Red Sox attendance

[cp176]

What 's up with this? Why are people not showing up in record numbers? Leading the way in the East but not filling the seats. Something is missing here and it isn't just the fans - any thoughts?

[mvp 78]

Too expensive for me.

[a700hitter]

Something is missing. This town doesn't buzz like it used to when they were in first place

[Bellhorn04]

Jays announcers were commenting on how unusually quiet the crowds were this series.

[iortiz]

Too expensive for me.

 

Yeah! I went with my wife and my boy to 4 games this year -- NYY & CHC series-- and I probably had to spend 600-700 USD per game -- beer, hot dogs, sodas, seats, souvenirs, etc.

 

It was completely full in each game and the environment was awesome specially vs CHC --their fan base invaded Fenway. I think they were majority in those games, probably 60-40.

[SoxHop]

Yeah! I went with my wife and my boy to 4 games this year -- NYY & CHC series-- and I probably had to spend 600-700 USD per game -- beer, hot dogs, sodas, seats, souvenirs, etc.

 

It was completely full in each game and the environment was awesome specially vs CHC --their fan base invaded Fenway. I think they were majority in those games, probably 60-40.

 

I find the talk of how expensive tickets and going to a game now a days depressing. I know it's not now, and I know the older timers that are more old timer than me witnessed times when games were like a buck or two to get in. But I think one of the reasons I was drawn to baseball is because at some point way back when it was a thing people who didn't have tons of money could enjoy. I find it sad that it isn't so much the case anymore. I almost feel betrayed by the sport.....

[iortiz]

I find the talk of how expensive tickets and going to a game now a days depressing. I know it's not now, and I know the older timers that are more old timer than me witnessed times when games were like a buck or two to get in. But I think one of the reasons I was drawn to baseball is because at some point way back when it was a thing people who didn't have tons of money could enjoy. I find it sad that it isn't so much the case anymore. I almost feel betrayed by the sport.....

 

Well, I've been just in a couple of years. In 2015 I went to 5 games in Fenway --including opening day-- and a couple more in Yankee Stadium, and this year I bought tickets for 5 games but one was suspended -- vs NYY. I went for my first time as well to a Celtics game in the POs vs Chicago Bulls.

 

It's a really good experience and I really recommend it... but yeah it is very expensive mostly for me since I travel from Mexico City and we don't go only to the games, we also go to shopping, restaurants, tours, etc in both cities Boston and NY.

[cp176]

I find the talk of how expensive tickets and going to a game now a days depressing. I know it's not now, and I know the older timers that are more old timer than me witnessed times when games were like a buck or two to get in. But I think one of the reasons I was drawn to baseball is because at some point way back when it was a thing people who didn't have tons of money could enjoy. I find it sad that it isn't so much the case anymore. I almost feel betrayed by the sport.....

 

This to me is an interesting post. Growing up, baseball is what we all did. One of the reasons was because it really didn't cost much to play. Times have changed. When I'm in Boston, I'm always amazed at the number of people that are there with me as well as how much it cost to actually eat, sleep, and play there. It is sad and I think I know what you mean when you say that you feel betrayed by the sport sort of. It might ultimately be about the cost as opposed to the product being put on display.

[Bellhorn04]

When you've got players making 30 million a year, the math says going to the games has to be pricy. John Henry isn't paying the players out of his own pocket. He's overseeing the transfer of the money from the fans.

[jad]

When you've got players making 30 million a year, the math says going to the games has to be pricy. John Henry isn't paying the players out of his own pocket. He's overseeing the transfer of the money from the fans.

 

Incorrect. High ticket prices have almost nothing to do with salaries. They are set according to one principle: how to maximize the money at the gate. If you can fill a stadium with $300 seats, that's what they will cost, whether the players are making millions or playing for free (e.g., as in college football). And it's not "the sport": there are plenty of half-empty ballparks where you can go for under $10. So the way to make Fenway like the 'old days' when you could walk up and get a seat for $3, is (1) not go and convince everyone else not to go, and perhaps (2) enter a time machine where $3 now is what it was in the late 50s.

[Bellhorn04]

Incorrect. High ticket prices have almost nothing to do with salaries.

 

The Red Sox wouldn't have a $200 million payroll if the fans weren't filling Fenway at those high prices. Most MLB teams have a high correlation between revenue and payroll. If you haven't got it you can't spend it.

[tombirner]

Too expensive for me.

