Will the fans show?

[DrungoHazewood]

I'm not sure what the MLB's formalized policy on tarp-ing is, but it might be time to consider doing that. Granted, as I was saying, I think that there may be a rule that if you tarp some seats off, it has to be for the whole year (not sure why, it sounds like a dumb rule). If we had 46K seats now, why not just tarp over the worst 10K bloodnose seats, and bring everyone a little closer to the 36K best seats for Mon-Thu games, and take them off for Opening Day, Fri-Sun, holidays, and the play-offs? All of the newer generation markets are well short of 40K seats. Us having 46K is completely overkill.

Another idea is to embrace but structure and technologically integrate the age old idea of moving down to the good seats from the nosebleeds. Maybe let the fan download an app where they could upgrade their seats if they?re not bought after2-3 innings, or the seatholders don?t show after 5-6 innings . They could pay the difference in price, but apply that credit to their next purchase of tickets (less a small $3-4 fee).

In general, more technology integration would be welcome.

You could pull a Dan Snyder and just start removing seats in the world's most transparent attempt to keep a fake sellout streak going. Although I'd argue that's just the start of the inevitable demolition of the worst sports facility I've seen in modern times. OPACY should be treated with a bit more respect.

[eddie83]

If the Rays averaged 28,802 and the Sox 23,973 then they would generate the same ticket revenues if Sox tickets cost 20% more. What were the prices someone quoted? If a Sox ticket cost $70 and the Rays $53 that would be equivalent. Or $50/42. Or $40/33.

The Rays had 1 value, 5 classic, 2 select and 2 prime.

Sox have had so far 8 select and 1 prime. That prime game had 43,926 on Memorial Day and it was a giveaway as well.

Value/Classic/Select/Prime/Elite are pricing tiers.

[eddie83]

Field box is $46/51/62/73/87 as tiers go up.

The percentage looks like it varies by section.

[eddie83]

Field box is $46/51/62/73/87 as tiers go up.

The percentage looks like it varies by section.

Also all Rays game were Friday-Sunday except one Thursday. Boston had zero weekend dates here. Yankees had 2 weekend dates, Toronto one.

[DrungoHazewood]

Also all Rays game were Friday-Sunday except one Thursday. Boston had zero weekend dates here. Yankees had 2 weekend dates, Toronto one.

Someone needs to do a multi-variable analysis to determine the impacts of day of week, opponent, price, time of year, etc on attendance. I'd assume the team has done this many times.

[Shabadoo25]

I saw on another site someone stating that Orioles attendance is based on families coming out. When school is in during the week, they don't.

I also started a thread in the offseason about building a new stadium out in the burbs to help attendance. I was largely excoriated for even floating the idea.

[eddie83]

I saw on another site someone stating that Orioles attendance is based on families coming out. When school is in during the week, they don't.

I also started a thread in the offseason about building a new stadium out in the burbs to help attendance. I was largely excoriated for even floating the idea.

Braves are doing that. It isn't a crazy idea at all way,way, way down the road.

[schittenden]

Orioles tickets for Saturday are more expensive then Yankee Stadium for next weekend Orioles games. For bleachers,Camden Yards=$29.00. Yankee Stadium =$17.00 to $22.00.

Upper deck down left and right field line. Camden yards= $27.00 Yankee stadium + $21.00 and $22.00. i know it i higher and further away. Also that the box seats are more.

The Yankees also have the benefit of not just a much larger market, but one chock full of highly paid lawyers and bankers. Baltimore, not so much.

[schittenden]

Probably they were being obnoxious and someone complained about them. If they ask you to move and you don't have tickets in the area just move. Why would you wait around for cops to show up?

Maybe, but I didn't get that sense from him at all. I only caught part of it, but it sounded like he was with some kids. He just tried to point out that there really wasn't any harm since the seats were empty anyway. He also acknowledged that he was wrong for moving into better seats. Even if they were obnoxious (doubtful they were more so than all the Sox fans there), it wouldn't explain the other people who were noting the same experience in calls, texts, and tweets to the show. It especially doesn't explain the guy who called in about how he and his wife had moved once and had the usher shake them down for tip money to stay in the new seats (which don't sound like they were even an upgrade over where his actual seats were, it was just that his wife couldn't see over the tall person in front of her).

[schittenden]

If the Rays averaged 28,802 and the Sox 23,973 then they would generate the same ticket revenues if Sox tickets cost 20% more. What were the prices someone quoted? If a Sox ticket cost $70 and the Rays $53 that would be equivalent. Or $50/42. Or $40/33.

It's almost like there's some relationship between price and demand. Hmmm... if only there were an economist handy.

[DrungoHazewood]

I also started a thread in the offseason about building a new stadium out in the burbs to help attendance. I was largely excoriated for even floating the idea.

Because it's a ridiculous idea. OPACY is a draw by itself. Building in the suburbs is a discredited idea from the 70s and 80s. There's usually limited or no mass transit, you're away from the highest population density areas, it's often surrounded by acres of parking and no other draws like local bars or the Inner Harbor. Where would you rather see a game, FedEx or OPACY? I was going to ask "spend the day" but that's silly because no one in their right mind spends any more time at FedEx than they have to, except maybe pounding your own beer in the endless parking lots instead of paying $10-12 each inside.

And if you're going to abandon downtown Baltimore and a beautiful, modern stadium why even stay in the area? Why not go to a booming place like Austin or Portland and build a 28k seat downtown stadium where you can charge $80 a ticket?

[Upper Deck John]

I'm not sure what the MLB's formalized policy on tarp-ing is, but it might be time to consider doing that. Granted, as I was saying, I think that there may be a rule that if you tarp some seats off, it has to be for the whole year (not sure why, it sounds like a dumb rule). If we had 46K seats now, why not just tarp over the worst 10K bloodnose seats, and bring everyone a little closer to the 36K best seats for Mon-Thu games, and take them off for Opening Day, Fri-Sun, holidays, and the play-offs? All of the newer generation markets are well short of 40K seats. Us having 46K is completely overkill.

Another idea is to embrace but structure and technologically integrate the age old idea of moving down to the good seats from the nosebleeds. Maybe let the fan download an app where they could upgrade their seats if they?re not bought after2-3 innings, or the seatholders don?t show after 5-6 innings . They could pay the difference in price, but apply that credit to their next purchase of tickets (less a small $3-4 fee).

In general, more technology integration would be welcome.

They already have this in the mlbballpark app. I've up graded to the club level for 6 to 18 a seat within 30 minutes of game time.

[DrungoHazewood]

The Yankees also have the benefit of not just a much larger market, but one chock full of highly paid lawyers and bankers. Baltimore, not so much.

We have Frobby!!

[weams]

Braves are doing that. It isn't a crazy idea at all way,way, way down the road.

Sure it is. Way too small a market.

[weams]

We have Frobby!!

It takes him longer to drive to a game than it regularly takes me.