2009 Attendance Jump?

by Randy Richardson on Mar 26, 2009 8:09 PM CDT Comment 48 comments

Those of you who live in Dallas might already be aware of the recent attendance records set by the Fort Worth Zoo and Six Flags during Spring Break. Seems that, in this economy, families are traveling less, but they don't necessarily hole up in their homes either. Could this be a sign of attendance growth for the 2009 season? Possibly so, although season tickets, suites, and the new premium seats will almost certainly see slow sales.

It would also help if the team played some meaningful summer games. As Adam has noted, the organization has probably had more than one internal discussion about the importance of not tanking to start the year as they have the past two seasons.

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This is interesting.

I have nothing to say about it, but thought I should say it’s interesting.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on Mar 26, 2009 8:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Mar 26, 2009 8:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

She was a grand old lady...

by lonestarJon on Mar 26, 2009 9:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It all depends on how the team does.

If we win it they will come.

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.

by iorange555 on Mar 26, 2009 8:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

right, I think it's more important

to not start badly. Another 6-18 type start and the casual fan and mainstream media will drop the Rangers off their radar.

"A good start would be not giving up 900 runs again." -Jon Daniels

by Randy Richardson on Mar 26, 2009 8:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

this is true

and the casual fan is the one not going to the games.

also, last summer gas prices were at $4 a gallon. Right now, it’s hovering around the two dollar mark. I think that will help bring people to the ballpark, me included. I would have gone to more games last summer, but now I’ll find my way to the ballpark more often. It’s economics.

I enjoy going to the games in Frisco, as well.

Enough Andruw Jones! This is getting ridiculous!

by NothinG on Mar 26, 2009 9:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Frisco

is such a great experience, it can’t help but take away from the big club. I probably average 15 Riders to 5 Rangers. Cheaper and closer, and not a bad seat in the house. I have no idea, but I’d guess they get 400-500 thousand/year.

"I saw your act, just didn't make it for me. Just a lot of fluff."

by scoop16 on Mar 26, 2009 9:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you win the prize

562,166 in 2008 or about 8031/gm

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year

by RangerMad on Mar 26, 2009 9:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How does that compare against other minor league ballparks?

Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.

by iorange555 on Mar 26, 2009 10:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Very well.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Mar 26, 2009 11:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd be surprised

if the Rangers attendance jumps, unless they break hard out of the gates.

A lot of ML attendance is based on season tickets, and I suspect its a tough year to move season tickets with our finish last year and our lackluster offseason. Then again, there is Andruw Jones to pack them in ….

"The idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy." - Adam J. Morris

by DJCahill on Mar 26, 2009 10:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Josh Hamilton

by tyd3311 on Mar 26, 2009 10:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've heard ..

Anna Benson packs them in too. … no pun :)

Josh Hamilton puts his pants on one leg at a time just like you but once he gets his pants on he hits baseballs 420 feet.

by BigGuns on Mar 26, 2009 10:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Read

This.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Mar 27, 2009 9:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Doesn't revenue of movie theatres jump up during bad economic times?

I think if the team plays well in the first few weeks, there may be a large jump in ticket sales – at least temporarily.

by Telegraph on Mar 27, 2009 12:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i run a movie theatre

and have noticed this trend.

by reagan on Mar 27, 2009 12:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Compared to baseball

movies are still cheap entertainment. You can get the best ticket in a theatre and parking for much less than the worst ticket in TBiA plus parking.

"The idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy." - Adam J. Morris

by DJCahill on Mar 27, 2009 2:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

While I understand and agree

Im not sure its completely fair to compare the 2 events

that said, i may not attend a single ranger game this year…primarily b/c im a poor student in Austin

i do figure ill make it to at least a couple games though

that said, to the OP…as others have stated…if the rangers are in contention…more fans will show up, it isnt complicated

by Horns130 on Mar 27, 2009 3:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, the title

of this article is 2009 Attendance Jump? Last years paid attendance was 1,945,677. I’d take the under for next year given the economy, and the team makeup,

"The idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy." - Adam J. Morris

by DJCahill on Mar 27, 2009 6:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd take the over now that Josh Hamilton is a household name.

by tyd3311 on Mar 27, 2009 7:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe I'm wrong,

but I don’t think JH will put a lot of butts in seats unless the team gets off to a red hot start.

"The idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy." - Adam J. Morris

by DJCahill on Mar 27, 2009 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm also assuming they'll be in the hunt for the division

probably hanging around .500 for a good while

by tyd3311 on Mar 27, 2009 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think w/L record

and how the rest of the division does has more to do with attendance than JH.

"The idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy." - Adam J. Morris

by DJCahill on Mar 27, 2009 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep, and I think

the team would have to get off to a very good start to even really be noticed by most of the general public and see an uptick in butts in seats.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Mar 27, 2009 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree

If they start average but are at .500 in July and winning the division people would show up…

the average fan knows how to follow a W/L record

also that carries even more weight later in the season in August

by Horns130 on Mar 27, 2009 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well I have them

10 games over .500 and leading the AL West at the ASB. Will that put more butts in the seats?

