What's up with Attendance?

[El Gordo]

Not sure of the exact Baltimore numbers but the nationwide violent crime rate was something like double what it is today.

But the national insecurity quotient is double today. The MSM is constantly feeding us with images of allsorts of terror.

[weams]

[Slappy]

We are averaging about 27k, down from about 30k last year. Take out the 0 fans game and we're right on pace. Think the OP is extracting a trend from one game.

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[weams]

We are averaging about 27k, down from about 30k last year. Take out the 0 fans game and we're right on pace. Think the OP is extracting a trend from one game.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[sportsfan8703]

Seriously? I went to a game with my wife and two kids on Memorial Day and honestly forgot the riots were even a thing until someone brought it up days later. Of course we do live in a society where we're taught to fear everything, that danger lurks behind every fencepost and fire hydrant, so I suppose it's not surprising.

You probably don't watch a lot of CNN. People know the deal with Baltimore. Unless you're in the bad parts or in a gang, you're more likely to be harmed by a drunk driver. I've noticed that most of the lots right near the stadium are keeping a yellow shirted security person there for the entire game.

If you're really worried at all about anything happening. Park in parking deck somewhere(Casino) and call an Uber. You can't get safer than that.

Another thing, the same people that aren't going to the games now because it's not safe, will be getting hammered at 9am tailgates come football season.

[MemorialStadKid]

Fear is everything.

I have colleagues in D.C. who grew up hardcore Orioles fans who haven't yet jumped to the Nats bandwagon and they are terrified to go into Baltimore. They were reluctant before the unfortunate situations, but now they feel like they need to wear body armor and carry RPGs in their backpacks.

My parents happen to live about three blocks from the destroyed CVS and even they mentioned that things are remarkably calm despite the rash of recent violence.

Also (going back to a previous discussion), the Orioles PR still has trouble connecting with the casual fans in the area. A lot of people don't believe MLB is "for them" and won't think twice about attending a game.

I also feel that summer hasn't really started for a lot of vacationers and kids are still in school until the end of June in the Baltimore area right(?).

Even the SoCal stadiums haven't reported high attendance lately with the exception of certain Dodgers series.

It's still not "baseball" time for some folks.

MSK

[sportsfan8703]

But the national insecurity quotient is double today. The MSM is constantly feeding us with images of allsorts of terror.

The metal detectors disgust me. There is no sanitation process. They want you to put all your belongings into a dirty bin. Meanwhile you put your phone in there and then touch it to your face. I'm no clean freak. I've worked construction. But getting sick from that bacteria is your biggest threat. It's gross.

[HokieOs]

I honestly wonder if we're seeing the after effects of the riots.

I can somewhat vouch for this and say that there's at least SOME reality to it. Living in Virginia Beach, me and my wife took a trip north to see friends and family. Part of the plan on the way back was to catch an Orioles game. But after everything that has happened I had a VERY hard time convincing my wife that it was safe. She didn't want to "risk" it.

Ultimately, it worked out and I convinced her to go (we saw Hardy's walk off in the bottom of the 9th against the Rays). But for a while, I thought we might end up skipping the Baltimore leg of the trip.

[Guest rochester]

I can't figure out how to upload an image from my hard drive but I put together a quick chart that showed no significant difference between 2014 and 2015 nor between pre and post riot.

I really hope this doesn't come out as political as that is the last thing I am trying to do...

Personally, I have not seen much in the news about Baltimore for a bit but to blame the media only is disingenuous. I can't think of anyone that isn't upset when the actions of the police are unjustified, however, Baltimore would be wise to look inside instead of blaming others. I have to say, from an outsiders perspective, I have not seen the level of "victimization" that I see in the city and surrounding communities, look at the MLB/MASN issue.

Having a mayor that says

?We also gave those who wish to destroy space to do that as well.?

does not help the reputation of the city. Some may not be coming because of a personal decision to not spend money in a city that has representation as this ? sort of like a protest that doesn't vandalize.

Regarding the media - are there stories about the people that can no longer get their prescriptions, etc. locally because the CVS stores were burned? Are the rioters helping these people by starting a delivery service? Helping rebuild their damaged properties and lives?

