attendance to Date: 12.5% Over 2011

[DrLev]

From August 15:

Well, it is past the low end of what I predicted and will end up a little shy of the midpoint. And, the O's "bought" some of their September attendance by steeply discounting certain seats for the Tampa and Toronto series. To me, it was pretty surprising how mediocre the crowds were in late July and August. That's where the O's can improve a lot next year.

The anemic season ticket numbers have a lot to do with it. We don't have that baseline cushion of guaranteed sold seats. However, you're absolutely right that some of those games had terrible attendance. I do think that part of the season was the turning point though, as the team has had at least a couple epic collapses in July and August and I can't help but think that the ghosts of 2005 were scaring a sizable number of fans away. With what I expect will be far more impressive season ticket numbers next year, expect it to turn around some.

[Baldimore, hon]

From August 15:

Well, it is past the low end of what I predicted and will end up a little shy of the midpoint. And, the O's "bought" some of their September attendance by steeply discounting certain seats for the Tampa and Toronto series. To me, it was pretty surprising how mediocre the crowds were in late July and August. That's where the O's can improve a lot next year.

I think that had a lot to do with them being so stubborn and not discounting ticket prices earlier. I felt like people still wanted to go, but needed a good reason besides winning. And the ticket price reduction was a good way to do that.

[LookitsPuck]

Just win. That's it.

[Frobby]

46,311 attended Brooksie's game. 38,977 needed today to reach 2.1 million for the year.

41,257 for the finale, pushing attendance just over 2.1 mm, a 20.4% increase from 2011. Pretty decent gain and it will be interesting to see what the crowds are like next summer

[BarclaySouthway]

20% increase for the year. I'd say the fans acquitted themselves pretty well.

[cmurter]

Fangraphs: Orioles winning season paying off at the box office

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/orioles-winning-season-paying-off-at-box-office/

Estimates an additional $8 Million in ticket revenue this season:eektf:

[wildcard]

350,000 is a nice increase but not close to what the O's need to do. Hopefully next year is much better.

[BarclaySouthway]

350,000 is a nice increase but not close to what the O's need to do. Hopefully next year is much better.

Season tickets will add a nice cushion next year.

The Orioles might need to come around a little too. The "1992 prices" promotion got me to compare 1992 ticket prices and 1992 median household income with 2012 prices and incomes. In short tickets are more than twice as expensive now as a percentage of median household income.

The $8/$4 seats were a great start, and the fans responded by selling those seats out. I think if the Os continue to show the fans they value their business, the fans will hold up their end.

[TradeAngelos]

Fangraphs: Orioles winning season paying off at the box office

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/orioles-winning-season-paying-off-at-box-office/

Estimates an additional $8 Million in ticket revenue this season:eektf:

Include food, concessions, parking and it is more than double that.

Now let's see if payroll goes up $20 million.

If it does I will be first in line for a 27 game plan. If not, few $8 games like this year and that is it.

[btownoriole]

Include food, concessions, parking and it is more than double that.

Now let's see if payroll goes up $20 million.

If it does I will be first in line for a 27 game plan. If not, few $8 games like this year and that is it.

Why is payroll more important than winning? This team could enter October tied for the best record in the AL and you need to see an additional $20 million in payroll to buy tickets? I guess I don't follow your logic.

[Frobby]

Why is payroll more important than winning? This team could enter October tied for the best record in the AL and you need to see an additional $20 million in payroll to buy tickets? I guess I don't follow your logic.

Seriously. If this season didn't warrant getting a ticket plan for next year, I don't know why spending some random amount on payroll would convince you. Look around baseball. Red Sox? Dodgers?

[TonySoprano]

Final numbers, attendance up 20.4% over 2011

September had the highest per game average of any month. Simple message we've all know for years, build a winner, and people will come to the games. It also helps a lot to discount seats to get people in the ballpark.

MONTH	TOTAL	AVGAPR	278,313	23,193MAY	331,037	23,646JUN	455,312	32,522JUL	254,503	25,450AUG	325,650	20,353SEP	457,425	35,187

Average weekend attendance (32,870) was 65.7% higher than weekdays (19,842)

DAY	TOTAL	AVGMON	133,454	19,065TUES	262,223	23,838WED	227,283	22,728THU	230,225	25,581FRI	414,076	34,506SAT	468,552	42,596SUN	366,427	33,312

The 3 Yankees weekend games averaged 42,425, and for the Red Sox it was 40,362.

OPP	TOTAL	AVG	WKND	WKDY	WSN	133,983	44,661	3	0	3PHI	132,337	44,112	3	0	3DET	109,220	36,407	3	0	3NYY	287,175	31,908	3	6	9MIN	93,043	31,014	3	0	3BOS	264,411	29,379	3	6	9TOR	173,767	28,961	2	7	9TBR	222,592	27,824	3	6	9KCR	189,481	27,069	6	1	7OAK	147,135	24,523	6	0	6CLE	94,479	23,620	3	1	4PIT	68,851	22,950	0	3	3LAA	42,351	21,176	0	2	2SEA	53,929	17,976	0	3	3TEX	42,451	14,150	0	4	4CHW	47,035	11,759	0	4	4

Fifteen games over 40,000, six of them in September.

