MrRant 0 Report post Posted January 19, 2004 But baseball draws alot more fans a season than basketball, football, or hockey. It draws more than football because it plays, what, 11 times as many games? On a per game basis, football DWARFS baseball's drawing prowess. The strike KILLED the Expos. They were the best team in the majors and had a darned good chance of winning the whole thing. They never recovered from their best shot at winning it all being taken away from them. That being said, Canadian teams have a hard time competing --- and always will. The currency issue is a big one. Does the NBA give Toronto a waiver over salary cap restrictions --- or is the cap listed as being in US dollars? $3M Canadian ain't the same as $3M US. -=Mike They pay the players in American currency. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Richard 0 Report post Posted January 19, 2004 How about the Virginia Wolves? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted January 19, 2004 No state names anymore. How about Hampton Roads Squires? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MikeSC Report post Posted January 20, 2004 It draws more than football because it plays, what, 11 times as many games? On a per game basis, football DWARFS baseball's drawing prowess. But then, if baseball only offered 8 home games a season, they'd likely sell out every game. I actually doubt that. Baseball just has a MUCH harder time drawing an audience than football does. Young people favor football considerably more than baseball. Baseball is a very difficult sell nowadays. I'm not saying it's impossible --- heck, the NBA still has fans, in spite of being nigh unwatchable for years now --- but it is brutally unlikely. I honestly think that the MLBPA is one of the biggest problems baseball has right now. -=Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted January 20, 2004 How so? Because the owners keep trying to take more money, and the players' union has some balls? Besides, considering how most teams draw in the 2,000,000 range, is it a stretch to think they couldn't sell out 400,000 tickets? I don't think so. People CARE about baseball. And it runs deeper than football. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MikeSC Report post Posted January 20, 2004 How so? Because the owners keep trying to take more money, and the players' union has some balls? The union doesn't care about the health of the industry. They are every inch as bad as the owners. Heck, the A-Rod to Boston deal would have done a lot to boost interest in the sport --- but rather than give a one-time waiver, they effectively kill the deal. There comes a point where the SPORT'S health is more important than AN INDIVIDUAL player. Besides, considering how most teams draw in the 2,000,000 range, is it a stretch to think they couldn't sell out 400,000 tickets? I don't think so. People CARE about baseball. And it runs deeper than football. I've never noticed baseball fans tailgating hours before a game. Most teams draw around 2M? Not quite. Not even close. People's love of baseball is CLEARLY more shallow than their love of football. After all, the World Series SELDOM can beat MNF when they're head-to-head. WS games seldom get ratings that beat the average rating for an NFL game. -=Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted January 20, 2004 Most teams draw around 2M? Not quite. Not even close. 12 out of 16 NL teams last year drew over 2 million fans. Check out the numbers for yourself. People's love of baseball is CLEARLY more shallow than their love of football. After all, the World Series SELDOM can beat MNF when they're head-to-head. WS games seldom get ratings that beat the average rating for an NFL game. You're comparing the NFL in a boom period to MLB in a down period. MLB is on the way up again. Besides, if you had two programs of equal quality, promoted one the way ABC promotes MNF, and promoted the other the way fox promotes the Series, which would draw better? If baseball has a problem, its the fox network. Football is a once a week sprint, for five months a year. Baseball last 7 months a year, playing almost every day. Along with 6 minor leagues. Baseball MAINTAINS interest. The union doesn't care about the health of the industry. They are every inch as bad as the owners. Heck, the A-Rod to Boston deal would have done a lot to boost interest in the sport --- but rather than give a one-time waiver, they effectively kill the deal. There comes a point where the SPORT'S health is more important than AN INDIVIDUAL player. I think when a player voluntarily forfeits nearly $40 Million in salary, it sends the wrong message, and puts players at a disadvantage in the future. Besides, if that kind of leap is needed to make a trade work, then it really doesn't benefit anyone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bored 0 Report post Posted January 20, 2004 Most teams draw around 2M? Not quite. Not even close. 12 out of 16 NL teams last year drew over 2 million fans. Check out the numbers for yourself. And 19 out of 30 overall and the Twins and White Sox were just under two million so that means that more than two-thirds of baseball drew around 2 million or better last year. See MikeSC is the sports fan who actually believes Bud Selig when he tells everyone what horrible shape baseball is in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sfaJack 0 Report post Posted January 20, 2004 The union doesn't care about the health of the industry. They are every inch as bad as the owners. Correct. I've never noticed baseball fans tailgating hours before a game. So? What point does that make? Most teams draw around 2M? Not quite. Not even close. Mike, I respect your opinions in CE, but you proabably should stick to that folder until you know a little more of what you're talking about. Only 11 teams drew less than 2,000,000 million fans in 2003. Football fans may be more "rabid" (i.e. drunk), but I guarantee they wouldn't average 60,000 a game if they played 81 games a year either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanadianChris 0 Report post Posted January 20, 2004 I've never noticed baseball fans tailgating hours before a game. That's because of the schedule. The NFL has one game a week for four months. MLB has six games a week for six months. Apples and oranges. Most teams draw around 2M? Not quite. Not even close. 25 teams of 30 drew 1.7 million or more last year, 21 drew 1.9 million or better. People's love of baseball is CLEARLY more shallow than their love of football. After all, the World Series SELDOM can beat MNF when they're head-to-head. WS games seldom get ratings that beat the average rating for an NFL game. The World Series hasn't gone head to head with MNF since I can remember, since the Monday of World Series week is always a travel day. And, of course, there's the small fact that the World Series' average rating outdrew MNF's average this year. Hell, Game 5 (I think it was 5) of this year's ALCS outdrew MNF when they actually did go head to head. Never let the facts get in the way of a good story, eh? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