My opinion? the Mayor should be innovative and do the right thing by very publicly denounce the rioters and bring together the community by asking people to come help the people who have been hurt... the residents. I bet you would see thousands flood in from around the country to help, which is what Americans do. Isolate the people who wish to destroy and the folks that make money from turmoil....

edit PS: This issue is not about the O's on a macro level.

[Going Underground]

To me, the safety and security thing is all about being properly informed. If you are ignorant of the location, frequency and severity of the crime happening in Bmore, you're going to just assume that the whole place is practically ablaze, and be terrified of the unknown. If, however, you take some time to read reports from local media, the ones that go into a little more detail than "high crime rates in Baltimore", you'll find that most of it happens: (1) at night, (2) away from OPACY (not even in the same neighborhood usually), and (3) not between random strangers, but people who know each other -- gang members, relatives, competitors.

Those who write it off out of ignorance are doing themselves and the Orioles a disservice. Baltimore isn't one unitary place with a binary violent/non-violent switch, where either all of Baltimore is violent or things are fine. There are lots of nuances to it. Information is available in greater quantity, accuracy and timeliness these days than it has ever been. Fans just need to go access that information, usually for free.

I'll be there this weekend, and I'm not going to behave any differently than I did before the riots.

But these are casual fans and it is not that important to go to the game. We are not talking about the passionate fans. They think it is unsafe and they will find something else to do. It is not the end all and be all of some people.Many other things to do besides watch a baseball game.

[weams]

The metal detectors disgust me. There is no sanitation process. They want you to put all your belongings into a dirty bin. Meanwhile you put your phone in there and then touch it to your face. I'm no clean freak. I've worked construction. But getting sick from that bacteria is your biggest threat. It's gross.

Talk to MLB about that. It's their processes. At the request of Homeland Security.

[Guest rochester]

We are averaging about 27k, down from about 30k last year. Take out the 0 fans game and we're right on pace. Think the OP is extracting a trend from one game.

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It is actually closer if you take out any rain outs or the "No Fans" games.

2014 - 30495 (30 games)

2015 - 29492 (29 games)

Approx. 3% difference

[Going Underground]

More Yankee fans also come down for the Saturday game. They get off work and make it down for the weekend.

[El Gordo]

I can't figure out how to upload an image from my hard drive but I put together a quick chart that showed no significant difference between 2014 and 2015 nor between pre and post riot.

I really hope this doesn't come out as political as that is the last thing I am trying to do...

Personally, I have not seen much in the news about Baltimore for a bit but to blame the media only is disingenuous. I can't think of anyone that isn't upset when the actions of the police are unjustified, however, Baltimore would be wise to look inside instead of blaming others. I have to say, from an outsiders perspective, I have not seen the level of "victimization" that I see in the city and surrounding communities, look at the MLB/MASN issue.

Having a mayor that says does not help the reputation of the city. Some may not be coming because of a personal decision to not spend money in a city that has representation as this ? sort of like a protest that doesn't vandalize.

Regarding the media - are there stories about the people that can no longer get their prescriptions, etc. locally because the CVS stores were burned? Are the rioters helping these people by starting a delivery service? Helping rebuild their damaged properties and lives?

My opinion? the Mayor should be innovative and do the right thing by very publicly denounce the rioters and bring together the community by asking people to come help the people who have been hurt... the residents. I bet you would see thousands flood in from around the country to help, which is what Americans do. Isolate the people who wish to destroy and the folks that make money from turmoil....

edit PS: This issue is not about the O's on a macro level.

Yeah this is political. You should have stopped here. It makes the rest of what you said moot and no one can address it anyway without violating the rules.

[Tx Oriole]

That's pretty crazy. I've been to a slew of games this year and literally haven't given it a second thought. Although anytime you leave your house and go into a city there is some risk involved, this isn't Baghdad. Tell your friends to go to games and enjoy life.

That's right. That's being afraid to live. Folks don't think anything about getting

out to the store. I believe ball parks are pretty safe.