Future of Orioles Hangout

[Tony-OH]

2019 has seen a steep drop in our revenue for the site, particularly our ad revenue and membership requests. While I realize ad blockers can make some experiences better on the internet, we strive to not add intrusive advertising like pop up ads or videos that cover our content. 

Unfortunately we are seeing a rise in people using  this site that use pop up blockers which in turn means you are using this site for free. Unfortunately it's not free to bring you this site since we have to spend money on servers, licenses and trying to give folks like Michael, Luke and Shane some money for their time and effort.

So what does this mean? I've been producing this site since 1996 and that makes us the longest running site to cover a professional team. It's been a great run. At some point though you have to determine whether the juice is worth the squeeze. 

The internet has changed immeasurably since I started up this site and the amount of information available for free has made a lot of what we've provided over the year redundant. About the only thing we provide at the point is this message board, where you can talk about the Orioles and other things in an adult manner that's different from the wild wild west of social media, and the scouting reports that Luke and I provide. While many sites have popped up and some have gone away, I have to ask myself do I have the energy and desire to keep up?

I've personally covered the Orioles for the last 24 seasons (minus one year in Afghanistan where I had to do it from afar through boxscores) and I've enjoyed the vast amount of the experience, but as I'm coming up on my 50th birthday next year, it's time for me to seriously re-evaluate the future of the Hangout. While I still love scouting and evaluating prospects, along with talking about them on the radio, I have to seriously consider whether I have a 25th season in me.

This is not a fund drive effort nor have I made a final decision one way or the other, but I wanted to keep those of you that have been part of the Hangout for so long in the loop. It's hard to believe that I started this site when I was 26 years old and now have two children older than that. As John Coffey once said, "I'm tired boss!" 

I always thought I would be able to parlay my experiences into professional baseball when the time was right, but by the time was right, baseball has changed and old guys like me aren't valued or wanted. Sure, I've been an associate scout for a couple of AL teams and had an offer once to join a National League team, but now they have young guys with a lot more time and energy ready to step in and do these kinds of positions and they rather surround themselves with their buddies. No one cares about some retired military guy no matter how many hours I've spent doing what they do or how much I've kept up on analytics and new technologies. 

As we finish up our Top 30 prospects for 2019 and start looking at 2020, I want to make sure I'm able and have the desire to do this for another year. Maybe I'll take some time off or maybe I can find someone willing to take over the reigns and continue, but I also have to consider whether it makes sense to shut down completely and allow the Hangout to fade into history.

Whatever I decides over the next few months, I'll still be around and putting in my two cents. I'm sure Luke and weams will be here as well. Regardless of how this ends up, I do want to thank you all for all of the support over the years. 

Whether the Hangout in this form is done after this year or sticks around for many more, I'll always be eternally grateful for what this site brought to me because of all of you!

 

[eddie83]

Selfishly I hope this place never goes away. I really appreciate all the work you have done over the years. Very rarely there is a day I don’t log on. The message board is  full of intelligent fans and people who love the Orioles. Plus the board is ran in a professional manner with no garbage you see all over the Internet. 

I know as you said this isn’t a fund drive but I am certainly willing to pay more. Thanks for everything.  

[Dipper9]

Wow.  It's so hard to respond to this.  I could talk about all my years on here and the friends I've made, or how the Hangout has been with me through many, MANY events over my lifetime.  I could get deep into how the Hangout and the Message Board kept me going through good times and bad, or about how hard you and your team have worked to keep this thing going.  I could even say I'm sorry, as over the past few years I haven't been able to come on here as often as I'd like, or "paid my dues" for using the Boards.  I could talk about how great its been to get to know you a little bit and call you my friend, or even about how grateful I am to you and ALL the Veterans of our military for your sacrifices so that fat bums like me can live a free life.  I could even talk about our President! 

I could say many, many things.  But I think I'll just say this...whatever you decide, I want to THANK YOU for all the years you've given to us, and for allowing me to know that whatever is going on in my life, I always had the Hangout to support me or take my mind off my own troubles.

Thanks Tony, and I support whatever you decide to do!

[Aglets]

Wow, thanks Tony for writing this up and opening up the window a bit.  I know I don't really rank very high in terms of seniority on this site, but it seems kinda crazy that I joined about 11 years ago when I was fresh out of college, just starting my 'real job,' and I hadn't yet met my wife (married in 2012, now we have two amazing kids). 

I've gotten an incredible amount of joy and value from this site, from the "Dark Ages" up until 2012, and then the entire Buck/Duquette era, and now the Elias rebuild era.  The Orioles have been an enormous part of my life ever since I was a little boy going to games with my parents and watching Cal Ripken break records, and the Hangout has helped me to take that fandom to another level, learning bits and pieces of how things work behind the scenes, how things are going in the minor leagues, etc.  Also it's been fun just hanging out with a big group of guys who all share the same passion.

