Will the fans show?

[eddie83]

Has anybody been to a Rays game this year?

Not too many have!

More Orioles fans have seen the Rays this year than Boston and yet Red Sox ticket prices are higher.

[DrungoHazewood]

While I appreciate the throwback, I'm not sure I get the reference.

In the 1950s MLB was utterly terrified of TV. Why would anyone ever pay for a ticket when they could watch the game in stunning B&W on a 12" TV? Baseball was doomed. They didn't consider that TV made baseball fans by the millions, many of whom wanted that in-ballpark experience. And eventually would pay for cable RSNs. Now TV is almost (or maybe is) more important than ticket revenues. But what happens when teams make $billions in revenues from media and there are 13k fans in your 45k seat stadium for big games?

[Going Underground]

That whole deal will be changing in your lifetime as well. I wish I could tell you about the things I have seen. When real estate values no longer fund the forced education system, the system will be quite different. Log on. To your first period class my friends.

Washington DC has pushed many poorer people out of the city. People are afraid that Baltimore will do more of that. That is why Port Covington will have affordable housing. Harborpoint and other developments near the stadiums,like Hammerjacks,Paramount,Game which is suppossed to be an entertainment district.

[DrungoHazewood]

Does Baltimore's out of control crime rate have anything to do with declining ticket sales?

See: 200 posts ago. Good conversation about how suburban people won't go to OPACY near the inner Harbor because that's where The Wire and Homicide are going on right now.

[atomic]

In the 1950s MLB was utterly terrified of TV. Why would anyone ever pay for a ticket when they could watch the game in stunning B&W on a 12" TV? Baseball was doomed. They didn't consider that TV made baseball fans by the millions, many of whom wanted that in-ballpark experience. And eventually would pay for cable RSNs. Now TV is almost (or maybe is) more important than ticket revenues. But what happens when teams make $billions in revenues from media and there are 13k fans in your 45k seat stadium for big games?

I think baseball tv revenue has peaked. They get their money because all tv cable/satellite subscribers pay for the regional sports networks whether they ever watch a game or not. More and more people are cutting the cord and getting what they want alacart'e. When MASN costs 25 dollars a month I doubt many people will be willing to fork up that much money.

[schittenden]

Washington DC has pushed many poorer people out of the city. People are afraid that Baltimore will do more of that. That is why Port Covington will have affordable housing. Harborpoint and other developments near the stadiums,like Hammerjacks,Paramount,Game which is suppossed to be an entertainment district.

Clubs won't make me more likely to go to a game. I'm sure it would appeal to some. Good restaurants would do more for me.

[atomic]

Washington DC has pushed many poorer people out of the city. People are afraid that Baltimore will do more of that. That is why Port Covington will have affordable housing. Harborpoint and other developments near the stadiums,like Hammerjacks,Paramount,Game which is suppossed to be an entertainment district.

I see gentrification as a good thing.

[schittenden]

I think baseball tv revenue has peaked. They get their money because all tv cable/satellite subscribers pay for the regional sports networks whether they ever watch a game or not. More and more people are cutting the cord and getting what they want alacart'e. When MASN costs 25 dollars a month I doubt many people will be willing to fork up that much money.

People fork over money for streaming games now. I don't see why MASN couldn't sell subscriptions directly online to make up for declining cable revenues.

[schittenden]

That whole deal will be changing in your lifetime as well. I wish I could tell you about the things I have seen. When real estate values no longer fund the forced education system, the system will be quite different. Log on. To your first period class my friends.

Maybe so. You aren't that much older than me. My son still needs someplace to go though for his education even if it is being provided online.

[DrungoHazewood]

I think baseball tv revenue has peaked. They get their money because all tv cable/satellite subscribers pay for the regional sports networks whether they ever watch a game or not. More and more people are cutting the cord and getting what they want alacart'e. When MASN costs 25 dollars a month I doubt many people will be willing to fork up that much money.

I tend to agree. At least a local peak, who knows about 20-30 years out. I don't think the current model can be sustained, not when the O's make $millions from people who wouldn't pay for MASN if given a choice. Maybe most of that is made up for in internet content delivery.

[eddie83]

I agree.

Exactly. So why in the hell are people suprised when attendance is down during the week when the Orioles charge more for tickets than less? If the Red Sox are such a draw then why in the hell aren't more fans going?

This weekend will do better but they have Prime pricing on Saturday and Select Sunday. Yes there are giveaways and that does help.

[DrungoHazewood]

People fork over money for streaming games now. I don't see why MASN couldn't sell subscriptions directly online to make up for declining cable revenues.

But as much? A lot of MASN revenues are from packages or basic cable. You want Discovery and the Food Network (or whatever), you have to pay ol' Pete $3 a month.

[eddie83]

I tend to agree. At least a local peak, who knows about 20-30 years out. I don't think the current model can be sustained, not when the O's make $millions from people who wouldn't pay for MASN if given a choice. Maybe most of that is made up for in internet content delivery.

A big boost to sports is that they are DVR proof. Very few don't watch live, unlike scripted shows.

[Going Underground]

I see gentrification as a good thing.

East side of Baltimore waterfront is all going to change. Canton,Fells Point, Fort McHenry area. Big developments along the bay. Already have two Harris Teeter's. Whole Foods expanding.The three big developments will change the landscape forever.

[Bradysburns]

o

If Jones said this today, then his timing is bad, in my rat's ass of an opinion.

The Orioles had a chance to either gain ground or at least hold serve with head-on play against the Red Sox in the first 2 games of the series, and they lost both games.

I believe that as the team leader, it's Jones' job right now to be consoling and reassuring his teammates that they are still very much alive for a playoff berth first and foremost right now, and to be trying to help Showalter in any way he can to get them ready for the next game ........ not complaining about the apathy of Oriole fans.

I think Adam needs to shut up and play better, personally. Also, it would be nice if he withheld his strange racialist views on the sport of baseball.