FRI	6-Apr	MIN 	46,773SAT	9-Jun	PHI 	46,611SAT	29-Sep	BOS 	46,311SAT	23-Jun	WSN 	46,298THU	6-Sep	NYY 	46,298SAT	8-Sep	NYY 	46,067FRI	22-Jun	WSN 	45,891SUN	10-Jun	PHI 	45,267SAT	14-Jul	DET 	43,215SUN	24-Jun	WSN 	41,794SUN	30-Sep	BOS 	41,257FRI	7-Sep	NYY 	40,861FRI	8-Jun	PHI 	40,459SAT	11-Aug	KCR 	40,456SUN	9-Sep	NYY 	40,346

Why is payroll more important than winning? This team could enter October tied for the best record in the AL and you need to see an additional $20 million in payroll to buy tickets? I guess I don't follow your logic.

Seriously. If this season didn't warrant getting a ticket plan for next year, I don't know why spending some random amount on payroll would convince you. Look around baseball. Red Sox? Dodgers?

I can understand how after 14 years there is still an adjustment to winning. While the focus belongs on enjoying the moment, in the back of the minds there's still the question if this isn't a one season wonder. The Orioles have made several promises about additional payroll with MASN money, or increased attendance. As I've said before, the fans did their part in a big way, the front office needs to do their part, and FINALLY spend the money necessary to keep this going

[bobmc]

Final numbers, attendance up 20.4% over 2011

September had the highest per game average of any month. Simple message we've all know for years, build a winner, and people will come to the games. It also helps a lot to discount seats to get people in the ballpark.

MONTH	TOTAL	AVGAPR	278,313	23,193MAY	331,037	23,646JUN	455,312	32,522JUL	254,503	25,450AUG	325,650	20,353SEP	457,425	35,187

Average weekend attendance (32,870) was 65.7% higher than weekdays (19,842)

DAY	TOTAL	AVGMON	133,454	19,065TUES	262,223	23,838WED	227,283	22,728THU	230,225	25,581FRI	414,076	34,506SAT	468,552	42,596SUN	366,427	33,312

The 3 Yankees weekend games averaged 42,425, and for the Red Sox it was 40,362.

OPP	TOTAL	AVG	WKND	WKDY	WSN	133,983	44,661	3	0	3PHI	132,337	44,112	3	0	3DET	109,220	36,407	3	0	3NYY	287,175	31,908	3	6	9MIN	93,043	31,014	3	0	3BOS	264,411	29,379	3	6	9TOR	173,767	28,961	2	7	9TBR	222,592	27,824	3	6	9KCR	189,481	27,069	6	1	7OAK	147,135	24,523	6	0	6CLE	94,479	23,620	3	1	4PIT	68,851	22,950	0	3	3LAA	42,351	21,176	0	2	2SEA	53,929	17,976	0	3	3TEX	42,451	14,150	0	4	4CHW	47,035	11,759	0	4	4

I can understand how after 14 years there is still an adjustment to winning. While the focus belongs on enjoying the moment, in the back of the minds there's still the question if this isn't a one season wonder.

...and most importantly hardly any Yank or Sawx fans - win and we take back the yard!

[Frobby]

I can understand how after 14 years there is still an adjustment to winning. While the focus belongs on enjoying the moment, in the back of the minds there's still the question if this isn't a one season wonder. The Orioles have made several promises about additional payroll with MASN money, or increased attendance. As I've said before, the fans did their part in a big way, the front office needs to do their part, and FINALLY spend the money necessary to keep this going

I haven't analyzed it, but the Orioles will spend significantly more money on several players they already have, like Markakis, Jones, Wieters, Johnson, Hammel and others. I don't care too much exactly what they spend, so long as the moves make sense. I don't want to see spending on players who won't earn anything close to their deals, or who make no strategic sense.

[Frobby]

I can understand how after 14 years there is still an adjustment to winning. While the focus belongs on enjoying the moment, in the back of the minds there's still the question if this isn't a one season wonder. The Orioles have made several promises about additional payroll with MASN money, or increased attendance. As I've said before, the fans did their part in a big way, the front office needs to do their part, and FINALLY spend the money necessary to keep this going

I haven't analyzed it, but the Orioles will spend significantly more money on several players they already have, like Markakis, Jones, Wieters, Johnson, Hammel and others. I don't care too much exactly what they spend, so long as the moves make sense. I don't want to see spending on players who won't earn anything close to their deals, or who make no strategic sense.