 

Call me logical, call me cynical... I have absolutely no urge to go to the games. The atmosphere I hear so much about... meh. Compared to baseball in Asia, football in America, NCAA football/basketball, soccer everywhere, it's really just a bunch of people sitting around watching an extremely slow game and occasionally clapping. Oh, and eating insultingly overpriced food and drinking insultingly overpriced drinks. The seats are uncomfortable. The view is far inferior to what you get on TV. Parking, traffic, crowds... I can't believe anyone goes to these games, but I'm happy so many disagree with me or else the games wouldn't be played!

 

I live in Korea and the parks are tiny, you can bring in food and drinks and even if you don't, the places you buy beers and food are basically convenience stores and fast food joints with the same prices. So you buy beers at 7/11 for the same price you pay for beers at 7/11 and buy burgers at Burger King for the same price you buy burgers at Burger King, etc.

 

Not to mention super hot cheerleaders dancing on the dugouts

[jacksonianmarch]

Chicks dig the long ball. The sox are a pitching first team without a fan icon like Papi. For the casual fan, sitting for 3 hours on uncomfortable seats in the hot weather and spending over $100 a ticket isn't worth it to watch a 3-2 game

[SoxHop]

I didn't live in the East Coast for almost half a decade before 2004, so I hadn't gone to Fenway in years proceeding the first Championship. I wonder how much prices jumped after 2004? And after 2007.

 

Maybe I was wrong about baseball, and should be more angered at Fenway and those that run it.

 

I've always thought that Maine should issue an id showing that you lived and grew up there, and that all seafood sold should be a quarter of the price if you showed your id. I'm joking, but there should be a Fenway id, if you live in the Boston area beers and hot dogs are half price and tickets are a third off.

[SoxHop]

I use to go to A's games for 25 bucks and sit a few rows up just behind the catcher. It's more the Sox than baseball. Heck, what are ticket prices in Tampa?

[SoxnCycles]

I didn't live in the East Coast for almost half a decade before 2004, so I hadn't gone to Fenway in years proceeding the first Championship. I wonder how much prices jumped after 2004? And after 2007.

 

Maybe I was wrong about baseball, and should be more angered at Fenway and those that run it.

 

I've always thought that Maine should issue an id showing that you lived and grew up there, and that all seafood sold should be a quarter of the price if you showed your id. I'm joking, but there should be a Fenway id, if you live in the Boston area beers and hot dogs are half price and tickets are a third off.

 

Prices have gone up since 2004, but they haven't taken a huge leap in any one year.

 

The ID idea is a good one!

[Bellhorn04]

Prices have gone up since 2004, but they haven't taken a huge leap in any one year.

 

The 'secondary market' prices have probably gone up quite a bit though.

[SoxnCycles]

The 'secondary market' prices have probably gone up quite a bit though.

 

No doubt.

[jad]

The Red Sox wouldn't have a $200 million payroll if the fans weren't filling Fenway at those high prices. Most MLB teams have a high correlation between revenue and payroll. If you haven't got it you can't spend it.

 

Maybe. But again, although high salaries may seem to correlate with ticket prices (in baseball), they are not the cause. They are the effect of full stadiums, tv and ad revenues, and the CBA. You could cut MLB salaries in half, or force players to play for free (again, think college football!), and the ticket prices would remain exactly the same, with all the money going to the owners.

[sk7326]

Payroll and ticket prices have some correlation but they are independent decisions - after all if a team rebuilds, nobody is getting money back. Now, fortunately, fan pressure and owner ego allows the team to spend a lot of money. But it is not a necessary relationship.

 

The Red Sox themselves are in a special position with very little stadium debt (basically debt from renovations) and the ability to more or less charge any price. Even now, a small reduction in ticket sales is probably offset by any price increases and whatnot.

 

Ultimately the fans are a bit spoiled - which is fine. And the team, while in first, only has had Sale have an extraordinary season.

[SoxnCycles]

Payroll and ticket prices have some correlation but they are independent decisions - after all if a team rebuilds, nobody is getting money back. Now, fortunately, fan pressure and owner ego allows the team to spend a lot of money. But it is not a necessary relationship.

 

The Red Sox themselves are in a special position with very little stadium debt (basically debt from renovations) and the ability to more or less charge any price. Even now, a small reduction in ticket sales is probably offset by any price increases and whatnot.

 

Ultimately the fans are a bit spoiled - which is fine. And the team, while in first, only has had Sale have an extraordinary season.

 

No David Ortiz probably has a lot to do with the drop in attenance and TV viewership.

[sk7326]

No David Ortiz probably has a lot to do with the drop in attenance and TV viewership.