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year

by RangerMad on Mar 27, 2009 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good luck with all that.

"The idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy." - Adam J. Morris

by DJCahill on Mar 27, 2009 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It could happen, man.

by tyd3311 on Mar 27, 2009 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I assume

that when it happens, Andruw Jones will be on pace towards another MVP, and Millwood will get the cy young

"The idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy." - Adam J. Morris

by DJCahill on Mar 27, 2009 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or just 4 starters with 4.5 ERA's

and a good bullpen.

by tyd3311 on Mar 27, 2009 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The last bit is why that dream won't become reality I'm afraid.

"Either we need to re-calibrate our rectangle, or Alfonzo Marquez is not having a good night." - Josh Lewin

by utlonghorn24 on Mar 27, 2009 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or just 4 starters with 4.75-5.00 ERA's

and the BP worries me, and obviously the Brass, too.

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Mar 27, 2009 6:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I meant 10 games

over at the ASB. But they finish at 83-79.

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year

by RangerMad on Mar 27, 2009 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not only that ...

but if you’re down in the dumps you can pick or choose what type of movie you want to see to maybe pick up the spirits..

when you go to a Ranger game you may or may not leave in a better mood than you came in, it’s about a 50/50 chance.

Josh Hamilton puts his pants on one leg at a time just like you but once he gets his pants on he hits baseballs 420 feet.

by BigGuns on Mar 27, 2009 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention

The relative proximity of the two. For most, a Rangers game is a time-consuming trip.

by brettgardner on Mar 27, 2009 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well done sir...

usually people who use the word proximity say “close proximity” which is redundant.
Of course the Great BG knows that.

Josh Hamilton puts his pants on one leg at a time just like you but once he gets his pants on he hits baseballs 420 feet.

by BigGuns on Mar 27, 2009 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes...

I know for sure attendance will jump by at least 2 for a few games.

I will be going to my first Ranger games in Arlington in June with my father. 2 against the Blue Jays and 2 against the Dodgers. Damn I’m pumped, the wife, not so much.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Mar 27, 2009 10:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

From some of the games I saw last year

2 more bodies will be a huge percentage increase.

"The idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy." - Adam J. Morris

by DJCahill on Mar 27, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Especially...

Against the Blue Jays, I went to an August game and sat 2 rows behind home plate, there couldn’t have been more than 7,000 in the ballpark…

Rangers Moustache Madness

"They say brevity is the key to wit, so shut the f*ck up." Dad

by RangerFloppy on Mar 27, 2009 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That wasn't Chris Kris-ing about my seats...

I had outfield seats, we walked up and sat 2nd row bc there was no one in the building

Rangers Moustache Madness

"They say brevity is the key to wit, so shut the f*ck up." Dad

by RangerFloppy on Mar 27, 2009 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, just from watching on TV

it appeared to be a sea of empty green seats during a lot of games.

I’m curious what the actual “Butts in Seats” attendance was last year. I believe official attendence is paid attendence.

"The idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy." - Adam J. Morris

by DJCahill on Mar 27, 2009 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Man I got that beat. Rangers/Royals... last May. Ponson v. Greinke.

Pitcher’s duel. The game finished in two hours.

They said the attendance was 15,000 or 16,000 but there were a lot of no-shows, probably because it was a 1p start on a weekday. Thousands of those tickets were probably pre-purchased and just not used.

But, it was a ridiculously puny crowd. I would say no more than 5,000.

The weather was gorgeous. There was a chick a row down and to the left of me that had amazing cleavage.

And I was blaaazzed

by oc on Mar 28, 2009 3:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Proven fact

Teams don’t see a spike in attendance until the year after they compete.

by robert_d_wilfong on Mar 28, 2009 12:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Great news for the Rangers then...

they did finish in second last year after all!

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Mar 28, 2009 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

This is true

there is a lag. By the same token, teams that have won for a few years will retain good attendance until they’ve lost for a couple of years.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Mar 28, 2009 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

season ticket sales down

By all accounts season ticket renewals were down about 10% and I haven’t heard anything to indicate that new sales have made much if any of that up.That’s a lot of individual sales to make up. I expect that they will be very hard pressed to get back to last year’s attendance figures and if they can do it, it will be at the expense of discounting to an extent unprecedented since the Ballpark has opened.

$39 for two corner box seats plus parking readily available at COSTCO is one example of the deals the Rangers are offering, my recollection is that parking wasn’t included in last year’s deal. And I’ve heard about all sorts of coupon books out there not to mention the free tickets offered to season ticket holders. With the exception of a handful of games like fourth of July, the Yankees and Red Sox, if you are paying box office “rack rate” prices, especially for tickets in corner box or worse, you aren’t trying very hard.

by Dalman on Mar 29, 2009 5:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

contender

Ryan admitted that they have to get off to a good start and be contenders in order for the attendance to increase. Discounted tickets alone won’t do it.

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year

by RangerMad on Mar 29, 2009 8:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs