Orioles Attendance Article

[eddie83]

Article from the Baltimore Business  Journal. 

One of the key points is that 30% of county residents decreased their frequency of visiting Baltimore. 

Also a sports marketer talks of importance of “formulating a clear plan and communicating it”, something in my mind it goes without question we have not seen.

https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2018/06/19/orioles-26-percent-attendance-drop-is-among.amp.html?__twitter_impression=true

[eddie83]

I know someone who refuses to go to the city. I give him grief about it but that is how some people think. They see all the negative stories and have this worry that something can happen to them. 

The Orioles have clearly hurt themselves but no question a portion of this was not their doing. Ravens attendance for a variety of reasons is down as well. The fans that go to these games are from the suburbs, not the city.  

[atomic]

"A spokeswoman for the Orioles declined to comment on recent attendance numbers. " 

 

Typical.  Do the Orioles ever respond to anything?  Maybe the lack of communications from ownership to the fans is one of the reasons attendance is down.  But you would think the lack of attendance would make the Orioles more proactive in trading higher paid players who other teams would want.  Trade off Britton, Jones, Machado, and Schoop and they would be taking less of hit money wise. 

The city needs to do something about their crime problem.  I don't really enjoy going downtown anymore.  People on here argue about it with me all the time but it just seems too dangerous for families.  Perhaps the city should let the state take over governing it.  

[Frobby]

2 minutes ago, atomic said:

"A spokeswoman for the Orioles declined to comment on recent attendance numbers. " 

 

Typical.  Do the Orioles ever respond to anything?  Maybe the lack of communications from ownership to the fans is one of the reasons attendance is down.  But you would think the lack of attendance would make the Orioles more proactive in trading higher paid players who other teams would want.  Trade off Britton, Jones, Machado, and Schoop and they would be taking less of hit money wise. 

The city needs to do something about their crime problem.  I don't really enjoy going downtown anymore.  People on here argue about it with me all the time but it just seems too dangerous for families.  Perhaps the city should let the state take over governing it.  

What would you like the Orioles to say about their declining attendance?   “It’s because we suck and Baltimore is dangerous?”  There’s nothing useful they can say.   

As to whether it’s dangerous to go to Orioles games, I don’t think it is  dangerous at all, but that doesn’t matter.    What matters is that there’s a segment of the potential fanbase that thinks it’s dangerous. Nothing the Orioles say will change that.  

[forphase1]

Growing up I was one of the few Orioles fans in my area (close to Huntington, WV), and that was largely due to my Grandparents, who have a house in Baltimore on the bay, but not in the city (Chesapeake Ave, Baltimore 21220 if anyone wants to know the general area I'm referring to).  My Grandfather was a police officer for the city while my Grandmother was a nurse at John Hopkins.  When I was young and visiting we'd go into the city often for Orioles games (both at Memorial and later Camden Yards), and visit the inner harbor and various attractions.  But starting about 10-12 years ago when I'd visit, they tried keeping me and my children from visiting the city itself, including Oriole games, due to their fears of what they said the city was becoming.  Granted they were older and retired by then, and I attributed it to their age at first.  But many of their neighbors felt the same way and had quit going into the city when at all possible.  My Grandfather is passed now, but my Grandmother still lives there, and she refuses to go into the city under pretty much any circumstance.  I have no idea if her fears are rational or not, but there is no question that some who used to go into the city for games, shopping and events no longer feel safe doing so.  May be an irrational or media generated fear, but it's there, nevertheless.  

That being said, last time I was in Baltimore, 2 years ago this fall, we went to the aquarium, visited some of the harbor tourist stuff (ships, etc) and drove by Camden Yards.  Didn't have any bad experiences at all, though it seemed more....run down than I remembered.  Just my 2 cents.

[atomic]

8 minutes ago, Frobby said:

What would you like the Orioles to say about their declining attendance?   “It’s because we suck and Baltimore is dangerous?”  There’s nothing useful they can say.   

 As to whether it’s dangerous to go to Orioles games, I don’t think it is  dangerous at all, but that doesn’t matter.    What matters is that there’s a segment of the potential fanbase that thinks it’s dangerous. Nothing the Orioles say will change that.  

They can say just say the quality of the play on the field is unacceptable and they are working on fixing it.  And that they just fired Buck and Brady and things will change around here.  Free ice cream for everyone. 

[Mondo Trasho]

For a few years 2012-2015 I was a 13 game plan holder, making the trip up from Loudoun county Virginia. I ended up dropping it because with my schedule I just can't consistently make the trip up to Baltimore anymore. Back in May I had a work meeting at Montgomery Park so I went out to a game afterwards (rather than fight the traffic going back) for the first time since 2015. Figures I went to the Bundy first inning meltdown game.

Anyway, I'm sure most people aren't like me, but I do know that a lot of the holdouts I knew who stuck with the O's even after the Nationals moved in have finally switched over. I guess it was inevitable, but I think the losing and the traffic having gotten worse over time has swayed them.

[Jetranger]

I have been a season ticket holder for years....and an Oriole fan forever, so I have seen many many bad seasons. As far as attendance goes, honestly the organization does little for the fan. Sure they have "give away days", but compare how the Washington Capitals Organization treats their fans. The fans are charged for ALL special functions. FanFest......great idea, want an autograph from your favorite player......gotta pay for it!   Recently, I attended the game where the movie Sandlot was played after the game. Great movie!  lots of kids there. How difficult would it have been for 1 or 2 or 10 players to comeback out and mingle for a few minutes?   When was the last time anyone saw an Oriole step over to the rail and sign a few autographs? Say hello?   Attendance goes both ways......they want us there, they need to be there and not ignore the fan base. The quality of play is another long topic........some people are simply "fair weather fans"

[Jetranger]

Sorry...... as far as being safe at a game..........I have never had a problem inside or outside the ball park.