 

That was known for over a year - and maybe last year was a bump with that in mind. But I think if Betts was getting MVP buzz again, things would perk up more. The team has had a lot of - negativity is the wrong word - but yes it feels less satisfying because the talent has largely played to okay versions of themselves. (aside from Sale)

[SoxnCycles]

That was known for over a year - and maybe last year was a bump with that in mind. But I think if Betts was getting MVP buzz again, things would perk up more. The team has had a lot of - negativity is the wrong word - but yes it feels less satisfying because the talent has largely played to okay versions of themselves. (aside from Sale)

 

True, no one has been able to provide much in the way of excitement, besides Sale, every fifth game.

[cp176]

True, no one has been able to provide much in the way of excitement, besides Sale, every fifth game.

 

I think that you are right. Along with being the best in the game, Sale just gives the impression of being a flat out tough winner. I wish that we had a few more positional players with the qualities that he has. We have a lot of good guys, having fun, and doing a good job. Nothing wrong with that, I just keep wondering how far they would go to win a game. Sale gets pissed and gives the impression that he expects to win every time he gets the ball and when he doesn't he takes the blame. They are a good team but something just isn't there and you might be right - David Ortiz.

[Bellhorn04]

Payroll and ticket prices have some correlation but they are independent decisions - after all if a team rebuilds, nobody is getting money back.

 

Nobody gets money back but a lot more people might just stay home. The Cubs attendance in 2013 & 2014 was 600,000 less than in 2016.

[Maxbialystock]

To me baseball is absolutely the best sport to watch in person.

 

I've been a Sox fan since 1949 but only been to two games at Fenway--both within the last five or so years. Fenway is a fantastic park to look at but the sight lines down the right side and especially in deep right field are the worst of any ball park in the nation, not just MLB. Like watching the game thru the wrong end of binoculars.

 

My griping aside, keeping Fenway small and unique was a smart move because it is probably the most photogenic ballpark in MLB. And the size helps to ensure the park is normally full or close enough to it even when a lousy team comes to town. One could argue Fenway was the template for all the new ballparks these days that actually seat fewer fans than the parks they replaced.

 

As for why the attendance is down, that's easy. When it was up, it was because the Sox had a really good team almost every year and especially a team that could hit and score runs. But starting in 2010 or 2011 (remember the September collapse which cost Francona his job?), a good year was the exception.

 

On top of that, as has already been said repeatedly, is the insane cost of actually going to Fenway. Sox tickets are near the most expensive in MLB, and everything else is expensive too.

 

espn tracks attendance by team and ballpark. The Sox are ranked 9th in MLB for home attendance and 7th in MLB in road attendance.

[mvp 78]

I use to go to A's games for 25 bucks and sit a few rows up just behind the catcher. It's more the Sox than baseball. Heck, what are ticket prices in Tampa?

 

I went to more OAK games on the spur of the moment just because of ticket prices. Now that I have a family to also pay for, it doesn't make sense to take them to Fenway, when I can spend so much less to drive down to McCoy in Pawtucket. Tickets are a fraction of the cost, food is cheaper, free parking.

[mvp 78]

espn tracks attendance by team and ballpark. The Sox are ranked 9th in MLB for home attendance and 7th in MLB in road attendance.

 

It's not a sell out every night, but the owners should be more than happy with the attendance figures. They have an ancient stadium that is uncomfortable, expensive and hard to get to.

[Maxbialystock]

It's not a sell out every night, but the owners should be more than happy with the attendance figures. They have an ancient stadium that is uncomfortable, expensive and hard to get to.

 

Agree on all points, but would add--again--that Fenway looks great on TV.

 

Also, the fact that those attendance figures remain high--and they do--is partly great marketing, partly a large potential fan base in New England, and partly some kind of insanity left over from the Salem witch trials. I mean these are the same people who tossed perfectly good tea into Boston Harbor, started the American Revolution by themselves and way before the Declaration of Independence, and--I am always astounded at this--like to call themselves the "hub of the universe."

 

Youkofthenation, feel free to respond.

[cp176]

Agree on all points, but would add--again--that Fenway looks great on TV.

 

Also, the fact that those attendance figures remain high--and they do--is partly great marketing, partly a large potential fan base in New England, and partly some kind of insanity left over from the Salem witch trials. I mean these are the same people who tossed perfectly good tea into Boston Harbor, started the American Revolution by themselves and way before the Declaration of Independence, and--I am always astounded at this--like to call themselves the "hub of the universe."

 

Youkofthenation, feel free to respond.

 

All non New Englanders need to know that once you cross Long Island Sound, you enter a new world - ours!.lol