Whatever you decide, Tony, just wanted you to know that we all are so thankful for this thing that you have created and the online relationships that have formed as a result of it.  Selfishly I'm sure we all hope it stays around at least until Baltimore brings home another World Series trophy or two, but you have certainly earned the right to do whatever is best for you and your family and your future.

Thanks for everything sir, you should be extraordinarily proud of what you've built here.

[Dipper9]

Just to lighten the mood a little...

Tony, does this have anything to do with me leaving the Andino game early?  Asking for a friend.  

[Philip]

Tony, I am one of many people who would be happy to pay in order to keep you around. I read the team guys when nothing else is available, But they are limited by their job circumstances, and they can’t get very in depth nor discuss controversial issues, and frankly I don’t think they analyze very well.

Ill be happy to join. We lost Camden depot a few months ago, and that was a tremendous disappointment. I hope you can stay at least until I die...20 years or so...

[Enjoy Terror]

I've been sinking money into this site for my membership to supplement the ad-free experience. My presumption was that posts about money and ad revenues aren't directed at me; I have had my wallet open for eleven years. I thought that was standard procedure across the internet. Is that not the case? Obviously I can still see ads.

Bottom line: I'm not interested in ads. I pay people to not show them to me. 

Maybe the parameters for what a free membership get you need to change. Maybe the money spent by members needs to be budgeted to different things, fewer things. But ultimately if it's an energy thing, then I can't help that.

Thanks for keeping the site alive all this time. I've appreciated it.

[7Mo]

The site has been going strong for 26 years.

I've been here for 3 months. Not sure this is a good sign.........

[doctorbj]

Well I almost never write but have been a member almost forever  (2003).

I'm now 76 and am a little more worried whether I will see another World Series in my lifetime LOL.

However, in my opinion you need to do a couple of things:

1. Raise the rates somewhat- $2 a month is too low for what we get.

2. Remove the limited membership and not allow them to post, just to read.

3. I would consider a contribution to keep it going.

 

Barry-Doctor BJ

[wildcard]

Tony,   I want to thank you for all you have done to make Orioles baseball  more  enjoyable  for many, many years.  The way you have run the Hangout and the expertise you bring to it is excellent.    If this site was not here or diminished it would be missed.  You would be missed.

I understand about being tired.   I think most of us older folks have experienced that feeling even with projects that we have enjoyed, as time goes by.    Whatever you decide to do has be the best you and your family.

If the cause for the change you are thinking about is money I would hope you could share more about what stress you are under so those of us on the Hangout can weigh what can be done to help you. 

Thanks again Tony.   You have created something special here that I hope  does not end.

wildcard

[LookinUp]

This week is the wrong week for me to post (barely online), and this part of my life just won't let me make major commitments (my future is already in flux), but if there's any way I can help, I'd like to figure it out.

[Frobby]

Thanks for the heads up, Tony.   Needless to say, I and many others would be devastated to lose the Hangout.    If there is any form of support you feel you need (not necessarily just financial) to make this worth the time and effort you put into this, please let us know how we can help.    In the end, I know you have to do what’s right for you and your family.   God bless you for giving us Oriole fans such a great internet home for 25 years (“only” 16 for me).     

[Sessh]

I've thought about it off and on. I do seem to remember a thread a year or two ago where revenue concerns and ad blockers came up here and there were several suggestions made for alternative payment methods to be incorporated such as affiliate links, a patreon account for the site, tip jars and so on. I would get the most use from an Amazon affiliate link which would send commission your way every month maybe even multiple times a month. It's also a great way for lurkers to support the site without even signing up for an account. It was disappointing to see that not a single one of those suggestions was implemented here and now, here we are again. The site needs to move into this age as far as using more of the available options to generate revenue and the fact that no apparent effort has been made towards this end is... well, disappointing.

I seem to recall allowing ads here to adversely affect the performance of the site in my browser which I did multiple times. Maybe I'll try again, but I do not trust online advertisers and there's every reason not to.

I do hope that whatever happens, the site stays around even if the reigns are passed on. My interest in baseball has been waning a little more each year which is probably a main reason I don't commit to a membership. Manfred seems intent on killing my interest entirely. Aside from that, I also like the perks of not having one such as not knowing who gives thumbs up/down to my posts. I'd rather NOT know to be honest!

I also understand feeling worn out, though. Nothing can be done about that except doing what you need to do. Passing the reigns on to someone else is hopefully a possibility here. Whatever the case, Tony, do what you have to do for you.

[Philip]

9 minutes ago, LookinUp said:

 

This week is the wrong week for me to post 

 

Yeah, but how’s the glue sniffing?

[dabirds]

I dont post much, but have been enjoying your site for a very long time, back to big bird, sports guy, etc.  Appreciate all your efforts and understand it may take a toll.

If you do decide to continue I would be willing to start paying.  This is a great community and I love the insights you and Luke give along with some very knowledgable posters.

If you decide not to continue, hold your head high because you brought alot of joy to alot of people to have a place to discuss their favorite team in a respectful manner.

 

THANKS TONY!