[atomic]

1 hour ago, Jetranger said:

I have been a season ticket holder for years....and an Oriole fan forever, so I have seen many many bad seasons. As far as attendance goes, honestly the organization does little for the fan. Sure they have "give away days", but compare how the Washington Capitals Organization treats their fans. The fans are charged for ALL special functions. FanFest......great idea, want an autograph from your favorite player......gotta pay for it!   Recently, I attended the game where the movie Sandlot was played after the game. Great movie!  lots of kids there. How difficult would it have been for 1 or 2 or 10 players to comeback out and mingle for a few minutes?   When was the last time anyone saw an Oriole step over to the rail and sign a few autographs? Say hello?   Attendance goes both ways......they want us there, they need to be there and not ignore the fan base. The quality of play is another long topic........some people are simply "fair weather fans"

Schoop, Davis, Britton and Machado didn't even attend fanfest.  I am sure that didn't help matters with attendance this year. 

[Going Underground]

4 hours ago, atomic said:

"A spokeswoman for the Orioles declined to comment on recent attendance numbers. " 

 

Typical.  Do the Orioles ever respond to anything?  Maybe the lack of communications from ownership to the fans is one of the reasons attendance is down.  But you would think the lack of attendance would make the Orioles more proactive in trading higher paid players who other teams would want.  Trade off Britton, Jones, Machado, and Schoop and they would be taking less of hit money wise. 

The city needs to do something about their crime problem.  I don't really enjoy going downtown anymore.  People on here argue about it with me all the time but it just seems too dangerous for families.  Perhaps the city should let the state take over governing it.  

I live in the city.As I have said before parts of the city are dying and parts are thriving Woodberry and Locust Point have seen great growth Port Covington will even be a bigger boom. The Union Collective near Wiodberry will be made up of local businesses thriving all in one building Near the Stadiums,a Sports Bar just opened. A brewery is opening next month Hammerjacks Concert Hsll in early 2019 and Harrah's possible building a hotel and comedy club and restaurants and another music venue.Top Flight Golf opening in two years.

[Going Underground]

4 hours ago, Frobby said:

What would you like the Orioles to say about their declining attendance?   “It’s because we suck and Baltimore is dangerous?”  There’s nothing useful they can say.   

As to whether it’s dangerous to go to Orioles games, I don’t think it is  dangerous at all, but that doesn’t matter.    What matters is that there’s a segment of the potential fanbase that thinks it’s dangerous. Nothing the Orioles say will change that.  

But they also have not responded to the Sun about why no streaming of Oriole games and no games not on regular tv.

[Frobby]

44 minutes ago, Going Underground said:

But they also have not responded to the Sun about why no streaming of Oriole games and no games not on regular tv.

Yeah, I’m not defending that.   

[atomic]

1 hour ago, Going Underground said:

I live in the city.As I have said before parts of the city are dying and parts are thriving Woodberry and Locust Point have seen great growth Port Covington will even be a bigger boom. The Union Collective near Wiodberry will be made up of local businesses thriving all in one building Near the Stadiums,a Sports Bar just opened. A brewery is opening next month Hammerjacks Concert Hsll in early 2019 and Harrah's possible building a hotel and comedy club and restaurants and another music venue.Top Flight Golf opening in two years.

I am not saying that Woodberry is not family friendly area.  I would say the Casino area is pretty dangerous.  Even if an area has businesses does not mean it is not dangerous. 

[spiritof66]

5 hours ago, atomic said:

"A spokeswoman for the Orioles declined to comment on recent attendance numbers. " 

Typical.  Do the Orioles ever respond to anything?  Maybe the lack of communications from ownership to the fans is one of the reasons attendance is down.   i

.  .  .

Maybe the softest job in sports: being a spokesperson for the Orioles. How long does it take to learn how not to return phone calls, texts and emails, and to say "No comment" if someone does track you down?

Other than the free admission for accompanied kids, the Orioles' promotions and treatment of fans in general seems to be without any flair or imagination. I don't know whether it's a matter of weak personnel, Angelos interference, frugality, or something else, but it would be easy to do a lot better. How much that would help attract fans to this team is way beyond my expertise. But it does seem like there's a common theme of business as usual -- retaining the veterans who contributed to the 2012-16 run, the lack of a coherent strategy to build a winning team, holding the line on streaming, relying on giveaway promotions, and most importantly not saying a damn thing to anyone about what the team is doing or even who is making those decisions -- that's just plain stupid management of the business when a team is this bad and its attendance is faltering.

Peter Angelos managed to hide from the Astros for a day when they were trying to get approval; for a Britton deal at the deadline. Can he and his sons hide out from us for an entire season? Maybe so. The Orioles' treatment of their customers resembles the proverbial "mushroom approach" to communicating with employees: keep them in the dark and every once in a while feed them some manure. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mushroom_management  It's arguably even worse than that since we very seldom get a dose of manure. Do the Angeloses think Oriole fans (both those they still have and those who've gotten off the bus, at least for now) are that easy to please, or do they just not care? 

By the way, does anyone know whether the kids who get in for free are counted as part of paid attendance? If they are, the Orioles' gates receipts are declining even faster than the official attendance figures would suggest.